Whoa, baby!

Wicked Local Photo by Nicole Goodhue Boyd    Robert Bentley plays with his daughter, Bethany, who was born with her twin brother, Addison, five months ago. The twins arrived seven weeks early and spent their first three weeks at the Neonatal Care Unit at Anna Jaques Hospital.

Akshay Trivedi, 13 months, was once the size of an ear of corn. Born nearly four months early, at 24 weeks, he weighed no more than 1.75 pounds and measured only 13 inches.

His parents credit the Neonatal Care Center at Anna Jaques Hospital for quickly turning what could have been a life-threatening situation into their son's first steps toward viability.

"We can't forget what Dr. Pye did for us,"said Akshay's mom, Mrinal Shukla. "We know our son is alive thanks to him."

Laura Bentley of Newburyport also will always remember how she, in a matter of 15 minutes, was prepped for an emergency C-section when her twins, Bethany and Addison, now 5 months, arrived at 32 weeks, only hours after she choked on a hot dog at a barbecue party and her water broke. They spent the next three weeks at the Neonatal Care Center. Bentley left impressed with the level of care from beginning to end and relieved they did not have to be transferred to Boston.

"The nurses are unbelievable, amazing," she said. "Not only are they great taking care of babies, but I also learned a lot from them."

The neonatal unit is located next to the Birth Center on the second floor of the hospital. Here a team of three seasoned neonatologists and specialty-trained nurses care for premature babies born at 35 weeks of gestation and full-term babies who need extra attention. Licensed as a so-called Level 1b nursery, babies born before 35 weeks are stabilized before they need to be transferred to more intensive care nurseries at Boston hospitals (if possible, the delivery is moved to Boston as well) unless they, like the Bentley twins, are doing so well that they can do without the services of Level 2 and Level 3.

Dr. Ronald Pye, a board certified neonatologist and the director of newborn medicine, arrived a year and a half ago. After more than 20 years in the field Pye was the chairman of pediatrics and chief of neonatology at St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Boston the move provided a welcome change of pace. But as a Newbury resident, he is never more than minutes away from the action.

"Any time in the night, I can get a call and have to jump in the car," Pye said, speaking with a distinct English accent. "Two to three times a week, I come in extra, just as a precaution."

(Edit:Ruby)