Welcoming Isabella

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Isabella Paula Oakley arrived into the world 14 weeks early on Monday 26th February 2007 at 2.02pm. She was delivered by emergency caesarean section at the Royal Hobart Hospital after Rita became ill with preeclampsia. "Eclampsia" was the Latin term for fitting or seizures. Untreated, high blood pressure in pregnancy can lead to fitting which is why this condition came to be called pre-eclampsia. In normal pregnancy blood pressure goes down. If you have pre-eclampsia, blood pressure goes up during the pregnancy. Rita was diagnosed with this at 23 weeks and was hospitalised until her body decided it was time for Isabella to be bought into the world. "Eclampsia" was the Latin term for fitting or seizures. Untreated, high blood pressure in pregnancy can lead to fitting which is why this condition came to be called pre-eclampsia. In normal pregnancy blood pressure goes down. If you have pre-eclampsia, blood pressure goes up during the pregnancy. Rita was diagnosed with this at 23 weeks and was hospitalised until her body decided it was time for Isabella to be bought into the world.

 

She arrived weighing 800 grams and 33cms in length with dark hair just like her mother. Although born very early, with the help of the amazing Neonatal team at the Hobart Royal hospital Isabella has proved to be a real fighter. In her 7 week existence she has managed to get through 2 infections, one of which was serious, 3 blood transfusions, learned to breathe for herself (an episode that saw her unconscious and unable to breathe), as well as the initial problems she had with her heart and lungs. Not to mention the countless blood tests. Immunisation time in the future should be a breeze as I am sure she is very use to being pricked………

 

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 At 7 weeks she is weighing 1340grams and feeding 9mls of milk per hour……..When she started feeding at a few days old it was only 0.25ml every 4 hours. She is also spending some time off the CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – this keeps the lungs inflated and she does the breathing) and breathing for herself which is a really positive step. As the weeks go on we will keep you updated with her milestones and her journey, hopefully not as bumpy as it was in the start. Enjoy the photos of the smallest member of the Costa and Oakley family……………….