We have a very special blog post today in honor of our littlest miracles. CMpro Courtney Keim is sharing a personal journey with us today and sharing some helpful tips along the way. I’m just going to let her get straight to it because she says it all perfectly.
Celebrating the Littlest Miracles on World Prematurity Day
I had the perfect pregnancy.
Both my OB and my high risk doctor had agreed to let me go full term and let me deliver my boys (they were both head down) on my own vs a scheduled c-section – that was Thursday. They told me I had the perfect pregnancy. But with twins (or with any pregnancy), you never know. Yes, that was the case with me. I swore I had the stomach flu that Sunday night. Two days later (Tuesday AM), I had my baby boys. I had gone into pre-term labor and they could not stop it with the Magnesium Sulfate (and the chemistry teacher in me had me figuring out the chemical formula). I was rushed via ambulance from my hometown hospital to Philadelphia to deliver at Pennsylvania Hospital which had a Level III Intensive Care Nursery (ICN) - the highest in the nation. I won’t bore you with the details … it was scary to say the least. The details can be found on my personal blog. But over the next few months, my life consisted of a 1+ hour daily trek to the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital. I didn’t have my camera the day of delivery and honestly, with the volume of nurses and doctors in the delivery room, I wouldn’t have been able to get any pictures anyhow. But I made myself a promise to detail every single detail and memory of their time in the hospital. I didn’t just want to remember it. I needed to commemorate their survival.
Why write about this now? Every year, on November 17th, parents, family and friends celebrate World Prematurity Day. You may wonder “Why have a special day?”. You may wonder who cares. But moms like me do. Once you have a child (or children) born prematurely, you feel a connection … to others out there who have journey the road you have. You may honestly not realize but according to the March of Dimes website, one in EIGHT babies are born prematurely or roughly 13 million babies worldwide. They say it’s the number one killer of newborns and not only costs a family financially but also emotionally – I know firsthand.
Whether you are a mother with a baby in the ICN or NICU or a photographer asked to document the journey, there definitely are milestones and memories to catch along the way. It’s not a cheery happy place in my opinion. It’s a dark and moody place – maybe not the actual area, but often times spent there. I never used my flash. I bumped up my ISO to 1600. I had a Canon 5d classic at the time and learned to embrace the noise/grain rather than use a bounced flash which could disturb the babies. Make note of the ICN rules regarding cell phone and camera use. Pay mind that some babies are only allowed out of their incubator for small periods of time a day … so make it count!
So come journey with me as I celebrate World Prematurity Day and my little guys 2nd Birthday!
Capture The Room
This is their home for the first few days, weeks or months. They are connected to various machines and monitors depending on their situation. Document it and remember. My guys never slept in a bassinet next to my bed. I never had the crazy midnight feedings or the sleepless nights. I missed out on all that.
Instead they first called this incubator or isolette their home.
Once the were able to manage their own temperature, they graduated to the open crib – one of the requirements for discharge.
Unfortunately, my sweet Asher spent almost an extra month in the ICN after his brother’s release. He graduated from the crib above to what i called the metal cage – the only baby in the ICN to be in one during our 3-month stay!
Capture Their Size
Asher’s neighbor was born at 24 weeks. My little guys were 29 weeks. Regardless, they were super small at 3 lbs 6 oz and 3 lbs 2 oz. Find ways to show their size. Boden was so small compared to my husband’s hand.
I always look at these photos and remember how small he used to be – how Asher gripped my hand every time I held him.
Capture The Details and The Moments
So many things happen during their stay. I tried to write about it in my personal blog … but I could never keep track. Instead I found I was able to document their crazy journey in photos. I guess you could use this as a checklist of must have photos in their stay. You might not think about it at the time … but they are all moments worth catching!
Were they under phototherapy lights? Here’s my little Asher under the lights due to elevated bilirubin levels.
Did you kangaroo them so they could feel the warmth of your body and learn your smell?
Did they have visitors? Here’s my sweet Boden with my dad.
Did they do crazy things? Asher tried to rip out his CPAP and then his nasal cannula a few times every single day despite it being taped to his face.
Did you see their little fingernails or their feet? The ICN would not cut their fingers … it was the parent’s job. But any parent can tell you how delicate and scary that is – so I let them grow a little too long.
Did you capture the tiny feet? The first time they laid on their belly? The first time they wore clothes? Yes, this picture captured each of those milestones for my Asher!
Capture the End
Before you know it, they come home. The ICN journey is over. Their time at home begins. Here’s the big monitor that you see when you visit the ICN. I captured Asher’s discharge including the date and time.
Once my little guy was able to pass the car seat test, didn’t have any apnea episodes and got the OK to come home, I photographed him in his car seat with his apnea monitor attached (that’s the machine next to him).
