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Ketcher | 34 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

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Ketcher

34 weeks

Recently I was able to capture a big day for Ketcher, a 34-week preemie—his graduation day! During our scheduled session, Ketcher was being discharged home with his family. While his parents were thrilled to get home, they were also familiar with the ins and outs of the NICU because Ketcher’s big sis, Avayah spent some time in the NICU not too long ago. Discharge can bring feelings of overwhelm, excitement, and even fear, but this family was just bursting with joy! Just look at those radiant smiles!

After his big sister Avayah graduated from her time in the NICU, mom and dad signed her up for a baby plan, and it has been so much fun to watch her grow! I look forward to doing the same with Ketcher as we move beyond his NICU days and into his baby plan.

While I love photographing these cute little babes, it has been an absolute treat to be able to photograph their entire family. I even had the privilege of taking maternity boudoir photos for Ketcher’s mama before her little man was born. Talk about stunning!

As a NICU nurse I love capturing NICU moments, but as a photographer I adore getting to know and to photograph families through each of their adventures. Life is full of seasons, each one unique and each one fleeting. In these images, time stands still.

Jude | 25 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

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Jude

25 Weeks and 1 day

1 pound 13 ounces

“I found out I was expecting Jude on Dec. 14th, our second baby (we have an almost 4 year old daughter, Isla). We were over the moon and told Isla she was getting a baby brother for her birthday (I was due Aug 21 and her bday is Aug 27). Up until 24 weeks, I had a textbook pregnancy but at 24 weeks 0 days I was admitted to the hospital because of leaking fluid. Lots of tests later and I was put on bedrest due to cervical insufficiency. It turned out my water had not broken but my cervix had dilated. My team of OB's and maternal fetal medicine told me I would most likely deliver within 24-72 hours.

“I remember having a conversation with my OB the second night I was on bedrest. She told me I was in a very grave position but if I could make it to 25 weeks the difference in gestation and development would be huge. So then my goal became 25 weeks; at 24 weeks 3 days my water broke and once again I was told I'd deliver within 48 hours but it didn't happen. Unfortunately a few days later, I developed an infection and Jude was born a week and 1 day after I was admitted. I'd made it to 25 weeks!

“Like any preemie parent, my husband and I were terrified. We had no idea what the weeks and months ahead would hold and seeing our sweet baby hooked up to so many monitors and medical devices was heartbreaking. We visited daily and on day 10 I was finally able to hold him. We have kangarooed every day since except for two days around the time Jude developed an infection (urosepsis). Jude is truly a miracle and has impressed us every day of this journey. We are so very blessed to be his parents.”

Here are a few shots of the ‘little fighter’, Jude in his first home, the NICU. He eventually made it home with Mom, Dad, and sister Isla!

Scarlett | 22 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

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Scarlett

22 weeks 2 days

13 pounds 12.8 ounces

Scarlett is quite the little fighter. She came into this world under one pound! Her story began as one of four quadruplets. She is the only one earth side, but her siblings—Oliver, Amelia, and Vivian—still remain a beautiful part of her family’s story. Recently, the peanut you see below has gained ‘big sister’ status to her little brother Christian, who has already had his newborn session as part of his Baby Plan membership.

Despite the hardships of a pregnancy with quadruplets that ended in preterm deliveries and spending quite some time in the NICU, Scarlett’s parents have a great sense of humor—I always enjoy my time with them. Below, Scarlett’s mother, a nurse, details her family’s journey through a pregnancy with multiples and their time in the NICU.

“We knew we would have trouble conceiving. I have PCOS as well as a bicornuate uterus. We did three rounds of IUI. Our last was successful and we were pregnant with quads. We found out we were pregnant in May. The pregnancy was moving along very easily. My husband and I were so excited, and our family and friends couldn’t even believe there were four. At my 21 week MFM appointment my water broke and the immediately sent me to the maternity unit where I stayed until the babies were delivered. It was a roller coaster from that point forward. I went into early labor and had to deliver one baby who we named Oliver. He passed away during the laboring process. We knew God had a bigger plan for him. We call him his sisters’ hero, he held on long enough to buy his sisters more time. The other three were able to hang on for another week. I ended up getting septic and had to have an emergency c-section to deliver the other three babies at 22 weeks and 2 days. One little girl we named Amelia passed away and his hanging out with her brother Oliver. The other two we named Scarlett and Vivian— sassy and feisty little girls keeping the nurses on their toes. This is not how we pictured this adventure in our lives going but we couldn’t have been in a better place. Everyone from the nurses, doctors, and support staff [were] the kindest most compassionate people we could have asked to have care for our family through this time.”

