Sweet RyLeigh'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

“I found out I was 6 weeks pregnant. And over joyed! 9 years ago I had a miscarriage at 16 weeks! My now husband and I had been married right at a year before finding out we were expecting! I am type 2 diabetic and have been for 7 years knew with that the journey of pregnancy wasn't going to be easy for me or baby! However, stayed very strict with sugar levels and became insulin dependent. The day I went into labor I had a NST-Stress test at obgyn office and was diagnosed with mild pre-clampsia. We had scheduled for induction 2 weeks, however baby girl had other plans that night I went to a basketball game and labor started. I have multiple sclerosis so I was unable to have an epidural and felt it all. I pushed for an hour and a half. Baby girl came out with her umbilical cord wrapped twice, completely white and no cries. About 30 seconds later I heard her beautiful scream. She was born at 35 weeks with natural labor. Originally sent to NICU with low sugar. She then was put on oxygen because she stopped breathing. Then had an MRI because of swelling on the brain; originally thought HIE. 2nd MRI was fine and a lot better so not HIE. She then started breathing on her own and sugars stayed high enough to get off sugar water. Now we are just doing follow ups with the NICU clinic for a heart murmur and having a third echocardiogram.”

RyLeigh’s photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Jessica Castillo.
www.facebook.com/jcimages.photography

A Note From Jessica:
“Sweet baby Ryleigh was so good at our session. She loves being outside and her mommy and daddy said her eyes were open the most they have been since birth! I just loved our session and it was a pleasure meeting Miss Ryleigh!”

Photos belong to our volunteer photographers, families, 

and organization please do not use for any purpose. 

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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 Waco, TX.

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