Facebook Post #1: Our Backstory - How did we get here?!

What a way to wrap up 2020!  It’s been a quiet, private journey that we are finally ready to share publicly...here we go! 

James Weston Abramowitz was born early at 26 weeks on December 31st, 2020! #WeHaveABaby 👶 

Due to last year’s stillbirth, we wanted to be 100% sure everything was okay with baby before we announced so we can avoid the awful experience of explaining the bad news repeatedly. So, we chose not to announce our pregnancy until it felt like the right time. 

Unfortunately, Lindsay developed severe preeclampsia early in the 2nd Trimester and the only way to prevent her kidneys from failing was to deliver our baby early. After holding out for as long as possible, her health was started to be at risk and the doctors decided that the best option for Mom and Baby would be to deliver our micro premie immediately!  So, at her 26 week mark, Lindsay had a classic c-section done.  She’s recovering like a champ! 💪 

Born on New Year's Eve at 4:37pm weighing only 1lb 4oz, our Baby Jimmy is a fighter and improving each day. This little Capricorn 🐐(with a Gemini Rising and Leo Moon) has his own room in the NICU where Mommy and Daddy will be until his projected due date of April 8th.  

In an attempt to keep everyone updated and to document “The Journey of James Weston” we will be starting some type of journal. It's just the beginning and we have a long, uncertain road ahead of us, but we are doing our best to stay in the moment and take this day-by-day.  🙏 

This has been an extremely intense journey thus far, especially for Lindsay!  Having to go through IVF a second time due to male factor wasn’t just it, she’s also had many examinations with her OB and MFM since our week 19 ultrasound when they thought they saw some skeletal dysplasia in our baby. We also spoke with a genetic counselor to see other possible scenarios, with more unanswered questions.  These false educated guesses lead us down an emotional roller coaster to say the least and when James was born, it turns out that none of the above has shown up. Lindsay has been extremely calm and curious and stronger than I can ever be. ❤️ 

We are currently living in the NICU at St. Joseph's Women's Hospital in Tampa, which is only 10 minutes from our house. 

📝 A Few Side Notes: 📝 

1️⃣ Lindsay's #1 priority right now is being able to provide colostrum to Baby James every 3 hours. Any helpful suggestions, tips, and/or tricks please reach out to her directly. We appreciate ANY insights around this!  Currently he has increased his intake from 1 ML every 6 hours to every 3 hours. #Progress

2️⃣ Guests/Visitors - With Covid, there are no guests allowed in the hospital, especially in NICU. Not even our parents. 😞 

3️⃣ How can you help? - We are so blessed with how many have asked us this question!  As you can imagine, we were not prepared for this...not only 3.5 months early but also living in the NICU for the next few months. Our focus is on our growing baby boy.  Giving him positive vibes is all that’s in our control at the moment, but the doctors are giving him lots of attention.  We have not begun to think about car seats, cribs, diapers and everything else that lay ahead. #OneDayAtATime.  At some point, we will want to celebrate with a “shower” of some sort, but for now, that’s to be determined.  We will put a registry together with some items we foresee needing, and will send that in case anyone would like to check it out. 

We appreciate the continued support and love from our friends and family.  If you know of anyone who has given birth to a micro premie, please have them message either of us to offer any of their wisdom and insights.  😊 

With Love & Gratitude,

Mike, Lindsay, and Baby James Weston 🍼