Hudson'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
"This was my third and scariest NICU stay as all of my babies were premature.

I have a uterine anomaly where my uterus never fused together, better known as a uterus didelphys. In other words, I have two half sized uteri. My first two children I carried in the left uterus which was the larger of the two and this little man wanted to be different, he was in my right uterus. Knowing that I had this anomaly, I was closely watched by high risk doctors for all three of my pregnancies.

My daughter Mia was an 11/11/11 baby (cool birthday right?) born at 34 weeks (4 day NICU stay/ 7 day PICU stay). When I was pregnant with my first son they told me I should be able to carry him for longer because my uterus was already stretched. However, he arrived earlier than his sister at 33 weeks and stayed 42 days in the NICU. When we found out that we were pregnant for the third time we were quite surprised as he was the only of the three being carried in the right side uterus. We had no idea how long I would be able to carry him.

Well, at 29 weeks I went into spontaneous labor having constant contractions for 3 days. I was able to receive two steroid shots and magnesium to help with neuro protection. The baby’s heart rate had dropped for more than six minutes into the 50's and 60's and they said we had to do an emergency C-section. Hudson was born en caul (still in his amniotic sac) on July 22 at 2:04 am. He wasn't due until October 2. He was a good size for his gestational age they told me, weighing 3lbs 5 oz. He came out and was put in a ram nasal cannula, but a few hours later he was intubated and given surfactant. He received two doses of this to help with his lung development. He remained on cpap for a few weeks after being extubated and then was on oxygen for a few weeks after. He had trouble tolerating feedings and didn't fully bottle feed until a week before he went home. He came home after exactly 8 weeks of life and we are adjusting to having him home for the last 5 days. We are so overjoyed to have him home and finally be a family of 5! "

Hudson’s photo session was taken and donated by Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Senshi.

https://www.facebook.com/impressenshi/

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 Brooklyn, TX.

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