In Design Time: From the Floor Up – Episode 5 “Tide Pods, Sectionals, & Solutions,” expert home stager Lindsay the Stager meets with Floorily’s Executive Assistant, Ashley Cantin, for down-to-earth discussions about working mamas, innovative solutions, and what to do with a sectional taking up half your living room.
In this episode, Ashley recounts overcoming the challenges of giving birth to a micro-preemie at just six months during a family vacation.
In this episode, Ashley recounts overcoming the challenges of giving birth to a micro-preemie at just six months during a family vacation.
This is Sandra’s Story
Lindsay: Tell us about your daughters. How many daughters do you have? What are their names? If you would like to share that. And how old are they?
Ashley: Of course! I’ve got two daughters. One, her first name is Eleanor, and she goes by Ella. She’s 14. And then my other one, Sandra, is 13. She was a micro-preemie, so she was 16 weeks early. She came as a 24-weeker.
Despite the difficulties of Sandra’s cerebral palsy and other disabilities, Ashley says she can’t help but admire her daughter’s glowing smile.
“She comes with a whole lot of disabilities. She’s got cerebral palsy, and she’s in a wheelchair, but she has this smile that will truly light up any room,” Ashley mentions.
Lindsay: When she was born at 24 weeks, did they tell you that she was going to have cerebral palsy?
Ashley: They pretty much prepared us for everything, honestly. She was born while we were on vacation visiting family in Pennsylvania–originally, we’re from Florida–so it was a whirlwind experience. I had a seven-month-old, I was pregnant with her, and then I went to the hospital… They said, “You’re ten centimeters dilated. She’s coming, and you cannot leave the state.” I don’t remember much before she came, but my husband was there with me.
Ashley: Of course! I’ve got two daughters. One, her first name is Eleanor, and she goes by Ella. She’s 14. And then my other one, Sandra, is 13. She was a micro-preemie, so she was 16 weeks early. She came as a 24-weeker.
Despite the difficulties of Sandra’s cerebral palsy and other disabilities, Ashley says she can’t help but admire her daughter’s glowing smile.
“She comes with a whole lot of disabilities. She’s got cerebral palsy, and she’s in a wheelchair, but she has this smile that will truly light up any room,” Ashley mentions.
Lindsay: When she was born at 24 weeks, did they tell you that she was going to have cerebral palsy?
Ashley: They pretty much prepared us for everything, honestly. She was born while we were on vacation visiting family in Pennsylvania–originally, we’re from Florida–so it was a whirlwind experience. I had a seven-month-old, I was pregnant with her, and then I went to the hospital… They said, “You’re ten centimeters dilated. She’s coming, and you cannot leave the state.” I don’t remember much before she came, but my husband was there with me.
Preterm Babies and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Most infants that are brought to the NICU are either premature, have low birth weights, or have medical conditions requiring specialized care. In the United States, almost 500,000 infants are born prematurely. The NICU also treats infants with medical disorders such as breathing difficulties, cardiac issues, infections, or birth deformities.
What exactly is a premature baby?
A baby is considered preterm if born before 37 weeks of pregnancy. In the United States, almost 1 in 10 babies are born preterm each year. Babies born prematurely may not be fully formed, require a lengthier hospital stay, and experience more health issues than babies delivered later. Thanks to medical advancements, premature infants are now more likely to live than ever.
Healthcare professionals may use the terminology below to describe the birth of premature babies:
Healthcare professionals may use the terminology below to describe the birth of premature babies:
- When you are 34 to 36 weeks pregnant, you give birth to a late-term baby.
- When you are 32 to 34 weeks pregnant, your baby is considered moderately preterm.
- When your pregnancy is fewer than 32 weeks long, very preterm birth occurs.
- When your child’s birth occurs at or before week 25 of pregnancy, this is considered extremely preterm.
Specific health issues caused by preterm delivery can endure a lifetime. Other matters like intellectual or developmental difficulties may surface as your child develops and later in childhood. These are issues with how the brain functions that can lead to problems or delays in a person’s ability to learn, communicate, care for themselves or get along with others.
In Sandra’s case, Ashley gave birth extremely prematurely.
Lindsay: Listen, for people that can’t do math like me, 24 weeks is 16 weeks early. But 24 weeks is how many months? Six. Six months old, and a normal term is 40 weeks. So that’s crazy!
Ashley: It really is! So, she was one pound three ounces. Originally, I always thought she was one pound eight ounces, but I was looking through the paperwork, and she’s one pound three ounces, so who knew!
Lindsay: That’s like as much as my glasses weigh!
Ashley: She fit in my husband’s hand. It was unreal—it really was—how tiny she looked. She was just a tiny little thing. My first one was almost ten pounds. So, to go from almost ten pounds, and then seven months later… I prayed I would have a smaller child for the second one, but I was hoping for like a six-pounder. Apparently, I wasn’t too specific. Unfortunately, she had a brain hemorrhage and a lot of infections, which caused her a lot of problems in the NICU. She was there for about 160 days.
