Meet NICU Graduate Newborn Baby Logan | August Spotlight | Boise NICU Newborn Photographer
What was baby Logan’s weight and gestational age when he was born?
Baby Logan was born at 32 weeks and he weighed just 2.7 pounds.
Why was baby Logan in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit? How long was he there?
Baby Logan was in the NICU because he was premature. Logan was born early due to severe preeclampsia and HELLP. At birth they discovered that he had suffered from Intra-uterine Growth Restriction (IUGR) and he was only the size of a baby of 28 weeks gestation. He spent a total of 42 days in the NICU.
Can you tell me a little bit about your pregnancy and birth story?
My pregnancy was relatively uneventful. However, I think I may have had Covid-19 in the first trimester of pregnancy, because I had all the symptoms, although I never tested positive for the virus. IUGR is known to be caused by infection, so we believe that is why Logan had IUGR.
We were also monitoring my blood pressure at home. One day, my blood pressure was very high and I had a headache, so we went to the hospital. While we were there, they hoped to be able to delay labor and delivery for another four weeks. I made it 12 hours before the doctor’s ordered an emergency C-section because they were concerned I might have a seizure.
What kind of treatment and procedures did baby Logan have to undergo in the NICU?
When baby Logan was three days old, things turned downhill and Logan began to fuss and get a distended belly. He was rushed into emergency surgery where they discovered that a large portion of his stomach had died and perforated so he was leaking air and milk into his abdomen. The surgery was successful and he remained on a ventilator and replogle for several days. After ten days of no eating he was able to try breastfeeding and now he is eating from the breast and bottle like a champ!
How is baby Logan doing now?
Baby Logan is doing well, except for some discomfort from reflux from the fortifier he has to take with his milk. Luckily, our pediatrician has recommended something to help with the reflux. He is now 9 weeks old and weighs 6 pounds. We are so glad to have him home!
What was the most challenging part about having a baby in the NICU?
Going home every night and leaving our newborn son at the hospital was so painful. It helped knowing he was in such great hands. I also found it challenging to pump around the clock. Knowing I was providing food and stockpiling it for Logan made it easier to keep the momentum of pumping every three hours.
Was there anything you found helpful for coping during your time in the NICU (or beyond)?
Take some time for yourself and your partner. It’s so important to step away and recharge.
High Key Newborn Photography | Boise Newborn Photographer
High key photography is a bright and cheerful style of photography, perfect for newborn portraits as it places the emphasis on the newborn (and his/her family) and lends itself to a clean, simple, and timeless look.
What is High Key Photography?
High key photography is a style of photography that strives to eliminate dark shadows and usually has a blown out the background. High key portraits tend to be very bright, which gives them a positive and cheerful feel. For this reason, I think high key photography is excellent for newborn portraits. There is so much joy and excitement surrounding newborn babies, so a bright and happy lighting style can really help shape the mood of the portrait.
High key photo of a newborn baby. Notice the bright white background and soft shadows throughout the photo.
High key newborn family portrait. Notice that everyone is wearing white, which gives the photo an overall bright and clean appearance.
How is High Key Photography done?
High key photos are generally achieved by using a high powered strobe or flash to blow out the background. However, high key portraits can also be achieved in an outdoor setting using a bright background and making sure to expose correctly for the person whose photo is being taken. In the photos below, I placed the strobe behind my subjects, so they are actually backlit. High key photos look great in black and white and lend to a simple, timeless look.
If you look closely at this photo, you can see the highlights on the newborn baby’s head and on the swaddle near the baby’s back.
Here you can see the highlights (from the strobe light) are near the baby’s eye closest to his father’s face and just below the father’s beard.
Why is High Key Photography great for Newborn Portraits?
High key photography really allows for the emphasis to be placed on the subject matter being photographed - in this case, the newborn and his/her family. It gives a clean, simple, timeless, and classic feel to the portraits. No distracting backgrounds or other elements. Just the baby and the people that matter. I find that high key newborn portraits have an ethereal look to them - that is they look so delicate and light in a way that seems too perfect for this world.
