Hand to Hold's official blog
May will always be a special month for me. For most, May brings with it the end of the school year, vacation planning, and other events that mark summer’s arrival. For me and my family, May holds a different meaning. It marks the month we brought our son home from The NICU. As of May [...]
Shawnte sent me this update on her 30w2d preemie weighing only 1 lb 6 oz at birth. Read Shawnte’s Story. I just wanted to update you on my pretty Katie. She is now at 4lbs 12oz and 17inches long. Yesterday she got to meet her big sister for the first time and did so well [...]
This story was kindly submitted by Sara, one of our readers. I had twin preemies due to pPROM. My water broke with twin A (Kaleb) at 18w (4/18/10). I spent 86 days on bedrest until I had an emergency c-section due to placenta abruption. Kaleb & Kameron Crane were born on 7/11/2010 at 29 weeks. [...]
This story was thoughtfully submitted by Amy, one of our readers. Derek William – born at 30 weeks, after my water broke at 26 weeks. Born at 2lbs, 14-1/2 inches, on August 14th, 2010. Derek was transported to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (where we live) where he would spend 154 days in the incredible NICU. [...]
Recently, one of our readers introduced me to something called Vapotherm Therapy. I am so excited about this new technology and wish it had been around when my preemie was in the NICU. The following is information I found at www.chw.org (Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin website): Vapotherm, quite simply, is a heated and humidified nasal [...]
This story was thoughtfully shared by Stacy, one of our readers. Haylie We found out we were pregnant with our 1st 2 months after we got married. It was an easy pregnancy, I worked all the way through, I had a lot of “braxton hicks” but that’s it. I even played volleyball the day before [...]
“A Pound of Hope”, by Michele Munro Kemper and Jennifer Kemper Sinconis I seriously can’t express how fabulous this book is. I was afraid that, being a parent of a preemie, it would be difficult to read because of the memories and trauma it would dig up within me. I was wrong. It was fascinating. [...]
This story was shared by Lindsay, one of our readers. I am writing to share our story of our 24 week (15 ounces) miracle with you…JACK MATTHEW Now a little timeline of our whirlwind before I begin. Matt and I had our first date in april 2005, engaged 2 weeks later, married 1 year later, [...]
A headbox is basically a hard plastic box that sits directly over your preemie baby’s head while she is laying down and it is curved to allow room for her neck and it has oxygen tubing plugs at the top. With just the head covered the nurses can still easily change your preemie’s diapers and [...]
When I got home from the NICU with my tiny preemie baby, I had an appointment set up to see my pediatrician just one or two days later. It was January, one of the worst months of RSV Season, and I was paranoid about keeping my baby away from other children. Also, I was nervous [...]
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.