Extreme premature babies survive thanks to local facilities
Parents of extremely premature babies are praising the advanced Neonatal Intensive Care Units in Eastern Idaho.
A year ago Meg Martinson delivered twins at 25 weeks – over three months premature.
“It was really scary and emotional but it’s one of those experiences you would never ask to go through or want to go through, but it’s one that you wouldn’t give away either because it changes your perspective on so many things.” Martison said.
Ian Martinson, the twins father, described how the smallest twin looked at birth.
“This one was one pound six ounces,” Martinson said. “She could fit in the palm of my hand. My wedding ring went around her whole arm. I mean, it’s just amazing.”
The twins recently celebrated their first birthday. The are healthy and normal.
Doctors at the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center say it’s unusual for a rural community like Idaho Falls to have an advanced, level 3 NICU that can care for such premature babies.
“We’re compared to units that are three times our size in some of the major metropolitan areas,”said neonatologist Dr. Travis Anschutz.
Bailey Reed is in a similar position as Meg Martinson was in a year ago. Her baby Andalyn was also born at 25 weeks.
“And she weight only one pound, one-point-six ounces so I was extremely scared, but the doctor came and talked to me before I delivered her and she said that 25 weeks doesn’t even scare her any more because there are so many things they can do for these small babies now,” Reed said.
Reed has been making the trip to ERMC every day for 12 weeks since Andalyn was born.
“Everybody here — the nurses and the doctors — they’re all looking our for us,” Reed said.
Dr. Anschutz says Micro preemies have barely enough lung tissue to take in oxygen, they’re brains are extremely fragile, and their intestines aren’t ready to process food.
“It’s kind of a roller coaster ride and there are certain days they’re at risk of dying, and the good days are great and the bad days are extremely bad,” Anschutz said.
Babies at the NICU usually are ready to go home around the time of the full term due date. For Bailey Reed that’s December 4th and she can hardly wait.
“Oh, I think that will be the best feeling ever,” Reed said. “I’m pretty excited.”
In another year little Andalyn Reed will likely be smiling and crawling around like the Martinson twins. Parents who have gone through this experience say the feeling they have towards these babies that had to struggle so hard to survive is special.
“The love that you feel from the babies is amazing and the love that we have for the babies,” Meg Martinson said. “We’ve been through a lot.”
