November is Prematurity Awareness Month. In honor of this, some parents who have had babies prematurely have offered to tell their stories to create awareness about this important cause.
On September 11th 2008 at only 27 weeks, little Xavier arrived weighing just 1lb 5oz.
Mom Raina had a sudden onset of severe pre-eclampsia (development of high blood pressure in pregnancy which can be fatal). Xavier was also IUGR (intrauterine growth restriction).
Once he was extubated, he was on CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) for a few days and then put on low flow oxygen via nasal cannula and was on a very low amount of oxygen up until about a week before he left the NICU.
Xavier had a grade one brain bleed that resolved on its own and mild ROP (Retinopathy of prematurity- disease of the retina) that also resolved on its own before discharge.
Once Xavier was moved from an isolette to an open crib his biggest issue was feeding.
Raina recalls,
Some days he would eat great, other days, he’d have to be tube fed.
In the end, learning to feed is what seemed to extend his stay.
In hindsight I believe when he wasn’t eating, it was because he had reflux that was undiagnosed.
Several weeks after discharge Xavier’s pediatrician made a referral to a gastrointerologist because he was refusing food and having issues with projectile vomiting. The GI diagnosed him with reflux and he was put on prevacid and within a week or so was eating again with no issues.
Xavier is still a very small child due to the prematurity and IUGR. He is 23 lbs at 24 months of age.
He is growing along his own curve, just at a very slow pace. His pediatrician isn’t concerned.
Xavier seems to be hitting his developmental milestones just fine. His Early Intervention was discontinued about three months ago due to him meeting the goals.
Xavier may have a slight speech delay but we are waiting until he is at least 24 months adjusted age before considering consulting with a speech-language pathologist.
Right now Xavier is an only child. However mom is currently pregnant with a new little one!
I asked Raina to give one piece of advice for a new preemie parent and she said:
Be as involved as possible in your child’s care while in the NICU.
I asked her to describe Xavier in one word and she said: PRECIOUS
Related Articles:
- March of Dimes Foundation Hosts 5th Annual Celebration of Babies Luncheon
- Prematurity Awareness Month – 27 Weekers Daphne & Leah
- Prematurity Awareness Month – Meet 24 Weeker Brielle Lynn!
This is a good post. Many preemies have trouble eating. The whole suck-swallow-breathe coordination is hard to grasp and reflux is another common issue. I’m glad to see that Xavier has outgrown most of those issues. Thanks Raina for sharing his story.