[CorbinsMama]

Hi, All. My daughter was born one week ago at 38 weeks 3 days. I had very low amniotic fluid, and DD was born with undiagnosed IUGR and hypoxia. I say undiagnosed because at my OB appointment the week before she was born, one doc estimated her to be 8.5 pounds, but we were all shocked when she was born at 4 pounds 14 ounces.<br><br>
She aspirated meconium and now has pulmonary hypertension and has blood in her brain. She had a seizure the morning after she was born. A CT scan showed blood on her brain and what they called "moderate brain damage." An MRI the next day showed that the blood was mostly in the fluid sacks in the brain and there were just "pinpoints" of damage in her brain tissue. We are just thinking positively that the blood will be absorbed or drained and that the brain will heal itself. So much of her brain is not yet developed and there is so much room for repair and growth.<br><br>
She has a heart murmur because her heart is straining to get blood to her lungs, which are partially collapsed and have fluid in them. The collapse is just in the upper lobe of the right lung and is because of the meconium that was in there. To fix this, they started giving her nitric oxide in with her oxygen. Her nurse said that already she is doing "significantly better." Her platelets are higher than they should be with as much blood as she has had drawn, so she is doing really well in that respect.<br><br>
There won't be much changed in the next couple days. She is doing so well with the nitric oxide that they want her to rest and heal for a little while.<br><br>
So that's where we are right now. I understand that there have been some issues about the truthfulness of other people's stories. Here's where you can see pics of our girl:<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v350/CorbinsMama/Pippa/" target="_blank">http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...insMama/Pippa/</a><br><br>
And my birth story is here: <a href="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=659472" target="_blank">http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=659472</a><br><br>
If anyone has a similar story with a full-term baby, I would love to hear it.

 

[laspieg]

I just wanted to say congratulations on the birth of Pippa. She is gorgeous! I hope things continue to improve in the coming days. It sounds like she is a fighter <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br>
There is a thread somewhere on here regarding full term NICU babies...I'll see if I can find it for you.

 

[happyblessedmama]

I can somewhat relate - I had a full term (41+ weeks) who did the meconium aspiration and PPHN route. She's healthy now, but we had 12 days in the NICU. It sounds like you guys have some other additional issues going on, but I just wanted to offer some support.

 

[BelgianSheepDog]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug"> What a beautiful girl! And I LOVE her name--it was on my list too. I had a full-term (40 weeks) babe in the NICU due to a congenital heart defect. We weren't there long at all and she is fine now, but I will never forget how frightening it was.<br><br>
I'll be thinking of you and Pippa and hoping for a speedy recovery!

 

[BookGoddess]

Congratulations! She's a lovely child. Doesn't look like she's less than 5 pounds at all.<br><br>
I don't have a similar story but I do have a toddler that was born at 37 weeks. My daughter had a single umbilical artery (it raises the risk of a stillbirth) and she was completely gray and lifeless at birth. The nurses didn't think she was going to make it but she pulled through after a short stay in the NICU.<br><br>
I hope things improve daily for your Pippa. Wishing you and your family all the best.

 

[munkeesmama]

Congrats on your daughter. I'm praying for a short nicu stay for you as well!

 

[OGirlieMama]

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! And welcome to the club none of us wanted to join. I hope that sweet Pippa's NICU stay will be short and she'll be healthy. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[CorbinsMama]

Thank you all so much.<br><br>
Our girl had a great night. Her oxygen is down to 50% and she's getting 14 breaths per minute, so the rest is all her. They are lowering the nitric oxide. She was nicely pink even though she hasn't had any more blood yet. She will have a transfusion today. They also will continue giving her more breastmilk more often.<br><br>
The doctor said she is a real fighter, and we are so pleased that she is doing so well.

 

[irangel]

Congratulations on such a beautiful baby girl! I read your lasted comment and it sounds like she's doing well right now. I hope she continues to recover from her traumatic birth.<br><br>
I wish I could offer a BTDT story but all I can tell you is that my youngest suffered from PPHN but hers is a chronic issue and not something likely to resolve the way your daughter's will.

 

[CorbinsMama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>irangel</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7939378"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I wish I could offer a BTDT story but all I can tell you is that my youngest suffered from PPHN but hers is a chronic issue and not something likely to resolve the way your daughter's will.</div>
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I am so sorry. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[BundleFishMama]

Praying for you and little girl! My 41-weeker DS was in the NICU with Group B Strep and it can be such a shock when all along you're expecting a "normal" birth and postpartum experience and then you're thrown a curve ball! It's so scary....but I am so happy she's doing so well!!

 

[CorbinsMama]

She's doing better. She's off the ventilator (just on a nasal cannula), off the sedation, getting breastmilk through a feeding tube. She's getting better every day and is really proving those silly docs wrong! I got to hold her for two hours yesterday, which was pure bliss.

 

[kkiolbassa]

congratualtions ! your daughter is beautiful <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/luxlove.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="throb"> I don't have any experience with any of what you mentioned except that my daughter also had iugr (3lbs 10oz at birth @ 35 weeks)<br><br>
I hope your sweetie continues to improve and is home with you very soon<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/hug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="hug">

 

[laspieg]

YEAH!!!!!!! It sounds like she is really doing great <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[CorbinsMama]

Finally a pic with her eyes open!<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v350/CorbinsMama/Pippa/?action=view&current=pip9.jpg" target="_blank">http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...rrent=pip9.jpg</a>

 

[OGirlieMama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>CorbinsMama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/7979927"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Finally a pic with her eyes open!<br><br><a href="http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v350/CorbinsMama/Pippa/?action=view&current=pip9.jpg" target="_blank">http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v3...rrent=pip9.jpg</a></div>
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Wow! She really is such a pretty baby, and she looks so sweet! I'm glad she's improving.

 

[aydensmama]

Congrats mama! She is beautiful!<br><br>
My son was born full term with no other problems, but started having seizures 8 hrs after birth due to extensive bleeding in his brain. About 1/4 of brain tissue is gone, asorped just fine, and the bleeding in the fluid around the brain healed well also. He was on phenobarb (yucky stuff for us) for three months and we had a follow up MRI in december and everything was healing fine. He was behind drastically at 2 mths of age (measuring at birth by therapists) and now you would never guess that he had problems and is basically missing about 1/2 of his left hemisphere.<br><br>
Him and two babies on the block were born within two weeks of each other, and he is the first at many things. We are waiting to see if he has any speech delays, but past that we are looking golden!<br><br>
Believe in the power of brain plasticity at this age. The human body is an amazing thing, and you just keep telling your daughter that she will heal and be just fine!

 

[CorbinsMama]

Wow, Aydensmama! Thank you so much for sharing that story with me. I am so sorry that your son had such problems, but I am thrilled (and encouraged) by how well he is doing now. Thank you for sharing!

 

[PoisonousBlonde]

<span>Congrats on your gorgeous baby. My 6 year old daughter had a bowel movement before she was born. Thankfully she was born quick and suffered no problems. My thoughts and prayers are with you.</span>