Rebecca Andrews

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Rebecca Supports March for Babies

In October of  2018, my husband and I learned that we were pregnant with twins.  We were so happy to find two heartbeats on the monitor!  My pregnancy followed a normal course.  I had morning sickness that turned into all day nausea.  I had normal aches and pains.  I continued working as a pediatric dentist and I continued to be active, following every recommendation from my doctor.  However, on March 12, 2019, when I was 26 weeks 6 days, amniotic fluid was detected and I was immediately ordered on bed rest and given magnesium to try to prevent labor.  Although the monitors showed no contractions, I continued to have back pain.  Less than 36 hours after I was admitted to the hospital, I was rushed to the operating room.  Eliza (Baby A) was almost delivered in the elevator and arrived in the operating room just a few minutes later with no contractions, only pushes.  Clara (Baby B) was delivered via C-section eight minutes later.  Eliza weighed 2 lbs 0.8 oz and Clara weighed 1 lb 11.5 oz. Looking back, my husband and I were in complete shock but had faith that they would be okay.  

God prepared me to be a NICU mom.  I not only knew from my experience as a pediatric dentist about the very good outcomes for premature babies, but I had also been involved in the NICU community.  I had served on the local Family Support Network board and also on the March of Dimes Young Professionals Board.  While completing my residency in Pittsburgh, I rocked babies in the NICU on Sunday evenings.  I knew what could happen and I prayed each morning during my pregnancy that I would have strong and healthy babies. Little did I know God’s plan for them.  Despite spending their first 140 days in three different NICU’s, Eliza and Clara certainly are strong and healthy.  

March of Dimes is such an established organization that it’s easy to forget about all of its accomplishments.  Although the organization’s history began with the development of the Polio vaccine, the development of surfactant treatment has the greatest influence to our family.  Because Eliza and Clara were born at 27 weeks’ gestation, the alveoli in their lungs allowing air exchange had not yet fully formed and had not produced surfactant, a substance that allows the alveoli to stay open. Both girls needed to be “surfed” or given surfactant multiple times.  March of Dimes supported the research and development of surfactant in the 1980s.  Without this breakthrough, Eliza and Clara would have suffered from respiratory distress syndrome and would not be here today.  March of Dimes has saved tens of thousands of babies because of this discovery.

We have also been touched by March of Dimes’ contributions to research regarding treatment of the Patent Ductus Arteriosis (“PDA”) – a common complication of premature birth.  Clara struggled at first because her ductus arteriosis, a vessel outside of the heart, sending blood away from her underdeveloped lungs, would not close.  After trying several rounds of medications to close her PDA, Clara was transferred to Duke eleven days after she was born.  Ultimately, her PDA needed to be surgically closed, a procedure that took about thirty minutes by her isolette.  

Our NICU journey totaled twenty long weeks.  Eliza stayed 18 weeks at Women’s Hospital in Greensboro and suffered from terrible acid reflux which greatly impacted how she learned to eat.  She was then transferred to UNC because of their renowned feeding team.  After a long process of elimination, we found out that she was intolerant of dairy and my breastmilk.  She later outgrew this and eats perfectly now! Clara was transferred to Duke because of her PDA and stayed 6 weeks there.  She then was transferred back to be with Eliza at Women’s for another 11 weeks.  She also struggled to eat so she was transferred to UNC for a final two weeks before graduating with her sister.  Clara was placed on a high protein formula to gain weight and once she was taken off of that formula, her gut healed and she eats perfectly now. Both girls arrived home 140 days later, a day that was indescribably the best day of my life.

Our NICU journey has ended.  Eliza and Clara are on the growth chart and are growing well.  They have no deficits. Strangers ask how old they are.  My husband and I used to hesitate and quickly calculate their actual age or contemplate sharing their adjusted age or try to quickly explain everything.  That no longer feels necessary.  They are 22 months old and act their birth age.  It is my heartfelt prayer that our story can help others who are in the NICU.  There is hope.  Just look at our angels and watch what they will do in this world.  God answered my prayers and gave me strong and healthy babies who are going to do so much.  Just wait and my angels will be yours too!


Fundraising Activity

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Rebecca donated $500.00
14 days ago

WE NEED TO UNITE, CONNECT AND FIGHT FOR FAMILIES

With preterm birth rates continuing to rise, the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations for childbirth, especially for women and babies of color.

At March for Babies: A Mother of a Movement you're lifting up communities, creating connections and taking action to make America a more equitable place and ensure that every mom and baby is healthy.

Together, we’re marching to raise funds and awareness to transform the health of all families!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!


$500
Fundraising goal: $4,840
23 days
left until the experience!
Saturday, April 20, 2024
1 Donors | 834 Visitors

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