When things go wrong.
The next two pages are about what went wrong and before Lisa had to have a section to remove the baby (Kirsty) click here if you want to go straight to Kirsty's 1st page.
Lisa was about six months pregnant and had one very bad headache. Because it did not go we decided to get her to the Doctors.
This then turned our lives upside down because Lisa's blood pressure had gone sky high.
Which because of her being pregnant pointed towards the start of pre-eclampsia.
Before it had really sunk in a bag was packed Pap was looking after Amy and we were in the High Independence Unit at Northampton General Hospital.
Our lives had been turned upside down. Lisa had had a problem with Amy our first daughter, but much later on in the pregnancy. This was total shock.
It was Thursday 21st of June when Lisa was admitted and because of the events Pap stayed the night just in case. Lisa's blood pressure had to be kept under control if not then the baby would have to be taken out. The risks were too high. The chances of the baby surviving at that early stage were very low indeed. Scans revealed that the baby only weighed about a pound and the growth had slowed down. This indicated that there was a problem with the placenta and it was pre-eclampsia.
The next few days were very touch and go blood pressure and the baby were checked virtually every hour.
I just don't know how I coped with running the house looking after Amy and also working as well. And then of course there was the hospital and the worry. I was literally on high alert all the time the slightest noise awoke me.
Sleep was difficult as I was on edge if the telephone rang. I also found myself starting one thing then doing another I had so much going through my head. If I was awake I was doing some thing. If I slept I slept. In the end I nearly fell to pieces. But I had to be strong for Lisa strong for Amy and also for that baby.
After a few days of doing a balancing act Lisa was put onto a ward which made life a bit easier. In the High Independence Unit only the partners are allowed in so Amy could not see her mum.
One morning I got to the hospital in time to see the consultant with Lisa. It was not very good news. They did not expect to be able to keep Lisa and the baby safe for very much longer.
The chances of survival were very low and the baby might have even be born dead. In the mean time Lisa was given steroid injections to help the babies lungs develop.
Throughout all these days the pressure and the worry was immense a battle to stay in one piece and to cope.
As well as close monitoring of Lisa scans and heart monitoring were done of the baby. The baby was not growing very well and the blood flow to the placenta was not very good. In effect the baby was "starving".
It was decided that on Monday July the 9th the baby was to be born by cesarean section. Some Mothers who have had a natural birth seem to think that these are the easy way out. But it is a major operation! It would have been nice to see a natural birth. And a section is NOT the easy way out believe you me!
On the Sunday 20th of July it was found that Lisa's blood count had dropped so she would have to be put under and I would have to wait outside.
Amy was left with relatives that day, and the planned operation was delayed. Lisa's blood count was even lower and at about 1.15pm we were called down.
Waiting outside that theatre was the end of 18 days of worry or an end of one chapter of worry with more to come.