Cedar Rapids Weather

It is World Prematurity Day November 17, 2011 and November is National Preemie Month. Our daughter Annabelle Wood was a micro preemie born at 25 weeks at the University of Iowa Hospital weighing only 1lb 6oz. I did every thing right in my pregnancy, no smoking, no drinking or drugs, good prenatal care and took my vitamins every day. But something went wrong. Somewhere between 11-15 weeks my water broke causing severe oligohydramnios and leaving my unborn baby with no amniotic fluid. I was on bed rest for weeks until she was born by emergency c-section at 25 weeks due to complications of severe oligohydramnios and partial placenta abruption. Her tiny little body was mangled from being stuck in one position after my water broke. She was born with a collapsed lung, many lung disorders, multiple joint contractures, vertical talus in both feet and a dislocated hip with a deformed hip socket. She was on a ventilator for the first 3 months of her life and 9 months later she is still on oxygen. She has had surgery twice to place a feeding tube in her stomach because she has trouble eating due to her lung disorders. She is on a feeding pump at night and mostly tube feedings during the day. She has had casting and special shoes to correct her feet and has a hip surgery coming up next spring. The doctors told me she didn't have a good chance of survival but my husband and I prayed every day, those prayers got us through. Her prognosis is great after the hip surgery she will be a normal, healthy little girl! Please join us in the fight against Premature Birth and spread the word this November! There are many ways to help. Visit our facebook page to learn how and to get updates and pictures of Annabelle's progress https://www.facebook.com/tinkerbella321