Handsome Grant's NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families’ inspirational story & photos. 

Consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. We thank our supporters, Preemie Prints volunteers, and donors for allowing us to continue touching the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families.

We pray these special memories from Preemie Prints 

will help families heal and remember how strong 

they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

A NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

“Grant Matthew was born on Saturday, October 11th at 11 PM (on the dot). He was born at 28 weeks.

He definitely came into this world kicking--and wanted to make an early entrance.

Never did I fully understand or appreciate the NICU and its staff until having to go through this journey with our son Grant. This experience is something I’ll carry with me throughout Grant's life.”

A Note From Beth:

“Last Saturday, I had the honor of photographing baby Grant!  He's come quite a long way and is thriving!  And it turns out his mother (Shana) and I went to the same high school!  I had a great time doing this session and seeing just how much they adore this little guy!”

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

____________________________________________

Preemie Prints is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sharing hope with NICU families through a variety of support programs. One of those programs is the gift of NICU photography and preemie photography. NICU families from across the US can request a no-charge photography session by a Preemie Prints volunteer. The family request from can be found on the right side of our website. These sessions are free of charge and for any NICU family, regardless of time spent in the NICU. The NICU photo shoot can take place inside the NICU or after baby is discharged and at home until their 1st birthday. Facing time in a NICU with a premature or critically ill baby is an extremely difficult time for families. Preemie Prints has a mission to share hope by letting families know they are not alone. Preemie Prints currently has over 100 volunteers nationwide. We are always looking for more volunteers to share in our mission! If you are interested, please email sherri@preemieprints.org and visit our website at www.preemieprints.org. To date Preemie Prints and our volunteers have gifted over 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near Columbus, OH.

We're thankful to the family for sharing their story & memories in support of other NICU families.

The Cook Twins' NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families’ inspirational story & photos. 

Consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. We thank our supporters, Preemie Prints volunteers, and donors for allowing us to continue touching the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families.

We pray these special memories from Preemie Prints 

will help families heal and remember how strong 

they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

A NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

“I will never forget when my husband and I found out we were pregnant or when we were told it was twins! What a scary and exciting time. I had a pretty boring pregnancy (no cravings, sickness, etc.) up until 30 weeks. I started swelling up really bad and having high blood pressure. At my 31 week appointment everything was great with the babies and I was measuring 41 weeks! Yikes! Doctor told me it was time to stop working and sent me to do my protein test. I was on my way out the door when she caught me and told me that I had a lot of protein in my urine and needed to stay in the hospital overnight for monitoring. After 24 hours they discovered my kidneys were not working due to severe preeclampsia. I was feeling fine (just tired) and never expected any of this. The doctor went back and forth for a couple days of whether to take the babies or let me ride it out as long as I could. I got steroid shots and still was determined to make it a couple more weeks. On the 13th of February they let me go home to be on bed rest in my own bed. Labs and blood pressure were not good, but were not getting worse. Doctor said I could ride it out until something spiked. The next morning, Friday, February 14th, I went in for labs and was told today had to be the day. I remember crying that it was too soon but everything happened quickly and I was not given an option. Unfortunately, I was so swollen that after 3 epidurals that did not work, they had to put me to sleep. At 11:55 and 11:56am my beautiful girls, Jonna and Jolie, were born at 3.5lbs each. I was so in love and it ended up being the best Valentine's ever! They were in the NICU for a month and it was really hard. I hated leaving them and all the ups and downs were draining. They were so tiny and needed help to do all the things other babies are born knowing. It broke my heart but the NICU staff at Scott and White in College Station were fabulous and I couldn't have asked for better nurses! If you have a little one in the NICU just know there is light at the end of the tunnel and to never stop praying! Jonna and Jolie are now thriving, beautiful, one year olds!!!”

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

____________________________________________

Preemie Prints is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sharing hope with NICU families through a variety of support programs. One of those programs is the gift of NICU photography and preemie photography. NICU families from across the US can request a no-charge photography session by a Preemie Prints volunteer. The family request from can be found on the right side of our website. These sessions are free of charge and for any NICU family, regardless of time spent in the NICU. The NICU photo shoot can take place inside the NICU or after baby is discharged and at home until their 1st birthday. Facing time in a NICU with a premature or critically ill baby is an extremely difficult time for families. Preemie Prints has a mission to share hope by letting families know they are not alone. Preemie Prints currently has over 100 volunteers nationwide. We are always looking for more volunteers to share in our mission! If you are interested, please email sherri@preemieprints.org and visit our website at www.preemieprints.org. To date Preemie Prints and our volunteers have gifted over 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near College Station, TX.

Ethan's NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families’ inspirational story & photos. 

Consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. We thank our supporters, Preemie Prints volunteers, and donors for allowing us to continue touching the lives of NICU, preemie, and angel families.

