Story
Name
Lucy Fredsti
Injury/Illness
Premature Birth
On August 19th, I woke up to fluids in my bed. My gut told me that something was wrong and to go to the emergency room. At the ER, they confirmed that my water broke at 29 weeks pregnant. They called my OB in, and she told me that we may have a baby soon! However, my hospital near home did not have enough resources, so I would have to go to Bismarck, 4 hours away.
I was taken to a hospital with a level 3 NICU, high risk OBs, and a maternal fetal medicine OB. These specialists told me that I was in for a long hospital stay, and the goal would be to stay pregnant until 34 weeks. Imagine leaving to the hospital for what you think is a routine exam to be told you will not be home for weeks! I was diagnosed with PPROM (preterm premature rupture of membranes) and also had bleeding after my water broke. I had continuous monitoring in the hospital for about 3 weeks. There is a larger risk of infection since the amniotic sac was technically open. This meant lots of labs, NSTs, and bed rest.
On September 7th, I woke up at 7am to a sharp pain and a gush of blood. My OB told me that there was a high chance I needed an emergency c section. They put me on monitors and checked my cervix. I was having contractions and was already 6 cm dilated. At 9:56am, baby Lucy was born at 31 weeks! My original due date was November 3rd. She weighed only 2 pounds and 12 ounces at the 2nd percentile. She has been a fighter her entire journey, and the nurses like to call her a “spicy” little one. She has slowly weaned off of the CPAP and oxygen and can now breathe on her own. She is still on a feeding tube and has some moments of apnea (forgetting to breathe) while she is eating. She is still currently in the NICU, and we are praying for her to be able to eat and breathe so that she can come home.
Any funds that are raised will go to medical expenses incurred during my pregnancy and Lucy’s NICU stay.