It was my worst nightmare, but with the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) doing their best I knew she was in great hands. However nobody really had any hope for her, I was told numerous times "you know she's a very poorly baby, don't you?”. It was horror because I just wanted them to say she would pull through!
A few days had gone by and, after a swab, I was found to be was a carrier of Group B-strep (GBS).
Passing from me to my child it had caused meningitis and I felt horrible that my body couldn't do what most mothers have done - just have a healthy baby and go home and live happily ever after!
With Eden having fits the NICU team had sedated her in order to do a lumbar puncture. They couldn't do this if Eden wasn't sedated as the muscles in her back would seize.
An EEG test was done and Eden was still fitting as the sedation went into her system. By the time she was fully sedated they had done three lumbar punctures.
After weeks on antibiotics, Eden’s condition started to turn around. They had stopped sedating her but said it would take days for her to come round properly and to start moving again.
She was still on ventilation to support her breathing as her muscles were still trying to recuperate.
Two days went by and Eden's fingers and toes started to move, which meant I was allowed to touch her. I went into the incubator which held Eden's baby smell that every mother loves! And I got to touch her, even change her nappy, which was a dream as I could now be her carer, her mother.
My mind was at rest as I knew I was going to leave the hospital with a baby, MY BABY.
So it was time, time to take away the vent and let Eden finally take her first breath, and she just couldn't do it, she had to be bagged, and the vent went back in. Another day went by and they said they would try again, so they did and this time Eden did breathe alone.