Born about two and a half months premature, Austin Gooch’s parents didn’t know what to expect for their tiny newborn.
Following his arrival by emergency C-section, Chris and Amber Gooch tried to figure out what laid ahead for their son — who weighed just two pounds, 10 ounces.
“The beginning was all just a big whirlwind,” said Chris Gooch. “And you’re not sleeping — you’re just constantly worrying about everything.”
Despite the circumstances for his early arrival and the uncertainty his parents faced immediately after his birth in March 2011, Austin is now a healthy baby. His family is the 2012 ambassador family for the Barrow-Jackson March for Babies — which benefits the March of Dimes.
The national organization says that babies born prematurely face a number of potential health complications — including breathing and intestinal problems, and bleeding in the brain. They are also at increased risk of death and lasting disabilities, such as intellectual disabilities, behavioral problems, cerebral palsy, and vision and hearing loss.
The earlier that a baby is born before its due date of 40 weeks, the more likely that child faces more significant health problems, according to the March of Dimes.
At 30 weeks into her pregnancy, Amber Gooch told her doctor during a routine prenatal visit that she noticed that her baby wasn’t moving as frequently. Before that, her baby had been very active in the womb.
Amber was admitted to St. Mary’s hospital in Athens for overnight observation, when her baby had just slight drops in his heart rate. The medical professionals believed that those minor changes in Austin’s heart rate were because of changes of his position in the womb, according to Amber.
The next morning, a doctor that specializes in high-risk pregnancies examined Amber as a precaution.
“He basically said, ‘You’re going to have this baby today,’” Amber said of what the doctor told her. “In about 45 minutes, as a matter of fact.”
Austin’s umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck, which had led to his growth stopping for possibly a month, according to Amber.
“He was (born at) 30 weeks (gestation), but he was really about the size of a 28-week-old baby,” she said.
Chris Gooch clearly remembers all of the details of that initially scary experience. He begged the doctor to delay delivery of the baby until 7 p.m. — 24 hours after Amber had received a steroid shot intended to expedite the baby’s lung development. Premature babies whose mothers receive the injection at least 24 hours before birth tend to have better medical outcomes.
“I said, ‘No, you have to wait until 7 (p.m.),’” Chris Gooch said. “His lungs — you have to wait until 7 o’clock and the doctor said, ‘No, I can’t. We’re going to take him right now.’”
Austin Gooch was born at 11:29 a.m. on March 24, 2011, in Athens. He ultimately spent 50 days in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at St. Mary’s before going home two weeks before his initial due date.
At first, doctors didn’t expect Austin to breathe on his own when he was born. However, the little baby was crying and breathing on his own, although he needed the help of a CPAP machine.
“That was something that was kind of a miracle, because they did not expect him to breathe on his own — much less be able to cry, like a typical baby that was born,” Amber said. “He did not need a ventilator. He did require use of a CPAP machine for about two weeks.”
Austin was also born with a rare condition in which his blood platelet count was extremely low. He required a blood transfusion immediately after his birth.
The Gooch family talked to doctors about what to expect for their newborn. They also turned to the March of Dimes’ website for information.
“We’re just so thankful to organizations like the March of Dimes that can do this research,” he said.
Andi Smart, community director for the March of Dimes, said one in eight babies are born prematurely in the U.S. In Jackson and Barrow counties, that figure is actually more like one in six babies.
One of the biggest misconceptions about the March of Dimes it is that is just for those families with premature babies, Smart said. Instead, the organization has played a key role in public awareness campaigns — such as the push to get women of child-bearing age to take folic acid — and research for babies.
“We consider ourselves an advocate for all babies,” Smart told an audience at a kickoff event for the Barrow-Jackson March for Babies on Thursday at the Braselton-Stover House.
The Barrow-Jackson March for Babies — which benefits the March of Dimes — will be held on Friday, April 13, at Russell Middle School in Winder. Organizers are seeking volunteers, sponsors and teams for the annual event.
Patti Schaffer, a co-chairperson of the Barrow-Jackson March for Babies, said her fellow employees at Chico’s in Winder are looking for creative ways to raise funds for the event.
“The March for Babies is like a celebration for all of the work we’ve done,” she said.
The Gooch family is the ambassador family for the local March for Babies. They live in Jefferson, where their church — First Baptist Church of Jefferson — played a major supporting role during Austin’s time in the NICU, according to Chris Gooch.
Amber Gooch is a teacher at West Jackson Intermediate School and Chris Gooch works in Gainesville. They are both graduates of Jefferson High School.
For more information — or to register a team — visit www.marchforbabies.org, or contact Andi Smart at the March of Dimes, at 678-564-5224 or asmart@marchofdimes.com.
Upcoming Events for the March of Dimes
The Barrow-Jackson March for Babies — benefiting the March of Dimes — will be held on Friday, April 13, at Russell Middle School, Winder.
Registration starts at 6 p.m. and the walk begins at 7 p.m.
Teams may register at www.marchforbabies.org or by contacting Andi Smart, community director for the March of Dimes, at 678-564-5224 or asmart@marchofdimes.com.
Bank day for the March for Babies will be on Wednesday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and 4-6 p.m., at CB&T Bank in Winder and Jefferson.
Other events benefiting the Barrow-Jackson March for Babies include:
•Miss March of Dimes Pageant: Saturday, Feb. 11, at 10 a.m., at the Colleen O. Williams Theatre, Winder.
The entry cost is $75, which is due by Feb. 4. The pageant will feature natural-looking contestants with age-appropriate hair and make-up, and no “glitz” routines or dresses. Contestant ages start from birth to 16 and older.
For more information, call 770-503-4772 or e-mail kellyspageants@gmail.com.
•Fourth Annual Rock to Save: Friday, March 9, at 7 p.m., at the Jefferson Civic Center.
•Second Annual Boo Y’all Ball: October. A date and location will be announced later.