Not one of my photos is perfect. Not one is properly exposed or has the ideal shutter speed. Instead, I edit and reedit them (this time around using the CM film art presets … it gives them character). All I know is I captured three difficult months of their lives … and I would not trade it for the world. Instead, I take pride that my sweet little guys have endured a rough road and have come out perfectly healthy boys.
Thank you so much for sharing your story and your sweet boys with us, Courtney as well as the tips on ways to document life while life is taking you on an unexpected ride. Do you have an image of your favorite NICU patient? We love to see it – share with us in the comments.
Courtney Keim of Courtney Keim Photography and Design is an on-location candid, modern portrait and wedding photographer. She specializes in newborn, baby, maternity, family, and child portraits along with photojournalistic style wedding photography. Based in Atlantic City, she serves southern New Jersey, and the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. You can find more of Courtney’s work on her site. Want to ask her a question? Post in her “Ask the Pros” thread on the ClickinMoms forum.
Thank you for this! My last was born 8 weeks early- and yes, those pictures I took in the NICU mean so much to me. I am just glad I was a pretty decent photographer when it happened as I don’t think I would of emotionally thought of having anyone else come take pictures. Now as part of my newborn sessions, if a baby is born prematurely and the hospital they are in permits I will go to the NICU and take pictures for free.
Attaching one on my favorite NICU pictures.
I just started the process of becoming a volunteer photographer at our local hospital for babies in the NICU. This article is perfectly timed! Thank you for the post.
Aww Courtney. Fab photos. What a journey! But look at them now. You would never be able to tell they had such a difficult start. Beautiful moments captured. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this! My own twin girls were born at 35 weeks, one with a severe heart condition that kept her in the NICU of two different hospitals for over two months. All my pictures of that time are terrible, but they capture the important milestones and moments and I don’t care if they’re blurry because I didn’t want to use my flash, or really yellow in color. They capture the love and care they received while there and that’s what’s important! They are seven years old and perfectly healthy now. What a beautiful post!
While I have not walked in your shoes, Courtney, reading your story made me feel like I have. Thank you for being so open and so real with us and for sharing your inspiring journey. You have a beautiful family, documented so beautifully in your photos, and I know you absolutely treasure them. Enjoy this special day!
Oh, what a wonderful documentation of your sons’ first few months. Thank you for sharing your (and their) story and pictures. They are perfect. So glad your boys are healthy now.
This is absolutely amazing, Courtney! Thank you so much for sharing this with us. I had a 35 weeker and I didn’t see him for 18 hours after he was born because of the traumatic birth. I wish I could go back and capture his littleness as beautifully as you did.
I’m completely in tears … my youngest was also born prematurely at 34 weeks and I too thought I only had the flu. But despite my perfect pregnancy, here he came on Christmas Eve. :) Everything you’ve written about hits SO close to home. Thank you for sharing your story and your beautiful photos. This means so much to me. :)
Courtney, thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. I cried my way through it. You are courageous and so are your boys. They are so beautiful. That recent photo of them melts my heart <3 I know this article will help so many moms who have to take this journey. xo
What great tips! Thanks for sharing the story of your amazing twins. So happy they are both thriving now. Those images are so powerful!
These are beautiful, thank you for sharing! Brought tears to my eyes.
My son was a preemie, and although we have a few photos of him in the NICU my camera was actually stolen from the hospital on week 2 of his stay. So all of the photos I hadn’t yet downloaded were lost. I treasure all of the photos I do have though, even though they’re blurry and awful.
Thank you so much for sharing this!! So glad your boys are doing well. They are absolutely adorable! I also have had two preemies. My first was born 6 weeks early and my youngest was born 11 weeks early. If you’re interested, here’s a link to my blog post: http://jamiepeltierphotography.com/blog/?p=191. I agree that having a preemie, or two :), definitely gives you a special place in your heart for other preemie parents.
Courtney, What a beautiful story. It brought tears to my eyes <3
I am blessed with 4 healthy full term babies. I can't even imagine what you had to go through…those heart wrenching moments! I love that your boys are little fighters even at 29 weeks! They are adorable!!
what powerful memories you captured, courtney… i am in tears over your story and your twins little journey to survival. thank you for sharing your experience and for the tips on how to document stories like this.
Thank you for sharing your story, Courtney! Your images are amazing and your boys are so adorable!!!
What a beautiful story – thank you for sharing it, and for getting the word out about World Prematurity Day! I’m the mom of a 25 week baby who passed away shortly after birth and a 35 weeker who’s now a feisty little 3.5 year old :) I hope there comes a day when premature birth is an extreme rarity…or never happens!
Thank you for sharing your story and wonderful images Courtney! This is beautifully written and extremely touching.
