Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Some Pictures
Before Ema was released from Newton Medical Center (and before we knew anything was wrong), a professional photographer took some pictures of Ema. I wanted to share some of them with you. Enjoy!
November 30
We are happy to report that Ema is making a lot of progress. She is still free of breathing aids. She has been waking frequently, and is very alert when she is awake. She has started taking breast milk, though she is breathing too quickly to bottle feed. Instead, she has a feeding tube through her nose (which she has already taken out by herself at least once). I had to leave Kansas City and head back to work, leaving Becky there by herself. The following is Becky's medical report for Ema as of Tuesday, November 29th:
The next two weeks will be very important for Ema's future:
Ema had her first immunology consult today, 11/29/11. Blood was drawn so that her lymphocyte numbers can be tested and evaluated. Earlier imaging tests showed that Ema has a small or missing thymus, which is a gland that produces T-cells, an important immune system cell. This imaging test suggests that Ema will very likely have low levels of immune cells, and thus a compromised immune system. The blood test that is now being done will determine how severe Ema's immune deficiency is; She will either have a "partial DiGeorge", where some thymus tissue is left and some T-cells are produced, or she will have "complete DiGeorge" where she has virtually no thymus and no T-cells. Whichever she has will mean a great deal for her future; Partial DiGeorge will leave her with more infections and colds and things, and a need for regular trips to an immunologist for follow-up, but is not usually life-threatening. Complete DiGeorge can be very serious, because her ability to fight infection will be so compromised. We will know by the end of the week which she has, and will determine then a plan of care for her future.
Ema also saw her cardiologist today. So far she is doing well, gaining weight and remaining stable. Another echocardiogram is scheduled for next week, and depending on those results surgery will likely be the week after. They will be looking for how big her aorta is in relation to the rest of her body, to determine whether it will be able to sustain blood flow under the new pressure. If is determined to be too small, than she will likely go into heart failure after surgery, which would likely mean being on constant IV medication to maintain balances.
Ema also saw a geneticist today. The genetic counselor explained that people with DiGeorge vary widely on the particular symptoms that they present with. Some individuals never know that they have the deletion, because they never show symptoms. Some people have heart problems, like Ema, and nothing else. And some individuals have a variety of mix- and - match symptoms. We really won't know until later how severe all of her symptoms are, as some of them don't present themselves until later, like any possible learning disabilities. They also suggested that Ema receive care from the early education program once she is home in Newton, so that Ema's parents have another resource to use to measure and evaulate Ema's development for signs of problems, and also to connect them with any therapies she may need that they provide, like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy. They also suggested that Ema's parents be tested to see if they have the deletion, so that they can make decision about other children. Ema will have regular visits with a genetic counselor in the future.
Ema also saw an endocrinologist for the first time today. They plan on running bloodwork for her to determine the function of her endocrine system, the system that deals with her hormones. Doctors already know that several of Ema's levels are a little abnormal, such as her calcium level, which is low. The bloodtests will help determine if any of her other hormones are abnormal, so that they can begin to treat the deficiencies and plan for the future. Because of her calcium levels, we already know that she will need calcium supplements once she is no longer receiving IV nutrition.
Ema still is getting feedings every three hours, and has even slowed her breathing enough to receive one bottle feeding! She has begun to be used to her feeding routine, and is waking up hungry a few minutes before her scheduled feedings. This is a good sign that she is processing her food and that she is developing an independent feeding routine, something that most babies develop normally.
She also loves her binky, and the new mobile that her parents got her!
The next two weeks will be very important for Ema's future:
Ema had her first immunology consult today, 11/29/11. Blood was drawn so that her lymphocyte numbers can be tested and evaluated. Earlier imaging tests showed that Ema has a small or missing thymus, which is a gland that produces T-cells, an important immune system cell. This imaging test suggests that Ema will very likely have low levels of immune cells, and thus a compromised immune system. The blood test that is now being done will determine how severe Ema's immune deficiency is; She will either have a "partial DiGeorge", where some thymus tissue is left and some T-cells are produced, or she will have "complete DiGeorge" where she has virtually no thymus and no T-cells. Whichever she has will mean a great deal for her future; Partial DiGeorge will leave her with more infections and colds and things, and a need for regular trips to an immunologist for follow-up, but is not usually life-threatening. Complete DiGeorge can be very serious, because her ability to fight infection will be so compromised. We will know by the end of the week which she has, and will determine then a plan of care for her future.
