Natalie Estelle

Natalie Estelle

Creating a Long-Term Support System for Moms of Preemie Babies

A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Natalie’s family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland at the age of seven. A highly competitive figure skater from the age of 5, Natalie went on to successfully compete at the national level, winning several awards. She received her Bachelors of Art degree from Towson University in Computer Art/Graphic Design and her Masters of Art degree from the University of Baltimore in Publication Design. Natalie went on to have an extensive career in Graphic Design and Marketing Communications roles in various industries, including Information Technology, Healthcare, and Finance, however, her passion has always been volunteerism and giving to those in need. Volunteering comes naturally to Natalie, and this desire began at a very young age. From the Jerry Lewis Telethon, the Special Olympics, to starting and running a figure skating program for inner city girls in Baltimore which she operated successfully for several years; spending time giving back is always something she enjoys and plans on infusing into her children.

While serving as the Director of Marketing and Communications for a women-owned, top-rated catering company in Baltimore, Natalie was fortunate to have three children. Her first child was stillborn, the second was a micro preemie (born early and weighing less than two pounds), and the last born full-term, all within two years. Naturally, such an experience reshaped her life, causing her to refocus her efforts, both personally and professionally.

In 2016, the overall experience with having three children in two years (first son was stillborn, my daughter was the miropreeme rainbow child born the same year as my first son, and my full-term baby boy) inspired the now defunct, Preemie Moms Rock, a non-profit organization that served Moms of premature babies. On a monthly basis, Natalie and the other co-founder visited local hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Units to provide healthy meals, crafting, and in-person, parent-to-parent support through conversational stories. While forming a Preemie Mom Community, the on-site and off-site meet-ups provided an outlet to talk about the ins and outs and the highs and lows of NICU/Preemie life while stressing the importance of self-care even after their babies have graduated from the NICU. Even though the organization does not exist anymore, Natalie continues her passion for self-care advocacy for Moms and families of NICU babies.