Providing peace of mind: Schenk family thankful for Ridgeview’s NICU

Planning and preparing for the birth of a baby can be an exciting, yet nerve-wracking time. No matter how much you plan and prepare, unexpected situations may arise — and, if they do, Ridgeview’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) on its Waconia Campus is here for you.

“Our first baby, Brielle, was born Feb. 14, 2023, via C-section at the Buffalo Hospital,” Kelly Schenk, mother of Brielle, shared. “A few short hours later, she was transported to Ridgeview.”

After Brielle was born, her care team identified that she was experiencing meconium aspiration syndrome (MAS), which caused her oxygen levels to drop, and she also had low blood sugar.

Meconium is a sterile fecal matter that is produced in the fetus’ intestine before birth and is made up of cells, protein and fats. MAS occurs when meconium gets into the lungs, making it difficult for the baby to breathe.

Finding comfort while apart

“It was heart-wrenching having to watch our baby leave, but as soon as she arrived at Ridgeview the nurses set up a camera for us so we could still see her, even though we were in Buffalo,” Kelly said.

Ridgeview’s NICU team understands how difficult it is for families to be apart from their newborn. To provide comfort and peace of mind, the NICU offers NicView^® technology which allows families to see their baby in real-time through a secure online portal.

“Throughout the night, nurses put notes in front of the camera to let us know Brielle was getting a bottle or diaper change,” Kelly explained. “We found so much comfort seeing her on camera while we couldn’t be with her.”

Patient- and family-centered care

The following day, after receiving an iron transfusion, Kelly was discharged from the Buffalo Hospital. Wasting no time, Kelly and her husband, Tyler, headed right to Ridgeview to be with Brielle. When they arrived, Kelly emphasized that, even though she was not a patient, the Ridgeview team took care of her as well — providing care for the whole family.

“We were truly blown away by the kindness and attentiveness of care toward all the babies and families in the NICU. It made a difficult situation a lot more manageable knowing there was such a fantastic care team watching over our daughter,” Kelly shared.

About Ridgeview's NICU

Ridgeview’s Level III NICU, developed and operated in collaboration with Children’s Minnesota, offers high-quality care for the most fragile of infants. Ridgeview’s specially trained NICU team includes neonatologists from Children’s Minnesota who have a daily presence at Ridgeview, 24/7 support from Ridgeview’s highly regarded nursing staff and Children’s Minnesota neonatal nurse practitioners, and specialized care from Ridgeview’s lactation consultants, respiratory therapists, nutritionists, pharmacists, rehabilitation staff and more.

Learn more about Ridgeview's NICU