Laker
developed HELLP Syndrome and I would be delivering my baby within the next 24 hours. I barely remember much of the next 10 hours because of all the drugs I was on. Laker was born that afternoon. He cried the loudest cry ever at birth, which was a relief to hear! He was immediately transferred upstairs to the NICU unit at Mercy. From there, he needed help with temperature control, eating, and was jaundice. We didn't get to hold him for three days. After the first week in the NICU, he really started progressing fast. He went from gavage feedings, to bottle, to breast. He went home after 24 days in the NICU, 100% breastfed and weighing 5lbs 1oz. I still think it's absolutely crazy that I ever had a 5lb baby at home! Laker is now 5 years old and just started Kindergarten and he has been promoted to big brother twice. Now he weighs almost 60lbs! He is a very smart boy who has an amazing love of learning. Laker is bound for great things in this world!
Laker was born via emergency c-section on April 14, 2014 at 32 weeks 5 days weighing in at 4lbs 7oz. It was a shock, to say the least. I had been having extreme abdominal pain and swelling for a few weeks, but at every doctor check I was told things were fine. On April 11 I was diagnosed with minor pre-eclampsia. I was told to go about my normal job (I was a teacher) but to rest as much as possible. On April 13 around 11pm the pain became so unbearable that me and my husband, Tyler, went into our local hospital in Newton and checked into the labor and delivery unit. It was there I was told that I was in bad shape and that I would be transported to Des Moines by ambulance. I received a steroid shot and started on magnesium sulfate. There was a snow storm that night, so it was a bumpy, slow ride to Des Moines! Once in Des Moines, I was told that I had
