Sharing the Holiday Spirit

Today Santa brought gifts for preemies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth -- little caps he knitted himself! Who knew Santa was so crafty?

He shared some of his caps with newborns in the hospital's mother/baby unit, too.

After infertility struggles, an amazing path to childbirth

Shiloh Morris and her husband, Kevin, were married when she was just 19 and he was 20. They always knew they wanted children, but there some health issues that stood the way.

Shiloh has a bicornuate uterus. Instead of the normal pear-shape, her uterus looks more like a heart ― with a deep indentation at the top ― making conception, labor and delivery problematic and often leading to miscarriage. She was also diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, or PCOS, one of the most common causes of female infertility in the United States.

After seeing a number of fertility specialists, undergoing four unsuccessful tries at intrauterine insemination and experiencing two miscarriages, the couple decided to adopt. Shiloh and Kevin welcomed baby Nevaeh (heaven spelled backwards) into their lives from foster care three years ago. The Morris family was finally a happy family of three.

Mom of two: 'My pulmonary embolism was an eye-opener'

Gracie Galindo knew the dizzy spells she’d been experiencing for weeks were not normal.

At first, the busy attorney and Mom of two from Azle, TX thought it was just stress and told herself she’d rest more.

"I was too busy taking care of my family to realize something bad was happening," 42-year-old Gracie said.

Then the shoulder pains began. She thought she’d pulled a muscle, but the pain kept getting worse until she began having trouble breathing.

“I kept thinking, I am not having a heart attack,” she said. “Something about the pain just didn’t seem to fit with a heart attack.”

11-12-13: A Memorable Birth Day

What was the first thing Laine Moses did after she scheduled her C-section for 11-12-13? Text the mom of her kids' cousin born on 10-11-12 last year.

"I just thought, 'that would be a cool birthday to have,'" she said. "It was just one of those coincidences, things just lined up that way."

For health reasons Laine needed to schedule a C-section delivery with Dr. Bannie Tabor, maternal-fetal medicine specialist, during the 37th week of pregnancy -- and that week happened to include 11-12-13. So she excitedly picked that date for her special delivery. The next sequential date is next year, 12/13/14, and after that there will not be another sequential date for another century.

Dorothy Elaine Moses was born at 7:54 a.m. yesterday weighing 7 lbs, 8 oz, healthy and happy. She was delivered via gentle C-section at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, a somewhat new method that involves immediate skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby in the operating room.

"As soon as they put her on my chest, she stopped crying," Laine said. "It was cool to have that instant bonding experience so many moms miss out on with (traditional) C-sections. The doctors and nurses made it so easy and were really supportive."

Congratulations to Laine and her family!

Laine Moses is a stay-at-home-Mom to Henry, Lucy and now Dorothy.

Leighton's Gift

My husband, Chris, and I were married on July 23, 2005.  We knew right away that we wanted to become parents, but like many people, our journey to having children was a long one. 

After years of tests, treatments, and failed domestic and international adoption applications, we were blessed to become pregnant with twins. We knew they were our miracle babies and could not wait to meet them. 

When I was a cheerleader and gymnast, my small size was an asset, but when I am pregnant, being only 4’10” becomes an issue. There just isn’t as much room – even breathing is difficult.  We both knew that carrying twins would be a hard pregnancy for me, and expected bed rest and maybe time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Taking Special Care of Daphne

When Daphne Miller was born on April 15 she could fit in the palm of her parents’ hands.

But over just a few months, she grew to 5 pounds and her parents couldn’t have been happier to have her home with the family in Plano.

“She’s showing off her personality more and more,” said Daphne’s mom, Misty, 30. “She’s always had a big personality. The nurses used to call her a little spitfire.”

Daphne was born at 29 weeks, weighing only 2 pounds and 4 ounces. Daphne suffered from low birth weight caused by intrauterine growth restriction, a condition that prevents normal infant growth during pregnancy. Unlike full-term babies born between 37 and 42 weeks, babies like Daphne often have underdeveloped muscles needed for swallowing, sucking and breathing — making the feeding process one of the biggest challenges.

