Jake Charles was conceived by in vitro fertilization, after three long years of struggling with infertility. He was a miracle from the start! During my 22-week routine ob/gyn visit, my doctor identified the vasa previa and explained very clearly what the condition was and what the risks were. We left the office for a weekend trip to Las Vegas, our hearts heavy with the news that in all likelihood, we would have to deliver Jake prematurely. While in Las Vegas, the plot thickened -- I went into pre-term labor. I didn't even know it was labor until I visited my doctor after our return home -- I just knew I didn't feel right. I thought it was just the heat and the running around for my brother-in-law's wedding.

I went on a terbutaline IV, a contraction monitor, and put on strict home bed rest. Jake's gestational age was still too young for him to live. I tried to keep up my hopes and good spirits. We had just bought a house and I had to sign the closing papers in my bed! Two weeks later, my doctor called with his decision to admit me to a high-risk unit for the remainder of my pregnancy. The plan was to monitor me closely for contractions but try to progress the pregnancy as long as possible. What a drag being in the hospital -- but I had many conversations with Jake and I tried to stay positive. I read up on premature birth, developed a great rapport with my doctors and stayed connected to my job in medical publishing with my laptop. My husband, Adam, moved us out of our old townhouse and into our new first home without me. I postponed the baby shower I would miss and optimistically chose paint colors for Jake's nursery.

After a couple of frightening bleeds around week 29 -- my doctor sat down with me and Adam and put the question to us: Do we want to deliver now, at 29 weeks, or try to push the pregnancy a little longer? Both had tremendous risks - but my heart told me that having Jake born with potential prematurity complications was unquestionably better than not having Jake born alive at all. There was simply no guarantee that an emergency C-section could be performed quickly enough to save his life. So we all hugged and agreed to deliver as soon as I was given the steroid shots that would help develop the baby's lungs. I can't even put into words the emotions I felt that morning. My husband and I had started taking this in stride -- we can do this -- we're prepared.

Jake was born on August 24, 2005 weighing 3 lbs 11 ounces and breathing on his own. His little cry was the best sound I had ever heard. They whisked him away to the NICU and I passed out from blood loss. I ended up not needing a transfusion, but it was just one more scary development!

The next six weeks centered on daily visits to see Jake in the NICU -- learning to care for his tiny body and loving him more every day. I can honestly say that it never crossed my mind that he would have any serious health problems. I was too busy pumping breast milk, kangarooing, and learning everything I could about preemies. We finally left the NICU with the Chief of Neonatology telling us that he'd never seen a baby born at 29 weeks breeze through a neonatal stay like Jake. Music to our ears that made us even prouder of our strong fighter (after all, he was named after his great grandfather, a boxer.) He left the hospital a month before his due date -- a beautiful 5 pounds. We had to deal with an apnea monitor and we had some breastfeeding struggles at first, but otherwise Jake was a perfect baby who has astounded us every day since.

He's now a strapping 2-year old -- in the 97th percentile for height and 70th percentile for weight. He's hit all his developmental milestones. We are so incredibly grateful that my ob/gyn diagnosed our condition and took smart steps to improve our chances of survival. The neonatal team was amazing and all of our friends and family were so supportive as we went through all of our challenges. It's shocking now to look back at photos and see Jake's feeding tube and tiny diapers. Was that really us? Did we really make it through all those obstacles? We did! And I hope every diagnosis of vasa previa has the same miracle ending.

~ Deb
October 25, 2007