At age 40, Judy Delgado was surprised to learn that she was pregnant with twins. She was even more shocked when her daughters arrived eight weeks early.
With her son Dylan now 12, Judy, a Freehold resident, thought her childbearing years were over. Her challenging pregnancy included a bout of gestational diabetes, a condition that causes high blood sugar and can affect both maternal and fetal health, and concluded with a premature delivery that required care from CentraState’s Special Care Nursery. Now, she and husband Fredy are getting used to life with newborns again.
“The girls have all of my attention now,” Judy laughs. “Our lives got much busier sooner than expected, but everyone is doing fine.”
A typical pregnancy lasts 40 weeks, but Camilla arrived at 7:58 a.m. April 14, followed by Izabella at 8:02 a.m., at 32 weeks in development. Delivered by board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist Casandra Autry, MD, Camilla weighed 3 pounds, 8 ounces at birth, while Izabella weighed in at 3 pounds, 9 ounces.
“When Judy arrived on the labor and delivery unit with symptoms of preterm labor at 32 weeks, she was naturally concerned,” explains Dr. Autry. “We quickly assured her that she and her babies would receive the best medical treatment available.”
Special Care for Special Babies
Because they were premature, the girls were at risk for breathing and feeding problems, infection, and difficulty maintaining body temperature, so they were admitted to the Special Care Nursery. The nursery is staffed by a dedicated team of neonatologists and highly skilled nurses who are available 24/7. The staff cares for premature babies born after 32 weeks of pregnancy who require close observation or other special attention.
“Our Special Care Nursery is well-equipped to care for premature babies like Camilla and Izabella,” explains Dawn Kline, director of maternal/child health at CentraState. “Our goal is to help babies thrive and grow until they are strong enough to be safely discharged home, usually when they weigh about 5 pounds, are feeding well and gaining weight.”
In the nursery, both girls received oxygen for apnea issues, phototherapy for jaundice, and intravenous antibiotics to protect against infection – all common treatments for premature infants, according to Kline. Both girls had difficulties eating, so feeding tubes were used to ensure the twins received the proper nutrients. Three weeks later, the girls saw their home for the first time.
Within about three months, Camilla, a picky eater who loves hugs and being swaddled, weighed in at 10 pounds, 5 ounces, and “daddy’s girl” Izabella, an “eating machine,” weighed 10 pounds, 12 ounces. Both are healthy and hitting the appropriate developmental milestones for their age.
“I’m so thankful for the nurses in the Special Care Nursery,” says Judy. “They were very helpful and took the time to explain every treatment fully.”
CentraState’s First Impressions Maternity Center offers private labor and delivery rooms and private, home-like postpartum rooms. For more information, visit centrastate.com/maternity or call 866-CENTRA7 (866-236-8727). To schedule a maternity tour, call 732-308-0570.