'This simple procedure was a huge blessing'

Hearing the cries of her newborn daughter was music to Jennifer Jones’ ears. Not only had the delivery gone well, but she had carried baby Abigail to full term.

That’s something the 34-year-old mom never thought could be possible after her first pregnancy two years ago.

 “There were just so many complications with my twin boys,” she said. “I was on bed rest for weeks on end, and we were still worried I might lose them.”

Three ladies, two birthdays, one special day

Josephine, Nyla and Brandi

On September 10th, Dr. John Freeman delivered baby girl Nyla Martinez weighing 9 lbs and measuring 21 inches.

He chuckled to the nurses: “Want to hear something fun? I delivered Nyla’s mom Brandi here, too, 20 years ago to the day!”

Dr. Freeman said he’s been an OB/GYN for 25 years – delivering over 4,000 babies – and has never come across this situation.

“I’ve delivered babies to moms whom I’ve also delivered, but never on the same day before,” he said. “I thought that was kind of cool! It shows how long Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth has been in the community.”

Brandi, who was born weighing almost 9 lbs also, said Nyla sharing her birthday was an exciting and unexpected surprise. Nyla was actually due on September 8.

“We think it’s pretty exciting,” Brandi’s mom Josephine said. “It means double birthday cakes!”

A 'gentle C-section' with twins

When Daniela Sanders learned at 35 weeks pregnant that she’d be delivering her twins via C-section (one was breach), her first thought was “this is going to mess up breastfeeding.”

For Daniela, establishing breastfeeding early on was important. Her oldest son, 17-month-old Prater, was delivered through the birth canal and enjoyed immediate skin-to-skin time with Mom at birth.

“Breastfeeding is best for them, it’s healthier for them,” she said. “The sooner you do it, the easier it will be.”

New birth trend? Gentle C-sections

For baby number two, 31-year-old Lindsey Canon is hoping for a much different birth experience.

During labor with her son Tommy two years ago, his heart rate decreased dangerously and caregivers quickly rushed her to the operating room for an emergency C-section. Since she hadn’t had an epidural yet, she was under general anesthesia and didn’t remember any of it.

“I didn’t see him until six hours later,” she said. “It’s hard when you don’t get to see your baby right when he’s born.”

She also had a hard time breastfeeding, and gave up after four weeks.

This time around, though, she’ll undergo a C-section now done a little bit differently at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth. The method, called gentle C-section, involves giving Mom and baby immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth and, if mom wishes, lowering the drape so she can watch the delivery. Gentle C-sections are done for Moms and babies without complications -- so Lindsey would not have been a candidate for it when she gave birth to Tommy.

A Wee Blessing

Parents Jessica and Robert Harrell feel very blessed.

Jessica says their journey through pregnancy, birth, and their son’s stay in the neonatal intensive care unit at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth has been stressful – but caregivers have been at their side to help them through the process.

Mother's intuition helps shape care of preemies

Kate and NICU nurse Lesa Gabbert

Kate McCasland’s premature birth 18 years ago made a difference for all preemies who have since come through the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

With the support of Kate’s caregivers, Mom Jane McCasland tried a simple technique she saw on a television documentary set in Africa to help with Kate’s progress. Kangaroo Mother Care, a now often-used method that involves simple skin-to-skin contact between mom and baby, provides a number of benefits including regulation of baby’s temperature and heartbeat and promotion of breastfeeding.

Today, on Kate’s 18th birthday, she and her mother were reunited with the doctors and nurses who cared for Kate while she was in the NICU.

'Trying for four, but God figured us for five'

Rachel and Levi, Christopher and Asher

This year has been full of surprises for Rachel and Christopher McDaniel.

When the couple from Rhome, TX tried for a fourth child, they were amazed to learn they were pregnant with twins. Neither have twins in their families and Rachel hadn’t used any fertility drugs.

