Black Roman, guest article

17/11/2021

Wednesday, 17 November, 2021, 06:56 Updated: 07:05

I gave birth to a baby girl weighing 768 grams.

That's how we survived it

This story is not easy to read, and it includes a very frightening pregnancy, an emergency cesarean, the birth of a little preterm, 110 days in preterm and years of rehabilitation.

But it's also the most optimistic story you'll read today

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At 28 my earth shook and my life changed from end to end.

The pregnancy, which began as a dream come true, ended in the dramatic birth of a 768-gram baby.

This event changed everything in my life, and in my family life.

But let's start at the beginning.

It started as a fairy tale.

I first became pregnant with a pregnancy I really wanted and it filled me and my partner with huge excitement.

euphoria.

But unfortunately it did not last long.

Already at week 14 I arrived at the emergency room following very severe headaches.

A monitor examination revealed a gap in the growth of the fetus in my womb, and although I was in the 14th week of pregnancy, my fetus was much smaller, and actually matched at week 12.

More on Walla!

Israeli research: Trauma from preterm birth accompanies mothers even years later

To the full article

Days after this test I was already on maternity leave with appointments for frequent follow-up at the gynecologist.

From test to test the gap in growth is acute, and by week 20 I have been told that in this condition the baby may die in the womb or be born God forbid with severe injuries like retardation.

Severe Vulnerability.

Lag.

To die in the womb.

This information shocks the mind, until it is as if sealed.

You can not really understand the meaning of things.

Who even imagined things like premature birth, miscarriage or loss.

These are things that happen to others.

It can not touch me.

Soul itself, despite all the predictions.

Lia Shachori in Pegia (Photo: Courtesy of the family)

My resistance to reality continued as long as I could give it a place.

But then, at week 24 I met a specialist doctor who urgently referred me to a women’s emergency room.

The doctors talked to me again about the serious condition of my fetus and explained to me that there is a very high probability that the baby will not survive, and even if it does - she could have very serious injuries.

Start talking to me about the options I face: the immediate birth of an immature baby who may die or suffer from extremely serious injuries, an initiated termination of pregnancy, or do nothing and know there may be intrauterine death.

Russian roulette

I did not know what to decide, and I crashed mentally. The head realizes that the right thing to do is terminate the pregnancy, but the heart refuses to be convinced. Suddenly, as if from heaven, I first felt fetal movements. That tiny fetus suddenly knocks on my stomach and tells me "Mom, give me a chance". At that very moment it was clear to me that I was not terminating the pregnancy and that I was fighting with my baby for her life. In the same breath I also realized that her name would be Lia, a name that combines letters from the word God - I let him choose what would happen to her. And so, the Creator, the universe and my willpower helped us and we were able to continue to carry the pregnancy until week 29.

The day Lia was born I will never forget. I woke up in my house into a pool of blood, and we immediately flew to the hospital. It was a fateful journey, one that is clearly going to change our lives - either we will return with a girl or we will return with a broken heart. I was hospitalized for observation and the next day a group of doctors told us, "Either she is taken out now, or she will die in the womb." I was rushed for an emergency cesarean section.

A few hours later I woke up and got a picture of Lia.

A small and perfect creature, weighing 768 grams, that breathes on its own against all predictions.

The feeling was that the worst was behind us, she survived.

After 110 days in Pegia - we set out on a new journey

I met Lia for the first time the next day.

She was in the incubator and I was not allowed to take her out and touch her.

I said to her - "My beautiful hello" and immediately her pulse rose.

She recognized my voice.

Lia was in infancy for 110 days and we had to change our lives from end to end.

Even before the birth, I was exposed to the Parents Forum for Premature Babies and the Lahav Association - for preterm infants in Israel, and they helped us a lot - including finding a temporary apartment in Tel Aviv where I could sleep and pump milk for Lia, since we were very far from home.

More on Walla!

• Despite the concerns, most preterm infants grow up to be healthy adults

• Babies born prematurely are at increased risk of developing diabetes

• Instead of an incubator?

  The simplest action that can save preterm infants

• New Israeli development prevents platform pain.

  Do not believe?

  There is a free demo

Lia was finally released from childbirth at 4 months old, but the journey was not over.

At the time of discharge from preterm labor Lia weighed a little over two pounds, and we embarked on a new journey where I could not return to work due to frequent follow-ups at the hospital.

Lia suffered from a chronic lung disease that caused her to have a terrible cough.

Following this, she would vomit the food she ate and was unable to gain weight well.

At one year of age Lia weighed three pounds, and at two years of age she weighed about seven pounds.

"It was clear to me that when the storm subsided, I would dedicate myself to volunteering with the organization."

Lia and Rumi Shchori (Photo: courtesy of the family)

During these difficult days I had to resign from the job to continue accompanying her to treatments.

In those days I was not entitled to an extension of maternity leave beyond 10 weeks of hospitalization, or a disability pension.

The struggle was twofold and we had to deal at the same time with both complex treatment and weather difficulties.

Around age 3 there was euphoria when we thought we were behind miscarriages.

But around the age of five, all sorts of preterm signs began to appear that revolved mainly around difficulties in age-appropriate development, both physical and emotional, and these continue to accompany us even today, when Lia is 12 years old.

Parents of preterm infants do not have to deal with this alone

Throughout the first months of Lia's life, I continued to rely on the Lahav Association. I was amazed at how unwilling the state was to take care of women like me. Babies like Lia. We gave birth to preterm infants (up to 20 weeks), expanded the labels for the treatment of RSV, the preterm infants returned to the community, we worked to determine the percentage of disability for preterm infants, promote a breast milk bank and more.

Premature babies carry the premature babies with them even years later.

Lia Shchori (Photo: courtesy of the family)

The association assists 15,000 preterm infants and families each year.

Everyone who applies to the association receives the most comprehensive response and assistance possible, but even those who have not heard, did not know, did not apply - receive the rights for which we fought and enjoy the fruits of our work.

Unfortunately, the rabbi suffers from financial difficulties and the lack of donations and without proper support may be quarantined.

The all-important activity of the association for parents of preterm infants and preterm infants themselves will be harmed and therefore it is very important to make an effort and bring the issue of preterm awareness to the agenda.

• health

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• Premature

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