Our L.I.L. Miracle Part 1

On September 15th, 2010 at 1:02 PM, we welcomed an early blessing into our lives. 
His name is Liam Isaac Lucas. This is my way of remembering the hardest, most blessed week of my life.

September 11th:  For my birthday, Brad got tickets for us to see "The Wedding Singer" at the Alhambra. Love the movie with Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler. The show was great! Got home around 10:30 PM.

September 12th: After the show, I noticed some pain in my back and more so, a heaviness in my pelvis. At first, I attributed it to sitting for 4.5 hours at the Alhambra and tried to bear through the pain. Pain continued throughout the wee hours of the morning. I also noticed some bleeding, which was never an issue the entire pregnancy. The pain was severe enough, that I finally called the nurse at around 5 AM.  She advised me to go to Labor and Delivery.

I am taken to the a L&D observation room. I'm given IV fluids and am monitored. Baby's heartbeat is great.  Blood pressure is elevated.

After 6 hours, the pelvic cramping is gone. The doctor checked me, and there had been no dilation. At this point, I think the cramping may be due to dehydration (although I had become an obsessive water drinker).  I'm told to take a couple days to rest, and schedule a regular appointment with my OB. We're elieved everything is fine. We head home, and Brad and I fall asleep.


9:00 PM: I start noticing uncomfortable back pains that come in waves, stronger this time. They happen about every 5 minutes, lasting 40 seconds each. I ignore it, and still think it's from sitting 4.5 hours from the day before.

 10:00 PM Sunday-3:00 AM Monday: Back pain becomes more intense and coming at 3 minute intervals, lasting 40 seconds each. No sleep. I try taking a warm bath, but still no real relief. I call the nurse at 3:00 AM, and after suffering through more intervals of pain...contractions, I wake up Brad and we head back to Labor & Delivery.

September 13th: We're back int he L &D observation room. I'm put on the monitor. Labor officially starts, as it definitely obvious on the monitors. The doctor confirms that I am dilated 4 cm. I am quickly put on pain meds, IV fluids, and given a crucuial steroid injection to help the baby's lung mature faster (I am given another one 24 hours later). I also get a catheter put in (fun).


Pain meds momentarily relieve pain, but contractions still come. I am put on magnesium sulfate to slow contractions. This medicine immediately makes me feel like a drunk with hot flashes! I have to lay still as much as I can. Only sleep puts me out of my misery. Thank you pain meds!

A few hours later, my OB comes in and explains that I need to be transferred to the hospital downtown because the downtown NICU is better equipped to handle 28 week babies. At this point, I don't know if baby is going to be delivered, or if I'm in for a long hospital stay on bed reast.  I consent, and I'm transferred by ambulance to the downtown hospital.

I am admitted and continue to be hooked onto machines. I CANNOT EAT OR DRINK. I'm only allowed a few ice chips an hour. MISERABLE. Baby's heartbeat is strong. Ultrasound is performed and everything looks great. Trying to keep things stable to at least get the second steroid shot to mature baby's lungs. For now, the contractions have stopped.

The perinatologists explain it could be days, weeks, or months that I could be at the hospital. WHAT??!! 

NICU doctors talks to us about what will happen when our baby is delivered. This has me thinking that he will be born soon. We get a lot of information that scares the crap out of me.

September 14: Controlling contractions go smoothly during the day. However, contractions start to get stronger at night. I'm calling my nurse everytime the pains meds wear off. I squeeze the crap out of Brad's hand for each contraction that comes.

I am given the second steroid shot. C'mon baby, mature those lungs!

My night nurse is surprised that I am still with child...

Soon enough!


I am requesting more and more pain meds. But I'm still laboring throughout the night, and into the early morning of September 15th...