The absolute worst news a pregnant woman can ever hear is that something is wrong with her baby, so understandably, mom Shelagh McAlpine was beyond devastated when she started bleeding heavily after suffering a placental abruption during her 28th week of pregnancy, and medics sadly told her that her baby had died in utero.
She was rushed to the hospital knowing all too well that she had lost her precious baby-to-be, which had to have been nothing short of horrific. And then when she arrived at the hospital, doctors still tried for seven minutes to locate the baby's heartbeat in the off chance that there was hope for a miracle. SEVEN minutes. (That's a really long time to search for a heartbeat.)
Shelagh describes that time as "the longest seven minutes of her life," but thankfully, the persistence of the doctors paid off. It turns out her baby girl was still alive; however, they found that she had holes in her heart and lung and also had a potentially fatal blood clot in her arm.
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Even though she was only 28 weeks along, doctors went ahead and performed an emergency C-section to try and save Shelagh's baby's life, and incredibly -- they were successful. Mia Rose was born weighing 2 pounds, 10 ounces, and though she wound up facing 10 blood transfusions, surgery, and a very tough road ahead of her, she proved to be a brave little fighter. And on August 1, she was able to go home from the hospital with her parents and older brother.
If any newborn fits the definition of a miracle baby, it's Mia Rose for sure. I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like for Shelagh to think she'd lost her child -- only to find out seven minutes later that there was a chance she might survive. She's definitely proof that moms have more inner strength than we realize, and the incredible love we have for our kids is sometimes all we need to pull us through an emotionally unbearable situation.
Do you think you'd handle something like this as well as Shelagh did?
Image via Crystal_1979/Flickr
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Comments 70
I delivery was similar. I went to hoaspital for induction cause I was over by 1.5 weeks. After several hours of the induction, my placenta ebruted. Next thing I know, I being rushed to surgury. I can still vidualize my bed being bumped against the doorways and elevators on the way. My husband says there was a trail of blood from the dilivery room to the operating room. My husband was told that there was a good chance I would make it. The baby had about 50/50. This is what he told me when I awoke. Anywho, knowing that my baby could die was very very devistating. I give all praise to God for working through the doctors. Without them, my baby and I wouldnt be here. My baby spent a month in NICU and is now a normal growing 6 month old (despite the 2 small holes in his heart, which I am told will more than likely close).
The doctors told my grandma that my mom was dead inside her and they wanted to force a miscarriage. She adamentally refused, saying she could feel the baby moving around still. After much debate she was allowed to deliver naturally and my mom was born alive and healthy. If the doctors had aborted my mom, I wouldn't be here, and neither would her grandson.
Stephanie I also had bleeding at around 12 weeks pregnant with my second child. I went to the hospital and it took doctor almost 30 minutes to get to me. I didn't know what was going on and was very angry because instead of checking on me a clerical worker was more interested in getting my insurance information. Even then they never gave me an ultrasound and had to wait 24 hours for a doctor's appointment. I was so scared and even now tearing up because I can't imagine life without him who just turned 3.