My sweet baby was born 11 weeks early.

 It has been awhile since I have done a personal update. In July, I had a cervical cerclage placed due to a short cervix in pregnancy. Fast forward, on September 25, 2021, I had a massive amount of bleeding and watery substance at 27 weeks 4 days pregnant. It was confirmed that my waters had a leak. I was immediately placed on hospital bedrest with a catheter and mag drip as well as steroids for the babies lungs. I started contracting and they were able to manage and get it stopped along with pushing fluids and antibiotics as much as they could.

After getting stable and manageable I was put into a room on the other floor and received twice a day NST for the baby with round clock monitoring. 8 days into my journey, my body started to decline. I started bleeding heavily and was contracting. They removed my cerclage due to risk of a tear. The day after, my condition had gotten worse and worse and I had a pattern of contractions that were not like before. They checked me and I was 5cm. Thats when shit got real. I started full blown labor.

The doctor did blood work and it was determined that I had started to get an infection due to the membranes leaking and they decided to help get him out faster with Pitocin. This allowed for more consistent and stronger contractions to help progress. At this time, I was dilated, however, my cervix was thick and it had to efface. I labored for a full 22 hours and somehow managed not to get the epidural. I don't know how I did it, but I am happy that I did. Hudson flew out with one push and the little guy made his arrival known!

Hudson Liam Johnson was born on October 3, 2021 at 28 weeks 4 days weighing 3 lbs 4 oz and 16 inches long. The NICU doctor said he's looking more like a 30 weeker due to how big he is and how well he has been thriving in the first 24 hours of birth. He is on CPAP and sucks his binky occasionally.

This journey is going to be a long one, however, it will be worth it! With him being my last baby, it is bittersweet for sure. I am excited and overwhelmed at the same time and I can't wait to bring him home to meet his siblings!