Couple Surprises Family at Baby Shower with Their Newborn’s Early Arrival Before Spending More Than 2 Months in NICU

What was meant to be a joyful baby shower quickly turned into an unforgettable surprise for 60 friends and family members.

After a seven-hour drive from Kentucky to Ohio, Dylan Carter and Drew Kline arrived expecting to celebrate their upcoming arrival during a Sunday afternoon in October. Instead, the weekend stretched into a two-month stay after the couple unexpectedly welcomed their first child far earlier than planned.

“When we walked in and I didn’t look very pregnant anymore, we said, ‘Surprise. He’s already here!’” Carter, 33, recalled while reflecting on the moment.

Their son, Sixx Carter Kline, was born nearly 11 weeks before his due date, weighing just 3 pounds, 2.6 ounces.

In the weeks leading up to the trip, Carter believed the discomfort she was experiencing was simply Braxton Hicks contractions. With a high pain tolerance and reassurance from her obstetrician back home, she decided to move forward with the trip, though the long drive proved difficult.

Once they arrived at Kline’s mother’s house, the pain continued. It wasn’t until a family trivia night at a local restaurant that Carter realized something wasn’t right.

“I looked at Drew’s mom and said, ‘Something is wrong. We need to go somewhere,’” she said. “I didn’t realize I had been in active labor all day.”

Just three hours after arriving at Cleveland Clinic Akron General in Ohio, Carter gave birth to Sixx, named after Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx.

Although the early delivery came as a shock, Carter knew there was a risk of preterm birth. She was born with uterus didelphys, a rare congenital condition involving two uteruses, which can increase the likelihood of premature delivery.

“I knew he might come early, but not two months early,” she said. “I was scared because I was afraid his body wasn’t ready yet.”

Kline shared similar fears as the situation unfolded.

“When we first got to the hospital, they were going to try to slow down the contractions,” he said. “But after Dylan’s placenta separated from the baby, they said he had to come quickly. I was just praying that everything would be okay with Dylan and Sixx.”

Following his birth, Sixx was taken straight to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). According to his care team, one of the biggest challenges premature babies face is underdeveloped lungs, which can lead to serious breathing difficulties.

During his 63 days in the NICU, Sixx required a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine to help keep his lungs open and was briefly placed on a ventilator. He was also diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, a rare heart rhythm disorder that caused his heart rate to spike above 200 beats per minute. Doctors were able to stabilize the condition with medication.

By the time Sixx was healthy enough to go home, he had nearly doubled his weight, reaching 7 pounds, 1.8 ounces.

Looking back, Carter said watching her son struggle was heartbreaking, but she remains deeply grateful for the care he received.

“I was so sad he was struggling, but I’m incredibly grateful he received all the care he needed,” she said. “We had so much love and support from all the nurses. They were amazing and loved Sixx so much. They truly felt like family to us.”