4.03.2012

Aiden Eli Stromberg

I'm officially a mother of three.  It's been a rough road getting that status, but he's here now and life is good.  33 weeks into the pregnancy I went into labor in the middle of the night and headed to the hospital.  I knew I might go into labor early as I did with Hannah at 34 weeks.  Luckily this time around they were able to stop the contractions before I progressed further into the labor process.  Again I started with contractions two days later and again they were able to stop labor from progressing.  I truly cannot express how thankful I am that my mom came to stay with my family and care for myself, my children and my home so that I could take it easy, super easy, for several weeks.  On March 31st I was 37 weeks and 3 days into pregnancy and this time because 37 weeks is considered to term they did not make any attempt to stop my labor.  I had an ultrasound at my doctor's appointment on March 27th and I was told that my baby was going to weigh 10 lbs 14 ozs based on his measurements.  So my doctor said I had to have a c-section as I did with Hannah.  She was breech, and that's why I had a c-section with her.  Aiden actually weighed in at 8 lbs 11 ozs, so yeah, they were off on their prediction.  The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck and my doctor said that likely meant that I would've needed a c-section once they discovered that fact if I had been trying for a regular birth.  I find that interesting how that all worked out.  Well, as they were weighing Aiden and assessing his Apgar scores they found that he was working too hard to breathe.  After a six hour trial time taking the CPAP on and off they decided he wasn't improving and Aiden was admitted to the NICU.  He's made quite a bit of progress with his breathing and now he just needs to learn how to eat and gain weight.  Basically the stress of his lung issues has weakened him and made it difficult for him to eat without getting too tired too quickly before he's able to get enough to nourish him.  His other main issue is that he's having some trouble digesting the food he does get.  Each day he makes improvements, but it's a process that will take an indefinite amount of time.  I'm  hoping for about another week at the most, but we just have to wait and see. 

I'm trying my best to take it all in stride and stay positive.  This is my second baby stuck in a NICU and I have to say that's it's hard to carry a baby for 9 months with various complications throughout and then endure the pain of childbirth and then leave the hospital without a baby.  Luckily, it's looking pretty good that he'll be in the NICU less time than Hannah was.  Even though things aren't ideal right now, it will get better.  He'll come home eventually and then I'll have my three kids at home with me.

In the meantime, I've been studying every feature on my new baby's face and trying to decide what he has in common with my other babies and where he's different.  What do you think?

3 comments:

Amy Turner said...

Thanks for the post....I think he has Gabe's eyes and chin. I predict he will definitely look like Gabe's younger brother.So stinkin cute!!! We're praying for Aiden to come home soon.I'm sorry he is in the NICU.Love you Beth!

PS. Does Gabe still want his name to be Nicholas?

Lindsey said...

I think he's just adorable!!! And looks sooooo much like Gabe and Jasen. And you can definately tell he's a little boy...no feminine traits on his little face.

Aubrey Smith said...

Thanks for the update! He is such a good looking baby, and I agree he looks a lot like Jasen and Gabe. I am sorry he had complications, we are praying that he starts eating and you can take him home ASAP!