It was a regular Monday, August 6, 2018, when I️ went to my OB appt. Everything was fine. Baby had a strong heartbeat and my cervix was closed.
Tuesday was a normal day. I️ went to work and felt her kicking. I️ even had to excuse myself from a meeting because she kept sitting on my bladder! But something changed in my body on Tuesday night. I️ started having cramps like a severe period. I️ was using the bathroom every 20 mins. I️ knew, an infection was brewing. So at 3am, my husband took me to the Emergency room at Cobb Wellstar.
When I️ arrived, they immediately took me to Triage and took urine. They hooked me up to the contraction machine and tried to listen to baby. They had a hard time finding the heartbeat, but when they did, it was 176! I️ said, “my baby’s normal heart rate is between 136-149. I️ hear it every two weeks. One hundred and seventy-six is not normal.” Yet they did nothing but gave me a pain shot and sent me home. I was in and out in an hour! But on Wednesday, I️ didn’t feel comfortable that they did enough, so I️ went back to my OB.
Surprised to see me again, my OB questioned why I was back. I explained my reason for the Emergency Room visit and he was upset that I went to that hospital. He told me and I️ quote, “Going to the right hospital can make the difference between if your baby lives or dies.” He did a quick check of my cervix but still couldn’t identify if I️ had a urinary tract infection because my urine kept coming back clean! But I️ knew I️ had an infection! Why didn’t anyone take blood to see if my white cells were high and fighting?
Finally, it’s Thursday, August 9, 2018. I️ am now feeling contractions, not cramps. I️ am not going back to that same hospital, so I️ had my husband drive me to Emory Midtown Hospital for Better care. As soon as I️ walked in, they took my urine, blood, put me on an IV and ordered an ultrasound. There at 11:40am it was confirmed that my baby did not have a heartbeat anymore. They sent me to Labor and Delivery to get my Cerclage cut out and to schedule my delivery. The cerclage is a wire stitch they inserted into my cervix at week 16 to ensure I️ don’t dilate early. Well, that worked because even with contractions, I️ didn’t not open.
My blood test came back positive for an infection called Chorioamnionitis. It’s an infection that the baby was carrying and that killed her. The infection is caused by an UNTREATED INFECTION in the vagina, uterus or bladder. Well, go back to Tuesday and see what I️ told them I️ thought I️ had? Ok so now I’m mad as hell! Did my baby die due to negligence? I️ wish I️ would’ve pushed them to do more testing with blood and get an ultrasound Tuesday. Now, I️ have to deliver a baby that I know will be dead upon arrival.
At around 4:20pm, I️ was given some pills to induce my labor. My history was anxiously looking for a babysitter for our 4yr old, so he can be there during delivery. Some dear friends dropped what they were doing to come get our son. My husband made it to the hospital by 5:30pm and at 6:30pm, I️ gave birth to our daughter. The original name of our living child was supposed to be Amber, but when I️ saw her, we named her Nicole, which means “Victory.” She was cleaned and wrapped up and they asked us if wish to see her. I️ couldn’t reject that request. I️ had to see her face. And when I️ did, my whole world changed.
My greatest wish as a parent is to be able to look into a child’s eyes and see myself. With the first son, he looked so much like my husband, I️ told him that was his baby! Our son was going to be his twin! For a few weeks after our son passed, I️ would put my hand on my husband’s face so that I️ could touch my son. So when I️ saw her, I️ melted. She had my nose, my slanted eyes, my lips, my high cheeks, she was MY TWIN! I️ melted again when I️ saw her head, she was his twin too! But this little was about to be the most spoiled baby ever! I was a pretty baby. Well, that’s what my parents said! But she was going to be gorgeous. I️ held her for hours upon my chest like she was sleeping waiting on me to wake her to up to breastfeed her. For just a few hours, I️ wanted to pretend I was like the other moms in the delivery room. For just a few hours, I️ wanted to pretend she was just sleep. And then, I️ knew the time would come that I️ would have to let her go. So at midnight, I️ decided not to go into the next day with her at my side. I️ kissed her, took a picture with her and let her go.
And when they came to take her, I️ ordered an autopsy to be done. If she died from an infection I️ gave her 3 days earlier, someone will be answering for this!