Ema also saw her cardiologist today. So far she is doing well, gaining weight and remaining stable. Another echocardiogram is scheduled for next week, and depending on those results surgery will likely be the week after. They will be looking for how big her aorta is in relation to the rest of her body, to determine whether it will be able to sustain blood flow under the new pressure. If is determined to be too small, than she will likely go into heart failure after surgery, which would likely mean being on constant IV medication to maintain balances.
Ema also saw a geneticist today. The genetic counselor explained that people with DiGeorge vary widely on the particular symptoms that they present with. Some individuals never know that they have the deletion, because they never show symptoms. Some people have heart problems, like Ema, and nothing else. And some individuals have a variety of mix- and - match symptoms. We really won't know until later how severe all of her symptoms are, as some of them don't present themselves until later, like any possible learning disabilities. They also suggested that Ema receive care from the early education program once she is home in Newton, so that Ema's parents have another resource to use to measure and evaulate Ema's development for signs of problems, and also to connect them with any therapies she may need that they provide, like speech therapy, occupational therapy, or physical therapy. They also suggested that Ema's parents be tested to see if they have the deletion, so that they can make decision about other children. Ema will have regular visits with a genetic counselor in the future.
Ema also saw an endocrinologist for the first time today. They plan on running bloodwork for her to determine the function of her endocrine system, the system that deals with her hormones. Doctors already know that several of Ema's levels are a little abnormal, such as her calcium level, which is low. The bloodtests will help determine if any of her other hormones are abnormal, so that they can begin to treat the deficiencies and plan for the future. Because of her calcium levels, we already know that she will need calcium supplements once she is no longer receiving IV nutrition.
Ema still is getting feedings every three hours, and has even slowed her breathing enough to receive one bottle feeding! She has begun to be used to her feeding routine, and is waking up hungry a few minutes before her scheduled feedings. This is a good sign that she is processing her food and that she is developing an independent feeding routine, something that most babies develop normally.
She also loves her binky, and the new mobile that her parents got her!
Monday, November 21, 2011
General update.
Ema has been making a lot of progress in the past few days. She is not hooked up to any breathing aids. She is down to two IVs. We've been able to hold her. She is even going to try bottle feeding today.
Ema has also undergone several tests. She has had a kidney ultrasound, a CT scan of her heart, two head ultrasounds, at least two echo-cardiograms, and blood tests everyday.
Doctors found a small bleed on her brain. That was the only serious damage from the lack of blood flow when we brought her home from the hospital initially. Additional scans found that her body's natural processes are beginning to clear that up. They don't anticipate any lasting damage from this bleed.
Because Ema is so small, the cardiologists and surgeons have decided to wait a month before doing surgery. They also want to wait until the bleed on her brain is completely healed. There is also an issue with the size of her aorta. They would like it to get a bit bigger so they can be sure it will handle the pressure of the new blood flow.
Thank you for all of the prayers!
Ema has also undergone several tests. She has had a kidney ultrasound, a CT scan of her heart, two head ultrasounds, at least two echo-cardiograms, and blood tests everyday.
Doctors found a small bleed on her brain. That was the only serious damage from the lack of blood flow when we brought her home from the hospital initially. Additional scans found that her body's natural processes are beginning to clear that up. They don't anticipate any lasting damage from this bleed.
Because Ema is so small, the cardiologists and surgeons have decided to wait a month before doing surgery. They also want to wait until the bleed on her brain is completely healed. There is also an issue with the size of her aorta. They would like it to get a bit bigger so they can be sure it will handle the pressure of the new blood flow.
Thank you for all of the prayers!
Saturday, November 19, 2011
DGS
The three letters that are the title of this post have terrified me since Sunday evening. But before I talk about that, I want to talk about something that every parent already knows.
Parents worry about their children. We worry that our kids get enough to eat. We worry that our kids are healthy. We worry that our kids are safe from everything bad in the world. As a relatively new parent, I can tell you that I never knew just how scary the world was until the moment I became a parent. But all of these are things I can protect my children from.
DGS stands for DiGeorge Syndrome. It is a type of Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS). It is a genetic disorder classified by a deletion mutation of genetic material on the 22nd chromosome. Approximately 5% of cases of DGS are inhereited, the other 95% are spontaneous. DGS is associated with a long list of symptoms that include interrupted aortic arch (the heart condition Ema has), immune system deficiency, cleft palate and/or lip, developmental delays and disabilities, certain facial characteristics like wide-set eyes and low-set ears, and a few others. Not every person with DGS will have every symptom. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person as well.
