11/17/2025
Today is International Preemie Day, a special day in our home. Did you know that 1 in 10 families face a NICU stay for a baby born too soon? 🩷💙
My first pregnancy was smooth sailing with no issues up until a little after the 33 week mark, when an urgent care visit for bronchitis revealed a sudden and severe case of preeclampsia. I was rushed to the local hospital and quickly transferred from there to a city hospital with a NICU and the ability to care for babies born before the 35 week mark. I spent 2 days being monitored until I hit 34 weeks and then another 3 days in induced labor before welcoming my beautiful 5 lbs 2oz baby girl.
Our story, while traumatic for us as new parents, could have been a lot worse. Sweet Maeve spent only 6 days in the NICU (partially due to her big size for her age!) while she learned to feed and wake to eat. We are so incredibly grateful every day to the NICU doctors and nurses who took care of us while in the hospital. The same hospital also monitored us through a second pregnancy with my son which almost lead to an even earlier birth but that’s a different story!
Today Maeve is 4 and a half and thriving in every way. Although petite for her age, she has hit all of her milestones on time (or early) and faced no health or developmental delays. Today and every day we celebrate our warrior baby who although very much against her will, joined us 6 weeks early.
