April is Child Abuse Prevention Awareness Month. We have reposted this episode to bring awareness and give you tangible tools to speak with your kids about child abuse. Today’s guest expert is Jane Donovan, who is a child abuse prevention advocate. "And like we say in...
Episode 127: Courtney’s Story – A daughter born at 25 weeks
Podcast Show Notes
Episode 127 | Courtney’s Story – A daughter born at 25 weeks [MOST DOWNLOADED]
At just 25 weeks pregnant, Courtney was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and was hospitalized. Just 5 days later and after a terrifying emergent c-section, she would meet her daughter, McKenzie. In this episode, Courtney talks about her entire experience from her own hospitalization and her daughter’s 5-month stay in the NICU and eventually going home. She talks about the balance of being a single, working mom and the struggles that come along with having a child with medical needs. Courtney will leave you feeling inspired and in utter awe of how she loves and supports her daughter.
[2:47] Courtney is informed she has high blood pressure and is admitted to Labor and Delivery
[4:24] Courtney is transported to a larger hospital that has a higher-level NICU
[6:35] Courtney asks tough questions about her condition and her daughter
[9:12] Courtney is informed she will need to have a c-section
[11:12] Courtney is informed she will need an emergency c-section as she has developed HELLP syndrome
[15:44] Courtney describes the overwhelming emotions she felt meeting her daughter for the first time in the NICU
[19:44] A primary nurse keeps Courtney accountable in the NICU about pumping. Courtney shares how important this was to her and her journey with McKenzie.
[21:24] Learning how to do McKenzie’s care in the NICU helped Courtney feel empowered
[22:45] Courtney describes the roller coaster ride she experienced while McKenzie was in the NICU
[24:20] She explains how she stayed in the hospital recovering from HELLP syndrome
[24:50] That punch in the gut feeling Courtney felt after learning the significance of a white flower posted outside of a neighboring NICU room
[26:50] Courtney shares how she advocated for McKenzie, even when others did not agree with her
[29:35] She shares about life after the NICU + rooming in with McKenzie
[33:15] Courtney shares about McKenzie’s feeding journey and oral aversion and the ups and downs with her feeding including developing, GERD and getting an NG tube
[36:41] She recalls how McKenzie’s nurse, now friend, came to the rescue to help drop McKenzie’s NG tube
[38:32] Courtney shares how she came to the decision to get McKenzie a g-tube and how it affected her as a mother
[40:15] She shares the love and hate relationship with the feeding tube and how she came to the understanding that even though it wasn’t preferable it helped her nutrition
[43:00] Changes she had to make in her life to support McKenzie including staying in during cold and flu season
[43:50] The beautiful gesture of friends supporting her during their NICU stay, bringing her to lunch each Sunday, and giving her weekly care packages.
[45:35] Courtney shares her struggle of finding quality childcare for McKenzie and how difficult it was to find someone whom she could trust
[48:12] Courtney relied on her faith and prayer to cope with what was going on in her life and with McKenzie
[50:18] Courtney’s friend Ebony, encourages her to get help and go to therapy after she describes some dreams and things during her day that remind her of being in the hospital
[54:00] She shares how difficult it was for other people to understand what she was going through
[55:09] Courtney describes how she puts her own needs aside to give McKenzie the selfless care and love she needs and deserves
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