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Baby loss at 24 weeks

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can and Wisdom to know the difference" August 31st, 2011 my world came crashing down on me when I was told my unborn daughter was no longer living. Today I still remember it like it was yesterday. When the doctor came in the room by the look on her face I could tell something was wrong. She sat down, and held my hand and told me my daughter was gone. I cried. I screamed. I wanted to run out of the hospital and get away from the world. I wanted this to be a nightmare. But, I wasn't dreaming unfortunately. I was rushed by ambulance to a hospital that handled high risk cases like mine. The whole reason I went to the hospital on August 31st is because I was having pain, leaking, and I haven't felt my baby moved all day. I knew something was wrong. When I got to Shands Hospital in Gainsville, Florida to deliver my daughter everything happened so fast. I didn't know what to expect when I got there. I had about 20 nurses and doctors working on me and my daughter. Right away the death of my daughter was determined it was by PROM. PROM is premature rupture of the membranes. The sad part about all of this is I was seen at the Villages Hospital August 29th, 2011 and diagnose with low amniotic fluid and an infection. I was discharged from this hospital the same day with no treatment. Two days later on August 31st, 2011 my daughter would be pronounced dead. A nurse at Shands Hospital looked me in the eyes and told me my daughter could have been saved. Shands told me I should have never been discharged from the hospital. I was 24 weeks pregnant. At 24 weeks a baby has 50% chance of surviving outside the womb. My daughter autopsy report revealed she was healthy, with no medical problems. It also revealed that premature rupture of the membranes played a major part in her death. It took me 23 hours to deliver my daughter. While I was in labor I was giving several antibiotics because I was running a 104 fever and I had severe chills. It was determined I developed a infection from having a broken water. The same infection that played a role in the death of my daughter. I thank god I went to the hospital when I did, because I may have also lost my life. I cry everyday knowing my daughter could have been saved with steroids,antibiotics, and bed rest at a hospital who are experienced with premature babies. My life will never be the same without my daughter. I will forever be broken and have a part of me missing. My baby girl Dezira Kimberly was born Sept 2nd, 2011 at 7:38 am and she deserves justice. I have recently started a petition in her memory to give justice to women and stillborn babies who are victims of medical negligence. I know doctors are humans and they make mistakes too. But, too make careless mistakes when a doctor knew something was wrong with a baby and to leave a unborn child to die without giving them a chance at life is cruel. Mother To A Sleeping Angel.

Editor's Comment

That is very tragic that you say the hospital knew you had an infection and possible premature rupture of membranes, but did not give you antibiotics or monitor you. I am so sorry for your loss which is very hard to come to terms with when it might have been avoided. I hope you are able to give yourself time to grieve your loss and I would encourage you to get some baby loss counselling to support you at this time.

This story was sent in on 26/05/2012

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