How One Mom’s Babymoon Turned Into Early Arrival of First Baby

By: Miranda Torres

North Carolina native Jade Quatro, 33, and her husband, Kevin Quatro, were enjoying quality time together in Aruba before becoming a family of three when their lives were changed forever. On the last day of their “babymoon,” Jade lost her mucus plug, or the mucus in the cervix that protects the baby, and was rushed to a local hospital. She was diagnosed with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM), and was two centimeters dilated, despite only being 23 weeks along.

Because of the condition, there was a risk of infection and preterm labor, which could be fatal for both Jade and her unborn son. After her care team coordinated with insurance and other healthcare providers, she was airlifted to Jackson Memorial Medical Center, which is home to Holtz Children’s Hospital, the largest and closest Level IV neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

While in flight, Jade’s water broke, leaving her worried for her baby’s safety.

“My body was in so much shock that I don’t even know how I was able to process everything,” she said. “That plane ride was terrifying, and I think my fight-or-flight response was to try to stay calm. I had never heard of a baby coming that early, and I was so stressed.”

Once Jade arrived at Jackson Memorial, she was put on IVs, steroids, and magnesium to help the baby’s lungs develop and to delay labor. Two days later, on March 9, 2024, Kaden Quatro was born at 23 weeks and six days, weighing only 1 pound and 4 ounces. Thankfully, Jade was able to deliver him with no complications.

Kaden spent the first five months of his life in the Holtz Children’s NICU under the care of Laura Chavez, MD, a Holtz Children’s neonatologist, and her team. During the first six weeks, he was intubated on an oscillator and ventilator. He was then put on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), a machine that uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open during sleep, which he continued to use for three months.

Kaden’s condition was critical at the beginning; he developed anemia, pneumonia, two infections, a brain bleed, and a congenital heart defect. Jade finally got the chance to hold her baby boy for the first time three weeks post-delivery. “It was very surreal. He was so fragile, but it was so worth the wait,” she said.

In mid-June, Kaden was weaned off oxygen, gained weight, and was introduced to bottle feeding. During his time in the NICU, he received respiratory therapy, physical therapy, and occupational therapy to ensure he was meeting his growth milestones. Fast forward to August and Kaden was finally on his way home to meet the rest of his family in North Carolina.

“We owe everything to the Jackson Memorial and Holtz Children’s teams. From the beginning and taking care of me, to saving Kaden’s life,” Jade said. “The whole staff from the front desk to hospitality, to the social workers, they’ve all been an exceptional support team, and they know our faces and our story, which means a lot to us since we were out of our comfort zone.”