Arwyn Rhys Thomas
Arwyn Rhys Thomas was born on 10th June, 2002
I went into labour at 10pm on Saturday 7th June. I had been standing talking to a neighbour in the road for about one and a half hours - mad! I went home and had backache and then noticed immediately a show of blood. I telephoned the hospital and was admitted immediately. I was given the drugs to try to stop the labour and given a second dose of steroids to help the baby's lungs to develop.
I had palpitations again during the treatment, which was very worrying - because at one point they thought that I had a heart murmour. Early in the morning I was told they would be unable to keep giving the drugs. During an examination the doctor thought that she could see Arwyn's head and so I would be able to deliver him naturally. I was given a scan and they could see that he was wasn't in the head down position but was lying across my stomach - transverse.
I was told that I would need to have a caesarian section which was arranged immediately.
I was given a spinal anesthetic which was fine. My husband was with me during the operation which was good because he wasn't allowed in when we had Katie because it was an emergency section under general anesthetic.
The section went well and I asked the surgeon to look to see why I had gone into premature labour and he said that I had a subseptate septum which meant that the same thing would happen again. He also told me that the cord had been wrapped around Arwyn's neck twice.
Arwyn was brought to me to see him before he was taken to Special Care which was amazing and made such a difference to me.
He weighed 4lb 10oz and was taken to the Special Care Unit.
Arwyn was put on CPAP for 48 hours. He had to have phototherapy treatment for jaundice.
Just before he was discharged I noticed that he had a blue mark on his neck. He had two Hemangiomas one on the neck and one on the top of his head.
He came out of hospital on Tuesday June 26th, 2002.
He was feeding well (breast feeding) and sleeping well - he was delightful.
During the first few weeks I noticed that I couldn't put Arwyn to sleep flat on his back because he would vomit and even vomit through his nose. I explained my concerns to the midwife but she didn't seem concerned and just said to prop him up slightly. Slightly was an understatement. I sat in the chair for months on end holding him upright and spent many hours sitting outside Mcdonalds so that he could sleep and I could have a somewhat normal existence and a nice warm cup of tea. This went on for eighteen months. Arwyn would have supper and every night he would vomit and need a change of clothes and bedding and of course my poor husband was on the receiving end of most of it as he often fed him in the evenings. He was eventually diagnosed with a gastric reflux. But for most babies it gets better at the weaning stage but for us it got worse.
Arwyn also had very noisy breathing and it was eventually diagnosed as a stridor. Life was very difficult for us all including our daughter Katie. It is the same as everything else, unless you have been through it nobody knows but the sad thing is that even when people have been through it they forget. I was unable to go back to work as a teacher after having Arwyn because I found it so difficult and also because Arwyn needed to be with his mother.
How my husband and I got through these months we will never know - it was very hard. Having a premature baby is very difficult and is not like having a normal one. But they are special and to see them achieve their milestones is extra special.
Arwyn started full-time Welsh school at the age of three. Towards the end of his first year in school he was diagnosed as having Glue Ear which is often a problem for premature babies and is more common amongst boys. As a result of a diagnosis I now spend more time with Arwyn helping him to read, write and concentrating on improving his speech. He is quite shy when it comes to concerts etc but I am told that this is often when the problem is highlighted to teachers. Arwyn was also diagnosed as having an Inguinal hernias but at the moment the specialist is checking every six months and hopefully no surgery will be necessary.
Today (2008), Arwyn is a normal, confident healthy boy and doesn't suffer from any problems. Is Glue Ear is improving without any medical intervention. He is doing well in school and at the age of five passed his 50 meters swimming badge - we are so proud of him (his big sister is to).