Reagan Katherine was born on July 14, 2013 and we discovered a few of her issues very shortly after birth. The first thing we noticed is that she desaturated frequently when breathing. Her oxygen levels ranged anywhere from 80-96. The hospital also observed her periodic breathing, or taking a few seconds between each breath. Sleep apnea in infants is typically described as twenty seconds or more between a breath. Luckily, Reagan's breathing was never *that* slow, but she does have several instances during her sleep where she is in such a deep sleep that she forgets to breathe. She is able to recover herself during these episodes, and she does not need us to tap her foot or stimulate her in any way.
For these reasons, the doctors decided it best that she spend a few days in the NICU after birth.
She was discharged from the NICU on July 18, 2013, after she passed her car seat test successfully and seemed to do well breathing on her own without the assistance of oxygen or forced room air through the cannula.
Since then, Reagan has encountered a variety of issues with regard to feeding, which continues to be our greatest struggle. Including the stay in the NICU, Reagan has had four hospital visits in her short life, the longest resulting in a three day stay at Anne Arundel Medical Center with a transfer that kept us at Johns Hopkins for four days.
It is my hope that parents who are also going through these issues can find some support through our story.
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