Wyatt's birth story

After years of TTC, one round of IVF, 26 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy, the loss of Michael {twin a}, and 9 weeks of bed rest...

Here is the birth story of Wyatt Reid Barney

Friday the 13th - I had been having back pain and cramps all day on Thursday that continued onto Friday, then when I woke up on Friday I started spotting a little. With the spotting in play, I realized that these were symptoms of preterm labor so my mom took me to L&D to get checked out. Better safe than sorry right? After I was hooked up to the monitoring equipment I learned that I was having contractions every 5 minutes, I just couldn't feel all of them. I had an fFN test done {Fetal fibronectin} which came back positive so I was admitted for overnight monitoring. This test is basically predicts whether or not you will go into labor within the next 3 weeks. If the test comes back positive you have a 15% chance that will happen. I received round one of steroids {to help with lung development in case he came early} at 1:00 and was put on a 24 hour magnesium sulfate drip {to help control contractions and it also helps babies brain development}. I was also given procardia to help control contractions. The remainder of Friday was pretty uneventful. My mom, Jared and I all just hung out and visited in my room.

Saturday, April 14th - My mom and I spent the morning visiting with each other. We made a list of things that need to be done before Wyatt comes and made a list of what needs to be put in my hospital bag and she also taught me some breathing techniques. Since I was having owey cramps, she told me that I could practice the breathing whenever I had a cramp so that when the time came that I went into labor I would just go on auto pilot and focus on breathing instead of freaking out. I have to admit that I was probably not very much fun to be around. The magnesium had some nasty side effects that left me feeling completely drugged up and depressed. I may or may not have vocally felt sorry for myself several times that morning. I received round 2 of steroids at 1:00 that afternoon and completed the magnesium sulfate drip. My mom and I talked about whether or not she should change her flight for her to leave a different day, but things looked like they were going very well and I was going to be discharged from the hospital the next day. I told her that I wasn't going to have Wyatt for 10 more weeks so it would be okay for her to get on her flight. She left at 2:30.

Jared came up to the hospital after dropping off mom and settled in for the night. He had spent the day chopping wood with his dad and BIL and was pretty wiped out. I was still having contractions and cramps and they seemed to be getting worse so I stared practicing my breathing and focusing on how long each of them lasted, which was anywhere from 30-45 seconds long. We watched a movie and tried going to sleep around 10 or 11 because Jared was so tired. I really wanted to fall asleep but I had to get up frequently to go to the bathroom, plus the cramps started happening about every 5 minutes. There were still only a few that were picking up as contractions on the monitor, so I tried not to think about it too much.

Sunday, April 15th - Just before 2 am I went to the bathroom for the zillionth time and when I checked the pee there was some blood in it. I had Jared call for my nurse and by the time she made it to the room I was dripping blood into the toilet. Lindsey immediately called the head nurse Linda and when Linda got there she took one look and ordered me to get back in bed immediately because "we're having a baby tonight". She checked to see if I had dilated because she was concerned that I was going to tear through my cerclage. I had just started dilating and calls were put in to my Dr. and an anesthesiologist in case I had to go in for an emergency c section. About 10 minutes and a couple of contractions later, Linda checked me again. This time I was dilated to an 8 or 9. She kind of freaked out and told me "DON'T PUSH AT ALL!" I was definitely tearing through my cerclage and was wheeled over to the operating room for an emergency c section within the next 5 minutes. I was moved onto the operating table and given spinal anesthesia while people were running all around getting things ready. Jared was scrubbed in and right before the procedure started they brought him in to sit next to me.

At 2:57 am the Dr. started to cut me open and it smelled pretty awful, {The tool that they use to cut he skin, cauterizes the skin as it cuts to decrease bleeding} so Jared had to leave the room for a minute. He found a rolly chair with a back on it and rolled back in the room just in time because at 3:02, a mere 5 minutes after the procedure began, Wyatt was born. I wasn't able to see him right away but I heard a couple of tiny cries come out of him and by the time they got him over to a table he had already peed. The NICU team was in the room and took over, intebating him and got him ready to move. After a few more minutes he was shown to me for just a second right before he was placed in the incubator and whisked away. Jared went with them.

