The Women's Hospital / Women's Services / Newborn Care / NICU Parent Support Program

NICU Parent Support Program

Parent Advisory Board

Our Parent Advisory Board at The Women’s Hospital was developed to provide guidance, support and education to families with NICU babies. Members of the Parent Advisory Board have had one or more children in the NICU and want to provide support to families sharing the same experience. The Parent Advisory Board, along with the support of March of Dimes, provide many useful resources to families during their hospital stay.

Parent communication board
Parent support program
Preemie books for parents
Logan’s Library
Sibling program
March of Dimes resource material
NicView (Web-cam)
Donated gift bags
Access to educational websites

Parent Support Program
The most meaningful support often comes from someone sharing your experience. The Parent Advisory Board understands the range of emotions that come with having a baby in the NICU. Our parent support program allows you to speak one-to-one to other parents that have shared your experience. The purpose of this program is to exchange helpful information between parents and to offer insight from our parents’ NICU experiences and provide encouragement during your NICU stay by answering questions or providing information on community resources. Our parents are volunteers who have shared their stories and time so that you may have support from a family that matches your baby’s diagnosis or your concerns.

Once you have read the stories from each parent, please complete the form below and your family of choice will contact you by phone or email to set up a time to talk with you.

Fambrough Family

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Fambrough Family

Khloe’s story begins early in my pregnancy when I was told of a possible uterine rupture. Due to my medical history, I was seen by a high-risk Doctor once a month who tracked the lining of my uterus. I never thought it would actually happen.

In the middle of the night I was woken by the sharpest, most painful cramp I've ever felt. Shortly after, I woke my husband up and we both realized it wasn't stopping, but getting worse. We immediately drove to triage at The Women's Hospital fearing the worst possible outcome, but praying for a miracle. Arriving at the hospital I felt this urge come over me where I wanted to speed the process along and not waste any time. It must have been an intuition of what was happening or what was about to happen. I immediately told the nurse that my uterus was rupturing. Not wasting anytime, they rushed in an ultrasound machine, checked for heartbeat, and there was one!

Relieved, but soon realized my uterus was indeed rupturing as I was laying there that very moment. I can remember the Doctor telling us “we need to deliver the baby now,” giving me all the possibilities of what could happen. The scariest moment of our lives. My husband can remember me saying in a whisper, it's too early. I just assumed I was going to leave still pregnant. The nurses in Triage were so comforting and helped me through all the pain and fearfulness I was having. Nothing could prepare us for the journey ahead. I was immediately rushed to the OR for an emergency C-section.

On August 25, 2014 at 2:07 am Khloe decided she couldn't wait any longer, weighing a tiny 3lbs 1.4oz and 15 ¼ long. If it wasn't for the prompt thinking of the nurses and the Doctor on call getting to the OR so fast we wouldn't have made it. We are forever grateful for the Triage team and the Doctor who delivered Khloe. As I was recovering, the nurses in the NICU had already taken a picture of Khloe so she was the ﬁrst thing I saw when I opened my eyes. The NICU staﬀ already was going out of their way to show how much they care, and it meant the world to us. It was ﬁnally time to meet and touch our precious baby.

Going through the NICU doors for the ﬁrst time was a surreal moment. The nurses explained every tube, beep and why wasn't she wearing any cute baby clothes! We had no clue what to expect going through those doors. We had a million questions and they answered them all, even if we asked the same question more than once. They even helped us with our ﬁrst family photo, still laying in a hospital bed, they seemed to make the situation so relaxed and as uplifting as they could. We had bonds with the nurses and therapist from the beginning which made it so much easier to leave Khloe several times a day knowing she was in the best place and getting the best care possible.

Khloe had several milestones in her 72 days in the NICU. The nurses would capture those moments for us if we were not there. One that I'll never forget is “moving day” where she was moved from the Radiant warmer bed to the Isolette bed. It was something that made our day when the days seemed like a roller coaster. There was good and bad days but the nurses would be right there to talk through any concerns we were having and to make us laugh when we so desperately needed it.

After a long 72 day stay in the NICU Khloe was ﬁnally healthy enough to go home. She left without monitors beeping, no wires, no breathing tube and no help from the nurses. It was exciting and overwhelming at the same time. We wouldn’t get through the scary nights ahead without all the nurses educating us along the way. Khloe was seen by her cardiologist within a week of discharge and her PDA is closing and the Doctor has high hopes she will not need surgery.

Today Khloe is a happy, healthy and beautiful 2-year-old who loves books, gymnastics, singing and dancing and the color orange. If you didn't know her journey in the beginning of her life you would never know she was a preemie. Without the help from March of Dimes research Khloe may not have had an amazing outcome and living her life like a normal 2-year-old.

