Hand to Hold's Official Blog: Written by Parents for Parents

Life as a Preemie Working Mom after the NICU

kellan_delivery

I had all of 10 minutes’ notice I was about to become a preemie mom, which was barely enough time to hysterically call my parents and send a few text messages before I found myself off on a wild stretcher ride and into a scene that looked like it was from a weekly TV medical drama that left my head spinning and body reeling. Clearly, this was not how it was supposed to happen. This was not the plan! This was not how I had imagined my right of passage into motherhood that I had waited 30 years for and fought for so hard for. This is not how it was supposed to be. [Read more]

The Day I Became A NICU Dad

Our 33 week, 3 lbs. 6oz. preemie

My wife had a very normal pregnancy for the first 30 weeks. When she went in for a routine checkup, her blood pressure had skyrocketed. They immediately admitted her and began giving her medicine to get it under control. Unfortunately, I was at work when this happened and was unable to be there for support. She called me at work crying and there was nothing I could do. I felt so guilty and helpless. I just wanted to be there. Luckily, the doctors were able to get her blood pressure under control shortly before I arrived. She spent four days in the hospital and was released on bedrest. Weekly fetal non-stress tests (NST) and biophysicals were a mainstay for the remainder of the pregnancy. Unfortunately, just under 33 weeks she was readmitted to the hospital because doctors had discovered diastolic umbilical artery flow and planned to induce two days later after rounds of steroid shots to help with lung development. That Monday evening, she had her best NST to date, so everything seemed set in stone. [Read more]

Denise’s Story

Williambirth

William Christopher Rhys Storm Birth story…by Denise Perry 3-27-10, 9:11PM, Cincinnati Ohio It had been a challenge since even before day one. Infertility. A less than 1% chance of ever having a baby of our own. Fast forward two and a half years and…pregnant…naturally. What followed was about one week of true bliss. Then, a [...]

Tribute to Rachel

Sam & Rachel

This tribute was submitted by Angela. Rachel was brought into our family on November 25, 2003, with her twin brother, Sam. Being our first children, they quickly became best friends. They could always be found together playing, coloring or reading. Rachel was the little mommy of our household. When we were teaching Sam and Rachel [...]

Preemie Pictures 31-33 Weeks

Lexie & Kellie

The following is a photo gallery of preemies born from 31 to 33 weeks gestation.  Click on a picture and navigate through the gallery to see specific information about each baby. Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to submit pictures of their preemies to make this post possible.  Please leave any [...]

Angela’s Story: Part 5

  Parent Highlight This is the fifth of six posts dedicated to sharing one couple’s struggle to have children and then the survival of their preemie twins plus their third preemie baby.  They are currently expecting again and are taking new steps toward achieving a full-term delivery.  This is Angela’s Story. The next two weeks [...]

Angela’s Story: Part 4

Parent Highlight This is the fourth of six posts dedicated to sharing one couple’s struggle to have children and then the survival of their preemie twins plus their third preemie baby.  They are currently expecting again and are taking new steps toward achieving a full-term delivery.  This is Angela’s Story. When I was finally wheeled [...]

Angela’s Story: Part 3

  Parent Highlight This is the third of six posts dedicated to sharing one couple’s struggle to have children and then the survival of their preemie twins plus their third preemie baby.  They are currently expecting again and are taking new steps toward achieving a full-term delivery.  This is Angela’s Story. The testing began. All [...]