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 was in a car accident when I was 5 months pregnant with our first daugher. Asemi hit me from behind. They rushed me to the ER and it took them over 20 minutes to finally find a heartbeat. A few days later I went for a follow up with my regular doctor and they told me i was in preterm labor and spent the next 3 months in the hospital trying to keep her alive. Today my miracle baby is almost 9 years old!! It was one of the most horrible things i have ever had to go through. 5 years later though I did lose a baby. But was blessed w a second child and then went through 2 years of being sick after that which resulted in a hysterectomy. It was a rough time and my husband and I had talked about one more, but I am just glad I was blessed with the 2 beautiful girls I have today.
I went into labor and began dilatiing at 16 weeks, I was told at a christain hospital I was selfish and stupid and they hoped my baby died. I was 19 unwed and my girlfriend was with me. Tried to force me to abort. I literally had to rip the IV's outta my arm and walk out They called the cops and cps as well. I went to the county hospital that wasnt religious and they began the labour stopping meds, was in teh hospital til 20 weeks, then released and had to take meds every 2 hours for labour not to start again. She was born at 37 weeks the day after I stopped teh meds, 6 hours of labour, my vagina ripped from cervix to the opening on 3 sides.
Would redo it all over again in a heartbeat my 8 year old is amazing and has 3 amazing siblings
My Miracle, who is actually named Miracle, was born at 22 weeks and was and is perfectly healthy. When the doctor told me that she's be blind and have cerebral palsy, I asked the doctor how long she'd been practicing and told her she'd get it right one day.
I'm happy for this mom, she has really seen a Miracle
When I was pregnant with my daughter I was outside & slipped face dowm on my hard wood deck. We tried everything to get the baby to move but nothing so we went to the ER. They sent 5 of the longest mins of my life trying to find a heart beat with no luck. The nurse went round the drs orders & brought in the ultra sound machine (they wanted us to 2hrs for the dr to get there to do other tests) but she brought it in & there was our little girl sucking her thumb legs kicking. She had gotten scared during the fall & hid where no one could find her or feel her. She was perfectly fine though momma & dad had a heart attack.
I am very glad this woman got good news! They have searched for over 10 mins multiple times at OB appts for my children's heartbeat though. I think some docs may just give up too early. With my son, my (then 6 yo) actually had to find the heartbeat at EVERY appointment!!! They would search and search. Then the OB would ask her where her brother was, and she would come up and say "try there" and point to a small spot. Every single time, her intuition found the heartbeat.