#30Daysofbrave Day 24- Alyssa

Brynn was a scheduled c-section at 36 weeks, due to a previous medical condition I had that would not allow my body to safely undergo labor.

Because she would be only 4 weeks early, the conversations with my doctors were never of concern or talking about the NICU as a possibility.

Not that one can ever truly prepare for the NICU, but we felt rather unprepared for our journey. When she arrived early in the morning, she was having trouble breathing on her own, causing her to immediately go to the NICU after only a quick few seconds in my arms.

Having underwent surgery, I was not able to visit her until late that evening for the first time. Over the course of the next couple of weeks, Brynn was having difficulty breathing regularly off of the CPAP, feeding on her own, and additionally had to go in and out of the blue lights over several days to regulate her bilirubin levels. Her stay in the NICU was just longer than 2 weeks.

All of this happening during COVID, the hospital only allowed one parent in the NICU at a time, so for the first 2+ weeks of her life, my husband and I had not seen her together, held her together, or even got the opportunity to name her while all 3 of us were together.

Leaving her every night and being two ships passing in the night with my husband as we took turns staying with her, left our emotions running high and strong. Brynn was the continuous light that carried us through that experience and seeing her strength made us stronger. She is now 7.5 months old and doing so well! My heart is with all NICU parents this month and always.