This is what we could not protect Ema from. On Friday, we found out that Ema tested positive for DiGeorge Syndrome. We are hopeful that hers is a mild case, but ultimately it doesn't matter. I got to hold Ema Friday night at around 11pm. It was the first time I had held her since last Saturday. Ema is perfect. That's all we need to know for right now.
Parents worry about their children. We worry that our kids get enough to eat. We worry that our kids are healthy. We worry that our kids are safe from everything bad in the world. As a relatively new parent, I can tell you that I never knew just how scary the world was until the moment I became a parent. But all of these are things I can protect my children from.
DGS stands for DiGeorge Syndrome. It is a type of Velo-Cardio-Facial Syndrome (VCFS). It is a genetic disorder classified by a deletion mutation of genetic material on the 22nd chromosome. Approximately 5% of cases of DGS are inhereited, the other 95% are spontaneous. DGS is associated with a long list of symptoms that include interrupted aortic arch (the heart condition Ema has), immune system deficiency, cleft palate and/or lip, developmental delays and disabilities, certain facial characteristics like wide-set eyes and low-set ears, and a few others. Not every person with DGS will have every symptom. The severity of these symptoms varies from person to person as well.
This is what we could not protect Ema from. On Friday, we found out that Ema tested positive for DiGeorge Syndrome. We are hopeful that hers is a mild case, but ultimately it doesn't matter. I got to hold Ema Friday night at around 11pm. It was the first time I had held her since last Saturday. Ema is perfect. That's all we need to know for right now.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
A few pictures.
I know people are probably anxious to see what Ema looks like. These pictures are in chronological order.
What we found out at Children's Mercy.
As soon as we got to Ema's bedside at the Children's Mercy NICU, we were given a wealth of information about her condition. Everyday we learn a little bit more about what's affecting her. I will try to explain what is going on as best as I can so everyone can understand.
Em's Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) is a particular type known as an Interrupted Aortic Arch (IAA). The aorta is the big artery coming out of the left ventricle (one of the four chambers of the heart), and it is responsible for carrying oxygen rich blood to the body. The aorta has three branches before going down to supply the lower part of the body with blood. Those three branches are located on an arch as the aorta begins to head downward. Below is a picture of a normally formed heart (left) compared to an IAA heart (right).
One question that we had initially was why didn't anyone notice Ema's special heart sooner than Saturday night when we took her to the ER? The answer to that is is kind of complicated, at least to those who are familiar with the anatomy of an adult heart. Below is a diagram of a fetal heart.
The area that is labeled "ductus arteriosus" is present in fetal babies, but if you refer back to the previous image, it is absent in normally formed adult hearts. A few days after a baby is born, the ductus arteriosus closes and normal aorta function continues. With Ema, the ductus arteriosus is the only thing supplying blood to the lower parts of her body. As with normal babies, that ductus closed a few days after birth, which was some time Saturday evening when we got her home. Before that, her heart problems were undetectable.
Right now, Ema is on medication that keeps the ductus arteriosus open. Every other problem Ema is experiencing right now is stemming from the period of time when the ductus was closed. Each of her IVs contains medications to remedy and normalize all of her bodily chemicals and blood gas levels.
Another defect with Ema's heart is the "hole" that the cardiologists told us about in Wichita. They explained the hole to us a little bit more thoroughly in Kansas City. Again, if you look back up to the first image, you'll notice that in between the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV), there is a wall, called the ventricular septum. That is where Ema's hole is. Her heart looks a lot like the image below.
In Ema's heart, that septum has a pretty large hole in it. Right now, this is kind of a good thing, actually. The area of blue in the diagram is blood that doesn't have oxygen in it, because it just entered the heart after passing through the body. The red area is blood that has just come back from the lungs, so it's nice and full of oxygen. Because the blood that is going to Ema's lower half is coming out of the pulmonary artery, the only way it gets oxygenated blood is when it passes through the hole in her ventricular septum. However, when the doctors do surgery, they will need to patch this up.
Doctors are keeping her healthy and allowing her to recover until she is strong enough for surgery. At the same time, doctors are also trying to screen to figure out exactly what caused the heart defect. We should have a pretty good idea this Friday what we can expect of the next several weeks. We do know that Ema will be in Kansas City for at least 4-6 weeks.
