Christopher's Preemie Prints NICU Grad Photo Shoot

Please enjoy Preemie Prints' families inspirational photos and consider supporting our mission to share hope with families who have a baby born prematurely or critically ill. Preemie Prints support programs include NICU photography and NICU graduate photography (the gift of photography at no charge for a NICU family), the gift of handmade items, group events and meetings, information, and email support. Our mission is to connect parents and let them know they are not alone. 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 will help families remember how strong 
they were in overcoming their NICU journey together.

NICU STORY | THOUGHTS FROM MOM

"Christopher was born with gastroschisis, meaning all of his bowels were on the outside of his body. Our little man was a trooper, being placed on a vent and having surgery at 4 days old to close his belly. He started getting tube feedings through the tube in his nose at about 1 week old, getting 5ml every 3 hours. He was about 10 days old when we got to hold him for the 1st time. By the time he went home he was eating almost a full 2 ounces. We were very fortunate to only have a few minor setbacks, but regardless it was a tough time for the whole family. My husband and I also had a 15 month old, who could not go into the NICU. My biggest advice it to ALWAYS try to stay positive. Keep your mind on the progress you LO (little one) has made, not the step-backs - because they WILL happen. And know that every day is a new day, and a day closer to your LO recovery."

Preemie Prints Volunteer Photographer:

Lisa King - Kansas City, MO

A note from Lisa:

"This family was adorable and I loved watching the interactions between them. Christopher surprised me and was not interested in the balloons or cupcake that I brought at all but wanted to explore everything, and boy could he move fast.  Never wanted to stop for a second which made capturing him on camera a definite challenge.  :) "

Houston, TX Preemie Prints Sew & Craft Meeting!

We had such a good turn out for our sewing meeting. The pavement has been pounded in a matter of speaking. Every group where mother's are in the area, preemie related, even some national places where there's a possibility of connecting with someone: a message about our event was posted on their Facebook page. Efforts were not in vain I am glad to say. I have had a tremendous amount of inquires and down poor of best wishes, as well as others wanting to send us items they make at home, and a new volunteer family that made a huge impact on tonight's meeting. We were a bit scattered at first which led to not accomplishing exactly what was planned but in a good way. We have 7 machines available to use and they were unthreaded and in boxes. We set a few of them up and got to work on a few things.

We had a small group on one couch teaching and learning in both directions, one to crochet and the other to knit. 

It was fun watching the teacher become the student!

We had a father son duo working on giraffes as well as other small projects. While mom and little sister worked on cutting what was thought to be positioners. (slight miscalculation on my end and turned out double the thickness...... of course it wasn't realized until one was completed. ... but we had a good laugh at watching a toy tea set be used in place of a funnel!

The goal of our next meeting will be to make a few snakes and finish up some giraffes, so we can take a bundle up to Tomball Regional. Please join us at our next meeting!

Welcome Norfolk, VA Preemie Prints Photography Volunteer, Katherine!

Please help us welcome volunteer Preemie Prints volunteer photographer, Katherine! Katherine will be helping give the gift of photography to preemie and NICU families in Norfolk, VA!! 

Glimpse In Time

http://glimpseintime.photography
glimpseintimephotography@gmail.com

Service Area: Norfolk, VA
Hospitals: Norfold General, Bon Seccours DePaul Medical Center, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters, Naval Medical Center Portsmouths

About Katherine:

"I've always loved photography and I'll be starting school at the Art Institute of Virginia Beach in April. I recently had my little girl who was born at 33 weeks in January. I understand the stress of having a child in the NICU and I wanted to give back to other families going through this. I look forward working with the families and their babies."

"I just wanted to share with you a few pictures of Layla, my daughter.  I also wanted to send you a picture of me since I figured it would be best so people would have a face to my name. These pictures were taken with my cell phone at the time.  It baffles me why I didn't bring my camera with me every time I went to visit Layla in the NICU. I'm so excited I'm going to be able to do this for other mothers and families. It killed me having to leave her there every night and not bring her home with me.  It was always the pictures that would help bring my mind at ease and help me sleep at night."