Ashley: It really is! So, she was one pound three ounces. Originally, I always thought she was one pound eight ounces, but I was looking through the paperwork, and she’s one pound three ounces, so who knew!
Lindsay: That’s like as much as my glasses weigh!
Ashley: She fit in my husband’s hand. It was unreal—it really was—how tiny she looked. She was just a tiny little thing. My first one was almost ten pounds. So, to go from almost ten pounds, and then seven months later… I prayed I would have a smaller child for the second one, but I was hoping for like a six-pounder. Apparently, I wasn’t too specific. Unfortunately, she had a brain hemorrhage and a lot of infections, which caused her a lot of problems in the NICU. She was there for about 160 days.
Ashley goes on to explain that Sandra’s brain just was not able to develop. Their visit to Pennsylvania was much longer than they originally anticipated, and Ashley’s husband would fly back and forth to work while Ashley and Sandra lived in a hotel.
Ashley: It was an adventure. It really was. Somehow, some days I don’t know how we made it through. And then other days, I’m like, “Yeah, we did it. We made it to the end.”
Lindsay: And all of our children choose us. So not to mention, God must completely trust you. He’s going to make you like the President in heaven. And not to be, like, religious, but you–it’s true. You would never get more than you can handle. That’s why I’m saying God trusts you because he thinks you can handle a lot.
Ashley: We are very religious. I am Catholic. Our faith is truly what kept us through and kept us going. Everyone looks and says, “Oh, how awful it must be that she has so many issues.” And I look at it as, “God let me keep her.” He let her be with me for, you know, so far, he’s let me have her for 13 years. And every day is a blessing. Every day is an absolute blessing that I have her. Now they are not all joyful all the time, you know, just like with any kids–they’re not all happy days! But it truly is a blessing every day that we get her.
Lindsay: I love talking to people and learning about why they come into my life, why they have come into my life, and what they can teach me. And just when I’m about to throw the towel in or jump off the deck, there are mamas like you. I have had a hard time getting pregnant just because I was later in life at 38 and 45. But I had easy pregnancies, and now I have amazing, perfect–well, you know they’re not perfect, but you know. They’re perfect to you! And that’s what I’m trying to say… Your children are perfect to you, which is such an amazing perspective that we can give as mamas to other mamas who are hopefully listening to this.
Lindsay: And all of our children choose us. So not to mention, God must completely trust you. He’s going to make you like the President in heaven. And not to be, like, religious, but you–it’s true. You would never get more than you can handle. That’s why I’m saying God trusts you because he thinks you can handle a lot.
Ashley: We are very religious. I am Catholic. Our faith is truly what kept us through and kept us going. Everyone looks and says, “Oh, how awful it must be that she has so many issues.” And I look at it as, “God let me keep her.” He let her be with me for, you know, so far, he’s let me have her for 13 years. And every day is a blessing. Every day is an absolute blessing that I have her. Now they are not all joyful all the time, you know, just like with any kids–they’re not all happy days! But it truly is a blessing every day that we get her.
Lindsay: I love talking to people and learning about why they come into my life, why they have come into my life, and what they can teach me. And just when I’m about to throw the towel in or jump off the deck, there are mamas like you. I have had a hard time getting pregnant just because I was later in life at 38 and 45. But I had easy pregnancies, and now I have amazing, perfect–well, you know they’re not perfect, but you know. They’re perfect to you! And that’s what I’m trying to say… Your children are perfect to you, which is such an amazing perspective that we can give as mamas to other mamas who are hopefully listening to this.
You Can Handle This
Like any birth, premature birth is accompanied by a range of feelings. Your feelings may change throughout time, ranging from outrage to love and joy, from panic to guilt, from despair to hope, and from shock to grief. However, dread and worry for your infant can rapidly overpower any happy emotions. Many people compare the experience of early labor and delivery to a roller coaster. No matter what, roller coaster rides finish, and by receiving love and support, your ride can be successful.
The Cantin family manages to make their family function in a special way. And the Floorily family will continue to support them and everyone else embarking on a unique life adventure!
Lindsay, we agree! No matter what hurdles, if any, you’ve had to face during motherhood, there is always a reason for it. Things happen because you can handle them. It’s your story, your journey, your path.
To hear more discussions like this, check out Design Time: From the Floor Up, a weekly video podcast featuring Lindsay the Stager and other industry experts.
This platform, sponsored by Floorily, strives to share fun and practical interior design knowledge with viewers of all backgrounds. Design Time: From the Floor Up covers topics from flooring to paint shades to decorative accessories.
The Cantin family manages to make their family function in a special way. And the Floorily family will continue to support them and everyone else embarking on a unique life adventure!
Lindsay, we agree! No matter what hurdles, if any, you’ve had to face during motherhood, there is always a reason for it. Things happen because you can handle them. It’s your story, your journey, your path.
To hear more discussions like this, check out Design Time: From the Floor Up, a weekly video podcast featuring Lindsay the Stager and other industry experts.
This platform, sponsored by Floorily, strives to share fun and practical interior design knowledge with viewers of all backgrounds. Design Time: From the Floor Up covers topics from flooring to paint shades to decorative accessories.
