Duggar Family's Baby Girl, Josie, Rushed Back to Hospital

Within a week of being discharged from Arkansas Children's hospital, the Duggar's newest baby girl, Josie, has had to be rushed back to the hospital, according to People magazine. It has been a rather long and bumpy road for both the Duggar infant girl and her mother, Michelle Duggar. After Michelle was given a pre-eclampsia diagnosis, Josie was born at 25 weeks way back in December.

This made the birth very premature,officially a micro-preemie, with the baby weighing only 1 pound and 6 ounces. At the time, there was some question of gallstones raising the pregnancy risk factors and adding to pre-eclampsia problems, especially since pregnancy itself is a risk factor for gallstones - and gallstones can cause premature births. Now, after a long wait to take her home, Josie is back in the hospital and her vital signs are being monitored very closely.

Duggar Baby Girl Highlights Risks of Micro Preemie Births

Josie was born back in December, making her a micro preemie due to her low weight and early birth. The emergency C-section was required to ensure the best chances for both mother and baby, as noted here. Having gone through a pregnancy where I'd been at risk of premature birth due to both pre-eclampsia and gallstones myself, I knew that both could be hard to monitor and control during pregnancy and was told that I was at significant risk of having a preemie.

I was lucky, managing to have a full-term pregnancy, but Michelle Duggar was not. She was forced to undergo an emergency C-section only 26 weeks into the pregnancy. Not only was Josie deemed a micro preemie but - even now, months after her birth, she is not yet at a normal weight for a newborn baby. It has been several months since her birth.

Babies born this early can face a host of problems. Some are temporary while others may be more serious and permanent. These include vision troubles as well as periods where the babies stop breathing, have bleeding in the brain and other issues. They may be at heightened risk of getting diabetes and heart disease,compared to the general population.

A digestive problem seems to be the focus of concern for the latest Duggar baby girl. Josie's vital signs hit a downward spiral after she was given special nutrients to supplement Michelle's breast milk and to help Josie's growth. Apparently, the nutrients didn't agree with her intestinal system and caused constipation, something that can be easily treated with many babies but needs special care with those born very prematurely. Like many premies born before the 28th week of pregnancy, Duggar baby girl Josie has continued to do well and then have problems crop up. It has all been very unpredictable.

This is not uncommon with very premature births. Micro preemies are at special risk since they generally weigh under two pounds and are born before 26 weeks. However, the definition is of a micro preemie varies somewhat and is based on a combination of weight, medical issues and length of the pregnancy. Experienced medical professionals make the final call.

Nineteenth Baby Adds to Controversy Surrounding Duggar Family Pregnancies

Even before this latest birth, some were quick to judge the Duggar family for continuing to have children. Now that the newest Duggar baby girl has been born early and with medical issues, questions arise about the Duggar family's decision to have had so many children and the potential risk factors involved by having pregnancy after pregnancy. Josie Duggar has already survived a bowel perforation when she was just over a week old and her future medical issues are still unclear. Taking care of a premature baby can be a full-time job in itself and Michelle Duggar has the rest of her family to look after, although most of the older children help out significantly with the younger ones.

Sources:

Premature Birth Complications, MayoClinic.com, here
Duggar Baby Discharged From Hospital, ETonline.com, April 6, here
Josie Duggar Back in Hospital, People Online, April 12, here
Michelle Duggar Baby Update: Was Premature Birth Caused by Gallstones or Pre-eclampsia? December 14, Jan Corn, Associated Content here