Tales From the NICU - Part I

Stories from the preterm birth of our daughter, Madeline, in May 2014 -- from my water breaking and hospitalization at 30 weeks, to her birth at 32 weeks, to our 38 day stay in the NICU.


17 MAY 2014 - DAY ONE
Good morning! Here's the little one without anything on her face today!

We had a great night, and Madeline is doing beautifully. Her breathing tubes were removed, and she looks so far like she will need much less assistance.

Since I didn't get to tell the story yesterday of how she came to join us 8 weeks early....at about 1:30pm, after a quiet day up until then, I started having moderate lower back pain. I figured it was nothing, but remembered that back pain was one of the things I'd been warned about, so I called a nurse. We put the baby on the monitor, and found that her heart rate was periodically dipping down -- like, WAY down, in to the 80's. Within 10 minutes, the  doctor on call was in my room.
 
"You need to have your baby."
"Now?"
"Now.  Call your husband, get him down here. This kid is not going to tolerate labor at all. We're going to need to do an emergency cesarean. I'm going to go let the nursery know, and prep for surgery. I'll see you in the operating room in 15 minutes."
Jake made it to the hospital 7 minutes from the time I called him. Even so, he was chasing after us, pulling an scrubs in the hallway as they wheeled me in to the OR.

By 3:45, we had had a very successful emergency cesarean section. The baby came out with a fierce little cry, but quickly got tired trying to breathe on her own. She was intubated overnight, extubated this morning, and is doing very well on her own now.

Of course, our medical team is incredible, and they've been doing an amazing job with her. They say she is quite the little rock star.
The neonatal intensive care unit here is SO COOL. They baby has her very own private room, which is attached to our very own private room, which has a queen-sized bed in it. We will be allowed to stay here until she is ready to come home with us.

She is the smallest baby I've ever seen in real life at 3 pounds 14 ounces, but is easily the most beautiful thing I've ever laid eyes on. I'm still recovering from surgery, but hanging in there alright. We are very much looking forward to being able to hold her this afternoon.