Donate to Ashley and Justin’s NICU stay

My name is Ashley. My husband Justin and I have been married for 4 years now. Shortly after our wedding, we decided it was time to expand our family. Unfortunately, the process was not as easy as we had hoped. Thankfully though, after 3 years of tests, appointments, and surgery, and doing whatever we could to get pregnant, it finally worked! We are supposed to be due at the end of October, 2025, and the gender is still a surprise!

Pregnancy was going really smoothly with no concerns at all until our 20 week ultrasound/anatomy scan. There, we learned that my cervix was not closed as it should be. So we got sent to Sioux Falls to have a procedure done to put in a cerclage. That is a stitch that is supposed to hold the cervix closed to keep baby in.

We were sent home for 2 weeks with many restrictions before returning to Sioux Falls for our follow up.

There, they did another ultrasound and scan to see that the stitch was not holding as it should and I was still dilated 2-3cm (at 22 weeks).

So, they decided I needed to stay in Sioux Falls. They were too worried to risk us going back home where we would be 2 hours from the NICU if I did start going into labor.

So now, we wait in the hospital until baby comes. No estimate of when that will be but hoping to keep it inside for as long as possible. They are monitoring baby’s heart rate 2 times every day and checking for contractions in me 3 times every day. So far, baby’s heart rate is good, it’s continuing to grow, and no contractions yet. We will continue this plan until baby comes. The longer we can wait, the more likely it is that baby survives and the less likely it has long-term complications from being born too early. It likely will have to be in the NICU for some time after it is born, but of course they don’t know how long that would be yet either.

As of Monday, July 7th, we will be 24 weeks. That was the earliest possible week we wanted to see because chances of survival this week go up to 90%. So we’re grateful it’s still inside at this point at least!

Since I have to be down in Sioux Falls indefinitely, there will be lots of unexpected expenses on top of just being first time parents. Justin is trying to figure out a plan to work most of the time to still support our family but also spend as much time with me as he can. That’s some time off work for him, plus travel expenses. These are on top of the unimaginable hospital fees for staying here long-term. I will also end up having to miss more work than we had originally planned for as well.

However, we know that it is what is safest for baby right now and that is our #1 priority.

We would like to thank everyone for even just reading our story and for any prayers/well-wishes! Plus of course anything they’re able to give to help us during this time of worry and unease.