Albuquerque residents Brittanie and Nate Duran were looking forward to the delivery of their first baby girl, Elliana. They had chosen Lovelace Women’s Hospital because of the comfortable birthing center, the staff on hand and the expertise of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in case of complications.
Their choice proved to be very important for their baby girl.
“Everything was going very well,” recalled Duran. “I had just gone to my doctor’s appointment three days before and everything looked really good.” The baby’s due date was estimated at January 4, 2025.
Then one night shortly thereafter, Duran’s water broke, and her husband rushed her to the hospital at 3:00 a.m.
“I was admitted to the hospital and had multiple ultrasounds to check on the baby’s condition,” said Duran. “I remained on bed rest in the hospital for the next nine days.”
During that time, Duran learned that her baby had passed the 24-week mark within the second trimester, a milestone date when the baby’s lungs are fully developed, though unable to breathe independently if she were born at that time.
Emergency delivery
After more than a week in the hospital, Duran started to experience contractions, a sign she was going into labor. That’s when Alexandra Lusk, MD, Lovelace Medical Group obstetrician on call, ordered an emergency cesarean to deliver the baby safely.
Duran was sedated during surgery, but her husband Nate donned a gown and mask to witness the cesarean section and the birth of their daughter Elliana.
Born at 24 weeks and five days on September 19, 2024, Elliana weighed one pound, six ounces at birth. Babies born before 26 weeks are termed “micro-preemies.” Nate held his daughter for a short time before the staff transferred the baby to the NICU.
After recovering from the surgery, Brittanie was able to visit their daughter the next morning in the NICU.
“I wasn’t able to hold her right away,” said Duran. “She was resting comfortably in a warmer and was on oxygen to help her breathe.”
Nine days later, Duran held her daughter for the first time.
“I was a little nervous holding her,” said Duran. “She still had a breathing tube down her throat, so I was scared to move. I don't think I breathed the whole time I was holding her. But she was so beautiful and so tiny.”
Waiting to go home
The Durans spent the next few weeks hosting family members and visiting their daughter in the NICU. “Nate’s mother has come to see Elliana, as have my parents and my two sisters,” said Duran.
On most days Duran will leave her home in the morning and arrive at the hospital at 8 a.m. to visit and sit with her daughter. She stays until the shift changes at 7 p.m. and goes home for the evening.
“I spend my time talking and holding her,” she said. “I am also creating a scrapbook for her and small craft projects.”
As Elliana and her medical team navigated complications throughout her journey, the Durans remained positive and praised the medical staff for their care.
“We’ve had many amazing nurses during labor and delivery and then in the NICU,” said Duran.
“All of the doctors, nurses and staff went above and beyond to make sure we were always cared for and comfortable. They were always there to answer all our questions and address any concerns we had. We couldn’t have done it without all of them. They made a scary experience much better. It felt great to be treated as a member of their family.”
They also received a good outlook for their daughter’s health, who now weighs more than ten pounds. “The NICU doctors are very happy with how well she's doing,” said Duran. “We are very pleased with the care we’ve received.”
Finally, 143 days after Elliana was born, the Durans brought their baby girl home. The accompanying photo shows the happy parents on the day Elliana “graduated” from the NICU at Lovelace Women’s Hospital.
“She’s doing amazing and we are so proud of our strong micro-preemie!” said Brittanie and Nate.
For more information about the labor and delivery services at Lovelace Health System, including our neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), visit our web page.