"Life is always in the mix of joy and grief, and those things coexist. But this is how I’m going to deal with it." - Joanne De Simone In this episode of the Child Life On Call Podcast, Joanne De Simone shares her journey as a parent raising two sons with...
Episode 161 | Dana’s Story – Micropreemie Twins Born at Home
Podcast Show Notes
Katie along with Co-host Cortney Given, host of the podcast Mindset for Medical Moms , interviews Dana who had micro-preemie twins at home. She bravely shares her story and how she and her husband acted quickly with the unexpected home birth. Dana shares how she navigated the long NICU stay and the moments to come afterward. You will get a glimpse into their life today and what it looks like to manage their medical care. You will hear about Dana’s journey to advocacy and letting others into your life during challenging seasons as a medical parent.
[10:50} Introductions
[11:47] Fertility struggles reveals PCOS diagnosis
[13:04] Finding out she was having twins
[13:55] Ultrasound revealed possible complications
[14:30] Delivering the babies at home
[15:57] How giving medical history is a whole process
[17:41] Lower back pain just before bedtime
[18:56] Dana delivers at home
[19:55] James begins to breathe
[20:34] Vera was born breech
[21:44] Not cutting the umbilical cords saved their lives
[23:42] Babies rushed to level 4 NICU
[25:44] A humbling experience
[26:39] Being released 3 hours after giving birth
[28:02] No explanation of early delivery
[30:08] The support of family
[32:10] Allowing others to support you as a medical parent
[34:16] Learning to be an advocate
[38:00] It’s ok to snooze support groups
[40:30] James and Vera today
[41:21] Mild Cerebral Palsy diagnosis
[44:51] Giving people the benefit of the doubt
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