Hand to Hold's official blog
Dina O'Brien (TX) is a mother to four boys and a licensed pediatric psychologist. Her youngest son, Reece, was born at 36 weeks due to Dina's severe placenta previa and Reece's omphalocele. He endured a 36-day NICU stay, 7 surgeries and 3 months of hospital stays his first year. Dina admits her professional background in pediatric health psychology did little to prepare her for the challenges she and her family faced. However, the experience now gives her an edge in better supporting her patients, their families, and in educating healthcare providers and other parents. You can contact her via email or visit her website.
My last post was about preparing for a NICU stay when you know your baby will need one. This post is about preparing your other children! As a mom of four boys, there was something amazingly special about introducing my first son to his new baby brother, and then two years later, introducing them to [...]
When I found out I was pregnant with my fourth child in February 2009, I was ecstatic! I always wanted to have four children and I felt like my family dreams were finally reaching completion. At 13 weeks gestation, at a routine sonogram screening, that dream was abruptly shattered. I learned not only did I have what appeared to be an extreme case of placenta previa, but that my baby had an abdominal wall defect, an omphalocele. My doctor did not say, “Congratulations! You are having a high risk pregnancy and a beautiful NICU baby!” Instead, we were thrust into the world of perinatology and genetic testing. [Read more]
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit 501(c)3 parent support organization and information and resources provided here do not intend to take the place of the relationship between a patient and personal physician.