I should leave you with some happier news. When we left the hospital last night, Ema's eyes were open ans she was wiggling around quite a bit. She grabbed my finger and held it for several minutes. This was the first time we had seen our little girl's eyes since Saturday, so it was very nice for us.
Em's Congenital Heart Defect (CHD) is a particular type known as an Interrupted Aortic Arch (IAA). The aorta is the big artery coming out of the left ventricle (one of the four chambers of the heart), and it is responsible for carrying oxygen rich blood to the body. The aorta has three branches before going down to supply the lower part of the body with blood. Those three branches are located on an arch as the aorta begins to head downward. Below is a picture of a normally formed heart (left) compared to an IAA heart (right).
One question that we had initially was why didn't anyone notice Ema's special heart sooner than Saturday night when we took her to the ER? The answer to that is is kind of complicated, at least to those who are familiar with the anatomy of an adult heart. Below is a diagram of a fetal heart.
Right now, Ema is on medication that keeps the ductus arteriosus open. Every other problem Ema is experiencing right now is stemming from the period of time when the ductus was closed. Each of her IVs contains medications to remedy and normalize all of her bodily chemicals and blood gas levels.
Another defect with Ema's heart is the "hole" that the cardiologists told us about in Wichita. They explained the hole to us a little bit more thoroughly in Kansas City. Again, if you look back up to the first image, you'll notice that in between the right ventricle (RV) and left ventricle (LV), there is a wall, called the ventricular septum. That is where Ema's hole is. Her heart looks a lot like the image below.
In Ema's heart, that septum has a pretty large hole in it. Right now, this is kind of a good thing, actually. The area of blue in the diagram is blood that doesn't have oxygen in it, because it just entered the heart after passing through the body. The red area is blood that has just come back from the lungs, so it's nice and full of oxygen. Because the blood that is going to Ema's lower half is coming out of the pulmonary artery, the only way it gets oxygenated blood is when it passes through the hole in her ventricular septum. However, when the doctors do surgery, they will need to patch this up.
Doctors are keeping her healthy and allowing her to recover until she is strong enough for surgery. At the same time, doctors are also trying to screen to figure out exactly what caused the heart defect. We should have a pretty good idea this Friday what we can expect of the next several weeks. We do know that Ema will be in Kansas City for at least 4-6 weeks.
I should leave you with some happier news. When we left the hospital last night, Ema's eyes were open ans she was wiggling around quite a bit. She grabbed my finger and held it for several minutes. This was the first time we had seen our little girl's eyes since Saturday, so it was very nice for us.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Flying to Kansas City.
It took what seemed like hours before we were able to see Ema in the NICU at Wesley. By this point, she had four IVs; one in each arm, one in her belly button, and one in the top of her head. She was hooked up to a ventilator through a tube in her mouth. She was stable, and they were able to conduct a few tests that they couldn't do in Newton.
A cardiologist and neonatologist (a doctor specializing in ill and premature newborn infants) met with Becky and I to tell us what they had found. The explanation was that Ema was born with a congenital heart defect. This is basically a catch-all term form abnormalities in the heart that are present from birth. The cardiologist tried to explain the exact nature of the deformity. Based on the test they had done (which I believe was an echocardiogram) they believed that the problem was with Ema's aorta. A chest x-ray in Newton revealed that Ema's heart was enlarged. That information, with the results from the cardiac echo, led the cardiologist to believe that Ema's aorta was severely narrowed at some point after it left the heart. We later found out, after a more precise and accurate test, that this was not exactly the case. The cardiac echo also found what the cardiologist described as small holes (approximately three of them) in Ema's heart. This also sounds pretty frightening. Essentially, what this means is that passageways between the different chambers of the heart are not tightly sealed, which allows for some level back flow and blood mixing. Though this is clearly a concern, it is not as concerning as the problems with the aorta, which, at this point, hasn't been completely identified.
What we did learn from this meeting, was that the best cardiac surgeons are in Kansas City at Children's Mercy Hospital. As soon as Wesley could get Ema stable, they were having her flown to Kansas City. We left Wichita shortly after 11:30am and prepared to head to Kansas City.
