Kristie McNealy, MD

This week, Tania from little JULES has been kind enough to answer some of our questions about her company, and her NICU experience, including some advice for NICU parents. I first “met” Tania on a preemie message board almost a year ago, and I instantly fell in love with her jewelry. She has beautiful products for baby, mom and dad. I have one of her necklaces on my Mother’s Day wish list this year (hint, hint Rob), and my own son is soon to be the proud owner of one of her handcrafted medical alert bracelets.

Tell us a little about little JULES and the products you’ve designed.

Named after my son, Julian – born at 29 weeks, little JULES is a jewelry company I started accidently when I couldn’t find a baby bracelet small enough to fit him. I made one myself, and while I was at it I made pendants for my husband and I – inscribed with Julian’s hands and feet prints. We got so many comments on our necklaces and Julian’s bracelet. Orders poured in and the business seemed to grow overnight.

What was the inspiration behind little JULES?

Julian is my inspiration. I love being able to stay home and be his mommy while making jewelry part time for other moms and dads.

Aside from inspiring your jewelry line, how else did your time in the NICU impact your life?

I have more compassion for new moms, and I’ve become more confident as a person. Being a mom of a preemie, I didn’t get to embrace motherhood like other mom’s do. But if I had to do it all over again, I wouldn’t change a thing.

Do you have any advice for parents of preemies or NICU babies?

I believe the only people who truly know what a parent of a preemie is going through are other parents of preemies. My advice is to get support. It wasn’t until after Julian was almost 2 years old that I found support forums/sites like NICU101.Although, part of the time Julian was being taken care of by nurses during his time in the NICU, he was MY baby. I didn’t truly feel this until I took Lovebug home. Ask questions if you don’t understand something.

If you have a company or product that was inspired by your preemie or NICU baby, and you’d like to be interviewed, contact us!  If you’re the parent of a preemie, you can also use our contact form to share how the NICU changed your life.  Your answer might be featured in a future article!

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