Preemie/RSV Awareness: Be Informed #protectpreemies #rsv

With Preemie Awareness Day this month (Nov. 17th) I wanted to take a minute and share my experience with premature births.

Before my godson Jeremiah (who also happens to be my little cousin was born I didn’t know much of anything about preemies. I was fortunate enough to give birth to two full term healthy babies. My cousin wasn’t so lucky, she became pregnant with twin boys: Jeremiah and Joshua. She gave birth prematurely while she was in her sixth month of pregnancy on July 4, 2009. Joshua lived for 6 days before passing away and Jeremiah stayed in the NICU for 5 months.  From birth to age 5 months Jeremiah has had a total of 4 surgeries:

• PDA surgery to close the open heart valve
• ROP Lasik surgery to stop bleeding in the back of the eye cells
• Gastroschisis surgery to remove a blockage from undeveloped intestines.
•  This same surgery was done 3 months later to attach the intestinal track back together.

Along with these surgeries, he’s had a host of other necessities such as coming home on 1/8 liter of oxygen, which was removed about 3 months later. He was sent home with a heart monitor for safety for things like SIDS, he was removed from that one month later. He also had a home healthy nurse assigned for the first month home from NICU as well.

Now he is 3 years old and is the happiest little guy I know, he loves Dora the Explorer, Diego and Mickey Mouse. You wouldn’t even know he had all that happen to him, he is trying to walk on his own now and I am sure he will be soon, it’s been a long road for my cousin and her husband and while the journey continues they are handling everything in stride one day at a time!

Facts:

Did you know worldwide 13 million babies are born early each year?

Prematurity is defined as being born before 37 weeks gestation age, a recent study found that 75% of parents didn’t know that definition. Therefore, didn’t fully know or understand the increased risks that come with premature births.

Such as RSV  which is a very contagious disease that is prevalent during the winnter months and causes up to 10 times as many infant deaths each year as the flu. RSV is easily spread through touching, sneezing and coughing, and since there is no treatment for RSV prevention is key. Parents should wash hands, toys, bedding and play areas frequently, avoid large crowds or people who are or may have been sick and never let anyone smoke near your baby.

Have you experienced a premature birth or known anyone that has?

What steps do you take to ensure your infants health?

 
 ”I wrote this review while participating in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of MedImmune and I received a promotional item to thank me for my participation.”