Just so everyone can appreciate what we had been through to this point, here's a brief timeline/recap:
A cardiologist and neonatologist (a doctor specializing in ill and premature newborn infants) met with Becky and I to tell us what they had found. The explanation was that Ema was born with a congenital heart defect. This is basically a catch-all term form abnormalities in the heart that are present from birth. The cardiologist tried to explain the exact nature of the deformity. Based on the test they had done (which I believe was an echocardiogram) they believed that the problem was with Ema's aorta. A chest x-ray in Newton revealed that Ema's heart was enlarged. That information, with the results from the cardiac echo, led the cardiologist to believe that Ema's aorta was severely narrowed at some point after it left the heart. We later found out, after a more precise and accurate test, that this was not exactly the case. The cardiac echo also found what the cardiologist described as small holes (approximately three of them) in Ema's heart. This also sounds pretty frightening. Essentially, what this means is that passageways between the different chambers of the heart are not tightly sealed, which allows for some level back flow and blood mixing. Though this is clearly a concern, it is not as concerning as the problems with the aorta, which, at this point, hasn't been completely identified.
What we did learn from this meeting, was that the best cardiac surgeons are in Kansas City at Children's Mercy Hospital. As soon as Wesley could get Ema stable, they were having her flown to Kansas City. We left Wichita shortly after 11:30am and prepared to head to Kansas City.
Just so everyone can appreciate what we had been through to this point, here's a brief timeline/recap:
- 7:30pm Saturday - Ema comes home from Newton Medical Center
- 12:30am Sunday - We take Ema to NMC ER
- 4:30am Sunday - Ema leaves NMC via ambulance for Wesley Medical Center
- 11:30am Sunday - Ema is flown from Wichita to Kansas City Children's Mercy Hospital
- 11:30am Sunday - Becky, Donna, and I leave Wichita to pack some clothes for KC.
- 4:30pm Sunday - We arrive in Kansas City and see Ema at Children's Mercy.
Something's not right.
After Ema was born, we spent two normal, sleepless days in the hospital. Ema got to meet several family members and new friends, including a skeptical older brother, and members of a very prestigious high school debate team. Everyone immediately noticed what mommy and daddy knew all along, that this was a special beautiful baby girl.
Finally, on Saturday evening, we were ready to take our baby girl home and start our new life as a family of four. We got home around 7:30pm. Almost right away, we noticed something was not quite right. Ema had been very fussy, and she was not wanting to eat. You might be thinking that a fussy newborn is perfectly normal. I don't mean to boast, but our babies are wonderful. They don't really get fussy (this can be verified by any number of family members). After a few hours of trying to get Ema to eat, we also noticed that she was cold. Becky took her temperature and decided to call the hospital. Like a good husband, I was asleep.
Shortly after midnight, we were in the ER at Newton Medical Center. Dr. Jantz was informed about Ema's condition and got to the hospital before we did. As Ema was getting checked, Dr. Jantz and the ER nurse heard a murmur. This basically means they heard something that did not sound like a normal heart beating. Dr. Jantz quickly had us walking to the special care nursery. He had an assumption about what was going on, and he acted on it (assumption is my word. Dr. Jantz is a skilled professional and probably knew exactly what was going on). Within a very short amount of time, Ema was hooked up to an IV that was administering a drug. This drug was opening up Ema's aorta, which is the large artery supplying the body with oxygenated blood. I am convinced that this was the second action of the night that saved Ema's life. For those who weren't counting, the first was when Becky realized something wasn't right and called the hospital.
After a few tests in the special care nursery and other life saving medications, the neonatal transportation unit from Wesley Medical Center was contacted and heading to Newton. By 5:30am we were sitting in the waiting room of the NICU at Wesley Medical Center. This was just the start of a very long day.
Finally, on Saturday evening, we were ready to take our baby girl home and start our new life as a family of four. We got home around 7:30pm. Almost right away, we noticed something was not quite right. Ema had been very fussy, and she was not wanting to eat. You might be thinking that a fussy newborn is perfectly normal. I don't mean to boast, but our babies are wonderful. They don't really get fussy (this can be verified by any number of family members). After a few hours of trying to get Ema to eat, we also noticed that she was cold. Becky took her temperature and decided to call the hospital. Like a good husband, I was asleep.
Shortly after midnight, we were in the ER at Newton Medical Center. Dr. Jantz was informed about Ema's condition and got to the hospital before we did. As Ema was getting checked, Dr. Jantz and the ER nurse heard a murmur. This basically means they heard something that did not sound like a normal heart beating. Dr. Jantz quickly had us walking to the special care nursery. He had an assumption about what was going on, and he acted on it (assumption is my word. Dr. Jantz is a skilled professional and probably knew exactly what was going on). Within a very short amount of time, Ema was hooked up to an IV that was administering a drug. This drug was opening up Ema's aorta, which is the large artery supplying the body with oxygenated blood. I am convinced that this was the second action of the night that saved Ema's life. For those who weren't counting, the first was when Becky realized something wasn't right and called the hospital.
