out about a secret snack menu,” Laura laughs. Luckily for Laura, and to the amazement of her care team, her vasa previa went away after only a few days in the hospital. So, Laura packed up, went home and spent the rest of her pregnancy with her family. At nearly 37 weeks, Laura’s blood pressure began to spike, so Laura’s care team decided to deliver the baby early as a precaution. Eloise Mello was born at 37 weeks at just under 5 pounds. This time, Eloise got to join Mom and Dad in the recovery room. “I didn’t get to hold Grace right away, so this time with Eloise, everything was intentional and supported,” Laura says. “After a special moment of bonding, we found out that Eloise needed help breathing. Two nurses from Rady Children’s examined her more closely in the NICU and reassured me all was OK. I felt comfortable with my new baby in their capable hands because I knew they were Rady Children’s nurses. The best of the best. My experience with Grace prepared me for my experience with Eloise. When people would ask us if we were having another child after our experience with Grace, we would say yes because we have Rady Children’s on our side.” After a few minor health issues, both mom and baby were discharged and sent home—healthy baby, healthy mom. “You just walk away feeling so fortunate for being in San Diego and having amazing access to great health care. I only felt comfortable and confident having a second child, doing it again, knowing that I would have immediate support from Rady’s where I delivered. That was non- negotiable. I am so incredibly grateful for the compassionate education, support and care my children and I received.”
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Laura holding Eloise in the hospital for the first time; The Mello family; Laura with Grace in the NICU
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I had so much confidence in my care team at both Scripps and Rady
on all her milestones and one would never know she came into this world so sick. But the story doesn’t end there. Four years after Grace was born, Laura and her husband were excited to welcome another baby to the family. This time, Laura was certain where she wanted to deliver. “I was considered high risk, and I felt comfortable with this incredible team and knew I was in good hands,” Laura says. “We had a plan in place this time around. I underwent extra scans and monitoring. It was reassuring to know that I was well cared for and that if my baby needed specialized care, we were in the right place.” At Laura’s 20-week anatomy scan, doctors found blood vessels crossing her cervix, known as vasa previa. A rare and serious complication, it can pose a risk to the unborn baby. So, as a precaution, Laura checked into the hospital for a 5-week bed rest. The plan was to deliver the baby at 35 weeks to avoid harm to baby and mom. “I felt guilty for leaving Grace. I had serious mom guilt and I felt very out of control. My care team reassured me. Mentally I knew I was doing what was right for my body, for Grace, and for our baby. I felt supported and even found
Children’s. –LAURA MELLO
RIGHT: Grace, 10, and Eloise, 6
SUMMER 2023 HEALTHY KIDS MAGAZINE 27
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