We pray these special memories from Preemie Prints 

will help families heal and remember how strong 

they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

A NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

“HI my name is Krystal I am 27 and had a few health problems, being a diabetic is one of them. This caused some problems for my pregnancy! I had my so Ethan November 15,2014. He is in the NICU still. The doctors have not given us a date he will be able to come home. He has had a spinal tap, meds, oxygen tube to help him breath. A feeding to due to he was to early to eat from a bottle, x-rays. Testing has also been done to check for any type of infections. He has shown the doctors the he is a strong little man and continues to show them every day. " MOMMY & DADDY LOVE YOU ETHAN "! The nurses have also helped me get through this hard time . And has insured me hi is in good hands. Thank y'all for all Y'all have done to help my son Ethan.”

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

____________________________________________

Preemie Prints is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization sharing hope with NICU families through a variety of support programs. One of those programs is the gift of NICU photography and preemie photography. NICU families from across the US can request a no-charge photography session by a Preemie Prints volunteer. The family request from can be found on the right side of our website. These sessions are free of charge and for any NICU family, regardless of time spent in the NICU. The NICU photo shoot can take place inside the NICU or after baby is discharged and at home until their 1st birthday. Facing time in a NICU with a premature or critically ill baby is an extremely difficult time for families. Preemie Prints has a mission to share hope by letting families know they are not alone. Preemie Prints currently has over 100 volunteers nationwide. We are always looking for more volunteers to share in our mission! If you are interested, please email sherri@preemieprints.org and visit our website at www.preemieprints.org. To date Preemie Prints and our volunteers have gifted over 400 NICU family sessions. 

This was a Preemie Prints NICU graduate photography session that took place near College Station, TX.

Springtime Bonding with Baby: The Power of a Mother’s Voice and Touch

Image copyright Preemie Prints and our volunteer photographer. 

Springtime Bonding with Baby: The Power of a Mother’s Voice and Touch 

It’s hard to believe it’s already March!! Spring’s just around the corner but if you have a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or NICU, you may still be feeling the winter blues or just trying to figure out your next steps. Even though your baby may be in the NICU, please know there are still many opportunities for you to bond with your child and to effectively parent in the midst of all the medical decision making and what often seems like an organized circus of lights, labs, sounds and monitors!.

There are a couple of new and exciting therapies being pioneered in the NICU not only to empower parents but ultimately to empower babies. One such therapy is sound therapy. A recent journal article noted that there is very preliminary evidence to support the positive biological effects of the mother’s voice and heartbeat on the premature brain. 40 preemies were continuously exposed to the sound of their mother’s voice reading “Good Night Moon and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star,” through a semi womblike environment for 3 hours a day for 30 days while other infants received standard care. Preliminary evidence showed that those infants exposed to their mother’s voice and heart beat had larger auditory regions of the brain than those who did not.

This study is particularly important because preterm infants are more likely to have problems with hearing and problems with delayed speech. If the parts of the brain that controls these areas is larger in those infants systematically continually exposed to their mother’s voice and heart beat postnatalyl, it is possible that those infant’s may have better outcomes developmentally. Of course this remains to be seen but it is exciting to think about something I am sure we can all agree upon Mom’s voice is the best kind of comfort both in the womb and out of the womb no matter how old you are.

Another practice that is becoming more common in NICU’s is the practice of infant massage. Infant massage is a wonderful way for both mother’s and father’s to bond with the baby during that waiting period that many NICU parents know so well. Waiting to get bigger, waiting to get off the ventilator, waiting to take the first bottle. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly what to do but if your baby is stable enough for kangaroo care or skin to skin contact consider learning a few basic techniques of infant massage. Many neonatal intensive care units have occupational therapist trained in infant massage and are happy to teach parents some of the basic techniques. Basic infant massage generally flows from the head to the toes, beginning with the head, forehead, crown, around the eyes, nose and mouth, to the jaws, chest, stomach, arms, and legs and fingers. Generally the back of an infant should not be massaged but gentle placement of hands on the back while massaging shoulders is soothing for many infants.

The overall touch should be soft and gentle. Many parents use this time to speak or sing softly to the baby as well as recite their favorite prayers or verses. As your baby gets older this time will become more and more special and you can find yourself using basic massage techniques during routine care of infant including bathing, dressing or changing a diaper. Older infants may also benefit from the use of essential oil such as lavender. However these oils are generally not recommended for extremely preterm infants. It is important to consult a reputable source before placing oils on any infant, as some oils can be toxic for infants and must be diluted or be used with a carrier oil or not at all. Some massage techniques and essential oils have been shown to be associated with decreased colic symptoms and decreased allergy symptoms in older infants.

I hope you enjoy your Springtime with your baby! It may be still cold outside but the warmth of a baby no matter how big or small, premature or term, sick or well always brings everything into perspective. I pray you get to read and sing to your baby daily and especially that you get to pass on the gift of human touch daily. We know that babies love that…and guess what you will too! Happy March!

Article Contributed By: 

Dr. Terri Major-Kincade 

Visit her blog on website: DrTerriMD.com

Other Related Blog Posts From Preemie Prints

An Interview With A NICU MT

Bonding In The NICU

More on Infant Massage