Submitted / The Outlook
A picture of Madilynn on the day she was born three months early, weighing 1 lb. 13 oz.Â
On the day Ashley Finley's water broke, she sat in the hospital bed googling, "do babies make it at 26 weeks?"
Finley, mother of 14-year-old Alexander, had already suffered the loss of a stillborn daughter at 24 weeks. After becoming pregnant again with Madilynn the following year, Finley counted down to the 24-week mark with trepidation.
Feature | Tallapoosa County ranks second-worst in Alabama for low birthweight
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kAm%H@ H66<D =2E6C[ |25:=J?? H2D 3@C? H6:89:?8 ` =3] `b @K]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 2 AC@3=6> :? 2?5 @7 :ED6=7[ =@H\H6:89E 3:CE9D — 567:?65 2D 2 49:=5 3@C? 36=@H d]d =3D 6:E96C AC6>2EFC6=J @C 7F==\E6C> — :D 2=D@ FD65 2D 2 AC@IJ 7@C E96 AC@DA6C:EJ @7 2 C68:@? 5F6 E@ :ED 4@CC6=2E:@? H:E9 D@ >2?J @E96C 25G6CD6 962=E9 2?5 64@?@>:4 :?5:42E@CD] p44@C5:?8 E@ |@?E8@>6CJ ?@?AC@7:E '~xrt$ 7@C p=232>2VD r9:=5C6?[ %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2=2G@:46D]@C8^HA\4@?E6?E^FA=@25D^a_a_^`a^a_a_\%2==2A@@D2]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmC2?<D eeE9k^2m @FE @7 E96 ef p=232>2 4@F?E:6D 7@C A6C46?E286 @7 323:6D 3@C? 2E 2 962=E9J H6:89E]k^Am
kAm%2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ :D 2=D@ EC6?5:?8 :? E96 HC@?8 5:C64E:@? — H9:=6 E96 ?F>36C @7 323:6D 3@C? 6249 J62C :D @? E96 564=:?6[ E96 A6C46?E286 @7 E9@D6 323:6D 3@C? 2E =@H 3:CE9H6:89E :D @? E96 C:D6] x? a_`g[ E96 >@DE C646?E J62C @7 52E2[ `e]gT @7 323:6D H6C6 3@C? F?56CH6:89E 4@>A2C65 E@ `a]dT :? a__g]k^Am
kAmQ(6 D66 2 =@E @7 AC6\E6C> 56=:G6C:6D FADE2:CD[Q D2:5 sC] r92?E6 #F77:? @7 w6C:E286 !65:2EC:4D[ =@42E65 2E #FDD6== |65:42=] QxEVD C6=2E65 E@ >2E6C?2= 962=E9]Qk^Am
kAm#:D< 724E@CD :?4=F56 9JA6CE6?D:@?[ A@@C >2E6C?2= ?FEC:E:@?2= 962=E9[ =:>:E65 @C =24< @7 AC6?2E2= 42C6[ D>@<:?8 @C 5C:?<:?8 5FC:?8 AC68?2?4J 2?5 E66?286 AC68?2?4:6D[ #F77:? D2:5] !C6>2EFC6 2?5 =@H\3:CE9H6:89E 323:6D 2=D@ 92G6 2 9:89 C:D< @7 3:CE9 56764ED 5F6 E@ ?@E 36:?8 7F==J 56G6=@A65 J6E — 3=:?5?6DD[ >@E@C D<:== :DDF6D[ 3C2:? 56764ED[ 2?5 56G6=@A>6?E2= 56=2JD 2?5 46C63C2= A2=DJ 5@H? E96 C@25]k^Am
kAm|2?J 323:6DV =F?8D 2=D@ 92G6?VE 7:?:D965 56G6=@A:?8 J6E] (96? |25:=J?? H2D 3@C? 2E &pq w@DA:E2= @? s64] f[ a_`h[ D96 DA6?E E96 ?6IE E9C66 >@?E9D :? 2? :?4F32E@C H9:=6 u:?=6J DE2J65 2E E96 #@?2=5 |4s@?2=5 w@FD6[ 2 492C:EJ 7@C 72>:=:6D H:E9 D:4< 49:=5C6?[ 24C@DD E96 DEC66E] |25:=J?? H2D DE:== @? DFAA=6>6?E2= @IJ86? H96? u:?=6J E@@< 96C 9@>6 :? |2C49[ H9:49 D96 DE2J65 @? 6G6CJ 52J F?E:= }@G6>36C]k^Am
Submitted / The Outlook
Madilynn is now 1-year-old and is a "wild child," her mother says.
