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Her Imperial Majesty gives birth to Second Child
Difficult pregnancy kept Empress out of public eye during last month
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 24, 5583


Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto, together the Prince Consort and Princess Michelle-Renee Pavlina Ananto-Sandoval

Her Imperial Majesty, Empress Carolina I Ananto and His Highness the Prince Consort William Ananto-Sandoval welcomed their second child to the Royal Family.  Her Highness, the Minor Princess Michelle-Renee Pavlina Ananto-Sandoval was born at 2:10 am Ananto Standard on April 21 in Kaliburg.  The baby girl weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces and was considered 2 weeks premature.  Doctors kept the new Princess in the NICU for three days while they monitored her for breathing issues detected at birth, and suggested that the Princess was not able to fully clear her lungs when she was born.  After three days of close monitoring and assistance with respiration, doctors gave the little princess a clean bill of health and released her to her parents.

"It was very scary for us," said His Highness, Prince Consort William, who was fielding questions about the Empress' release from the Hospital.  "Little Michelle was in trouble from the start, and the doctors said that she had accidentally inhaled some of the amniotic fluid, and it was causing her distress, which is why we had to come early to the hospital.  But we are so thankful to the doctors who saved our little child's life."  The Prince Consort told of other issues that Her Imperial Majesty faced while carrying the child, including being briefly hospitalized for severe anemia and early labor which had to be stopped while the Empress went onto bed rest for about a month.  "They always say the first child is harder, but this time it feels like if it could go wrong, it did for Carrie.  So we are going to treat this baby very specially:  It took a lot more effort to make sure she arrived safely than we anticipated."

Doctors will continue to monitor both mom and baby for any additional complications, and have provided the Minor Princess with light therapy to reduce the jaundice that she developed in the NICU.  "Jaundice, yes, she is pretty yellow right now," said His Highness the Prince Consort.  "But the doctors say that is because her liver isn't fully processing the bilirubin in her blood yet.  Her liver isn't fully up to speed.  They say it will go away in about two weeks with the light treatment.  We still have some restless nights ahead, but we kind of know what we're doing by now, and Carrie is so strong.  We'll get through it."

When asked what her brother, Minor Prince Fredrick thinks of having a new sister, the Prince Consort smiled, "Well, I don't think he really fully understands what it means.  He asked if she could read him stories at night, because that is one of his favorite things we do.  And he said he wants to share his cheerios with her, and we had to say, 'Well, maybe in a few months, but she won't have any teeth yet.' and that concept left him speechless.  It is a very funny thing to watch a little kid who only knows those around him, begin to comprehend what adding a new sister into the mix will mean.  We had to tell him that we will love both of them the same, and that we will take care of both him and his sister, but I have a feeling that I'll be spending some more time with Fred for the next few months while little Michelle gets used to being home."

Welcome to Terra, Your Highness.  All of the Anantonese Empire welcomes you into our hearts.