Blake's Story
Mom and Dad stay in room overnight, thanks to new NICU
On December 11, 2017, Diane went into preterm labor and was brought to Yale New Haven Hospital where she was admitted to labor and delivery. There Diane was visited by a member of the neonatal intensive care team who prepared her and her husband, Morgan, for what would transpire once their baby girl Blake was born. Diane recalls, “She gave us all the hope in the world that Blake would be well cared for while she continued to grow and develop outside the womb.”
Within two hours of being admitted, Blake was born at just 29 weeks and 6 days, weighing 3 pounds 2.8 ounces. She was placed under the care of the NICU team and over time grew stronger, and eventually began breathing on her own with little assistance. Since the new NICU was still under construction, parents Diane and Morgan could not room in with their daughter. “Leaving the hospital without our baby was an incredibly difficult challenge. We kept reminding ourselves that she was in the best hands and needed to be in the hospital so she could develop and grow,” recalls Diane.
After seven weeks in the hospital, Blake and her family, along with all the other families on the unit, were moved to the new NICU where they each received their own private room. This meant that Diane and Morgan could stay overnight in their daughter’s room instead of leaving the hospital.
Privacy wasn’t always easy in the old space, but having that plus space and privacy in the new NICU is amazing. The window views from every room are utterly breathtaking. Seeing these views provide a bit of serenity during what can be a stressful time.”
After being in the NICU for 67 days, Blake was discharged and went home for the first time. The new NICU ensures families, like Blake’s, will have a better experience and greater confidence knowing they are giving their baby the best possible opportunity for a happy, healthy life.
