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With great joy, I announce the birth of my daughter, Aerin Amelia Marx, on September 12, 2005 at 10:48 a.m. (weight: 1 pound 12 ounces, height: 13 inches).
I was only 26 weeks and one day along when she was born. Her apgar was 5 and 8, which is extraordinarily high for that gestational age. She cried real baby cries when she was born and when I heard that, it was truly the most beautiful moment of my life. They did intubate her because they don't want her lungs to work too hard. The most extraordinary thing is that she had meconium (basically, baby's first poo), which usually doesn't develop until later. Luckily, none got in my uterus.
I did have a C-Section. While it wasn't an emergency, it was done quickly because my membrane had ruputured and I was very dilated. She was also breech and they couldn't possibly have turned her. Plus, at 26 weeks, you don't want her to go through the trauma of regular labor.
Aerin is doing spectacularly well. She's already breathing room air, much sooner than I expected. She's still on a ventilator, but her breathing is great. She had her first blood transfusion at approximately 4:00 a.m. and it went very well - her pressure went right back up. Preemies generally require several blood transfusions because the doctors have to test their blood and preemies don't have much to begin with. We had our first little setback - her ductus arteriosus (a short blood vessel that connects the main blood vessel supplying the lungs to the aorta, the main blood vessel that leaves the heart) didn't close (it's open in unborn babies to allow blood to bypass the lungs, since oxygen for the blood comes from the mother). They're treating her with Indocin, which I took to stop my contractions, and we'll get another echo tomorrow evening or Thursday morning. I'm not too worried, because Indocin is very effective in treating this condition. Also, the cardiologist told Andrew that otherwise her heart looks great. She's doing much better than anyone would have expected - the neonatologists and nurses beam at us when we visit her.
She's also really beautiful. Every doctor and nurse comments on how gorgeous she is. She looks like a baby, just in miniature (some preemies don't look like babies for a while). She has a full head of black hair, but her eyebrows and eyelashes are blonde! Her little head is perfectly round and she has huge feet (relatively speaking). She looks just like Andrew, but she has my toes.
I am so overwhelmed with joy and love for my daughter. Even though we have a long road ahead, I know in my heart that she'll be okay. She's truly a miracle baby.
I'll post pictures at some point, but it probably won't be too soon.
Thank you for all of your prayers and good thoughts - not only did they comfort and help me, but they worked for Aerin.
posted
Wow Congratulations, that's exciting, I'll try to get your package in the mail within the next few days.
Posts: 5362 | Registered: Apr 2004
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posted
Oh wow! I am so happy for you Kira! I can't wait for the pics. Give her a big kiss from all of us at Hatrack!
Posts: 2064 | Registered: Dec 2003
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posted
I can't remember being as excited for a baby's birth that wasn't a member of my own family. In a way, I almost feel like little Aerin is family.
Our prayers and good wishes are still with the three of you, but I'm overjoyed at how well she is doing so far.
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
Woooo-hooooo!!! I'm so glad to hear that you're both doing well; what fantastic apgar scores! Take care of yourself, Momma, and little Aerin too.
Congrats!! I'm so glad you're both doing so well!! Posts: 952 | Registered: Jun 2005
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Blayne Bradley
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posted
W00t! A new life is born into the world! Keep us updated I'll be sure to look to you for advice when I get my own children. Assuming I'm not utterly depressed.... Okay I'll stop that line of reasoning right now.
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I'm glad the signs are all so good. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your baby and the doctors.
Posts: 2005 | Registered: Jul 1999
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