Courntey, this is a wonderful article. Thank you for being so open and real. It is very touching. Your boys are so cute! This really was beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your precious babies and their journey. I am so glad they are happy and healthy little boys, but oh my, were they tiny!!! Both my girls were over 9 pounds each, and whenever I see such tiny little ones, I just can’t imagine!!
These photos are beautiful. I so wish I could have captured it like you have. Our son was born at 23 weeks.
I made a similar post this afternoon. My daughter spent 80 days in the NICU being born at 26w 3d. Looking at her now it is hard to being where her journey started at 1lb 7oz. She will be 6 months on November 23. Thank you for sharing your story and pictures
great post! my daughter was not premature, but did stay for 1 week in the NICU. i wasn’t a photographer at the time and so wish i had hired someone to take more pictures. her neighbor was a 23 weeker and i just couldn’t believe how small he was. complete miracles!
Oh Courtney… this is incredibly powerful!! Thank you so much for sharing. That tiny little hand gripping your finger… it is so deeply moving.
courtney, your boys have come such a long way + i just LOVE how you captured all the tiny little details throughout their journey while fighting for their lives. these images are perfect in every way + you (and they) will be SO glad that you took the time to document their stay in the hospital.
oh Courtney, what a beautiful story to share. today is definitely a day of celebration and awareness. thank you for your words of wisdom, I have no doubt that this will make a difference in others’ lives. your boys are perfect reminders of how precious life is. you’ve captured their little bitty baby-selves perfectly and the emotion in your images speaks volumes.
Courtney, you have me in tears! You captured your journey so beautifully.
Thank you for sharing your journey with us. My son was born 28 weeks at 2.19 lbs, he stayed at the incubator for 21 days and we were released after 2 mos. at 1.5 kilos, your baby looks like my boy, he is now 2 years old, 10 kilos… Your story means so much to me……
I did not know there was a world Prematurity day. I had a 26 weeker and she weighed 1lb 13oz on Halloween. I took so many pictures of her in the hospital, wish I knew more on how to take beautiful pictures.
This is so beautiful Courtney. I am so glad there is a day to celebrate your boys and your journey.
Thank you for sharing with us, Courtney. Your images and your words capture the beginning of your boys’ lives beautifully and have given many the tools to do something similar in their own life, or the the lives of other.
Thank you so much for sharing. I have shared the link to this article with a group of preemie moms who have recently had an influx of new members. At times during our experiences it feels inappropriate to take pictures, that the moment is so overwhelming we don’t even think about it. One of my biggest regrets is that I’m always the one to take the pictures so there are very few of me holding my twins in the nicu, especially in the first few days. It has been a long journey and it is so cathartic to look back at the pictures and appreciate the experience because of the distance of time. Your images and suggestions on pictures to take are great, I wish I’d had someone tell me these things then. This is why I’ve shared your link with other preemie parents. Again, thank you.
Love this post… I’ll always cherish the photos I took when my youngest son was in NICU… it was a really horrible time in our lives, but so amazed at how he pulled through
Courtney,
Beautiful article and beautiful photos! I remember seeing the Christmas card you sent the unit…thinking how beautifully you captured my passion- caring for those lil guys! They may not all be memories you want to remember but what a beautiful gift for the boys…you have captured THEIR story! And in turn you have touched the lives of those who cared for them.
Thank you for sharing your journey!
Michelle
Thank you for sharing your experience. I lost a daughter when she was 22-days old. She would have turned 18 this week. I am grateful for the 50-pictures I shot of her during that time. Five years ago I gave birth to a stillborn daughter… It was difficult, but I took my camera to the hospital and got some pictures of Aidan. This is Aidee with her older brother.
Courtney, what an amazing touching journey! I do believe that these images ARE perfect. I feel blessed to have met your beautiful boys (and you) in person!
I genuinely really like it!
I wish I had read this before my twin girls were born at 34 weeks (1524g and 2020g) – I’m so glad for photos as those first weeks are just a blur! One of the most precious moments for me was when we got the girls together at two weeks …
I’m curious to find out what blog platform you are using? I’m experiencing some small security problems with my latest site and I’d like to find something more safeguarded. Do you have any recommendations?
I´m a level III neonatal care nurse so I know what you´re talking about. Unfortunately where I work, parents are not allowed to take pictures of their babies. I personally disagree with that because I strongly believe parents should have pictures of their babies from day 1 no matter how ill they are. Thanks for sharing yours and your babies journey!
Thank you so much for sharing such a personal story. My best friend, miles away in Florida, gave birth last Friday, just shy of 34 weeks. Both her son and daughter are healthy, but still need to stick around the NICU for a while. I wish I was able to be there to help them document these moments in photos.