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Stephanie Roberson’s son Myles was born at 25 weeks and 6 days and spent 87 days in neonatal intensive care. Roberson says her experience showed how paid leave, insurance coverage and mental health care can shape a family’s ability to manage a NICU stay; she is now advocating for better support for mothers and babies through the Chamber of Mothers.
After her son Myles spent 87 days in a neonatal intensive care unit following his birth at 25 weeks and 6 days, Stephanie Roberson is advocating for stronger support for families facing premature birth. In a Motherly column produced with the Chamber of Mothers, Roberson describes how paid leave, insurance coverage and access to mental health care helped shape her family’s experience—and why she believes many NICU families lack those supports.
Roberson’s second pregnancy had appeared normal, according to her account. Her water broke when she was 24 weeks pregnant, and her doctor directed her to a hospital with a higher level of neonatal intensive care. After 13 days on bed rest, she went into labor at 25 weeks and 6 days. Myles was born within minutes of her leaving her hospital room for delivery.
Myles stopped breathing repeatedly during his first 77 days, a complication Roberson said staff treated with caffeine and, at times, physical stimulation. He did not need surgery or intubation, she said. He was discharged after 87 days in the NICU; by 12 months, Roberson said, he had caught up on all milestones and was ahead on some. He is now four years old.
Roberson said she had a supportive partner, a job and access to paid leave, which allowed her to take nine and a half months of combined medical, maternity and state-funded family leave. She also had insurance that covered all but $1,300 of a nearly $1.5 million bill for Myles’ care, according to the column. She contrasts those circumstances with other parents she encountered, including families struggling with coverage denials, travel and work obligations.
The Costs Families Face After Birth
Roberson’s account connects the medical uncertainty of a premature birth with the practical demands that continue after delivery: staying near a hospitalized baby, caring for other children, keeping a job and paying household expenses. A long NICU stay can consume leave while a baby is still in hospital, leaving parents with fewer days available once the child comes home.
The column cites figures showing that about 27% of workers have access to paid family leave and that 14 states and Washington, D.C., have state-enacted paid family and medical leave policies. It also says eligible workers can receive up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act. These figures help explain the policy concerns Roberson raises, though the account does not provide a date or methodology for each statistic.
Care-related costs extend beyond the hospital bill. Families may also face expenses for parking, childcare, lodging and meals, particularly when a hospital is far from home. The column cites an average of more than $3,000 in out-of-pocket spending during the first two years for privately insured infants admitted to the highest-level NICUs; that figure does not capture all indirect expenses.
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From NICU Experience to Advocacy
The Motherly series, Mothering America, is produced in collaboration with the Chamber of Mothers and presents stories from mothers across the United States as part of an effort to promote support and care for families. Roberson’s story is one personal account within that series, not a formal assessment of NICU outcomes or family policy.
During Myles’ hospitalization, Roberson said she heard other parents dealing with insurance disputes and difficult choices about work, travel and care for children at home. She described taking time to learn medical terminology and possible outcomes so she could advocate for her son. She also said she experienced shame and worried that her body had failed him.
The column reports that Roberson processed the experience through months of therapy and had PTSD. It also cites an estimate that 75% of mothers with perinatal mental health conditions go untreated, attributing the gap to factors including a shortage of trained providers and insurance barriers. The source does not specify the study or date behind that estimate.
“They try to present the information in a positive way, but it’s still very scary.”
— Stephanie Roberson, recalling the hospital’s discussion of prematurity
What the Report Does Not Specify
The Motherly column describes Roberson’s advocacy but does not detail a specific bill, campaign, legislative proposal or upcoming policy milestone. It is therefore unclear what particular changes she is currently asking lawmakers or institutions to adopt, or what actions the Chamber of Mothers plans next.
Some national statistics in the account—including the shares of workers with paid leave and mothers with untreated perinatal mental health conditions—are presented without full sourcing, dates or methodology in the supplied material. They should be understood as figures cited by the column, not independently verified estimates here. The account also does not provide Myles’ medical records or an independent account of his treatment.
Advocacy Beyond One Family
The column frames Roberson’s experience as part of a broader effort by Motherly and the Chamber of Mothers to press for support and care for families. It does not announce a next event, policy vote or campaign deadline. Readers should watch for further statements from Roberson or the organization to learn which specific proposals they intend to advance.
For now, the reported development is Roberson’s decision to use her family’s NICU experience to draw attention to gaps in leave, financial support and mental health care. Whether that advocacy leads to new policy or service changes remains to be seen.
Key Questions
How long did Myles stay in the NICU?
Myles spent 87 days in neonatal intensive care, according to his mother’s account in the Motherly column.
How early was Myles born?
Roberson said she went into labor at 25 weeks and 6 days of pregnancy. Her water had broken 13 days earlier, at 24 weeks.
What support did Roberson say helped her family?
She cited a supportive partner, her job, insurance coverage and access to nine and a half months of combined leave. The column says other NICU families may not have comparable resources.
What specific policy change is Roberson seeking?
The supplied column describes her advocacy for better support for mothers and babies but does not identify a specific bill, policy proposal or legislative timetable.
How is Myles doing now?
Roberson said Myles had caught up on all milestones by 12 months and was ahead on some. He is now four years old, according to the report.
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