3 ½-pound newborn doing well after early delivery
Number of premature births rising
Lillie Digges has been impatient since the day she was born -- which was only a few weeks ago.
She couldn't wait the standard 40 weeks to be born, so she appeared at 35 weeks, even though she was only 3 pounds, 5 ounces. Then, having made her appearance (by cesarean delivery) on June 10 at Fauquier Hospital's O'Shaughnessy Family Birthing Center, she couldn't wait to get home, so she ate up a storm (a few ounces at a time) and put on weight faster than anyone expected. She was released from the birthing center with her mom, Ashley Connor on June 24, several days ahead of schedule. Mother and daughter were welcomed home to Midland by Lillie’s dad, Brad Digges.
Lillie’s story had a happy ending, but prematurity is the leading cause of death in the first month of life, and even late preterm infants have a greater risk of respiratory distress syndrome, feeding difficulties, temperature instability (hypothermia), jaundice and delayed brain development.
And premature births are much more common now than they were ten years ago. The numbers have increased more than 20 percent since 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The National Center for Health Statistics reports that for 2005, premature births occurred in 12.7 percent of births, up from 12.5 percent in 2004. The 2006 preliminary report indicates that the preterm birth rate continued its upward trend and reached 12.8 percent.
Lillie’s story
As Ashley Connor, 19, entered the last weeks of her pregnancy, her OB/GYN Dr. Gina Moore recognized that the baby did not seem to be growing. Ultrasounds and tests to measure the baby’s breathing and movement revealed that there might be a problem. Dr. Moore asked Connor to stay overnight at Fauquier Hospital June 9, and when test results were no better the next day, a cesarean section was performed.
Dr. Moore explained that, “Lillie had growth restriction, but we don't know why. We performed a cesarean section because we thought Lillie would not tolerate the contractions inherent in vaginal delivery. I believe it was a placenta problem – her heart rate was dropping even in the absence of contractions. Often this condition is related to cigarette smoking, hypertension or clotting disorders. But we don't believe Ashley had any of those.”
The conditions of Lillie’s birth were somewhat unusual. According to the March of Dimes, only about one quarter of preterm births result from early induction of labor or cesarean delivery caused by health problems in the mother or the baby. Most early deliveries happen when the mother, for a variety of reasons, goes into early labor on her own.
Right from the start
After her dramatic entrance, "Lillie Pad" (as the nurses liked to call her) was "feisty." "Most 35-weekers don't do as well as Lillie," said Stephanie Rothgeb, RN. "She started gaining weight right away.
"She was a celebrity around here. People would come in and ask 'How's little Lillie?' We really connected with her, and were surprised to see her go home so soon. We miss her, but we're so glad she is thriving."
The doctor said, "Ashley deserves credit for voicing her concerns to me, for showing up for all of her appointments and doing all that was asked of her. As a very young woman she showed the utmost of responsibility and concern for her precious baby. She handled the news of her baby's danger with poise and maturity."
“I was scared,” said Connor. “She was so little. I’m just so glad she’s OK.”
Connor’s voice was small as she admitted she was tired and uncomfortable those first few days, but by June 24 – just two weeks after Lillie’s birth, she said she was feeling as well as ever. And Lillie was thriving too. She had taken to the bottle right away, was eating well and gaining weight.
Before Lillie was discharged – at 3 pounds, 8 ounces -- Connor got one last lesson from the nurses in the Family Birthing Center. Gathered around a sink padded well with hospital towels, nurse Stephanie Rothgeb, helped Connor bathe her daughter.
As the women gently washed the tiny Lillie, Rothgeb kept up a soothing commentary: “Make sure you keep her warm. When you are washing one part of her, cover the rest of her with a towel… Make sure to wash around her neck really carefully. With all those folds and creases, it’s easy to miss something… And don’t leave her alone, not even for a second.”
Connor listened carefully and asked questions. “It’s a little scary,” she worried. “What if I do something wrong?”
And Connor has had another challenge.
“Nothing fits,” she laughed. “Even the newborn clothes are way too big for her.”
The latest
A recent check with Ashley Connor on July 15 revealed a young mother who is very happy – and equally exhausted. “It’s tough getting up at night, but she is great. She smiles all the time now.”
Lillie is still eating every three hours. Connor said, “Dr. Moore said she could go four hours, but she lets me know when she’s hungry.”
Now that she’s up to 5 pounds, Lillie’s clothes fit better. By the time she’s two months old, Connor expects she’ll be able to wear “regular” newborn outfits.
Clearly, Lillie is still impatient.
