Finger Lakes Family Photographer | Dani T Photography | Lifestyle Newborn Session

* Trigger warning! The following blog discusses premature labor and delivery .*

There is something so magical about bringing your baby home. Those first smiles, first full nights sleep, first time you see your partner holding them. So many firsts, and so many special little moments you want to soak it all in and remember ever y single second. When Petera and I first started planning her newborn session, I had no idea the memories we would capture together and the story she would share with me about bringing little Kinsley into this world.

I am going to let Petera tell her story on the blog today, a story that is emotional, and real. Something I strive to capture during every session. Thank you to Petera & Justin for inviting me into your home, and basking into those moments of firsts with your beautiful family and telling me your story of how it all came to be, and how blessed you are to be together. <3

”Dear Dani,

As I scroll through the breathtaking photos of us in our home I can’t help but be overwhelmed with more emotions than one. These pictures of the three of us in our home will be cherished for years to come and I can’t wait to hang them all over for us to admire everyday. Our family most certainly will too.

I never really fully explained our story to you, it’s long and scary but I hope it brings you some understanding of how precious this gift is that you gave us. My entire pregnancy I was sick. Everyday was an uphill battle for me. It wasn’t beautiful and I definitely wasn’t glowing. I always said it was “perspiration” being pregnant in the middle of a humid summer is not pretty!! But I never really appreciated what it meant to be pregnant until I had to fight to try and stay pregnant for as long as I could.

On November 18th I went to my doctor for a routine check, my coworker feared I was retaining too much water. I thought being bloated was normal and thought nothing of it. Thank god my coworker said something that day. If she hadn’t, chances are neither of us would be here. After several tests and examinations my doctor told me to prepare to go to labor and delivery due to my blood pressure sky rocketing. I was in shock and disbelief. There’s no way. I’m 26 weeks pregnant, it’s way too early. There must be a mistake.

Once I got to the hospital, panic took over every nurse in that room and you could feel the tension rising. They immediately started an IV, several rounds of steroid injections, a magnesium drip that makes you sicker than a dog, and told me my blood pressure was seizure level and they were preparing to emergency ambulance me to Strong Memorial Hospital. In the hallway, I didn’t know they were prepping Justin to have to make a decision, whether to save my life or our unborn child’s.

After a long bumpy ambulance ride to Strong Memorial Hospital they were able to stabilize me but informed us that I had developed severe preeclampsia. Severe preeclampsia is life threatening to the mother and child and theres no cure, only delivery of the baby. I was 26 weeks pregnant. I held on for 14 more days on bed rest. Justin went back and forth every single day to be by my side and yet continued to work and take care of our household.

On December 2nd my placenta ruptured from my uterus meaning I was internally bleeding and there was no flow of oxygen or nutrients to our baby. In a matter of 30 minutes it went from life and death. I was rushed into an emergency c section. When Kinsley was born, she was not breathing. They quickly whisked her away and I was still under general anesthesia. At this time, I was alone at the hospital undergoing surgery. My mom was on the way to the hospital and Justin received a phone call that Kinsley was born but that’s all they could say to get here immediately.

Once Justin arrived they explained they had been able to stabilize Kinsley and she was being worked on by a team of NICU doctors. They then explained I was waiting for approval to undergo a second surgery to save my life. I was internally bleeding from 2 main arteries in my uterus. The team of doctors worked on me for 6 hours and were able to stop the internal bleeding. My uterus had suffered too much damage tho, they had to remove a section of it and band it off.

I woke up 7 hours later having no clue what had happened or what obstacles lie ahead of me. But I was alive. Kinsley was alive. And that is a miracle. Kinsley spent 81 days in the NICU. She was born at 2 pounds and very fragile. Many of the days she spent at Golisano Children’s Hospital I was by myself as Justin had to continue to work to provide for our family and keep our medical insurance. 

These pictures not only give us joy, they give us memories and photos to look at to remind us how lucky we are to have each other. It’s easy to look back on our journey and feel overwhelming sadness, anger, confusion, and many other things. Now looking forward, we have priceless captured moments in our home that are so much more than you can imagine. When I look at these photos, I feel pure joy. And we haven’t felt that in a long time.

Thank you is an understatement. You are gifted beyond recognition. From the bottom of our hearts, bless you. 

The House Family “