She is an active and healthy toddler thanks to the wonderful Doctors, nurses and therapists at The Women's Hospital. She is proof Miracles do happen.

Fischer Family

We are Zach and Natalie Fischer. We are the parents to our miracle baby boy Jackson and our beautiful daughter Kaylynn. Our pregnancy was going perfectly until I was 26 weeks and 2 days...

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Fischer Family

We are Zach and Natalie Fischer. We are the parents to our miracle baby boy Jackson and our beautiful daughter Kaylynn. My husband and I's love for one another began in August 2009. We spent the next 3 years becoming each other's best friends, falling in love, and living life to its fullest. In August 2012 we got married and we committed our lives to God and each other. After being married for a short time we received good news that we were expecting. Both of us were excited and nervous at the thought of becoming first time parents. I for no specific reason felt worried that I may not be able to bare children, so I was so thankful when I became pregnant. Our pregnancy was going perfectly until I was 26 weeks and 2 days. My husband and I were getting ready to attend my mother and his birthday dinner. I went to use the restroom like I always did before leaving the house. I noticed what looked like my mucous plug. To be cautious we headed to the emergency room. I was a nervous wreck. My husband being the amazing man he is stayed strong for the both of us. After arriving we were placed in a room where they did an ultrasound. The baby was doing great.

Then the emergency room OBGYN came in and greeted us. She wanted to check my cervix to make sure everything was OK. As soon as she checked my cervix she slid her chair back in worry, and that's when I knew something was wrong. It turns out I was dilated 3cm. I was also having contractions. We weren't going anywhere anytime soon. I was given medication to stop the contractions and spent the night on the hospital bed tilted at a 30-degree angle with my feet pointed upwards, to reduce the risk of contractions starting again. I was also given a steroid injection to help my baby boy’s lungs just in case. After a very emotional night, the next day my doctor checked my cervix and I was dilated 7cm. Due to risk of infection I had to deliver my baby boy ASAP. Since he was breached I had to deliver him via emergency c section. At 5:40pm on January 28, 2013 I gave birth to a 2lb 1.8oz 13.5in long baby boy. We named him Frederick Jackson Fischer. He was born at only 26 weeks and 3 days. My husband and I were in complete shock. Our NICU journey had begun. We were told he had an 80% chance at surviving. Jackson was so small but mighty. We put all of our faith in God, knowing he would get us through it. Whatever the outcome may be. His NICU journey was a roller coaster ride. He had good days and he had very bad days. Throughout his stay we almost lost him twice. Once from fluid getting into his lungs and another from what we believe was a close call with NEC. Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most common and serious intestinal disease among preemies.

Thankfully it was caught early and with antibiotics he overcame it. Jackson mainly struggled with breathing. He went from the ventilator to the oscillator. After very little improvement it was decided that he needed the steroid injections to help mature his lungs. After receiving them he started to improve thankfully. He then went from the oscillator back to the ventilator and then to oxygen. He was breathing all on his own by time we went got to take him home. We lived each day minute by minute and every little milestone was celebrated. On April 17, 2013, after a long 80 day NICU stay we got to bring our baby boy home. He only came home on a heart monitor. Which to do this day I am thankful for because it gave me piece and mind that he was breathing ok. Thanks to God and to the NICU doctors and staff at Deaconess Women's Hospital we have the joy of watching our baby boy grow up. He is our miracle and we are so thankful and blessed he is here with us today.

Monroe Family

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Monroe Family

We are Chad and Brooke Monroe. We are the parents of five wonderful boys and one very special little girl. All of our boys were born at term and were healthy. We got pregnant again and were very excited, but sadly I miscarried. It was a sad time, but several months later we decided to try again. We were delighted when we found out I was pregnant again. I was really worried that I would miscarry again, so I tried to be very careful with everything I did. The pregnancy went smoothly until April 1^st. We had just returned from a vacation to Washington DC. I went to bed that night feeling good, but tired. Around midnight I woke up to a familiar sensation - It felt like my water had broken. I wasn't exactly sure if that's what had happened (plus I was only 27 weeks), so I went back to bed for a little while. At around 4:30 am, I was definitely sure that my water had broken, so I woke Chad up. We said a prayer and then we called the hospital.