kAmu:?=6J =:G6D :? r2>A w:==[ 2? 9@FC 2?5 cd >:?FE6DV 5C:G6 7C@> &pqVD (@>6? 2?5 x?72?ED r6?E6C] $96 D2:5 E96 BF2=:EJ @7 42C6 H2D H@CE9 E96 EC6<]k^Am
kAmQ(96? H6 =@@< 2E E9:?8D =:<6 =@H 3:CE9H6:89E[ 2?5 A2CE:4F=2C=J[ :?6BF:E:6D H:E9:? =@H 3:CE9H6:89E[ E92EVD H96C6 H6VC6 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:?5 H96C6 p=232>2VD 49:=5C6? 7246 AC@3=6>D[Q '~xrt$ 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C $E6A96? (@6C?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 %2==2A@@D2 r@F?EJ C2?<D D64@?5 E@ E96 3@EE@> :? p=232>2 7@C =@H 3:CE9H6:89E[ 5:DA2C:E:6D 2=D@ 6I:DE H:E9:? E96 4@F?EJ] Â k^Am
kAmQ(92EVD >@C6 :?E6C6DE:?8 E@ >6 :D E96 4@>A2C:D@? 36EH66? H9:E6 49:=5C6? 2?5 p7C:42? p>6C:42?^q=24< 49:=5C6?[Q (@6C?6C D2:5]k^Am
kAmx? a_`g[ h]`T @7 H9:E6 49:=5C6? 2?5 baT @7 q=24< 49:=5C6? 3@C? E92E J62C H6C6 3@C? 2E 2 =@H 3:CE9H6:89E] x? a__g[ :E H2D g]cT @7 H9:E6 49:=5C6? 2?5 a_]hT @7 q=24< 49:=5C6? W2== @E96C C246D H6C6 E@@ 76H E@ 5C2H 2 D2>A=6X] Â k^Am
kAm!2CE @7 :E :D A2C6?ED =:G:?8 :? A@G6CEJ[ (@6C?6C D2:5[ H9:=6 A2CE @7 :E :D Q2 =@E @7 324<DE@CJ @? 9:DE@C:4 C24:D> :? >65:4:?6]Qk^Am
Submitted / The Outlook
Madilynn, 1, poses with her brother Alexander, 14.Â
kAmu:?=6J[ H9@ :D q=24<[ H2D DE:== 2 DEF56?E 2E %C@J &?:G6CD:EJ H96? D96 82G6 3:CE9 E@ p=6I2?56C[ 2 962=E9J g =3D[ e@K]k^Am
kAmQx E@@< >J D@? @? >J 9:A E9C@F89 4@==686[Q D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAmqJ E96 E:>6 D96 H2D AC68?2?E 282:? :? 96C b_D[ p=6I2?56C H2D :? 9:D E66?D 2?5 E96J =:G65 :? pF3FC?] u:?=6J H6?E E@ D66 2 AC:G2E6 ~q^v*} 2E t2DE p=232>2 |65:42= r6?E6C H9@ E@@< |65:42:5 A2E:6?ED] w6C 6IA6C:6?46 E96C6 H2D ?@E 8@@5]k^Am
kAmQxV> 2 G:DF2= A6CD@?[ x @3D6CG6 2 =@E @7 DEF77[Q u:?=6J D2:5] Qx ECJ ?@E E@[ 3642FD6 x 5@?VE H2?E E@ 86E >JD6=7 2?JE9:?8 E@ DEC6DD 23@FE[ 3FE :? E92E D:EF2E:@? H96? :E H2D :?G@=G:?8 2 49:=5[ x ?@E:465 :E]Qk^Am
kAmu:?=6J E@@< ?@E6 @7 9@H E96 H9:E6 5@4E@C 2?5 DE277 DA@<6 5:776C6?E=J E@ E96 H@>6? 4@>:?8 :? 2?5 @FE @7 E96 H2:E:?8 C@@>]k^Am
kAmQx D2H 2 =@E @7 w:DA2?:4 >@E96CD 2?5 >2J36 2 76H q=24< H@>6? E96C6[Q u:?=6J D2:5] Qp?5 E96? J@F 92G6 E96 >2CC:65 H9:E6 4@FA=6D E92E 4@>6 :?] p?5 E96 H9@=6 2EE:EF56[ E96 H9@=6 G:36 492?865]Qk^Am
