NICU graduate { Cedar Rapids newborn photography }
This NICU graduate is truly a miracle! Madalynn came into the world at 25 weeks – almost four months early – weighing in at just 1lb 5oz. She spent over 100 days in the NICU before being able to come home. Four months old at the time of her newborn session, she was around 7lb – right near the size of a typical newborn! This little fighter has beaten some pretty big odds!
(Quick side note: You don’t have to forego a newborn session just because baby came early – they tend to follow their adjusted age by due date, so as long as the session is done within a few weeks of their original due date, babies do just fine! I have extensive experience with kids with special needs and health issues, I sanitize my studio regularly + have a strict illness policy, and my whole family is up to date on vaccinations, including flu. You can rest assured this is a safe, clean, welcoming space to bring your new baby – preemie or not.)
Madalynn was still on oxygen and a hospital grade monitor at our session, but that didn’t stop us from getting lots of really sweet images. She loved being swaddled, so we kept her nice and snug to make sure she stayed as calm as possible. She was super happy when I wrapped her up, and gave me lots of sweet grins! I especially love when she smiled when her mom kissed her – melted my heart!
One special item her parents brought in was her Beads of Courage. For every day in the NICU – every test, every needle poke, every day spent in isolation – she received a bead. By the time she went home, her beads weighed 1lb 8oz – more than Madalynn weighed at birth. What an incredible physical representation of everything this tiny fighter has gone through!
They also brought in a Hawkeye tumbler cup – something they took her picture with at different times throughout her NICU journey to show just how much she’s grown. It really emphasizes just how tiny she was! Plus it’s a nod to the hospital that saved her life – the University of Iowa. I love when my clients bring these meaningful items to incorporate into their baby’s session!
Congrats to the NICU graduate – I can’t wait to keep watching you grow and thrive! Here’s a peek into our session – thank you, M family! <3
Want images like this with your own little one?
