World Prematurity Day

Four years ago today, at only 23 weeks pregnant, I was admitted to the hospital with preterm labor and a bulging sac.  I was pumped full of labor stopping drugs, air lifted to a hospital 45 miles away with a level 3 NICU, and put on STRICT bedrest with the hopes of being able to stay pregnant for at least another 9 weeks.  Less than 24 hours later, my water broke and I gave birth to a 1lb 10oz baby girl.

She was born with suspected sepsis, Respiratory Distress Syndrom, developed pneumonia twice, had 6 blood transfusions, Retinopathy of Prematurity, a spinal tap for suspected meningitis, was on an oscillator, ventilator, cpap, and finally a nasal canula.

Finally, at 3 weeks old I was able to hold her for the first time, for one hour.  It was the saddest & happiest hour of my life.

It was another 3 weeks until I was able to hold her again, and my husband was given the chance to hold his little girl for the first time.

115 days after she was born, 2 weeks before her due date, she finally came home to us.  A happy, healthy, and CHUNKY 8lb bundle of everything good in my life.

Tomorrow she will be 4 years old.  She's happy, 100% healthy, and nobody would ever guess that she was born even a day early.

Today is World Prematurity Day.  Today we honor the million babies who died this year because they were born before they were ready, and the 12 million more who struggle to survive.  Take a minute to visit the March of Dimes to find out what you can do to raise awareness of this serious problem, and to help every baby have a healthy start to life.