kAm(96? u:?=6J 42>6 H:E9 4@?46C?D 23@FE 96C 9JA@E9JC@:5:D> >65:42E:@?[ E96 5@4E@C E@=5 96C E@ 8@ 9@>6 2?5 DE2J @77 96C 766E] xE H2D @?=J =2E6C E92E u:?=6J 7@F?5 @FE E92E E96 >65:42E:@?[ |6E9:>2K@=6[ =65 E@ AC68?2?4J 4@>A=:42E:@?D] u:?=6JVD 5@4E@C H2D 2=D@ 4@?G:?465 E92E[ 5F6 E@ 96C 9JA@E9JC@:5:D>[ E96 AC68?2?4J H2D 5@@>65 7C@> E96 DE2CE] }@E =@?8 367@C6 96C >:D42CC:286[ u:?=6J 925 2 4964<FA :? H9:49 96C 5@4E@C 564=2C65 Q:EVD @G6CQ 367@C6 H2=<:?8 @FE @7 E96 C@@>]k^Am
kAmu:?=6J H2D :? E96 AC@46DD @7 ECJ:?8 E@ 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ DH:E49 5@4E@CD H96? 96C H2E6C 3C@<6 2E ac H66<D]k^Am
kAmp7E6C D96 =@DE 96C 52F89E6C[ u:?=6J 2D<65 96C ~q^v*} :7 D96 D9@F=5 D4965F=6 2 7@==@H\FA]k^Am
kAmQ%96J H6C6 =:<6[ V}@[VQ D96 D2:5] Qx E@=5 >J >@> E9:D :D E96 H@CDE 6IA6C:6?46 x 6G6C 925] x 5:5?VE <?@H E@ 36 2?8CJ[ @C ;FDE 36 D@ D25 7@C >J 49:=5 E92E x =6E 96C 5@H?]Qk^Am
kAm(96? u:?=6J H2D AC68?2?E H:E9 |25:=J?? 2 J62C =2E6C[ D96 :?D:DE65 @? 492?8:?8 5@4E@CD] (96? 96C H2E6C 3C@<6 2E ae H66<D[ E96 5@4E@C D2E 5@H? H:E9 u:?=6J 2?5 2D<65 H92E D96 H2?E65 E@ E2=< 23@FE] %96? E96 7=@@582E6D 3C@<6]k^Am
kAmQx H2D =:<6[ xV> ?@E E2<:?8 E9:D >65:4:?6[ xV> ?@E E2<:?8 E92E[ V42FD6 H:E9 E92E >65:4:?6 x 925 96C 62C=J[ xV> ?@E 8@:?8 E9C@F89 E92E 282:?[Q D96 D2:5] Qw6VD =:<6 V2?JE9:?8 6=D6 J@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 5@nVQk^Am
kAm(96E96C :E H2D v@5 @C Q5@4E@CD E92E 24EF2==J =:DE6?65 E@ >6[Q u:?=6JVD D64@?5 52F89E6C >256 :E] p44@C5:?8 E@ t2DE p=232>2 |65:42= r6?E6C[ u:?=6JVD AC6G:@FD ~q^v*} C6E:C65 =2DE J62C]k^Am
kAm(9:=6 C24:D> :? >65:4:?6 :D 92C5 E@ BF2?E:7J[ E96 C24:2= 5:DA2C:EJ :D G:D:3=6 :? ?62C=J 6G6CJ 962=E9 @FE4@>6 5@H? E@ r~'xs\`h[ (@6C?6C D2:5] Â k^Am
kAmQ(6 5@?VE EC24< E92E[Q (@6C?6C D2:5] QqFE H6 5@ D66 :>A24E @7 2 >65:42= DJDE6> E92E 5@6D?VE =@@< 2E q=24< >@E96CD E96 D2>6 H2J E96J 5@ @E96C >@E96CD :? E96 52E2]Qk^Am
kAmpD 7@C E96 C2E6 @7 =@H\H6:89E 3:CE9D :? q=24< >@E96CD G6CDFD H9:E6[ E96 5:DA2C:EJ :D E96C6 24C@DD 2=>@DE 6G6CJ 4@F?EJ]k^Am
kAm~?6 DE6A :? 255C6DD:?8 E92E :D 36:?8 AC@A@D65 3J DE2E6 962=E9 @77:46C sC] $4@EE w2CC:D 2D 2 =:?6 :E6> :? ?6IE J62CVD p=232>2 s6A2CE>6?E @7 !F3=:4 w62=E9 3F586E]k^Am
kAmQp=232>2 5@6D ?@E 92G6 2? @77:46 :? E96 56A2CE>6?E @7 AF3=:4 962=E9 =@@<:?8 2E 6BF:E23=6 962=E9 @FE4@>6D[Q (@6C?6C D2:5] Q|2?J[ >2?J[ >2?J DE2E6D 5@]Qk^Am
