The Ithaca Journal
Pages 3D-4D
The Parents’ Journal
Tuesday, August 15, 2000,
Greeting an early arrival
Parents of premature babies
face special challenges
By KATHY HOVIS
Journal Stuff
ITHACA — Kathy and Martin
Berggrens' two miracle babies will turn a year old this month.
And in that time, the Berggrens have become specialists in many areas of
neonatal care. The babies, Annika and Linus, were born three months
premature.
This month, Kathy Berggren goes back at work full-time as a lecturer at
Cornell University, but the family's life still revolves around care for their little
ones, who require nursing help and medical treatment.
"When they walked me in to see them, I thought they were the most beautiful
tiny beings," Berggren said of her delivery in Syracuse's Crouse Hospital. "They
showed me these small babies. I don't think we really knew what we were
in for."
Annika weighed 1 pound 5 ounces and Linus was 2 pounds 1 ounce. Now
Annika weighs in at 12 pounds and Linus is 23 pounds.
The Berggrens knew their ride to parenthood wouldn't be easy. Kathy
Berggren does not ovulate, has only one fallopian tube and a unicornate uterus.
Doctors were hopeful she could conceive with the help of fertility drugs, but not
sure she could carry the baby to term.
Two cycles of fertility injections were unsuccessful, but she did become
pregnant on the third round, only to have an early miscarriage. On the fourth
round, she again was pregnant. At eight weeks, doctors noticed one sac and a
tiny dot next to it. They said it was twins, but were fairly sure the second
sac would be reabsorbed since it was so small. But at 19 weeks, she was
still pregnant with twins, one a lot smaller than the other.
After bouts of early bleeding, bedrest and a cerclage to tie her ' cervix shut,
Berggren's doctors realized the blood flow to the smaller twin was compromised.
The Ithaca Journal
Pages 3D-4D
The Parents’ Journal
Tuesday, August 15, 2000,
At 25 weeks, she entered the hospital on strong anti-contraction drugs. At 27.5
week's, she was transferred to Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, which has a Level III
neonatal intensive care unit. The babies were delivered on Aug. 28, 1999. Her
due date had been Nov. 23.
"We were so happy they were alive,” Kathy Berggren says, although they were
terrified of the possible outcome.
The delivery was hardly the end of the road for the Berggrens. Their babies
spent 3 and 4 months in the hospital, including eye surgery for Annika and a
spinal tap for Linus after a brain bleed. During this time, the Berggrens visited
daily, driving one hour each way.
When they came home in November and December of last year, the babies still
required constant care and monitoring. Annika was rehospitalized twice for
lung problems. Several times, the Berggrens had to resuscitate their kids. They
had to learn how to administer breathing treatments and various medications.
They still visit doctors in Syracuse once or twice a month. And they have daily
nursing help to care for Annika.
Kathy Berggren said without the help of family and support from other people
who've had premature infants, the experience would be even more
overwhelming. Luckily, she met a woman whose child was born at the same
time and just as premature as her twins. They've shared stories and been there
for each other through the process, she said.
Berggren knows her kids will be more susceptible to certain illnesses
throughout their life and may have early developmental problems. The first two
winters are key, she said, to avoid respiratory illnesses. They also take part in
early intervention programs to help with motor development and
feeding issues. But for now things are as "normal" as they have been for quite a
while, she says.
"I don't feel like I'm in survival mode," she says.
The experience with her children has taught her many things, Berggren says,
including being able to enjoy each moment together and learning what’s worth
getting worked up about.
And she’s learned that despite her best efforts, it's impossible to plan for the
pace of her babies' progress. As with most preemies, it's up and down. "I started
to let go of having a really set-up plan," she s says, adding that it's difficult
to learn to live day to day.
The Ithaca Journal
Pages 3D-4D
The Parents’ Journal
Tuesday, August 15, 2000,
She's also learned the importance of keeping her marriage healthy. Divorce and
separation are common among families with premature infants or
infertility issues. So the Berggrens institute a Thursday night date night.
"We are so thankful and realize how lucky we are," she says. They have lots of
advice for other parents of preemies.
"Find some sort of support system," Kathy Berggren said. "Nobody
understands this unless you've been there."
Try to take one day at a time. Be ready to be your child's advocate. And be
persistent with insurance companies and bureaucrats about getting financial help
and programs for your child.
And trust your intuition. After educating themselves extensively about their
babies' issues and knowing their children so well, Kathy Berggren said she and
her husband have often been right about what's going on with their children
when doctors weren't sure.
"There is something to say for parents’ intuition."