A couple of years ago, as I was picking up my camera again after my own postpartum hiatus, I knew there was something special I wanted to do for other NICU families. After unexpectedly spending time in the NICU with one of my own babies, I understood just how life-altering that experience can be. So I posted in our local Facebook group and offered complimentary portraits for NICU families who wanted to pause and document the occasion, now their little ones were home.
It turned into such a special day in the studio. Getting to see these tiny NICU warriors, and just how far they had come, was something I'll never forget.
Why NICU families will always have a special place in my heart
I don't think I'll ever forget the moment my son was wheeled into the NICU, with me being wheeled in right behind him.
I broke down crying as I watched him get hooked up to all the machines. Just hours earlier, he had been safe inside my belly. Now he was being poked, prodded, and attached to monitors. I knew he needed the care, but that didn't make it any easier to watch.
The NICU staff was unbelievably supportive of both me and my baby. I'll never forget the doctor who knelt down in front of my wheelchair to reassure me. I think every person who works in a NICU deserves the most money, the most vacation time, the most love, and every good thing on earth. Caring for sick newborns and supporting their families is heart-wrenching work.
We were in the NICU for "only" four days. On paper, I might have thought that wasn't a big deal. But after experiencing it myself, I know just how big a deal it is.
Leaving my baby behind in a hospital and going home to sleep next to an empty bassinet was one of the hardest things I've ever experienced. And so many parents spend weeks or months living that NICU life. So many parents never get to bring their babies home, and it’s truly one of the most vulnerable, scary, heartbreaking experiences as new parents.
Celebrating these sweet NICU warriors…
Once I had recovered from postpartum and started feeling a little more like myself again, I wanted to give back to families who understood that experience firsthand.
Gifting these families complimentary professional portraits was a small way to celebrate their babies and the journey they'd already been through. Every family had their own story, and it was such an honor to capture these little ones in a season that held so much emotion, uncertainty, and hope.
These babies deserved to be celebrated. And their parents deserved to have beautiful photographs of the little people they'd fought so hard to bring home.
It's something I hope to do again in the future.
How to support NICU families
If you've never experienced the NICU, it can be hard to understand what families go through. Supporting organizations that walk alongside these parents is a great place to start.
One organization to check out is Hand to Hold, which provides support and resources for NICU and bereaved families.
To all the NICU parents reading this: I'm sending you so much love. Your journey may not have looked the way you imagined, but your little warrior deserves to be celebrated, every step of the way.
