Prematurity

The story of Landon

My son Landon was born 14 weeks premature.   He came into the world weighing 2lbs 7oz and 14.5 inches long.  Here is our story. 

When I was 23 weeks pregnant, an ultrasound showed that sometime between my last ultrasound, and that day, my water had broken.  There was an AFI (Amniotic Fluid Index) of 1.7.  A level below 11 is considered low.  I was rushed to the hospital where I was informed that I would most likely deliver within 14 hours.  If I was lucky I could keep the baby in longer, but would have to be on strict bedrest.  So our countdown began.  I first strove to make it to week 24, which is when the baby is considered viable.  Even if the baby is born then, chances are not good for the baby to survive without health problems.  I made it to week 24, and counted down to week 25.  Then the morning I turned 26 weeks pregnant, I began having contractions.  I began to dilate, and they told me that the baby was going to have to be delivered immediately.  I was rushed into the operating room, and in 15 minutes Landon Carter Lewis was born.  He weighed 2lbs 7oz and was 14.5 inches long.

Landon was immediately injected with Surfactant, a steroid that helps develop premature lungs.  Because of an incompatibility between my blood, and Landon's blood, he became jaundiced and was put under phototherapy lights.  The phototherapy helped rid his body of Bilirubin, which was poisoning his body.   For the first few weeks, Landon was so sensitive to touch or sound, he could not be touched.  The slightest touch would agitate him.   He was moved to a special room all by himself so he would not be as agitated by the noises of theNICU.  Landon was put on a ventilator to help him breathe.  He stayed on the ventilator for 5 weeks.  Because of the lengthy duration of being on the ventilator Landon developed Chronic Lung Disease (CLD).  He will eventually outgrow the CLD, but it will take several years for his lungs to grow new tissue and rid itself of the bad tissue. He will always be prone to respiratory infections, and perhaps asthma.  During his stay in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Landon required several blood transfusions.  Landon also had many issues with Apnea, where he would stop breathing, and Bradycardia, where his heart would slow down to a dangerous level.  During these episodes, he would require stimulation, sometimes vigorous stimulation to increase his heart rate and to start him breathing again. 

On November 22nd after 90 long days, Landon was discharged from the NICU.   He came home with oxygen, but only needed to use it twice!  He was discharged weighing 7lbs 11 oz. 

Today Landon is doing incredibly well.  At 7 months old, he weighs 16 pounds, and is 26 inches long!  Landon was a very lucky preemie.  He escaped major complications, and the nurses said he was the ideal NICU baby.  He is a true miracle.