The amazing Amanda Moore and baby Parker (6 months). Amanda got pregnant unexpectedly when she was just 19, but she and her boyfriend have become a phenomenal family. Her pregnancy was healthy until she was about 34 weeks along. She started having strange symptoms including extremely itchy hands and feet, and kept going to her midwife looking for answers and relief but was told just to take Benadryl and that it was normal. Amanda felt there was a lot more going on and learned through research that her symptoms very much fit Intrahepatic Cholestasis of Pregnancy (ICP) which is a build up of bile acids which can cause stillbirth or preterm labor. Many women with the condition are induced at 37 weeks due to increased risk of stillbirth. Amanda's midwife refused to test her so she went to the hospital after 5 full days of no sleep due to the testing. She was finally tested but was again told she didn't have it, but once she looked at the report, learned that she did. Amanda was so upset she stopped going to prenatal appointments and decided that she would just rely on the hospital when she went into labor. Labor never started and at nearly 42 weeks she called the hospital concerned and they advised she come in for an induction. Amanda labored for 24 hours after they broke her water but Parker never dropped and she was told she couldn't have him vaginally and it was their decision but a cesarean was likely best. She consented to the cesarean birth but when Parker was pulled out he wasn't breathing and didn't have a heartbeat. The nurse started doing CPR on Parker and Amanda wasn't told what was going on. Thankfully, they were able to revive him and he doesn't appear to have any lasting health effects. Amanda wasn't able to hold Parker but held his hand briefly before he has air lifted to the nearest children's hospital. Because Amanda had just had surgery, she was unable to join him. Her boyfriend made the drive to be with Parker but she was left to spend the night at the hospital alone without her baby. She was able to be discharged early to be with Parker. He was discharged after 2 days in the NICU. The day after taking him home, they had to go back to the local hospital to follow up and they decided to keep Parker overnight again due to jaundice. Amanda was able to successfully initiate breastfeeding and is very proud to be nursing Parker today. She chose to participate in the project in part to raise awareness of ICP.
ICP