Meet NICU Graduate Baby Ariel | Boise NICU Baby Photography

Baby Ariel was born at 33 weeks due to Momma Stephanie experiencing severe pre-eclampsia.

Stephanie had experienced pre-eclampsia with her first child, so she knew she was at risk again with her second. She did not expect baby Ariel to come quite so early though. They had just started moving from Boise into their new house in Mountain home when Stephanie started to experience a terrible migraine. They went to the hospital and she was admitted. She was given the shots to speed up lung development and also magnesium for her preeclampsia She said the magnesium made her very loopy, like she was hallucinating. What a strange feeling! However, nothing seemed to help with the migraine. She was given hydromorphone and that did not even touch the migraine pain. When her doctor came in the next morning, she made the call to do an emergency C-section because she was afraid that Stephanie was at too high of a risk for having a stroke.

The commute from Mountain Home to the NICU in Boise was exhausting. Stephanie also had a 3 year old boy at home who had been excited to move into a new house and be a big brother. Fortunately, the grandparents were able to help out with watching the older child, but poor big brother was not enjoying his new house very much because Mommy and Daddy were hardly ever home. They are now enjoying having Ariel at home and finally getting settled in.

Moving is so much work, I just can’t even imagine going through the trauma of the NICU just days after starting that process. Stephanie, you are such a brave, strong Momma!

Meet NICU Graduate Baby Callan | Boise NICU Newborn Photography

This handsome fellow was born at 34 weeks and spent 16 days in the NICU. He was such a little sweetie!

His mama had a terrible headache and didn't think much of it, but thankfully she decided to go get checked out anyway. She was diagnosed with #preeclampsia but she was stable enough to be able to get the steroid injection to help speed up lung development. Several days later, she was being induced for a vaginal delivery (after having baby flipped from being in a transverse position). When the doctor broke her water, she felt a prolapsed cord. Mama had to have an emergency C-section. They didn't even have enough time to give her a spinal block, so she had to be put under with general anesthesia and did not get to be conscious for the birth.

When we discussed what some of the biggest challenges were during her NICU journey, she mentioned the challenge to manage everything, especially having a toddler at home. And poor big sis was so sad that her baby brother was in the hospital and she wasn't able to meet him!

Who else has had to navigate a NICU stay with older children at home? Was there anything that helped you cope with and manage this situation?