NICU
NICU STAY LEADS TO “HAPPILY EVER AFTER” The Tuthills are finally living their “happily ever after.” There was a time last year when the Dubuque couple felt they weren’t going to see their happy ending. Megan’s pregnancy was extremely difficult. “I had severe nausea and vomiting my entire pregnancy,” explained Megan. “I actually had my appendix removed when I was three months pregnant. Then I caught COVID at six months along. I had to get IV transfusions twice during my pregnancy because I was so dehydrated from vomiting. It was a miserable pregnancy.” And Megan’s job as an elementary school teacher during a pandemic was stressful at times. False labor pains, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions, sent her to the hospital midway through her pregnancy. “They sent me home and told me it was false labor,” shared Megan. “But when the pains started again two weeks later, I thought the same thing would happen. My husband, Jason, was in the basement with his son Cameron, and I told them I was going to the hospital to get checked, just to be safe. I figured I just had a bad stomach ache.” Megan arrived at UnityPoint Health - Finley Hospital in Dubuque. The birthing team quickly determined it wasn’t false labor Megan was experiencing this time, she was dilated two centimeters. At that point, Megan was 33 weeks pregnant. Over 39 weeks is considered full term. From left Megan, Julian, Jason and Cameron Tuthill at the couple’s wedding in May. Photo credit: Tamara Hanson Photography
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“The team at Finley identified Megan was at high-risk to deliver a premature infant,” explained Krista Husemann, ARNP, St. Luke’s Neonatology. “The best way to ensure preterm infants benefit the most from
