I was in my doctor's office on July 7th, 1998, when he suggested that my husband and I go tothe hospital for a more advanced ultrasound. I was in my 10th month of pregnancy. When we arrived the nurse brought us to a very small room with a single bed and an ultrasound machine. A doctor, who I did not know, came in and proceeded to conduct the scan. As I watched to screen I could not believe my eyes. My baby's heart was not beating. I looked at my husband and said to him "she is gone".
This is not what we expected because I had a perfect pregnancy. I experienced morning sickness only once. I made sure I ate and drank healthy. In May 1998 I called my doctor's office to tell them that I didn't feel her move for a couple of hours. They suggested I come in for an ultrasound. It turned out she was fine. Her heartbeat was normal.
One of my final doctor's examines was four days prior to my June 7th appointment. The nurse held the fetal monitor on my stomach and Julianna's heartbeat, again, was within the "normal range". Sometime, between July 3rd to July 7th, 1998, she passed away.
On July 7th, after the final ultrasound, the hospital asked us if we could move to a delivery room. On July 8th, 1998 at 9:45pm, Julianna Rubino was born. She was a beautiful, normal colored baby. My husband and I were able to be with her for two hours. As we both look back, we're very grateful to have had that time with her, even though she left us to be one of god's angels.
Tracey Rubino