I was worried because I figured that since my water had broken I would have to deliver our baby that day. At the Triage of The Women’s Hospital it was confirmed that my water had indeed ruptured. Despite the news I felt at peace and felt that everything would turn out well. I was surprised when they told me, that instead of delivering my baby, I would be admitted and could be there a little while. I later found out that I would be there until I had the baby. We were told that most women who rupture at this point usually deliver within two weeks (90%). I wasn't having any contractions or showing any signs of labor, so we hoped I would be in the 10% of the population that stays pregnant longer – it was too early to meet our little girl.

After I was admitted, they quickly took me down to get an ultrasound. It was a relief to hear our baby's heartbeat and see her on the screen. I was also very relieved to find out that I had sufficient amniotic fluid left. The baby had enough fluid to survive for a while, so we just had to play the waiting game. The goal was to make it to 34 weeks. At that point the doctors would go ahead and deliver our baby.

I was given a steroid injection to help Ashlyn’s lungs develop faster, since she would most likely be born early. We were very blessed that Ashlyn stayed inside of me for five more weeks. She was born at 31 weeks and 6 days. She weighed 3 pounds 15 ounces and was 16 and ¾ inches long. Shortly after she was born she was given Surfactant and put on oxygen, something we had expected.

Ashlyn was quickly taken to the NICU into the loving and capable hands of Doctor Hermann and his wonderful team of nurses. We expected to be able to go see Ashlyn shortly after her arrival in the NICU. Unfortunately, instead of seeing her, we were told that there had been a complication. When they were inserting a tube into the end of her umbilical cord, her body reacted by losing circulation. Dark bruising, caused by the oxygen deprivation, immediately covered her whole body. They quickly massaged her and she returned to her normal coloring, all except for her right arm below her elbow and her right foot below the ankle. It was first believed to be caused by an air bubble that had entered her body through the tube, but after further testing that was ruled out. The underlying cause of the circulatory issues Ashlyn had are still unknown.

Because of her early start in life and her loss of circulation, Ashlyn spent 5 weeks in the NICU. We are forever grateful for the care Ashlyn received at The Women’s Hospital and for the generous support of The March of Dimes. It is through their care and research that our little girl and many other babies are able to survive and thrive premature births.

Titzer Family

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Titzer Family

My name is Mandi. My husband Ash and I have been married for more than 13 years. We are the proud parents to Ella, age 11, Carson, 16 months, and my bonus daughter, Layne, age 17. This is the story of our NICU journey with our micropreemie. We thought we were prepared for the possibility of another preemie, as our 11 year old was born at 35 weeks due to my severe preeclampsia. Luckily, that NICU stay was only 1 week, sweet Ella was just a little jaundice, and couldn’t quite get the hang of eating. With my history, my OB’s goal was to get me to 34 weeks, mine was 36. I was being hopeful!! I really didn’t want to be discharged and leave my baby again. Nothing could’ve prepared me for what we heard at my appointment. My 23 weeks ultrasound showed that our baby was small for gestational age. My OB sent us to MFP, as I was showing signs of preeclampsia, swelling, high BP, rapid weight gain.

My appointment with the perinatologist was at 24&2. This ultrasound showed poor blood flow from placenta to baby, also back flowing. Dr. Contreras said the words I’ll never forget, you’re going to have this baby this week.

I was admitted immediately.

The head neonatologist visited that evening. He completely scared me with all the statistics, at 24 weeks; our guy had a 50% chance of surviving.

Dr. Pyle’s positive attitude helped us both tremendously. I was then scheduled for a C-section the next day @ 4:30pm. On Tuesday, June 9^th 2015 at 4:48pm Carson Paul let me know he was here with two tine little squeaks. That was my sign that my boy was going to beat the odds.

Going to see him in the NICU for the first time was the biggest mix of emotions I’ve ever experienced. I couldn’t wait to meet this precious boy, but I was absolutely terrified. This wasn’t how we were supposed to meet for the first time. He was so tine, 1lb and 11.5 inches long. I have a medical background, but seeing my baby attached to a ventilator and so many tubes and wires as almost overwhelming. I instantly noticed how much he resembled my husband; the likeness was amazing even behind all that equipment. Carson had his ups and downs during our journey with a PDA, some issues retaining fluid, a few blood sugar problems, but overall, nothing exceptionally major. On day 100, they set us free and we brought that incredible miracle baby home.

Today he is 16 months (12 adjusted), and you’d never know he was a preemie. He’s still a little small, but is meeting and surpassing all of his milestones! We will be forever grateful to our NICU family at TWH for the amazing support they gave us and our baby!

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NICU Parent Support Program

Fambrough Family

Fambrough Family

Fischer Family

Fischer Family

Monroe Family

Monroe Family

Titzer Family

Titzer Family

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