No Touching Preemie On Board Sign - Free Printables

So we shared a photo recently of a little sign attached to a carrier that reads "No Touching your germs are too BIG for me" it was made to look like a caution sign and super cute! We got lots of likes and feedback from moms and dads who wanted one. So here it is! You are free to print these signs and use to politely tell others not to touch your baby. It's amazing that we have to do this, but you know how many people like to touch little babies (even in situations we'd never expect!!). Having preemies and NICU babies we just can't take the risk! There are 4 caution sign designs to choose from. Directions and free preemie printables are below. Enjoy!

Directions

1. Click this link

2. Print the file - it would be best to print on cardstock

3. Laminate

4. Trim

5. Punch a hole (make sure it's big enough) so that you can use one of those toy rings to slip through it!

6. Hang wherever you like and protect your baby from germs

Welcome New Preemie Prints Photographer, Mary!

Please help us welcome volunteer photographer, Mary! Mary will be helping give the gift of photography to preemie and NICU families in Manassas Park, VA!! 

Goe Photography

goephotography.com
mary@goephotography.com

Service Area: Prince William & Fairfax Counties, Manassas
Hospitals: Inova Fair Oaks, Inova Fairfax, Reston Hospital, Novant Health Prince William

About Mary:

"I have been a professional photographer since 2012 and an amateur for many years. I spent 6 years working with children with special needs and their families, and love helping families in any way I can. I am thrilled to volunteer with Preemie Prints and help families create beautiful memories of a difficult time."

Welcome New Preemie Prints Volunteer, Dr. Z!!

Please help us welcome volunteer photographer, Dr. Z! Dr. Z will be helping give the gift of photography to preemie and NICU families in Northeastern Ohio!! 

Dr. Z Photography

www.drzphotography.com
drzphotos@gmail.com

Service Area: Youngstown, Warren
Hospitals: Akron Children's in Youngstown & Warren, St. Elizabeth's in Boardman, OH

About Dr. Z:

"I became a professional photographer when I was 40. After completing a PhD from Harvard, I realized that what I love most is helping people make memories. I'm excited to work with Preemie PRints to give the gift of photographs and memories to more families."

The Untouchable Mother Sculpture Series By The Midnight Orange

There are many memorabilia type items for parents of premature babies and for parents who have experienced an infant loss, angel parents as we call them. We are always searching for information to share with Preemie Prints and the NICU community of families. The other night I was researching online and stumbled upon probably one of the most beautiful memory items for mothers of NICU babies that I have seen to date. It is called "The Untouchable Mother" and it's a sculpture of a mother sitting by an isolette peering in, longing for, her tiny premature baby. The emotion, the vivid memories, the pain, and the joy of my time in the NICU came rushing back when I saw the sculpture. Tears came and I was moved. That is what the purpose of art is and D. Antonia Truesdale of The Midnight Orange beautifully captures the essence of a NICU mom in her artwork.

I reached out to the artist, because I really wanted to share the work with you - our Preemie Prints community. After we visited, she decided to work on expanding her line to include a series of sculptures, not only for NICU moms, but for the whole family. Through Preemie Prints and this blog post she is reintroducing her beautiful series to you. She shared a few words with us about why she sculpts for parents of premature babies, NICU families, and angel families. Here is what she had to say:

"I have had the extreme privilege of working with parents on all walks of life, and one group I've been really touched by is families of premature babies. To see photos of their little ones so close yet out of reach plays a bittersweet lullaby on the heartstrings. This sculpture series was inspired by the desperate longings preemie parents have shared with me, and I am very happy to be able to reintroduce this into my collection of available sculptures.

This specific design is not only customizable to your family portrait, but once you have it home with you you are able to customize it further by adding your own special keepsakes to the bottom display case. The bottom comes empty with a mirrored base and then you can add in any tiny mementos, as you'll see in some examples in the photos. I think it would be perfect for a little hospital bracelet, perhaps flowers from a baby bouquet or even a handwritten poem tied into a scroll. There are so many ways for this design to be personalized and I am just completely touched and humbled to have my artwork be a part of your preemie's mighty journey."

Now we will share the beautiful pictures of her new sculpture series and include information at the bottom of the post on how you can contact The Midnight Orange and place orders.

 

To ask questions and view all of her work 

please visit The Midnight Orange Etsy Store

The Untouchable Mother sculpture 

The Untouchable Mother & Father

The Untouchable Mother of Twins 

The Untouchable Mother & Father of Twins

The Untouchable Family

Visit Listings For All Sculptures Here