As told by mum, Kara
Our NICU journey started on Monday 8th October 2018 10am, we welcomed Bentley Andrew Brown into our would who was delivered by C-section at 34weeks gestation weighing 2200grams.
I was given 3 days to prepare for the early delivery after being admitted into hospital for 12weeks already with “Placenta previa”. It was all very overwhelming and the uncertainty of whether or not we would be able to stay here in Taranaki or have to be sent to a hospital out of the region hovered over us.
Those first few screams after Bentley was delivered made my heart beat even faster knowing he was ok. He was rushed over to the team from NICU and the pediatricians were thoroughly checking him over. Andrew, my husband, got to be at the station with him so he knew what was going on while the team attended to me.
I got my first skin on skin a few minutes later where my midwife placed him on my chest. WHAT A FEELING!!! It still gives me 
goosebumps even writing it…. that moment when I had you tucked up on the inside until I had you here in my arms on the outside.
Bentley, Andrew and the team then rushed back to the Unit to carry out all those other important steps, of IV lines in his arms and monitoring etc. The team in the unit explained absolutely everything that was going on, their support was amazing. Without a doubt, they are ANGELS!
I had heard about the Neonatal Unit prior to having my own experience and thought what a scary place, but really its where the miracles of life happen, “Little Miracle’s just take a little longer!”
My advice for someone who was to go through their own journey would be to “Never give up and be Strong”
It was one heck of RIDE, but a ride that made us stronger as Team Brown xx
Love Kara Brown (Bentley’s Mum) xxx
***Thanks for sharing Kara!***
We get a lot of positive feedback from families in a neonatal unit who read these stories and feel strength, hope and positivity knowing that they are not alone going through these experiences and feeling certain emotions.
If you would like to discuss sharing the story of your neonatal journey, we’d love to hear from you. Please email info@littlemiraclestrust.org.nz
Interested in how The Little Miracles Trust supports families going through the stress and anxiety of a neonatal journey?
Here’s a gallery of support examples.
If you want to help our support of families going through the stress and anxiety of a neonatal journey, you can donate here.
- The Little Miracles Trust provides support to families of premature or sick full-term babies as they make their journey through
Neonatal Intensive Care, the transition home, and onwards. We do not receive any Government funding and are entirely reliant on the generosity of individuals, companies and organisations in the form of donations, value-in-kind donations, grants, sponsorship and fundraising events to supplement operating costs and fund our services and initiatives. - As we are a registered charity (CC56619) with Charities Services New Zealand we will send you an IRD compliant tax receipt – this will happen automatically by return email.
- Here’s a gallery of support examples
