My brother's baby

My niece Christina Maria was born at 6:13 last night .......... at only 12oz and 11 inches. She needs alot of prayers, she's a fighter. Please pray for her, her 6 yr old sister Kaitlyn, my brother, Bobby (her dad) and my SIL Jennifer.

The neo-natologist is cautious, but says she is fighting. Time will tell.

Thank you for all the prayers.

Aw Man. They are in for a long fight now. Prayers that she stays strong.

Oh no

Many prayers!

Anne Marie, any news? Praying that little girl pulls through

She got past 24 hours so right now all is as good as can be expected. her arm is about the size of a medium safety pin. And her head about the size of a golf ball. She is still on the respirator. 24 hours is a big milestone. If she makes it 48 then we will know more. Also, they did some brain ultrasounds this morning and will give results to parents tomorrow. I am trying to put up her picture of her with the baptism gown.

It really is moment by moment. She is reacting to sounds and movements near her. She is moving her hands and legs which I guess are all good signs.


Edit to add photo:



This post has been edited by amymom on Jun 12 2011, 06:46 PM

Wow! So tiny!!!
Still Praying. Lit a candle at Mass for them this morning.

Wow, what a gorgeous baby! Prayers said!

WOW she is so precious and tiny! Things like this really puts into perspective how lucky I am to have had 2 healthy girls... Im going to go hug them now.... PRAYERS going thier way and extra prayers for that precious little girl!

omg...she is so tiny but beautiful. Tons of prayers for this precious baby.

Thank you thank you thank you.

She is quite a fighter, so little, so precious. Her arm is the size of a medium safety pin.

So tiny My thoughts and prayers are with your brother and SIL and their precious little girl, and of course with you Keep us updated!!

Keeping your family and this precious baby in my thoughts! what a sweet miracle.

Ann Maire, she will be on the ventilator for a really really long time. We are talking weeks. You should be reassured tho, that she isn't on an oscillator, which is a kind of advanced life support. She must be doing pretty good! Micro preemies are so scary. Everything is minute by minute for them. I used to work in our ICN running those breathing machines. I hated it. SO scary.
Saying prayers for her!

She is gorgeous!! I can hardly fathom a baby that size...she's just so small! Many prayers for you, her & her whole family.

awwww she is beautiful!!! I will keep her in my prayers!

Lots of prayers. Just seems so unfair

Thanks all, She has hit the 48 hour mark.

Christina is tough, doing as well as we can hope. Basically the doctors are doing every test they can to monitor her and give her the best chance possible. She's the smallest baby ever in this hospital, and apparently one of the 10 smallest humans in the world right now.

My brother (her dad) did some measurements today, her feet are 2 centimeters. That is less than an inch.

Thank you for all the prayers. Please keep them up. She will need them all!

She actually looks big in that baptism dress. We have saved 23 week olds at our hospital. It can be done. We usually say to not expect to go home before their due date. Yeah for her hitting the 48 hour mark!

Tara, I want to ask you, My sister was there today when the neo-natologist was speaking with my brother so this is second hand info. She said there was something that isn't 'closed ' yet.... a pulmonary "something" that is normal to not be closed, but she can't breathe without it being closed and it is near the heart. She said the doc said they would give her a 'motrin' like drug to help fix it.

Can you interpret that?

Its been probably 15 years since I covered infant cardiology, and I didn't deal with that part, just the breathing part, so I'm probably not the best person to ask, I just have a very general idea of what he is talking about.
When a baby is in the womb its circulation basically works backwards, because the blood flow comes from the mother. The blood goes through these valves . At delivery, when the chest is compressed and the infant takes it first breath it creates pressure in the chest that forces the blood to suddenly go the other direction slamming those valves shut so that normal circulation can start. But she is so tiny, she didn't get that pressure on her chest, and her lungs are so undeveloped that this process couldn't happen. so, normal blood flow happens, but those valves can't slam shut so blood leaks between the valves in the heart. There are lots of different names for it, depending on what valves remain open. Some shut on their own, some need to be surgically shut.
i THINK this is what he MIGHT be talking about.

Even when that hole closes, she still will not be able to breath. Because her lungs are so underdeveloped at this point. They are probably talking about her ability to oxygenate her blood.

What a precious miracle - prayers continue for her and your family

I am sorry that I have not updated sooner. here is what my brother said last night:

So that seems to be what I asked you about Tara.

Tonight he said that:

So all in all she is doing ok. She is very tiny.

Please continue all prayers. Thanks, Anne Marie

Thank you for the update Anne Marie, will continue to send my prayers

sounds like she is a good little fighter...she is gaining weight...that is good even with the little drop.