When a new mother gives birth, we are quick to call it a miracle without considering what goes into the process.
Bringing new life into the world is a very delicate process. After conception, mothers need to make sure they’re eating well, abstaining from alcohol and tobacco, getting enough sleep and so much more to ensure a safe delivery. Although the process is beautiful and necessary, it can also be very stressful. There is always an element of giving birth that is out of our control, no matter how much preparation we take.
One of the most common examples of this is when a baby is born prematurely.
That was what happened to Angela and Michael Bakker family in Reno, Nevada with their daughter Naomi Joy.
Noami Joy was born on July 1st, a full 15 weeks before she was due. When she was born, he weighed less than 13 ounces and could fit in the palm of your hand. Needless to say, 15 weeks premature is a very dangerous situation for a baby to be in—and doctors were not optimistic about Naomi’s chances of survival.
Naomi Joy was quickly put into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unity at Renown Hospital while her parents anxiously waited.
After a few weeks in the care unit, the NICU staff decided to allow Naomi’s mother to hold her baby.
Because Naomi Joy was so tiny and frail, this decision was considered unorthodox and not without risk. Still, the staff made their decision to help the mother and daughter bond as safely and carefully as possible. After that first day, Naomi’s parents held their little baby daughter every day for the rest of her time in the NICU. The practice is known as “kangaroo care,” wherein skin-to-skin contact helps bring premature babies back to health.
What happened next had doctors calling Naomi Joy a “miracle baby.”
As it turns out, the efforts of the parents and NICU staff worked out!
Naomi grew and grew and finally was able to go home with her mom and dad. For their part, the family is so grateful for the efforts of the health professionals who cared for her baby. “They did what we were told by a lot of professionals in other parts of the country couldn’t be done,” Angela said. “Just watching her bloom and thrive has been amazing.” The pair also hopes that Naomi’s miraculous story will give hope and inspiration to other families going through the same thing.
Congratulations to the beautiful Bakker family!
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