Tuesday was a normal day. I️ went to work and felt her kicking. I️ even had to excuse myself from a meeting because she kept sitting on my bladder! But something changed in my body on Tuesday night. I️ started having cramps like a severe period. I️ was using the bathroom every 20 mins. I️ knew, an infection was brewing. So at 3am, my husband took me to the Emergency room at Cobb Wellstar.
When I️ arrived, they immediately took me to Triage and took urine. They hooked me up to the contraction machine and tried to listen to baby. They had a hard time finding the heartbeat, but when they did, it was 176! I️ said, “my baby’s normal heart rate is between 136-149. I️ hear it every two weeks. One hundred and seventy-six is not normal.” Yet they did nothing but gave me a pain shot and sent me home. I was in and out in an hour! But on Wednesday, I️ didn’t feel comfortable that they did enough, so I️ went back to my OB.
Surprised to see me again, my OB questioned why I was back. I explained my reason for the Emergency Room visit and he was upset that I went to that hospital. He told me and I️ quote, “Going to the right hospital can make the difference between if your baby lives or dies.” He did a quick check of my cervix but still couldn’t identify if I️ had a urinary tract infection because my urine kept coming back clean! But I️ knew I️ had an infection! Why didn’t anyone take blood to see if my white cells were high and fighting?
Finally, it’s Thursday, August 9, 2018. I️ am now feeling contractions, not cramps. I️ am not going back to that same hospital, so I️ had my husband drive me to Emory Midtown Hospital for Better care. As soon as I️ walked in, they took my urine, blood, put me on an IV and ordered an ultrasound. There at 11:40am it was confirmed that my baby did not have a heartbeat anymore. They sent me to Labor and Delivery to get my Cerclage cut out and to schedule my delivery. The cerclage is a wire stitch they inserted into my cervix at week 16 to ensure I️ don’t dilate early. Well, that worked because even with contractions, I️ didn’t not open.
My blood test came back positive for an infection called Chorioamnionitis. It’s an infection that the baby was carrying and that killed her. The infection is caused by an UNTREATED INFECTION in the vagina, uterus or bladder. Well, go back to Tuesday and see what I️ told them I️ thought I️ had? Ok so now I’m mad as hell! Did my baby die due to negligence? I️ wish I️ would’ve pushed them to do more testing with blood and get an ultrasound Tuesday. Now, I️ have to deliver a baby that I know will be dead upon arrival.
At around 4:20pm, I️ was given some pills to induce my labor. My history was anxiously looking for a babysitter for our 4yr old, so he can be there during delivery. Some dear friends dropped what they were doing to come get our son. My husband made it to the hospital by 5:30pm and at 6:30pm, I️ gave birth to our daughter. The original name of our living child was supposed to be Amber, but when I️ saw her, we named her Nicole, which means “Victory.” She was cleaned and wrapped up and they asked us if wish to see her. I️ couldn’t reject that request. I️ had to see her face. And when I️ did, my whole world changed.
My greatest wish as a parent is to be able to look into a child’s eyes and see myself. With the first son, he looked so much like my husband, I️ told him that was his baby! Our son was going to be his twin! For a few weeks after our son passed, I️ would put my hand on my husband’s face so that I️ could touch my son. So when I️ saw her, I️ melted. She had my nose, my slanted eyes, my lips, my high cheeks, she was MY TWIN! I️ melted again when I️ saw her head, she was his twin too! But this little was about to be the most spoiled baby ever! I was a pretty baby. Well, that’s what my parents said! But she was going to be gorgeous. I️ held her for hours upon my chest like she was sleeping waiting on me to wake her to up to breastfeed her. For just a few hours, I️ wanted to pretend I was like the other moms in the delivery room. For just a few hours, I️ wanted to pretend she was just sleep. And then, I️ knew the time would come that I️ would have to let her go. So at midnight, I️ decided not to go into the next day with her at my side. I️ kissed her, took a picture with her and let her go.
And when they came to take her, I️ ordered an autopsy to be done. If she died from an infection I️ gave her 3 days earlier, someone will be answering for this!
Smh I pray that if it is negligence that you all are vindicated! You are on my heart and mind and definitely in my prayers. Take all the time you need to get thru this. Sending all my love.
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