SALT LAKE CITY (ABC 4 News) – Newborns, small enough to fit into the palm of your hand, cling to life with the help of doctors, nurses, and technology in the New Born Intensive Care Unit at Intermountain Medical Center.
According to national statistics one in eight children is born early, which means extra care to keep them alive.
Brynlie Mason entered the world just days ago but several months too soon. Instead of a full term, 40 week pregnancy, her mother Amy, went into labor at 27 weeks; and instead of joy there was fear. “Scared because I am afraid of what's going to happen." This was Troy and Amy’s third attempt to have a baby. The other two pregnancies ended in miscarriage. "She is such a precious little girl and I can't believe she's mine.”
Brynlie was born at just 1 pound 7 ounces. Her father says she was just slightly larger than a soda can. Now, two weeks later, her weight remains under two lbs and she's too fragile to hold. Her parents have only touched their daughter twice. Troy says "You can't hold them, and all you want to do is sit and stare at them, but you want to let them rest." For Amy it’s agonizing. "I can't wait, and I know that I have to got to do what's best for her."
The Masons are not the only parents waiting, watching, and hoping. There are 48 beds in this Newborn Intensive Care Unit, at IMC and a majority is in use. Doctors say about ten percent of babies born in Utah need help from a NICU team to survive.
Mandi Bartlett’s daughter Annaliece came into the world early because Mandi’s liver began to fail. “She was not breathing so she had to be bagged and resuscitated which my husband could probably tell you is the scariest thing he has ever seen."
Mandi was not awake for the delivery of Annaliece. Her tiny daughter was delivered by emergency C-section. She was too ill to make the trip to NICU until days later, but the nurses at IMC have a tradition, a scrapbook page is immediately made and delivered to moms. "I remember you know touching them and looking at the nurse and I said these stickers are so cute where did you get them? The nurse got this really weird look on her face and she says, um those are your daughters hand prints and I cried." I was like how can a baby this small survive?”
Annaliece was born at 2lbs 2 ounces, two and a half months early. Her weight immediately dipped. But despite her size, and dramatic entrance, four weeks later she is doing remarkably well. She's taking regular feedings, and has grown an inch; she is now able to fit into doll clothes. Her mother shops for her at Build a Bear. But Annaliece is not well enough to go home. "She tends to forget how to breathe."
Meanwhile, Mandi practices patience and has become friends with the other moms on the floor, and when they can't be with their babies, often they are with each other, sharing progress and setbacks. “It’s kind of nice it relieves some of the stress you can cry with people who know what you're going through.”
Ninety percent of the babies in NICU survive despite incredible odds. There are those who do not. NICU nurse, Melanie Hoogard says it’s a rewarding job, but not always easy. She says it’s nice to be able to truly love all of your patients. “All of our patients are these perfect little people that just have something wrong because they are premature and you just need to help them get through that.” And when there isn’t a happy ending, the nurses are there too. “You go through it with those families and it can be very emotional and those days can be very hard."
But there are also beautiful days full of miracles. After a very long wait, we witness Amy Mason holding her daughter for the first time. "I finally get to hold you" It’s been two weeks without her mother’s touch, but Brynlie melts into Amy’s arms, and some of the concern melts away. Despite tubes, machines, and the bustle around them bonding begins. "How precious she is. Oh I love my baby girl so much."
