About Us

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In March of 2020, I was thrilled to see two pink lines slowly appear on a home pregnancy test. However, at just six weeks, panic set in as I began bleeding. A nerve-wracking trip to the emergency room revealed that I had a subchorionic hemorrhage. Fortunately, by the time I had my first appointment with my OB at 11 weeks, the bleeding had stopped, and the ultrasound showed no signs of hemorrhage.

 Everything looked good, and we planned for a smooth pregnancy.

At 23 weeks, I noticed a clear, watery discharge. Later that evening, near midnight, the fluid kept appearing. I called my OB's after-hours line and spoke with the nurse. I explained what was happening, and she instructed me to come into Labor & Delivery to see if my water was leaking.

 I vividly remember telling her, "Oh, I'm only 23 weeks."

We made the journey to the hospital where we planned to deliver, about 2.5 hours from home. The ride to the hospital was calm. I was sure they would tell me it was a normal part of pregnancy and send us on our way. I didn't take a phone charger, change of clothes, anything.

We were in no way prepared for what was about to happen.

 I'll never forget the moment the doctor returned to the room and said, "The Amnisure was positive, and you are 2 centimeters dilated."

 Our world began to crumble.

Around 5:00 am, at 23 weeks 1 day, I was admitted to Labor & Delivery and given steroids for baby girl's lungs and antibiotics to prevent infection since my water had been broken for so long.

The official diagnosis was Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM) and an Incompetent Cervix.

Once it was clear I wasn't going into labor right away, I was moved to PCU in hopes of staying pregnant for another 11 weeks. It was so hard to cope with the fact that I wouldn't be leaving the hospital pregnant. 

Just ten days after being admitted, at 24 weeks and 4 days, I went into labor.

That evening, our baby girl arrived, weighing 1 pound 13 ounces and measuring 13.5 inches long. 

When she was nine days old, we were transferred from our Level III NICU in Springfield, MO, to a Level IV NICU in St. Louis for her PDA ligation.

 In total, we spent 104 days in the NICU.

During our early days in the NICU, I scribbled notes on scraps of paper before transitioning to a journal I found online. While thankful for having a place to document our journey, I often wished for more detailed prompts or designated writing spaces. This longing inspired me to create something that could help me navigate my birth trauma and begin the healing process while also offering support to other NICU families. 

And so, The NICU Notebook was born.

The Nicu Notebook Co. is more than just a company that offers journals; We've been there. We've walked through those doors and stood at those scrub sinks. We entered the sterile, dimly lit room smelling of Purple Wipes and Palmolive to sit by our baby, covered in tubes and wires. We understand the ache of seeing our baby struggle. Our mission goes beyond offering a safe space for families to document their unique stories; we're dedicated to building a supportive community where you can find solace and understanding while navigating the challenges of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.