Gastroschisis

I am happy to see so many posts. I don’t want to bring anyone down with my story but I need to tell it. I had what seemed to be a pretty normal pregnancy. I was a nurse at the time and worked in a nursing home. Before I found out I was pregnant I had assisted with an x-ray on an elderly patient so naturally I always thought this may have caused my son’s illness. I had also sat in a hot tub for a few minutes during the pregnancy because I thought it would help my back pain, so I thought this may have caused it. I lived in Dallas and was being seen by the pregnancy clinics set up by the county health department. I was having regular check ups in a downtown Dallas location. About 2/3 through my pregnancy I was transferred to Grand Prarie. I was assured my medical recors would follow me. When I saw the RN everything seemed fine. One day, on my last visit before I went into labor I noted that she had difficulty finding the fetal heart tones. She listened longer and moved the stethoscope around and said, “There, 160.” The doctor who was to examine me looked like he may have been a resident and he quickly looked at me and didn’t examine me. My blood pressure was up and I had swollen ankles and feet. I did not have an alphafetoprotein test done, nor was my blood pressure treated. This was on a Friday. On Saturday my husband, 4 year old daughter and I went to Lake Grapevine. While there I had blurred vision and a headache. Now I know these were signs consistent with high blood pressure and possibly pre-eclampsia. The next day Sunday I began to have contractions, arrived at Parkland Hospital in Dallas ER. The doctor could not hear the fetal heart tones. I was rushed on an elevator to ultrasound. It was at that time that I first heard the words, ” There is no heart beat, I am sorry but your baby has died.” I was so angry, I almost couldn’t cry. I asked if I would have a c-section, the doctor said ,” No you can deliver the baby naturally.” Looking back this was very very hard for me. I said, ” Well can I have some pain medication then, it is not going to hurt the baby.” To my maternity room I went. I underwent a pitocin drip, contractions, residents coming in and out of the room wanting to check my cervix. I agreed to it. I had been a student too and I knew that everyone had to learn. I was a nurse. Being a nurse did not help me, in fact when we get sick we are just at vulnerable and weak as everyone else. I did get to the delivery room finally after quite alot of pain and discomfort. I was told to push, I did. As the baby was born… there was no sound, no cry. I was hoping that somehow there had been a mistake and that the baby would be alive. The baby had gastroscisis the doctor said. I was told the baby also had a nuchal cord. The cord was wrapped around the baby’s neck. I asked the nurse if I could hold my son. She wrapped him in a blanket and for a few minutes 1-2 literally, I held my son for the first, only and last time. The doctor told me to push, he said if you don’t push the after birth-you may hemorrhage. I looked at my husband who was there the whole time and I said, “Here do you want to hold him?” He held our son as I pushed and I was able to see my son’s face one last time. The nurses took my baby away. We did have a nice graveside service for our son and our family members came. I have always thought it must have been something I did. I now know this condition occurs in 1 out of 5000 births and the cause is unknown. I worried about having a child afterwards, but after genetic counseling, I did have a healthy baby girl. Reading about the surgeries required makes me think- what if. When I see the survival rate I get angry. I think if that resident had picked up on the abnormal findings maybe an ultrasound may have saved my child’s life. Maybe not. The other thing that angers me is that the medical system lost most of my medical record. The hospital recorded that I only had 4 prenatal visits, which was not true. I was poor and inexperienced so I did not seek any action, but I should have. It may not have changed the outcome, but maybe it could have. I wish all of you who are undergoing surgery still…hope. I pray that you all can be strong and enjoy your life…struggles and all. I support you.

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