By 3:30 the Dr finished sewing and stapling me up and I was brought out to recovery until the anesthesia wore off. Jared came back about 20 minutes later because they had to run tests on Wyatt and were in a sterile environment that he was not allowed to go in. The next little bit was spent waking up parents and siblings letting them know that Wyatt had made an early debut. We were brought to my room a little after 5 am and Jared immediately passed out asleep on the chair. I tried to sleep and drifted off here and there, but I was really anxious to see my little Wyatt. At 9 a nurse came in and taught me how to pump so that I could get started and FINALLY at 11 I was allowed to go and see my son.

My whole life I've always thought newborn babies weren't very cute. I've always joked that when I finally did have a baby I'd tell the Dr.
"AH!!!! Put it back!!!"

I know I'm probably a little biased, but I think that Wyatt is perfect. When I was wheeled over to the NICU and brought next to him, I sat net to the incubator and just thought to myself, he is THE most beautiful baby I have ever seen in my entire life.

Wyatt Reid Barney ~ 2 lbs 4 oz. 13.75 inches

The neonatologist informed us that Wyatt seemed to be doing very well. He had been intubated, but was breathing room air, and he was put under light therapy. These two things are pretty much standard for NICU babies. Other than those two things, there weren't any other traditional preemie concerns, however, Wyatt has a skin condition that they are very much concerned about. His skin was "sluffing off in sheets". Antibiotics were administered to him and blood was drawn to test for different infections. All blood tests came back negative for infection so the Dr. thinks that he might have Epidermolysis bullosa.

A call was put in to a dermatologist and after talking with another of the NICU Dr.'s, we were informed that it was a big possibility that Wyatt would need to be transferred to another hospital that had resources better able to diagnose and treat him. Also, because of his skin condition we are not allowed to touch him at all. His skin is so sensitive that any contact can make more skin rub off.

By 4 that afternoon, Wyatt no longer needed to be intubated, so the tube was removed and he started breathing room air completely on his own! A few hours after that he was taken off of light therapy and the shield protecting his eyes was able to be removed. He is definitely daddy's little boy. :) He has his daddy's blonde hair and blue eyes and his nose and his big 'ol forehead, haha. I don't really "feel" like a mom yet and that might be partly because we haven't been allowed to have any contact with him, but the love that I feel for this little person is indescribable.

Monday, April 16th - The neonatologist came in first thing in the morning and informed me that Wyatt did very well during the night, but that after a consult with another Dr., decided that Wyatt did in fact need to be moved to another hospital. Paperwork was filled out and a plan set in motion to get him transported over to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. I spent the entire morning by his side trying to soak up as much time with him as I possibly could before we would be separated. Transport from Children's showed up around 2:00 pm, 4 workers plus the transport driver, all for my little man. It took awhile for everything to be set up to move him, but at 3:00 the RN from Children's asked for me to be wheeled over by Wyatt so he could do a "fly by" for a kiss. Jared and I just looked at each other in complete shock I asked her, are you serious? I really get to kiss him?! To which she responded, of course! He's your son! She brought him in front of me and I kissed his forehead and so did Jared and then he was quickly put into the transport incubator. I tried to stay composed, but as soon as I looked at Jared and saw him crying I just lost it. We held each other as the final preparations were done and a few minutes later I had to say goodbye to my boys. Seeing Wyatt leave without me is probably the hardest thing that I've had to do so far with this entire pregnancy experience, but his daddy's with him and I know he's in good care.

Transport doesn't mess around. :)

Wyatt's new hospital

I spent the remainder of the day researching EB and pumping away since that is the only thing I can do for my son right now. And you know what? I feel pretty awesome because I'm the only person in the world that can do that for him. :)

The night ended with this picture from Jared.

Today, April 17th - My Dr. came in to see me this morning, and because of my circumstances, he is going to let me leave the hospital today. He would normally want to keep me another day or two, but he said that I'm doing very well and wants me to be able to be at the other hospital with Wyatt as soon as I can. The hospital is currently working on getting me discharged and I should be out of here in just a few short hours.

I can't wait to see my boys!!!!!