Maeve was born to proud parents Becca and Dan at just 33 weeks 5 days gestational age. Weighing 5lbs 14.8oz, this cutie stole my heart during her Rochester NY NICU photo session. Check out their story below.
Share your pregnancy journey. Were you expecting hospital time or was it unexpected?
This was a surprise pregnancy for us. We weren’t certain we could get pregnant or that my body could handle a pregnancy. I had suffered a near-miss in 2019 with our first daughter, Cora. I had long term lung injuries that had lingered and my body was suffering from Interstitial Lung Injury from the severe preeclampsia, pulmonary edema, and subsequent cesarean injury of my ureters resulting in renal and respiratory failure and an ICU stay for me.
This pregnancy, we expected after many consultations that I may be hospitalized— however, we assumed it would be for respiratory issues only. I had COVID early on but was able to stay out of the hospital. However, history repeated itself here and I ended up with gestational hypertension by 26 weeks, RSV & a chronic abruption by 30, and preeclampsia with severe features and pulmonary edema again by when we delivered at 33+5.
Share your hospital journey so far. How long have you been there? What obstacles have you overcome?
Our first admittance was for a lung flare and high pulse plus blood pressure. We were sent home with the diagnosis of gestational hypertension and at home nurse monitoring. Our second and third admissions were due to a chronic placental abruption. We went home again but were even more closely monitored. Baby girl began failing her NSTS and so we increased surveillance even more. Our final triage visit was when we got the severe preeclampsia diagnosis. My home care nurse detected that my weight had gone up significantly in just a few days and my blood pressure was borderline severe at that point— she was able to get everyone to agree it was time to come in and hopefully deliver. We did. The scariest part of the hospital journey for me was that things went from bad to really bad so quickly. We had an “urgent cesarean” and unfortunately my husband wasn’t in the OR. The surgery took too long and we ended up with general anesthesia. It was fairly traumatic for us, again. I was discharged home after a 4 day stay, only to find my edema wasn’t getting better. I lost 20 lbs of fluid from my body at home after upping the diuretics. Preeclampsia is hard stuff and so scary.
Maeve has been an absolute trooper. Despite our preeclampsia diagnosis, she was a big girl! That has certainly helped her. She’s struggling with respiratory — on and off a Cpap. She also is having bilirubin issues because of our blood types - so in and out of the “blue lights” she goes. She’s feeding very well through her tube, and we hope to breastfeed as soon as she can tolerate. We are so proud of her.
What do you want people to know about having a newborn in the hospital?
Having a newborn in the hospital - the NICU specifically— is a beautiful tragedy. Heart warming to know the staff and care are incredible but heart breaking to leave and walk out everyday without your baby. I feel for every family that is here, no matter the length of their stay. This NICU gives me such peace of kind though, knowing Maeve is exactly where she needs to be to get strong and healthy enough to come home and meet her big sister.
Is there anything else you wish to share?
I am constantly amazed by the NICU nurses and doctors. They are one of a kind, caring and compassionate. They handle the stress that may come with the job, with grace. I feel confident in Maeve’s care. And for me, that’s saying a lot— just given my own issue of trust or lack of with providers, given my own experiences, specific to our maternal healthcare in this country.
I’m grateful that this NICU is so incredible and the babies are so well taken care of.