After a few tests in the special care nursery and other life saving medications, the neonatal transportation unit from Wesley Medical Center was contacted and heading to Newton. By 5:30am we were sitting in the waiting room of the NICU at Wesley Medical Center. This was just the start of a very long day.
A difficult pregnancy.
Before I can go into detail about Ema's current condition, it's necessary to give some background information. After Becky and I found out we were pregnant, the first thing we prayed for was a pregnancy free of complications, because we had already gone through a difficult pregnancy and birth with our son, Grahm. Several months went by with what we thought were answered prayers. However, by around week 24, Becky had a sonogram that revealed she again had polyhydramnios (too much amniotic fluid in the uterus, where baby lives before birth). Because our first pregnancy involved poly and resulted in a premature birth, the doctors working with were taking every precaution to make sure this baby would go full term. One of the interventions they decided was to have weekly biophysical profiles, which involved a weekly sonogram, and a monthly visit to a prenatal specialist in Wichita.
Even with this intervention, we still had a few hiccups along the way. Becky was admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks because of contractions. This happened at least two more times before week 37. Nobody wanted to risk Ema coming early, since her brother spent two weeks in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Wesley.
As weeks 37 and 38 passed by, it looked like were finally going to enjoy a stress free, and full term, birth. Again, this was not to be the case.
Becky's Cesarian Section was scheduled for Friday, November 11th (11/11/11) a day we picked out back in August. On her last weekly biophysical profile before the C-section, we got some less than great news. Ema seemed to be doing fine except she wasn't moving. Because he heart rate and breathing motions were normal, the doctors weren't immediately concerned, but they wanted us to come back early Thursday morning so they could check again. After all, babies like to sleep, so maybe Ema was just sleeping.
We arrived at Newton Medical Center at 6:30am for Becky's sonogram. By 7:45am, doctors had explained to us that while Ema was moving around this time, she was not showing any breathing movements. This sounds pretty scary, like she was suffocating, but remember that babies don't really breath in the womb. Breathing movements really just show that she's prepared to take her first breaths when she enters the world. Still, this was a problem because those movements should have been there.
The doctors decided that Ema was going to be a day early.
As Becky got prepared for surgery, I quickly, and not so calmly, informed our family. Without going through all of the details, Emaline Belle Buchta was born at 9:49am on Thursday, November 10th. She weighed 5 pounds 14.9 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long. She was healthy and everything was just fine. It was a welcome relief for us. After our experience with Grahm's birth, it was nice to be able to hold our baby girl right away, and to have her in our room free of tubes and machines. Everything was normal, and we were happy.
Even with this intervention, we still had a few hiccups along the way. Becky was admitted to the hospital at 29 weeks because of contractions. This happened at least two more times before week 37. Nobody wanted to risk Ema coming early, since her brother spent two weeks in the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) at Wesley.
As weeks 37 and 38 passed by, it looked like were finally going to enjoy a stress free, and full term, birth. Again, this was not to be the case.
Becky's Cesarian Section was scheduled for Friday, November 11th (11/11/11) a day we picked out back in August. On her last weekly biophysical profile before the C-section, we got some less than great news. Ema seemed to be doing fine except she wasn't moving. Because he heart rate and breathing motions were normal, the doctors weren't immediately concerned, but they wanted us to come back early Thursday morning so they could check again. After all, babies like to sleep, so maybe Ema was just sleeping.
We arrived at Newton Medical Center at 6:30am for Becky's sonogram. By 7:45am, doctors had explained to us that while Ema was moving around this time, she was not showing any breathing movements. This sounds pretty scary, like she was suffocating, but remember that babies don't really breath in the womb. Breathing movements really just show that she's prepared to take her first breaths when she enters the world. Still, this was a problem because those movements should have been there.
The doctors decided that Ema was going to be a day early.
As Becky got prepared for surgery, I quickly, and not so calmly, informed our family. Without going through all of the details, Emaline Belle Buchta was born at 9:49am on Thursday, November 10th. She weighed 5 pounds 14.9 ounces, and was 18.5 inches long. She was healthy and everything was just fine. It was a welcome relief for us. After our experience with Grahm's birth, it was nice to be able to hold our baby girl right away, and to have her in our room free of tubes and machines. Everything was normal, and we were happy.
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