Meet Ashlyn

• Baby Saves

• 10.24.23

“Right after my 20 week sonogram I found out I had antibody C, which causes fetal anemia. I was going to weekly doctor’s appointments at the maternal fetal medicine doctor to check for signs of anemia through ultrasounds, and there were no signs of anemia on scans. I saw a post about Count the Kicks on Facebook in my first or second trimester, and then I began using the app every day once I reached my third trimester.

I enjoyed using the app and found that it was always pretty quick for Ashlyn to reach 10 movements. I was scheduled to deliver at 37 weeks by C-section, but the day before I was supposed to go in for my pre-op appointment I noticed she wasn’t getting her 10 movements in as fast as she usually did.

When I went in for my pre-op appointment on Labor Day, I told them that it was taking longer than usual for Ashlyn to reach her 10 movements. They performed a non-stress test (NST) and gave me a steroid shot for her lungs to make sure they were fully developed. I was supposed to come back for a second shot the next day, but because they were seeing some heart decelerations, they decided to keep monitoring us a bit longer.

As the day progressed, Ashlyn’s heart rate kept dropping. Based on what they were seeing on the monitors and the fact that I had noticed a change in her normal movement patterns, they decided to go ahead with my C-section. When Ashlyn was delivered, they discovered that her cord was wrapped around her neck twice and she had a bowel movement while in utero. After some tests were run, she turned out to be severely anemic and jaundiced. She had to stay in the NICU for 15 days and is now doing great!

It turns out that she always looked OK on the screens because she produced her own blood to counteract my antibodies. A doctor in the NICU said that was the first time she had ever seen a baby do that in 30 years.” -Amanda C., Ashlyn’s mom