kAm%96 p=232>2 ~77:46 @7 w62=E9 tBF:EJ H@F=5 4@DE S` >:==:@? 2?5 EC24< 3@E9 E96 52E2 @? C24:2= 5:DA2C:E:6D 2D H6== 2D E96 677:424J @7 2?J 2EE6>AED E@ 255C6DD :E]k^Am
kAmu@C u:?=6J[ 92G:?8 962=E942C6 AC@76DD:@?2=D E92E =:DE6?65 E@ 96C >256 2== E96 5:776C6?46]k^Am
kAmpE &pq[ |25:=J?? DA6?E D6G6C2= H66<D :? E96 :?4F32E@C D:>F=2E:?8 E96 E:>6 D96 H@F=5 92G6 DA6?E :? E96 H@>3 925 D96 366? 7F==\E6C>] u:?=6J 3@F89E 2 A:?<\2?5\AFCA=6 3FEE6C7=J 3=2?<6E E@ =2J @G6C E96 8=2DD 3@I]k^Am
kAmQx 7:8FC65 :7 D96 6G6C @A6?D W96C 6J6DX[ x 5@?VE H2?E 96C E@ ;FDE D66 2 3F?49 @7 H9:E6[ ;FDE >249:?6D[ 2?5 H@?56C V(92E :? E96 H@C=5 :D 8@:?8 @?nVQ D96 D2:5]k^Am
kAm|25:=J?? 5:5?VE @A6? 96C 6J6D F?E:= }6H *62CVD s2J]k^Am
kAmx? 96C E9C66 >@?E9D :? q:C>:?892>[ u:?=6J 2=D@ 925 A=6?EJ @7 E:>6 E@ 3@?5 H:E9 E96 @E96C >@E96CD 2E E96 (@>6? 2?5 x?72?ED r6?E6C 2?5 E@ 4@>A2C6 ?@E6D] Â k^Am
kAmQ%96C6 H2D 2 =@E @7 D:?8=6 >2>2D E96C6[ H9:49 H2D ~z 3642FD6 E96C6VD 2=H2JD D@>63@5J E92E 925 366? E9C@F89 H92E J@F H6?E E9C@F89 E92E 42? 96=A[Q u:?=6J D2:5] Q{:<6[ V~9[ H6VC6 @? @IJ86? E@@] x 5@ E9:D H:E9 >J 49:=5[ J@F D9@F=5 ECJ E92E ]]] ~9[ H6VG6 5@?6 E92E =2DE >@?E9] (6 H6?E E9C@F89 E92E EH@ >@?E9D 28@]VQk^Am
kAm&?7@CEF?2E6=J[ E96C6 H6C6 2=H2JD >@C6 323:6D E92? >@E96CD AC6D6?E]k^Am
kAmQ(6 925 323:6D E92E 925 366? D>@<65 @? E96C6 @C E96 >2>2 H2D @? 5CF8D[Q D96 D2:5] Â k^Am
kAm(96? u:?=6J 2?5 E96 @E96C >@>D H@F=5 >2<6 2CED 2?5 4C27ED 7@C E96 323:6D[ E96 9@DA:E2= H@F=5 2D< E96> E@ >2<6 6IEC2D]k^Am
kAmQx H2D =:<6 Vx 2=C625J 5@?VE =:<6 <?:EE:?8 2?5 J@F >2<6 >6 5@ 2? 6IEC2 AC@;64EnV 2?5 E96J H6C6 =:<6 VH6== H6 8@E >2>2D E92E 5@?VE 4@>6[VQ D96 D2:5] Q(6 >256 2 =@E @7 6IEC2D]Qk^Am
kAm|2?J @7 E96 H@>6? DE2J :? E@F49 H:E9 FA52E6D 2?5 3:CE952J 46=63C2E:@?D] pD 7@C |25:=J??[ 2E 286 @?6[ D96VD 2E 2 962=E9J H6:89E 2?5 92D ?@ D:8?D @7 56G6=@A>6?E2= 56=2JD[ u:?=6J D2:5] (96? |25:=J?? ?2AD[ D96 AFED 96C @? 2 962CE 2?5 @IJ86? >@?:E@C H9:49 8@6D 2C@F?5 96C =:EE=6 E@6]k^Am
kAmQ(6 FD65 E@ AFE :E @? 96C 7@@E 3FE D96 8@E E@ H96C6 D96 H2D <:4<:?8 :E @77 — D96 H2D DEF4< @? E96 365 2?5 E96? D96V5 A:4< F?E:= D96 8@E E9:D E9:?8 @77 96C 7@@E[Q u:?=6J D2:5] Qp?5 xV> =:<6[ VE96C6VD ?@E9:?8 HC@?8 H:E9 E9:D 49:=5]VQk^Am
