The March for Babies Family Team Spot: OUR 6TH YEAR WALKING: SPRINGFIELD'S WALDER WALKERS

Aaron and Brett

In 2005, my daughter Alaina was born prematurely at 33 weeks. Since then, I have given birth to three more premature children: identical twins, Aaron and Brady, at 34 weeks and Brett, at 37 weeks. The premature births of my four children are not what I would have chosen, but thanks to developments and advances in research on prematurity made by the March of Dimes, our family’s story has a happy ending.

The care I received during my pregnancies was amazing; without it my early arrivals would have been even earlier. During each of my pregnancies I was given steroid injections to help my babies’ little lungs develop more quickly. I was taught to recognize my “silent” labor so things could be slowed down. And during my last pregnancy I was given weekly progesterone injections (17P) to help stave off preterm labor.

Once they arrived, all of my babies had access to outstanding care in their respective NICUs. Our first experience in the NICU was overwhelming. Alaina was transferred to a facility an hour away from where she was born and it was two days before we were reunited. When I was discharged, I was actually scared to go and see her. I was not prepared for what I saw and heard in the NICU. She was on CPAP, had a feeding tube and an IV. She was discharged after two weeks and has never looked back.

When the twins arrived we were better prepared for what a NICU experience would entail, but that did not make it any easier. Aaron was on CPAP and under the lights for jaundice. Brady had several apnea spells. Neither boy had any interest in staying awake to take a proper feed. They were discharged after two weeks. They continue to be underweight and they have some minor speech delays, but otherwise, they are thriving today as well.

When Brett arrived, I was able to have skin to skin contact with him immediately after his birth. Victory! However, Brett was "grunting" and needed Oxygen. After several hours, the doctors decided to transfer him to the NICU. Unfortunately, the NICU was in a hospital down the street. I was heartbroken. Because we had three other very small children at home, Brett was discharged after only one week but he came with equipment: a bili-blanket for his jaundice. He also required a car bed because he could not pass his car seat test in the NICU – his oxygen levels would drop almost immediately upon being strapped into the bucket carrier. And he needed to be brought to the pediatrician daily for check-ups and tests. Thankfully once he was six weeks old, he turned the corner and all of that was gone. He, too, has never looked back.

We have been participating in March for Babies since 2006. Each year we reach out to friends and family by email and by phone to let them know we are walking again to give THANKS for our miracle babies. We re-iterate how fortunate we are and how we know things could have turned out differently. This year Alaina, our team’s inspiration, will be doing her own fundraising for the first time. She is collecting bottles and cans and donating the proceeds to the March of Dimes. As a mom, I know how lucky our family is and I hope my children grow up knowing that as well.