“We both were just taking it in,” said Christopher of the moment OB/GYN Dr. Gladys Tse delivered the exciting news they were expecting multiples. “The doctor said ‘you’re taking this really well,’ and we said ‘how else can we take it?’ We were trying for four, but it turns out God figured us for five.”

On October 2 at 32 weeks gestation, the couple came in to pre-register for delivery at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Alliance at Dr. Tse’s suggestion. What the McDaniels thought would be a quick in-and-out trip turned out to be much more – Rachel was in labor! “Apparently the boys heard we were here, because when we got to the hospital they were ready!” Christopher said.

Rachel had been feeling uncomfortable and feeling pressure that day, but hadn’t been feeling pain or contractions. Hospital staff suggested she stay to be monitored just in case, and sure enough, the boys were on their way.

Rachel taking Levi's temperature in the NICU

At 8:37 and 8:39 p.m. respectively, Levi Parker and Asher Lane were born both weighing 4 lbs 4 oz. They were Texas Health Alliance’s very first set of twins delivered and first to stay in the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit, where they are growing and learning to breathe and eat.

Rachel was discharged from the hospital on Friday, and by Saturday she was “sulking and in pain,” she said. But some skin-to-skin time ("Kangaroo Care") with the twins Saturday evening helped. “Physically I felt better and was in less pain. I even made extra milk. It makes me feel better to be here with them,” she said.

“It’s refreshing for both of us,” Christopher agreed.

Life will be “a little hectic” when the twins come home, Christopher said. Five-year-old Andrew, 6-year-old Caleigh and 7-year-old Jacob already make life interesting – but the McDaniels know how to expect the unexpected.

Four special deliveries: quadruplets!

Amber at 28 weeks, in the girls' room

Amber and George Shawver tried for four years to have a child. After their fourth round of IUI (intrauterine insemination), they learned they were pregnant – with four babies!

 “Looking at my hormone levels, we thought it might be twins or triplets,” Amber said. “When we found out we were having quads, I kept saying ‘this is so surreal – we really have four babies?’”  

Amber’s maternal/fetal medicine specialist, Dr. Bannie Tabor on the medical staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, suggested to Amber that it might be helpful to check out blogs of other quad Moms.

“Reading other people’s blogs helped give me peace of mind,” she said. “Looking at photos helped me know what to expect. For example, it wasn’t as alarming to see the CPAP.”

Amber also joined a quadruplets facebook group where she could talk with other Moms, ask questions, and get an idea of how big her babies might be at delivery or how many weeks a quad pregnancy typically lasts.

“It normalized it for us,” Amber said.

Amber delivered at 30 weeks and 5 days to four healthy babies: girls Rylin Skye (3 lbs 7.7 ounces) and Sydney Raine (2 lbs 5.4 ounces) and boys Harper Stone (3 lbs 1.4 ounces) and Mason River (2 lbs 14.9 ounces).

“The delivery was less complicated than I thought,” Amber said. “Delivering quads is kind of scary because no one knows what’s going to happen. I was hoping for a routine C-section and that’s what it was, just with more people in the room.”

Twenty caregivers were in the operating room, including a care team of three caregivers for each baby from the hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit.

In her personal blog, Amber mentions she started to panic when the anesthesiologist began to work on the spinal block, but one of her nurses, Mary, helped calm her.

“Mary was so compassionate with me, knowing I was terrified,” she wrote in a blog entry about the birth. “She hugged me while I got the spinal block and whispered a prayer into my ear. It made a HUGE difference for me and then I was ready. Thankfully, the spinal block worked quickly and I found my calm because it wasn’t long before the action started.” 

Amber seeing one of her babies for the fist time after delivery

 The babies are doing well, gaining weight and learning how to eat. Amber and George expect they’ll be able to bring them home on or before the time of Amber’s due date, September 23.

“Having quads is very rare and special,” Amber said. “It’s a unique adventure.”

Harper

Mason

Rylin

Sydney

 Thanks to Amber and George for sharing their photos and story with us!

A Friday the 13th delivery

Proud parents Kris and Patrick with daughter Katie

Would you want to deliver your baby on Friday the 13th?

