What Happened?

I had a pregnancy by the book, my weight and numbers for everything was by the book.  I was not a happy pregnant lady, but I was happy that at least I could have a perfect pregnancy.  I was looking forward to my upcoming baby showers, my maternity photo shoot and starting to get his room ready for his arrival. So, how could such a perfect pregnancy turn into a nightmare where I end up going into labor 10 weeks early and have to leave my precious baby boy in the NICU for 6-8 weeks?  I really don't understand what went wrong, but I may never know as these things tend to happen all the time.  My doctor might have an explanation for me.  She feels it's one of two reasons that caused my preterm labor and she is having tests done to determine if either happened.

Bacteria
My doctor thought bacteria might have made it's way up in my uterus to cause early contractions.  If it was bacteria no drugs were going to stop the contractions as it was a way of my body saying Max's home is not safe for him anymore and he needs to get out.  How does bacteria get in my uterus?  Who knows?  My doctor said it's a fluke thing where natural bacteria from the vagina can get up in the uterus.  Max was tested when he came out of the womb and he tested negative for bacteria, but bacteria can be in the uterus without getting to the baby.  My fluids were sent off for testing to see if this is the case.  If bacteria is to blame it's just a fluke thing that happened and nothing can be done in the future if I was to get pregnant again.

Placenta Abruptia
When my placenta was delivered my doctor thought it looked like it abrupted from the wall early.  She wasn't 100% positive so my placenta was sent off for testing too. If this happened then again the drugs were not going to stop the contractions as my body was saying the baby has to get out because his home is no longer safe.  If this is the case then at least something can be done in the future if there ever is another pregnancy.  If I am not too traumatized by this incident and we do get pregnant again my doctor would start giving me a shot of steroids at 16 weeks along to help keep my placenta attached to the wall.  With the regular steroid shots I should be able to carry to full term.  Plus, I will be monitored more closely to ensure this doesn't happen again.

I will find out at my six week appointment with my doctor if any of the above reasons caused me to go into labor early.  Until then I will just focus on Max growing and developing so he can come home.

In a food coma sleeping on mommy's chest.

Sleep tight sweet Maxim.