For Miss Amelia Katarzyna P

This is for a very sweet little girl who was born just 5 days after Caelyn. It is amazing how many people I have met just from being a mom. Jen and I talked about our stranger phobia girls quiet a few times but while our schedules haven't allowed us to get them together, I still hold hope that soon we will.

I always thought the March of Dimes was a great organization, but it definitely
holds a special place in my heart since our own brush with a premature
birth.
My EDD was 10/3/08. Starting around 31 weeks, I just felt my
body was getting ready for labor. My OB thought I was being overly
sensitive (and probably one of those neurotic pregnant women!). My blood
pressure was always fine, I was constantly measuring right along with my due
date. No real "signs", just all mother's intuition I suppose.
My 35
week appointment was on a Wednesday. My last day of work was that
Friday. That evening, Alex & I went to a furniture warehouse sale with
my parents and bought a dining room table (we had just moved into our condo the
weekend before). Saturday, we ordered a crib from Babies R Us. We
had my parents over for dinner on Sunday. All evening I had
contractions...I thought they were BH. I ate a chocolate pudding cup
around 8 pm and went to bed shortly after.
I woke up around 1:30 am with
terrible back pain. I went to the bathroom, got back in bed, and the pain
wasn't getting any better. I didn't really feel contractions, but noticed
the back pain was kind of coming and going so I tried timing my back
pains. I couldn't focus, so I woke Alex. Sure enough - 5 minutes
apart. I called the exchange, grabbed my bag and headed to the
hospital.
I wasn't in excruciating pain, just uncomfortable. I
even walked myself to L&D and to the exam room (and the L&D room, for
that matter). Upon examination, I was told I was already 4-5 cm
dilated. I expected to be sent home, but was admitted and was told I would
have my baby that day.
During labor, I was told my baby would be a late-term
preemie. Since she was born at 36 and 37 weeks is considered "full term"
(but it's really not, so I won't even get into that), we weren't sure if there
would be any problems. There would be a NICU doctor in the room when my
baby was born to examine her.
Amelia Katarzyna was born at 8:24 pm on
September 8, 2008. Fortunately, she was perfect and didn't need to spend
any time in the NICU. She had feeding issues, but that was it.
We are
extremely lucky that Amelia was born so healthy. Unfortunately, far too
many babies are born early. And far too many of those babies require
special attention because of health problems.
It would make a huge difference
in the lives of children if everyone took a minute out of their day to donate to
the March of Dimes. It would mean a lot to us, and to Amelia.
Thank you!