Some superstitious Mamas avoid delivering on Friday the 13th if they can help it, said Dr. Daren Tate, OB/GYN on the medical staff at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth.

Sometimes, another Mom is what you need

Friends for life: Nadia and Jeremiah Bowman, Ann and Austin Kopp, Rosa and Jonathan Juarez

When Ann Kopp was six months pregnant, her doctor noticed little Austin was measuring about 4 weeks behind. She was shocked to learn that her blood pressure was sky high and that he wasn’t moving around as much as he was supposed to be.

“This was our first pregnancy so we didn’t know much about what to expect and how much he should be moving,” Ann, a Burleson resident, said.

She was admitted to Texas Health Harris Methodist Fort Worth and placed on bed rest. Everything seemed to move so quickly after that, she said. Further testing showed high levels of protein in her urine which meant her kidneys were shutting down. Staying pregnant meant big risks for both Mom and baby, so four days after being admitted she was scheduled for a C-section delivery.  

A Leap Day birthday

Lamar and Larvetta Brown with baby Lori

Larvetta Brown’s baby girl was due on March 9, though her husband Lamar predicted she’d enter the world on Leap Day.

“I really didn’t want her to have a Leap Day birthday,” Larvetta said. “I was hoping for either February 28 or March 1!”

But baby Lori Renee Brown was born at 1:03 this morning at Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth, weighing 7 pounds, 15.3 ounces, and measuring 19 inches long. No matter what day she arrived, the important thing is that she’s happy and healthy, Larvetta said.

A Survivor – Times Two

I am a Mother of four teenagers.  I have two biological daughters, Ashleigh (20) and Adyson (13).  I also have a step-son, Whitt (19), and a step-daughter, Lizzie (13).  All four children live with my husband and me.  My husband, Matt, is a respected 20-year veteran of a local police department.  I am a teacher of Pre-Kindergarten five-year-olds.  I, like most Mothers/wives, have many “jobs” on a daily basis – wife, Mom, daughter, maid, chef, taxi driver, laundress, educator, care-taker, cheerleader, and many other jobs.  To say the least, I am very busy.

Have you ever wondered what your purpose is in life?  What God has planned for you?  I know, without a doubt, that God has plans for me in this life.  I have survived not one, but two major medical scares in my adulthood.  I survived so I could use my experience to educate others about heart disease in women.

Defying the odds: Ashleigh's story

From left: Ashleigh, Ramona, Jerrod, Abrianna, Jerrod Jr.

At 2:00 a.m. one May morning, 23 weeks pregnant Ramona Antillon started to feel sick. Really sick. And in unbearable pain.

It’s too soon to be in labor, I’m only five months along, she thought.

Two hours later, she called an ambulance to take her to the hospital.

“I told the paramedic to take me to the hospital my doctor was at, and he refused,” Ramona said. “I insisted that there was no way I was ready to have this baby; after all, I was only 23 weeks along. He then looked at me and very firmly said ‘Ma’am, if you have this baby now, this baby will not make it!’”

Early arrival

For Rachel and Daniel Walsh, the arrival of their first child didn’t go quite as planned.

Daniel, Rachel and Abigail Walsh

Feisty little Abigail Rose decided to come at 30 weeks and 2 days. Rachel remembers contractions starting at around 1 a.m. just two minutes apart. Daniel was working so she called her mom and they decided to hightail it for Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Hurst-Euless-Bedford thinking they’d be told it was false labor pains. But instead, they arrived and she was at 5 centimeters with a hand already coming out. Luckily Dad made it to the hospital quickly because just 45 minutes later and Rachel was at 9 centimeters and the doctor decided to do an emergency C-Section.

“We were surprised because it was a very normal pregnancy,” said the 25-year-old mother from North Fort Worth. “She obviously thought she was ready.”

Abigail has been in the neonatal intensive care unit since her birth on Dec. 7, celebrating lots of holidays with her parents, extended family and of course the NICU nurses.