Elaine Davis

I joined the movement to create positive change for moms and babies everywhere, especially those most at risk. You may or may not know that I had high risk pregnancies for both of my children, Quinn & Poppy, which both resulted in pre-term births. Quinn was born at 37 weeks & while he had health challenges of his own, he didn't require a NICU stay. Poppy, on the other hand, was born at 33 weeks & 4 days & was admitted directly to the NICU at Riley Children's Hospital in Indianapolis, IN. She was in the NICU there for a total of 17 days. Seventeen days that felt much longer. She needed oxygen support, blood sugar regulation, IV fluids, an NG tube for feeding, & help regulating her body temperature. She didn't have an additional diagnosis other than prematurity, but she was still so little & needed so much medical support. Overall, we were lucky-- no additional diagnosis, a relatively short stay, healthy birth weight for her age, & a strong little girl that fought every day to get to go home. But those 17 days were a strain on our family. 

We lived an hour away from the hospital where she was, so driving back & forth every single day was expensive, as was eating out or eating in the cafeteria every night. Ian & I were both losing billable work days, losing so much sleep, & losing time with Quinn. Every day my mental health declined a little more. I begged the doctors to discharge her (safely of course) because we wanted her out of there & we felt like our family was crumbling. Eventually after 17 days, she was discharged on the Home Monitoring Program at Riley with her NG feeding tube still in tact. It wasn't ideal because it meant Ian & I rapidly became nurses as WELL as parents, but it beat another day in the NICU. 

We had a wonderful experience with the entire staff at Riley Hospital-- the doctors, nurses, social workers, & NICU support personnel were all fantastic & we received so much support from all angles. We didn't directly benefit from March of Dimes-- we received other means of support-- but I know how much help & resources this organization gives to parents & their babies, ESPECIALLY ones in the NICU. 

With preterm birth and maternal death rates continuing to rise, I’m committed to raising funds so that every family gets the best possible start, no matter their financial circumstances. But I need your help. 

Please visit my fundraising page to make a donation to help families of babies like my Poppy. Together we’ll be part of a movement to ensure that every mom and baby is healthy & has all the support they need to thrive!!!