by Christina Brueske
My pregnancy was amazing. I never knew there was something so rewarding! Every check up our daughter was right on for growth, and I was healthy.
At my 39 week check up on October 26, 2015, I had been having some issues with swelling and headaches. My urine dip had protein in it, and I had high blood pressure. I informed my OB of the swelling in my right leg, and I was immediately sent for a ultra sound of my lower leg. Later that day I was admitted for a blood clot. Our daughter was perfectly healthy, yet here I was stuck in the hospital.
The doctors started me on a blood thinner to maintain the clot and started a pitocin line as well. I was on both for 3 days. The blood clot was stable, but the induction was going nowhere. I had two options: I could have a planned c section, or I could sit and wait for the inducing to work, which could take days or weeks. But because I was on a blood thinner, I could not leave the hospital.
I weighed my options, talked with my husband, and ultimately choose the c section. On Thursday, October 29, 2015, I was preped for surgery. I was scared out of my mind, but hopeful and trying to stay strong knowing I would get to meet my daughter after.
The surgery went great, with no complications or issues. Our daughter was born at 1:17 pm, Weighing 6 pounds, 14 ounces, and measuring 21 inches long. We had a healthy baby girl with a head full of hair.
About 24 hours later, things turned for the worst.
During our daughter’s 24-hour state tests, she had two seizures. The nurses and doctors choose to call the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, and she was transported there at one day old. She was on monitoring, IVs, and not even awake because she was so young. Meanwhile, due to my C-section, I was stuck in my hometown until the next day.
After 3 days worth of tests, an MRI showed that my daughter had a stroke, which is what caused the seizures. She was put on a medication to prevent seizures, and we finally got to take her home when she was a week old. With no seizures thus far, we have a healthy now 5-month-old who, as her doctors say, is advanced for her age!
It was the scariest thing I have ever done, but in the end, we have our daughter, and she is healthy.