Trista and Maxwell Sutter update — and Ryan's future plans

After the unexpected early delivery of their son Maxwell Alston at 36 weeks gestation on July 26th, reality stars Ryan, 32, and Trista Sutter, 34, are beginning their lives as parents — albeit without their son at home, for now. Ryan’s mother Barbara tells People that Max, as The couple is calling him, was still in the NICU as of Wednesday, August 1st, being monitored nutritionally. However, she reassures that,

He’s as healthy as can be and so cute. Everybody is just great.

Trista herself was released on Sunday, July 29th. The couple, who had not found out the sex previous to the delivery, was prepared to spice up their baby’s wardrobe if she was a girl — but no need! Mother-in-law Barbara says,

Trista is so girly-girl. They had gotten a lot of cute fireman t-shirts. [Ryan is a fireman.] I had told her, ‘If you have a girl, we could always put a little lace and bows on the sleeves.’

One thing Grandma expects, however, is that Max will be outdoorsy like his father.

Ryan will be an extremely loving father. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few weeks time, little Max will be snuggled up on Ryan taking a hike. Max is going to be a little mountain man!

Source: People, August 13 issue, p. 68.

Comments

Having a baby in the NICU is a very sad time. I don’t think people realize how lucky they actually are to leave the hospital with their babies. My baby Kara was 37 weeks and weighed a whopping 12lbs 1oz and still was taken to a different hospital for the NICU facility. I don’t think people realize that not all of us leave the hospital with our babies and it is such a hard thing to go through. It is amazing what they can do with babies, but a difficult process. My thoughts are with both Trista and Ryan.
Michelle HB

- Michelle on August 4th, 2007

my daughter was in the NICU when she was born. She was full term, but I had a fever during labor and they were very cautious with her, giving her IV antibiotics and very close monitoring. It was down to the wire whether she would go home with me or not and I was in tears the whole last day before I actually got word she could come home with me. I wish Trista and Ryan all the best with little Max!!

- tink1217 on August 4th, 2007

Thank you for your comment Michelle. I don’t think all of us realized, at least I didn’t, that a “big enough” baby might need to go to NICU too. Thank you for the enlightenment!

- Tiff on August 4th, 2007

Also don’t forget that the baby was born in Vail at a very high altitude. This could also be a reason for a smaller baby to stay in the NICU because of oxygen reasons

Sarah’s note: True! We only posted what Ryan’s mom had mentioned.

- Katherine Kaiser on August 4th, 2007

My son was born at 36 weeks also.. At first he was not in the NICU but I caught the flu.. At time of birth he was only 5 pounds… But when we were released i had the flu so he ended up getting RSV and at 11 days old ended up being in the NICU for 17 days….. It’s true people everyday take their healthy babies for granted…My son was on a ventilator for 6 days not able to even breath by himself. So, I just want everybody who reads this to know if they walk out of the hospital carrying their baby with no problem they are very lucky… And, if anybody is wondering, my son is a healthy 2 1/2 year old.

- kim on August 4th, 2007

My thoughts go out to Ryan and Trista!

My son was born at 34 weeks because I developed Pre-eclampsia, and when I left the hospital he had to stay for another week. It was so hard to leave him there because I had been able to touch him and talk to him for 7 and a half months. It makes it even more difficult when you have to ask someone to drive you to the hospital just so you can see your child once a day. Most people don’t understand the heartache a mother goes through during a time like this.

It sounds like he and his parents are doing well though, and I’m sure Max will be a completely healthy little boy!

- Mom2Ethan on August 4th, 2007

I as well had a daughter in the NICU (born at 29 wks) it is an extremely hard and emotional time. My thoughts go out to Trista and Ryan. Good Luck!! And Congratulations on your new “wee” one!!

- Jory on August 4th, 2007

Jory- I hear what you are saying and I hope your 29 weeker is doing great. My triplets were 28 weekers and spent 10 WEEKS in the hospital on the vent for weeks, surgeries, tons of transfusions. Not taking your baby home is so difficult. I hope all went well for you. Our guys pulled through and are doing great. Congrats to all the new moms who can’t take their babies home right away….you are all in our thoughts and they will be home before you know it:)

- amelia on August 4th, 2007

My son was full-term, 8 lbs, 1 oz. He was in NICU with pneumonnia. I never left his side. I sat in a hard wooden rocking chair for days, without sleep or food. Because I was discharged I didn’t get medical care and my episiotomy became infected. I just wasn’t thinking about myself at all. But there was just no way I would leave his side at that point, and fortunately, I didn’t have other children who needed care. I really feel for women who don’t have the option to stay. But I hope that those who do have some support.

- Shmoo on August 5th, 2007

I want to tell everyone about the great websites I found for baby birth announcements. These sites,

http://www.cardspersonalized.com
http://www.cardsshoppe.com
http://www.express-invitations.com

have all kinds of baby birth announcements, and have their announcements cards divided into categories. This makes it easy to find the type baby cards I was looking for. Plus they have lots of wording ideas, verses and sayings to help you.

The thing I liked most about these sites is that I was able to find the image I wanted, then add my personalized message using the ink color, typestyle and fonts I wanted, and then instantly preview my new card. WOW, was that cool!! They also printed and shipped my order the same day I ordered. I could not find any other place on the internet who did that. They are GREAT!!

- Cindy Thompson on August 5th, 2007

My second daughter was born at just barely 37 weeks, 7lbs 5 oz. She was about to be discharged when we (because of our medical background) forced the nurses to measure her oxygen levels…she just didn’t look or sound right to me. Anyway, her sats were at like 70%…and she was sent to the NICU. She underwent a battery of tests and they found she had a collapsed lung. She stayed in the NICU for 5 days with an oxygen helmet on her head(to help heal the hole in her lung), and a nasogastric tube feeding her. She couldn’t be picked up because her oxygen level would drop so much she’d pretty much pass out. It was very scary. I told my husband that I walked into the hospital with her and I wasn’t leaving without her, whether I had to sit there 24 hours a day or not. Anyway, the day before Mother’s Day I was allowed to bring her home, and after a month and a half of trying to train her to the breast, we were finally on track. It was an exhausting, very stressful time. I have major empathy for anyone who has to go through it. I was so stressed that despite pumping constantly in the hospital, my milk didn’t come in until after she was home and things were back to normal. My heart goes out to anyone who has to do the NICU!

- aaron boatwright on August 5th, 2007

so, what are Ryan’s future plans?

All the best T&R, you are such a beautiful couple, inside and out. Lil Max will be home soon and normalcy will begin.

Just wondering, Sarah, do you know if Trista is breastfeeding?

Sarah’s note: Taking him out hiking. And no, we don’t know if she’s nursing. She had been rooming in with him though.

- gigi on August 6th, 2007