If you know us, you know we’re usually talking with moms—and for good reason. They’re heroes, especially here in the milky world of infant nourishment. We never want to lose sight, however, of all the dad heroes out there. That’s why we’re thrilled to share Greg’s story.
When his son Jack was born, Greg, a devoted dad, stepped up in every way—immediately shouldering 100% of the caregiving as his wife, Lauren, recovered from a difficult birth. During that critical time, their family received donor milk from Mothers’ Milk Bank Northeast—a gift that helped nourish their newborn son and provide peace of mind during an incredibly difficult and overwhelming time. Dad Greg was a hero for his family then, and he still is. Only now, he’s leveling up. Set to take on the iconic Falmouth Road Race to raise vital funds for the milk bank, Greg is now a hero to the more than 17,000 families who rely on us every single year . . .
Becoming Dad . . .
Greg never expected to find himself alone in the NICU with his newborn son Jack. Yet there he was being asked whether he wanted to give his baby donor milk or formula. As a new parent he had lots of questions. “Did the milk need to be type matched to the baby like blood is? Is it safe? Is it the best option?” The nurses patiently and thoroughly explained everything. They recommended donor milk as the best option while mom’s milk is unavailable.
Helping him navigate those terrifying early days with Jack, Greg can’t say enough about this wonderful team of nurses. Even so, looking back he still can’t understand why donor milk had never been mentioned during the countless prenatal, baby care, and breastfeeding classes he and his wife Lauren attended.
But we’re getting ahead of ourselves . . .
A long, hard labor of love . . .
Lauren became pregnant after a number of months of trying to conceive. The pregnancy was as smooth sailing as one could hope for. Lauren was feeling good, baby Jack was looking great, and there was no reason to worry. Contractions started around Lauren’s due date. They were inconsistent though and the couple didn’t want to get to the hospital too early – per all the education they had dutifully received. By the time Lauren went for a regular OB appointment they were told that she was already 4 cm dilated. It was time to go!
Lauren needed two epidurals after the first one failed, and her labor slowed. Doctors gave her Pitocin to speed things up and it was soon time to push. Lauren pushed for four hours. Four. Hours. She remembers the doctors and nurses kept encouraging her, telling her Jack was almost there. Dad Greg could see his baby’s head. But Jack was stuck, his head slightly tucked under the pelvic bone. Baby Jack didn’t progress for three hours.
After all that encouragement to keep pushing, it seemed to Lauren like the plan very suddenly changed. Doctors were now telling her she needed a C-section. And that the surgery would be more dangerous now since she had been pushing for so long. Everything felt scary and chaotic.
Lauren remembers her body shaking uncontrollably on the operating table. She described how surreal it was to feel nothing and then to suddenly have a kind nurse show her baby Jack. She was only able to give him a quick kiss before he was whisked off to the NICU. Experiencing respiratory challenges, he needed specialized care. Lauren’s world went back to chaos, fear, and confusion. Her own body desperately needed her attention.
Mom, Dad, and Baby Jack make three . . .
With Greg in the NICU with Jack, Lauren was alone in recovery when her blood pressure started to drop, and her stomach became distended. The doctors and nurses became very concerned. Lauren messaged Greg to tell him but downplayed it. She didn’t want him to panic while he was already taking care of their newborn who also needed help.
By the time Greg got back to Lauren, she was in bad shape. Doctors rushed her back into surgery, reopening the C-section to find where she was experiencing internal bleeding. Greg recalls feeling completely overwhelmed, as the lives of both his loved ones were in danger.
Lauren came through the surgery. And Baby Jack proved himself much stronger than he first looked. In fact, he was released from the NICU to a lower-level care unit in less than a day. The three of them cocooned themselves in a quiet postpartum room for the next few days, forming a brand-new family unit against the backdrop of cold, New England days. They started to feel like a team, like it was, “us against the world.” And in that little cocoon they began to parent. They did this with the help of caring, compassionate, and expert nurses. Nurses who helped them learn everything they needed to know.
These nurses would bring Greg perfectly warmed bottles of donor milk and teach him how to feed little Jack. With Lauren needing to focus on recovery and rebuilding her strength, Greg shouldered all the early caregiving. “I think I bonded with Jack earlier and more than I would have because of everything,” Greg told me. Beautiful and healthy five-month-old Jack is dozing on Greg’s chest while he tells me this.
Happily ever after . . .
Today, Lauren is strong again. The three of them are still a tight family unit, spending every day at home together. Greg works from his home office, while Lauren fully dedicates herself to mothering before returning to her own professional career later. They end the conversation with gratitude. “Donor milk was a lifeline,” Greg tells me. “I didn’t even know it was a thing. Thankfully there are people who are knowledgeable about this need. People like the moms who donated their milk. People like you who made sure it got to us.”
“Thank you,” Lauren repeats, stroking Jack’s cheek. Now, they tell me laughing, they are, “ready to live happily ever after”.
