This year, I decided to participate in the Bloggers Unite: Fight for Preemies blog day. There are currently over 300 bloggers signed up to blog about fighting for preemies. Isn't that amazing?!The reason is this: Every year, 20 million babies are born too soon, too small and very sick-half a million of them in the U.S. That is 20 million babies too many!
You may have heard of the March of Dimes. Their goal is to one day eliminate premature births. Make preemies extinct. I think that is a very good goal. However, we have to fight for that. Preemies fight a battle every day just to survive.
Here is our story:
Its not a super scary one, nor is it a painful one. We were extremely blessed with how healthy Kyndall was when she was born.
It all started Nov. 21, 2008 when I had a kidney stone. I was at work, but got off early because my boss was worried that I was going to have the baby right then and there on the gas station floor. I got home and Chad took me to the hospital. We went straight to L&D, even though we knew what it was. They kept me for the weekend. Thinking back, this is when I think I started showing signs of preeclampsia, but all the signs were chalked up to the fact that I was in pain and had a stone...
A week later, my doctor took me off my feet for more than 30 minutes at a time in hopes to keep the pain at a minimum and to keep my blood pressure down. That didn't work, and a week later I was on complete strict bed rest and going to the doctor twice a week.
The week of Christmas, I spent more time in the hospital or the doctors office then I did at home. Monday the 22nd I went in for a ultrasound early that morning and then to the doctor a couple of hours later. That visit to the doctor ended with spending the rest of the day at the hospital for testing. Christmas Eve we were back in the hospital for a couple of more hours. Friday the 26th, I went back to the doctor, and then back to the hospital. To stay.
Kyndall was born on December 30, 2008 via emergency c-section at 4lbs 14oz and 17in long.
Her only issue: Keeping body temperature and maintaining weight. Had she lost another half an ounce, she would have had to stay longer.
Here are some pictures from that day:
Right after delivery. It'd be almost 8 hours before I saw her again.
Getting weighed. Why Chad got a picture while the scale was in kilograms instead of pounds and ounces, I'll never know.
Here she is all cleaned up.
Here is my sweet little girl now:
Playing with daddy in her tunnel.
Such a happy girl.
She's so funny sometimes and keeps us entertained!
Again, I know that we were and continue to be blessed with how healthy she was and what little fight we had to battle, and I pray for and think about other preemie parents who had a harder and longer battle. I have several friends who have gone through this and have a couple who are going through it now. It is not a fun ride, and I would not wish it on anyone.
Such a happy girl.
She's so funny sometimes and keeps us entertained!
Again, I know that we were and continue to be blessed with how healthy she was and what little fight we had to battle, and I pray for and think about other preemie parents who had a harder and longer battle. I have several friends who have gone through this and have a couple who are going through it now. It is not a fun ride, and I would not wish it on anyone.
My family has done the March for Babies the last two years and plan to continue to do so until the fight is won. Why? Because prematurity does NOT discriminate. It does not care your race, religious views, how much money you have...It can happen to anyone, and it is NOT the mothers fault! Just because we had a healthy baby last time, does not mean we will next time, and I know that if we need the March of Dimes, they will be there to help us through.
2 comments:
Great post! I'm glad that you had an easy preemie experience. I did too with my 29 weeker. I always think if anyone has to have a preemie, I hope they have the experience we did. But of course, I hope no one ever has to experience a preemie.
Kyndall is gorgeous and I have enjoyed following her story. Thank you for sharing!
On behalf of the March of Dimes, thank you so much for joining us today in our "Fight for Preemies." I am so glad to see your daughter is doing so well now. Thanks for your support in helping us get the word out about prematurity.
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