• About Me
  • Privacy Policy and Disclosure Policy

Shann Eva's Blog

A peek into my messy life with 3 boys

  • Home
    • My Delivery Story
    • Twin Pregnancy
  • Work with Me!
  • Money-Saving Links
  • Blog
    • Shann’s Favorites
    • Shopping
    • Birthdays
    • Health
    • Micro Preemie Mondays
  • Submit Your Story
    • Share an Update
  • Twin pregnancy
You are here: Home / Blog / Micro Preemie Mondays and Killian

Micro Preemie Mondays and Killian

September 28, 2015 By Shann 25 Comments

Hello Monday! Welcome back to another Micro Preemie Monday. I’m so glad you’re here to read another inspiring story.

Today, we meet Killian, as told by his Mom, Bethany. I will explain a few terms at the end, marked with an *

Micro Preemie

1. Tell us about your baby.

Our feisty little miracle, Killian, was born in October 2013. We knew ahead of time that he would likely be a preemie, but his delivery was still sudden. He was born via C-section at 1lb 3oz or 540 grams at 28 weeks. He is now over 18 months old and a little butterball of energy.

2. How long was your NICU stay? What was the hardest part?

Our NICU stay was 156 long days. The hardest part outside of the obvious not having him home, was probably the beginning and end of his stay. That bleary eyed survival mode you live in for the first few weeks when you dread a midnight phone call and don’t know what the next day will bring. However, psychologically, the worst time was right before he came home. It was a month of no progress just looking for better eating and weight gain. I was at my most burnt out and just so ready for him to be home. That time period can often be called “hitting the wall”, and boy, that is exactly what it feels like.

Killian

3. Do you know what caused your premature birth?

My placenta didn’t develop correctly, for undetermined reasons which led to him having severe IUGR*. That in combination with my very sudden onset HELLP syndrome*, led to his early delivery. He had stopped growing and I almost died. Talk about a dramatic entrance.

4. How are you and your baby doing now?

We are doing good. It’s summer again and we are excited to be breaking out of our winter lockdown. The only continued issue is his oral aversion which is common for micro preemies and IUGR kids. Because of that, he has a g tube*, which doesn’t bother him at all but does require greater micro managing. He is just mildly behind but that is more relative to growth issues before his g tube placement. He is otherwise healthy and an extremely active, rambunctious, intelligent, and happy toddler.

Killian (1)

5. What advice to you have for new preemie parents?

My advice to anyone going through this is: -Take care of yourself too. I know how hard it is, but your child is in the NICU for a reason. Let the nurses and doctors take care of your little one so you can eat, sleep, shower, and see your family. You can’t take care of someone else if you are falling apart. -Advocate for your child. Doctors tend to just spit out their treatment plans or options available. Write down all those big words and acronyms and research them. Understand what is happening so you can voice concerns and be actively involved in your child’s care. -Ask for help and be gracious enough to accept it. Whether it’s donations, someone cooking dinner, watching an older child, or just being there emotionally…don’t go it alone. Let others help and never be afraid to ask. -Find support. Facebook might not be your first thought, but from a micro preemie support group to an exclusively pumping one, these people have calmed my fears, built me up when I needed it, and cried tears of joy and sadness with each other. -Enjoy your child. It is so tough to go through the NICU, and whatever complications come from prematurity. It is still the beginning of your child’s life. Enjoy the firsts, celebrate the accomplishments, and don’t be afraid to smile.

Killian (2)

From the March of Dimes website:

HELLP Syndrome: Some pregnant women with high blood pressure develop a condition called HELLP syndrome. HELLP stands for these blood and liver problems:

  • H–Hemolysis. This is the breakdown of red blood cells. Red blood cells carry oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body.
  • EL–Elevated liver enzymes. High levels of these chemicals can be a sign of liver problems.
  • LP–Low platelet count. Platelets help the blood clot.

From WebMD:

IUGR: Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) refers to a condition in which an unborn baby is smaller than it should be because it is not growing at a normal rate inside the womb. Delayed growth puts the baby at risk of certain health problems during pregnancy, delivery, and after birth. They include: Low birth weight.

From Kidshealth.org

G-Tube: A gastrostomy tube (also called a G-tube) is a tube inserted through the abdomen that delivers nutrition directly to the stomach. It’s one of the ways doctors can make sure kids with trouble eating get the fluid and calories they need to grow.

Killian (3)

Thank you so much to Bethany for sharing her and Killian’s story with us. He is such an adorable boy, and I can’t wait to hear about what he does next.
If you like what you just read please click to send a quick vote for me on Top Mommy Blogs- The best mommy blog directory featuring top mom bloggers

Filed Under: Blog, Micro Preemie Mondays, Prematurity Tagged With: g-tube, gastrostomy tube, hellp syndrome, IURG, kidshealth.org, march of dimes, micro preemie, micro preemie monday, preemie, premature birth, Prematurity

Comments

  1. serenemomblog says

    September 28, 2015 at 9:12 am

    Aww, he’s such a handsome little one! I’m glad he’s doing great now!

    Reply
  2. Scott says

    September 28, 2015 at 9:48 am

    He is such a cutie! Will make sure to follow along to see how he’s doing!

