
A father's NICU journey with a 22-week baby
June 18, 2026
Read how one father found faith, strength and hope during his daughter's 205-day NICU journey after she was born at 22 weeks at Studer Family Children’s Hospital in Pensacola, Florida.

OB-GYNs at Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida deliver advanced maternity care, including high-risk pregnancy care.
OB-GYNs at Ascension Sacred Heart in Northwest Florida deliver advanced pregnancy care — from family planning, through pregnancy, delivery and postpartum. From the beginning, we talk through the choices that are right for you and your baby. You’ll be supported by a team of OB-GYNs, certified nurse midwives, maternal-fetal medicine (MFM) specialists, birth designers, lactation consultants, pediatric specialists and more.
Pregnancy is a special time for you and your family. Your care team works together to provide specialized care before, during and after your delivery. And, if you need advanced care for a high-risk pregnancy, we’ll help connect you to the right specialists. Get all the care you need, including:
Your OB-GYN and maternity care team provides specialized care throughout your pregnancy. We know that having a baby comes with a lot of questions. We take the time to listen to you and answer all your questions — big and small.
Throughout your pregnancy, we monitor the health of you and your baby. At Ascension Sacred Heart, you are connected to all the maternity care you need, including high-risk pregnancy care.
Ascension Sacred Heart and Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast are recognized as baby-friendly hospitals for providing quality care to infant feeding in the first few days of a child’s life.
At Ascension Sacred Heart campuses, your care team helps you and your baby with breastfeeding. To help you get started on your breastfeeding journey, register for a breastfeeding class or talk to a lactation consultant near you:
Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart has the region’s only Level III NICU — delivering advanced care for preterm and critically sick babies. As a Level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), we provide advanced care for critically ill newborns and those born prematurely. From our NICU, we provide on-site consultation and care from 30 different pediatric specialties.
On our Emerald Coast campus, we have a Level II NICU. As a Level II NICU, we deliver advanced care for babies born sick and premature newbornsBy choosing Ascension Sacred Heart for the birth of your baby, you can establish a relationship with a Studer Family Children's Hospital pediatrician before delivery. Your pediatrician takes the time to explain what to expect after your child is born and answers your questions about preparing for your newborn
If your child needs specialty care after they are born, you are connected to pediatric specialists at Studer Family Children’s Hospital at Ascension Sacred Heart — Northwest Florida’s only children’s hospital.During your first prenatal check-up, you’ll learn about support services, such as tours and classes that are available to you. By taking a tour and childbirth classes, you can learn more about your birthing options and know what to expect.
Choose one of the hospitals below to see what tour and class options are available:Having a care team that listens and understands you is important. Your birth designer at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola helps you understand your choices to create a birthing experience that is right for you. For more information about Monogram Maternity and designing the birth plan that is right for you, call 850-416-6378, email monogrammaternity@ascension.org or complete the form below.
If you are experiencing a life-threatening emergency, go directly to the ER or call 911.
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