Audrey Bennett from Bowling Green, Kentucky, was excited to be a first-time mom and overjoyed for the arrival of twins.
“I had written out and discussed my birthing plan in advance,” Audrey said. “I was confident going into my next appointment, but things quickly changed when the twins had other plans. I went into labor at 27 weeks.”
After several attempts with her local team and hospital to stop the contractions, Audrey was flown by the “Just For Kids” Transport Team to Norton Children’s Hospital in Louisville. Twins Beckham and Saylor were born by cesarean section (C-section) the next morning.
“I faced several scary moments in a matter of minutes,” Audrey said. “It was time to move forward with a C-section for the safety of the twins and myself. They were born weighing 2 pounds, 6 ounces and 2 pounds, 11 ounces. They needed immediate care.”
Norton Children’s Hospital’s Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides the highest level of care possible for newborns. Specially trained doctors, nurses and staff are available, as well as specialized equipment and tools to care for babies born prematurely or with medical conditions.
After the birth of her twins, Audrey was overcome with so many emotions. The road ahead for the twins would be long and challenging at times. Premature birth can pose serious health risks to a newborn baby. The organs and body systems of a premature baby may not be ready to support them outside the uterus.
One of the most challenging and scariest moments included alarms sounding with Saylor’s heart rate dropping to 40 beats per minute. A normal heart rate for a baby is 120 to 160 beats. Saylor had developed bradycardia, or slow heart rate, which is common in premature babies
“I was thankful to have Beckham and Saylor at Norton Children’s,” Audrey said. ”I had an immediate bond with our NICU nurse Aleah [Piatt, MSN, R.N.]. She became like family, I fully trusted her with the care of my twins, and her support of our family was priceless.”
After a three-month stay in the NICU, Beckham was able to return home to Bowling Green. Saylor needed additional time to develop and grow stronger, and she went home two weeks later.
“Despite all the fears and challenges their sweet twins faced, mom and dad always showed immense gratitude, positivity and unwavering empathy, said Aleah, a neonatal intensive care unit nurse at Norton Children’s Hospital. “I believe that the resilient and loving environment they created made a profound difference in Saylor and Beckham’s NICU journey. Their family will hold a special place in my heart, and for that I am forever grateful. I was honored to celebrate their first birthday in Bowling Green this past January.” Today, the twins are thriving and hitting milestones. Saylor is walking, and Beckham is ready to take his first steps. Through the Norton Children’s neonatal follow-up clinic at Norton Children’s Outpatient Center – Bowling Green, the twins receive care with Kayla N. Evans-Judd, M.D., a neonatologist with Norton Children’s Neonatology.