    Reply
  3. Branson says

    September 28, 2015 at 10:08 am

    What a little honey! A dear friend of mine had a micro preemie and I remember those days sitting with her in the NICU very well. So thankful for the medical technology we have today, and for the awesome staff our nearby hospital has! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Becky @ Disney in your Day says

    September 28, 2015 at 12:37 pm

    Oh my gosh, that face is so adorable! She has great advice too. And I love the name of her child 🙂

    Reply
  5. Anamika Ojha says

    September 28, 2015 at 1:55 pm

    awwwnnn…He is so cute…God bless..:)

    Reply
  6. livelifewellblog5 says

    September 28, 2015 at 3:08 pm

    What an amazing story! The name Killian is so cute and he’s growing into such a handsome little man.

    LiveLifeWell,
    Allison

    Reply
  7. Jamie Yonash says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:15 pm

    I worked as a RN in the NICU for several years and cherish that time!! This story makes me miss it!! So glad he is doing great!!

    Reply
  8. Brenda Lee says

    September 28, 2015 at 5:21 pm

    What a beautiful little boy! I love Preemie Monday because you ladies share such cuteness! Thanks for sharing your story with us!

    Reply
  9. cramos13 says

    September 28, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    He is one tough cookie and what a cutie pie. I would love to get a follow up to see how he’s doing. Thanks for sharing his story with us Shann!

    Cori

    Reply
    • Shann says

      September 28, 2015 at 9:20 pm

      Don’t worry….I will follow-up with all soon. 🙂 Thank you for reading!

      Reply
  10. goodenufmommy says

    September 28, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Look at that precious face! And those eyes! What a cutie!! Glad you both made it through! What a blessing!

    Reply
  11. kchiavarone says

    September 28, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    What a cutie!! Glad to see he’s doing so well

    Reply
  12. Dina Farmer says

    September 28, 2015 at 7:13 pm

    Actually, on my journey when I document preemies I’ve learned that HELP syndrome is very common in premature birth. Out of the 40 families I documented 15 of them developed HELP which lead to the premature birth.

    I’m glad he is doing so well and I hope Killian continues to get stronger everyday.

    Reply
  13. Clare Speer says

    September 28, 2015 at 7:26 pm

    Such a blessing to all to read these wonderful testimonies! Thanks so much for sharing! We all need to hear these miracle stories!

    Reply
  14. Shelly says

    September 28, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    What a precious baby! <3

    None of my babies were premies, and even so I always felt like a nervous wreck during the newborn stage. Babies are so fragile, ya know. And to know that you're responsible for something so fragile and precious is scary. It's like taking fine china out of the cabinette and out into the world. I can only imagine the fear the mommy of a premie would feel, but what strength to get through it! 🙂

    Reply
  15. laurenbtrain says

    September 29, 2015 at 12:15 am

    Thanks so much for sharing Killian’s story! He is precious!

    Reply
  16. rebekah says

    September 29, 2015 at 12:27 am

    What an adorable little boy! I absolutely love reading your inspiring micro preemie Monday posts, so amazing!

    Reply
  17. Jhanis says

    September 29, 2015 at 3:18 am

    I think preemie and NICU parents have such strong souls and are some of the bravest people in the world. I can only imagine the feeling!

    Reply
  18. Yanique Chambers says

    September 29, 2015 at 5:45 am

    He is precious. His mom makes a good point about moms of micro-preemies needing to take care of themselves too. I can’t imagine how stressful and psychologically draining going through an experience like this can be.

    Reply
  19. Donni says

    September 29, 2015 at 10:33 am

    Aww look at that sweet face! Glad to see he’s doing so well.

    Reply
  20. Jane says

    September 29, 2015 at 8:27 pm

    I have never heard of hellp syndrome, thanks for such an informative post. What a cutie Killian is!

    Reply
  21. Kaitie Creator of Fuchisa Freezer says

    September 29, 2015 at 9:37 pm

    What An obstacle you both have overcome! Congrats on doing so with smiles and continued hope!

    Reply
  22. theskinnypot says

    September 30, 2015 at 9:56 am

    I am so teary eyed reading this. I am glad to find all these different type in Together We blog outside my niche to find inspiring stories like this.. Thank you.

    Reply
  23. Jessica says

    September 30, 2015 at 8:24 pm

    He is so precious! wow, what a dramatic entrance. I am glad you both are doing well and thanks for sharing your story.

    Reply
  24. caitlincheevers says

    October 22, 2015 at 11:41 am

    Oh my goodness, the photo of him with the racoon hat on. I can’t get over it! So precious.
    xo, Caitlin
    And Possibly Dinosaurs

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Meet Shann

Shann Hi! I'm a mom, writer, and dancer. I love sharing my parenting experiences, my healthy living tips, my money saving ideas, and our travel plans. My passion to help other women inspired this blog. I hope you'll stay a while and come back often.

Need Help Finding Something?

Follow Me

Subscribe to Blog

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Recent Posts

  • Middle Mom: Changes and Challenges February 21, 2023
  • Writing as Therapy May 16, 2022
  • COVID: The (Not) Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Guilt August 20, 2021
  • Healthy Lifestyle: Making Baby Steps Back July 27, 2021
  • 2020 Year In Review: The Highlights December 31, 2020

Facebook

Facebook
MKE Moms Blog
Copyrighted.com Registered & Protected 
M6VU-YLWL-D4JY-XAO4

Copyright © 2023 · Blog Design by Quality Websites On A Budget

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent.
Cookie SettingsAccept All
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT