I had a level 2 u/s @ 20 weeks to make sure everything was ok with the baby and there was no medical reason that we needed to give birth in the hospital and we got the ok. DS was born at 40 weeks, 1 day and weighed 6 lbs 4 ozs at a beautiful homebirth. I am 100% positive of my conception date (was charting for 7 mos). DS had a tiny bit of trouble pinking up but got a little oxygen then was fine.
At around 2 weeks old he had a cough that was getting worse and seemed warm to me. He also had brief periods of fast breathing but they didn't worry me much. I expressed my concerns to my MW via e-mail and she said she was in the area so she'd stop by. She did and DS was breathing @ 96 and his heartrate was around 200. She told us we needed to go to the ER for an evaluation right away.
We went and they were morons, they were gonna send us home despite us insisting that something was off. DH called the MW and she told us not to leave and she'd be right there. She came, and soon it was found that DS was in distress. After all sorts of BS DS was transferred to All Children's and received emergency open-heart surgery very shortly after. He had an undetected congenital heart defect (TAPVR).
MY MW went above and beyond her duty as a MW. I don't think any hospital MW would go to those kinds of lengths to help a patient. She stayed with me the whole time we were at the ER (almost 12 hours) and she helped us to communicate with the staff and to understand what was going on. I FIRMLY believe that DS needed to be born at home so he could gain weight and prepare for the huge battle he was about to face. If the defect had been detected and he had been born in the hospital it would have been via c-section (likely at 37 weeks) and he probably would have only been 5 lbs or so. He also would not have gotten any breastmilk to build his immune system. He was up to 6 lbs 12 ozs by the time he went for surgery.
DS also got to learn what it was like to be loved and cuddled and we think that gave him something to fight for. He was nursing just 7 days after his surgery and home by day 10. The cardiologists say they've never seen a baby recover from that defect so quickly. Now DS is doing awesome and has a structurally normal heart. I'm happy with the way things worked out and happy that the defect was not detected at the u/s.
HB and my HB MW saved DS's life
At around 2 weeks old he had a cough that was getting worse and seemed warm to me. He also had brief periods of fast breathing but they didn't worry me much. I expressed my concerns to my MW via e-mail and she said she was in the area so she'd stop by. She did and DS was breathing @ 96 and his heartrate was around 200. She told us we needed to go to the ER for an evaluation right away.
We went and they were morons, they were gonna send us home despite us insisting that something was off. DH called the MW and she told us not to leave and she'd be right there. She came, and soon it was found that DS was in distress. After all sorts of BS DS was transferred to All Children's and received emergency open-heart surgery very shortly after. He had an undetected congenital heart defect (TAPVR).
MY MW went above and beyond her duty as a MW. I don't think any hospital MW would go to those kinds of lengths to help a patient. She stayed with me the whole time we were at the ER (almost 12 hours) and she helped us to communicate with the staff and to understand what was going on. I FIRMLY believe that DS needed to be born at home so he could gain weight and prepare for the huge battle he was about to face. If the defect had been detected and he had been born in the hospital it would have been via c-section (likely at 37 weeks) and he probably would have only been 5 lbs or so. He also would not have gotten any breastmilk to build his immune system. He was up to 6 lbs 12 ozs by the time he went for surgery.
DS also got to learn what it was like to be loved and cuddled and we think that gave him something to fight for. He was nursing just 7 days after his surgery and home by day 10. The cardiologists say they've never seen a baby recover from that defect so quickly. Now DS is doing awesome and has a structurally normal heart. I'm happy with the way things worked out and happy that the defect was not detected at the u/s.
HB and my HB MW saved DS's life
: Its things like this the remind me I'm on the right path now. What an amazing recovery! I'm so incredibly happy that everything has turned out well, I know its been very scary for you 
that is such a sweet story.
to your fantastic midwife
Women know.
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