#30DaysofHope Day 18- Alex

Sutton was born at 29 weeks and 5 days on Friday March 12th, 2021. She weighed 2lbs 14.6 oz. With this being our first baby, I had no idea what to expect but never even thought of the possibility that she would come as early as she did. My OB is still unsure as to why I went into labor so early considering I was having a healthy pregnancy all along. 

When I got to the hospital, I was 6cm dilated and Sutton was in the breach position requiring an emergency C-section. I will never forget when they were delivering her. I was holding my husbands hand, praying and hoping that everything would be okay. When I was pregnant, I was so excited for the moment that I would be able to hold her for the first time right after she was born. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to experience that moment. Instead, I was able to get a quick glimpse of her through the incubator before they took her to the NICU. Since the hospital I delivered at was a level 2 NICU, Sutton had to be transported to Good Samaritan Hospital in Cincinnati which was able to provide the level of care she needed due to her prematurity. The transport team came to my recovery room with her and I was able to hold her tiny hand through the incubator window before she went on her first car ride 30 minutes from the hospital where I was at. Amazingly, she was breathing on her own and doing fine. My OB cleared me from the hospital that Sunday so I could go see Sutton in the NICU at Good Sam. She had low levels of bilirubin and was under the phototherapy lights, so we sadly weren’t able to hold her that day. I was finally able to get my moment of holding her on my chest the first time the next day and it was everything I needed and hoped for. 

Sutton was in the NICU for 55 days. 55 days of having to drive back and forth just to be able to see our baby. It became exhausting and there were so many ups and downs along the way. Sutton’s main concern was that she was having desaturations with her oxygen levels especially during feedings. She never required oxygen during her NICU stay but had to have the CPAP and Nasal Cannula for air flow. The Nurses and Doctors at Good Sam were some of the most amazing people I have ever met. Sutton’s primary night Nurse was so special to us and it became routine for my husband and I to call her before bed for report. I think I was able to sleep most nights because I knew Sutton had the best possible Nurses caring for her when I couldn’t be there. 

Sutton is now 8 months (almost 6 months adjusted) and just over 15 lbs. She is such a happy baby and is doing great! The NICU journey is tough, but it does get better. Keeping a daily journal was so helpful to me and is something I can go back and look to see all of the milestones that she met during her time at Good Sam. I’m so thankful that she is home with us and extremely grateful to all of the Nurses, doctors and therapists who helped her get to where she is now.