Below is a glimpse into Scarlett’s time in the NICU, on a ventilator. You also get to see a sweet moment of kangaroo care with her mother and some hand hugs with mom and dad.

Scarlett’s newborn session after NICU graduation—look how much she’s grown!

Scarlett’s spring session with the peach blossoms at Springs Farm — Scarlett is a big sister!

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Scarlett turns ONE!

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Baby brother Christian snoozes through his newborn session.

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Sarah | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

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Sarah

24 Weeks

1 pound 6.6 ounces

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I was able to photograph Sarah on her day of discharge. In the NICU, we call this ‘graduation day’, which is why you see Sarah sporting the sweetest pink graduation cap.

Sarah is also pictured with her journey beads. The journey beads symbolize Sarah’s strength and endurance through the triumps and trials of the NICU. More specifically, each bead represents a procedure Sarah endured. Do you see all of those beads? That is a testament to the strength of Sarah and her family through their NICU journey.

While you see these bright-eyed photos of a family at the end of their NICU journey, Sarah’s mother beautifully recapped the start of Sarah’s life as a 24-week preemie and provided some words of wisdom for other NICU families.

Our journey to parenthood has been a very difficult one. Last October we found out that we were pregnant after 5 years of trying. We had been through a few years of fertility treatment and were finally able to complete an IUI cycle. When we got the positive test, we just held each other and laughed and cried tears of joy. We were both cautiously ecstatic as we knew this was only the beginning of a long road to a healthy baby in our arms. At our 18 week ultrasound we found out we were having a little girl but we also found out that my cervix was a little short. We started treatment for that and went back a week later, but they did not want to do anything additional just yet. We went back again one week later at 20 weeks and had to have an emergency rescue cerclage that day. I was counting down every day to that 24 week mark because I knew that gave my baby a chance at life. Everything seemed to be going well until my water broke in a bloody mess at 22 weeks & 6 days. I was devastated because I thought for sure that the baby we had always dreamed of was going to die.

She was born at 24 weeks on the dot amidst chaos as her daddy almost didn't make it to the hospital to see her be born and the NICU team was running into the doorway as I pushed her out into the world. Her birthday was nothing like we imagined it would be...it was exciting and we were full of joy but it was all overshadowed by immense and overwhelming fear and anxiety knowing that her odds were not very good at having a quality life, if she lived at all. It was the best and worst day of our life all rolled into one.

Her NICU stay has been our most difficult journey yet. She has battled with her lungs, she has had pneumonia twice, she had sepsis twice. There were a few times that we were told, it's up to her if she makes it or not now, there's nothing more we can do. There were a few days where we really didn't know if she was going to make it. It has been full of tears and heartache. But it has also been full of little wins, and triumphs, and joy/pride in watching her grow. She is a true miracle from God....our baby girl was meant to be here and she has fought to stay here.

Over this whole journey the biggest thing I would want other parents to know is to take it one day at a time. My husband and I have made this our new life motto...and that is how we survived. ONE DAY AT A TIME. Focus on today's challenges/worries/joys and don't get overwhelmed by the unknowns of the future. Doctors don't know everything, there is no exact science in how things will turn out for your baby. Your baby is a fighter...and you have to learn to be one too. You have to be there for your baby and advocate because at the end of the day that is the best way for you to care for them during their time in the NICU...advocate and be there for your baby. You will know them better than anybody and it is important that they have that voice in their care.




Piper | 29 Week Preemie | NICU Portraits | Charlotte, North Carolina | Krista Gantt Photography

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Piper

29 Weeks • 2 Pounds 11 Ounces

“I have always wanted to be a mom... I started babysitting when I was 12 years old and was a live-in nanny during the summers while I was in college.

I always thought it would be easy to get pregnant and that I would have a picture perfect pregnancy, delivery, etc. Well, I was certainly in for a surprise! It took us almost a year to get pregnant, then I had a pretty tough pregnancy and ended up going into pre-term labor at 25 weeks. I was in the hospital for 4 days (during Christmas) then was sent home on bed rest.

I was home for 3 weeks and went back into labor at 28 weeks and found out I was 2cm dilated when I got to the hospital. I was given another round of steroid shots and magnesium. We found out I had a partial abruption and the baby could come within hours. I was only 28 weeks and completely terrified! I accepted I was going to be in the hospital for the long haul and prayed my baby girl would hold on a little bit longer...

I ended up making it 6 more days in the hospital and then my daughter decided to make her debut. I had a c-section (the spinal did not work, so I unfortunately felt the entire thing- ouch!). Piper came out a fighter and has been powering through her NICU stay.

This has been an emotional rollercoaster, but each day gets better knowing we are closer to bringing her home!”