My journey with Percreta. Rachel's survivor story!

Well here goes my story. I started having problems at week 20 with spotting so I went to my gynecologist at Hillcrest Hospital. He did an ultra sound and he suspected placenta Previa. At 23 weeks I went back to him due to heavy bleeding. Another ultra sound and by this time my placenta was looking like Swiss cheese. I was admitted into hospital to try and stop the bleeding, which they did. I had another big bleed at 26 weeks. My doctor then decided to admit me into hospital for bedrest and to send me to a fetal specialist for a second opinion. I was diagnosed with Placenta Precreta. I was told that it was life threatening. He wanted me to stay in hospital until the delivery of the baby, to get the blood on stand by and my medical team on standby as well.

I got a dull pain and it got worse at 29 weeks into my pregnancy they decided to do the emergency C section on the 4^th June 2015.

My husband and I, the night of my delivery.

My son's paediatrician and nurse.

My son was born premature, weighing 1,3kg at 29 weeks. The picture is of him in the NICU, where he stayed for 7 weeks.

In the theater while my medical team was delivering, I started to hemorrhage. They had to perform an emergency C-section and an emergency Hysterectomy. While this was happening I flat-lined. They had to resuscitate me. During that time 12 units of blood were used. That night while I went to ICU my anesthetist stayed with me in case of more bleeding, which happened. I was rushed back into theater (another 8 units of blood) that evening they managed to stop the bleeding (2 more units). I was in a critical condition, incubated on life support. My gynecologist told my husband that the next 24 hours they would know if I was going to make it or not. It was a very stressful time for my family at that time. Overall they used 30 units of blood. They say that blood is a gift of life they were sure right about that. It helped save my life. During that time In ICU I was incubated for three days and they had me sedated. I was awake a couple of times during that time and remember thinking that I must swallow hard. I did have another surgery done in hospital due to an abscess and infection around my pelvic area. That caused me to have antibiotics and Vac therapy on my wound.

Me with the Vac.

 

The first time I held my son!

I had great support from my family and friends and my church they even held a service for myself and my son. I was even surprised how strangers even came up to me and wanted to pray. During this time my husband was also a pillar of strength he supported me in every way possible taking photos and keeping me updated with our son. I was in the hospital for seven weeks in total, on the Vac machine for another eight weeks and had two more operations over the next five months. During my road to recovery over 6 months after my ordeal with the beast, my mom was a big help. 

 

My mom with my youngest son.

I am glad that I am alive today it was one challenging journey but I am glad to say that I have beaten the beast. I am so thankful to all the staff that assisted me and my son in Hillcrest hospital. And of cause to my family,  friends and all the others who played part in my journey. Of cause the big thank you to God. 

My special family!

 

Marinda, survived an undiagnosed PLACENTA PERCRETA!

In October 2013 I found out that I was pregnant with my 5th child. My husband and I was very surprised but exited!

All my previous pregnancies I took in the stride. No morning sickness or symptoms of being pregnant. With this pregnancy everything was different. I had morning sickness, constant perineum pain and a painful burning sensation on my right lower abdomen. All these symptoms I contributed to being older and the fact that I had 3 previous caesareans. 

33 weeks pregnant with my beautiful children

Every 4-6 weeks I went for my regular check-ups and scans at the gynaecologist. Our baby girl was healthy and there was no problems except for the fact that she was lying in a transverse-breach position and that I had a little Placenta Previa.  

At the 35 week scan little Emilie was still in the transverse-breach position. Her delivery was booked for 12 June 2014. 

Middle May I had to stop exercising. The burning sensation on the right side of my abdomen was just to painful, especially when I had to stand up to stretch on my indoor spin-bike. 

Saturday 7 June 2014 we went to my son's bicycle race. At the race I didn't feel well. I had a headache and felt grumpy. I also had a little mucus show when I went to the restroom. From that day I had uncomfortable abdominal pains. It was not the sporadic uterine Braxton Hicks contractions. It was more like the pain you will get when your cycle starts. Constant pain that just won't subside. 

I still had a lot to do before Emilie could be born. Both my oldest children were busy with exams. I tried to rest and think the pain away. I knew that I didn't had contractions, because the pain was more constant. The Monday night I couldn't sleep. The pain was unbearable. At 4am I took a hot bath, that relieved the pain. I slept about 2 hours. At 8 I phoned my gynaecologist and talked to the nurse on call. She said something was definitely cooking. At 12 the doctor did an internal exam and said that my cervix was thinning and was booked for a caesarean at 7pm that evening. 

For some reason I was very nervous and very unlike me. I was a veteran in birthing terms! Ha-ha-ha!

My husband and I had fun taking some last photographs of me being pregnant. It also helped calm our nerves. 

Waiting in theatre for my caesarean. Not knowing what lies ahead. 

At 7:16pm Emilie was born. The doctor showed her briefly to me and she looked like an angle! She was so beautiful. 

Welcome into the world Emilie!

I saw in the reflection of the theatre lights that there was a lot of blood. I briefly looked to my right where the Paediatrician was checking Emilie out. About half a minute after she was born I lost conciousness, while my Gynaecologist was explaining what was going on. 

00:30am Wednesday 11 June 2014 while they were wheeling me off to ICU, I heard the theatre-staff briefing the ICU-staff that I had a full hysterectomy and was still receiving blood. 

I was in an incredible amount of pain, was extremely cold and was so thirsty that I couldn't even talk two words without my tongue sticking to my palate. 

I was unable to move myself. The Anaesthetist slept in the hospital just in case I started to bleed again. The following morning he told me what happened in theatre. I was resuscitated and lost more than 10 litres of blood! Due to a life threatening condition called Placenta Percreta. 

Now, I truly appreciate the importance of blood donors. Sometimes a small selfless act of kindness can save a life! 

My husband brought videos and photo's of Emilie from the maternity ward. He is the most wonderful and supportive husband I could ever asked for. 

First kiss! 

You can see the IV line in my neck where they gave the blood transfusion.

16 hours after Emilie was born, I could hold her for the first time! They moved me to a private room in ICU so that they could bring her to me. That afternoon my other children also visited me in ICU and they were all so happy to hold their new sister for the first time. 

Brother and sisters meet their little baby sister for the first time. 

The next day I was moved back to the Maternity ward. After 4 days I stood up from my bed and gave 2 steps. It was one of the toughest steps of my life.

Sweet Emilie 2 days old.

On day 6 they discovered that my right kidney was under pressure due to ureter damage. On day 8 I received a nephrostomy. It is a procedure where they put a drain into your kidney so that it does not loose its function. 

I could not breastfeed, because I was dehydrated and was heavily medicated.

Bonding time in the Maternity ward.

After 8 days I finally went home with a healthy baby and a catheter and nephrostomy still draining my bladder and right kidney. 

Finally going home after 8 days in hospital.

The supra-pubic catheter draining my bladder came out after 14 days and the nephrostomy came out 7 weeks later after a stent was placed in the ureter to keep it open.

It was a long journey to recovery, but I am really grateful that I can see my children grow up and that I am alive and well today! I am truly blessed. 

My special family!