{"id":2327,"date":"2017-09-08T17:08:30","date_gmt":"2017-09-08T17:08:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=2327"},"modified":"2026-04-17T13:49:30","modified_gmt":"2026-04-17T18:49:30","slug":"nicu-gives-parents-confidence-to-care-for-new-baby","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/nicu-gives-parents-confidence-to-care-for-new-baby\/","title":{"rendered":"NICU Gives Parents Confidence to Care for Premature Baby"},"content":{"rendered":"

Joel and Rachel Bejster of Mendota were expecting their second baby \u2013 a daughter. From the start, Rachel\u2019s pregnancy was nothing less than difficult \u2013 from undergoing fertility treatments to having a health scare early on in her pregnancy when Rachel suffered a blood clot. The Bejster\u2019s daughter was a fighter \u2013 no doubt. A much different pregnancy compared to the one with her son, Bentley.<\/p>\n

But in January 2015 at Rachel\u2019s 28-week checkup, things took another turn for the worse. What she thought would be another standard prenatal checkup, turned out to be the most frightening appointment of her life.<\/p>\n

When the unthinkable happens<\/h2>\n

\"JoelRachel\u2019s blood pressure was through the roof. After several tests, Rachel\u2019s care team at a local hospital in Peru, Illinois, concluded that she was suffering from preeclampsia<\/a> \u2013 a condition that affects pregnant women whose blood\u00a0pressure had been previously normal. Preeclampsia usually occurs after 20 weeks of gestation.<\/p>\n

Rachel was immediately airlifted to OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center<\/a> in Peoria by an OSF Life Flight<\/a> helicopter. \u201cIt was the scariest moment I\u2019ve ever had, not knowing what was going to happen to our baby girl,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n

Upon arrival to OSF Saint Francis, an ultrasound was performed to check on the baby\u2019s condition. Thankfully she looked stable and healthy.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt that point I was on bed rest and wouldn\u2019t be able to go home until I delivered her,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n

The doctors wanted to stall the delivery as long as possible, so the baby\u2019s lungs could continue to develop. But by 31 weeks, it was no longer safe for Rachel to be pregnant.<\/p>\n

A precious gift<\/h2>\n

On February 4, 2015, Brooklyn Sue Bejster was delivered by caesarian section, weighing 3 pounds, 3 ounces.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe moment we heard her cry was incredible because we weren\u2019t sure if she was going to be able to do that due to her lungs being underdeveloped,\u201d Rachel said. \u201cIt was a relief to hear that sound.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooklyn was immediately wheeled to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at OSF HealthCare Children\u2019s Hospital of Illinois<\/a>, conveniently connected to OSF Saint Francis.<\/p>\n

Like many preterm babies, Brooklyn needed help breathing with a C-PAP machine, and also needed time to grow before she would be released from the NICU<\/a> a little over 30 days later.<\/p>\n

Support through the unknown<\/h2>\n
\"Joel

Photo Credit: Melissa Mata<\/p><\/div>\n

Rachel said the NICU staff would always update her and Joel on Brooklyn\u2019s progress and explain things in detail, so the couple could easily understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s scary to even change a preemie\u2019s diaper, so they taught us how to do that and always provided encouraging words,\u201d Rachel said. \u201cThey also helped with other basics, like feeding her.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked what Rachel\u2019s most memorable moment was with having a baby in the NICU, she said it was when she and Joel spent the night with Brooklyn shortly before she was discharged. The NICU staff encourages parents to stay the night and care for their baby on their own before going home to make sure the parents feel comfortable providing care to their child.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was the first time I was able to care for my daughter on my own, and it\u2019s a memory that has stuck with me,\u201d Rachel said. \u201cThe NICU staff were always there to provide support, and wanted to make sure we were confident caring for her.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today, little Brooklyn is a happy 2-year-old and \u201cis doing wonderful. You would never know she was born early,\u201d Rachel said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Joel and Rachel Bejster of Mendota were expecting their second baby \u2013 a daughter. From the start, Rachel\u2019s pregnancy was nothing less than difficult \u2013 from undergoing fertility treatments to having a health scare early on in her pregnancy when Rachel suffered a blood clot. The Bejster\u2019s daughter was a fighter \u2013 no doubt. A […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[413],"coauthors":[690],"class_list":["post-2327","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-birthing-center","tag-premature-baby"],"yoast_head":"\nNICU Gives Parents Confidence to Care for Premature Baby<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"It's scary to care for a preemie. 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