Our favorite thing about Solly Baby is you—the community of moms and dads doing the beautiful, messy, important work of raising little ones. In our weekly Full Heart Series, we’re sharing stories from our Solly Community that resonate, inspire, and remind us we’re never alone. Join us as we savor these everyday moments that leave our hearts full.
Let’s start with a quick introduction. Tell us the facts.
Name: Megan Cornell
Children: Blair (3 years), Beau (2 years), and Wes (7 months)
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Occupation: NICU Nurse
When and how did you get connected with Solly?
I fell in love with your wraps when we first started using them with our daughter Blair. She was born 7 weeks early, and once we finally got her home I wanted a safe place to have her close to me while also keeping her warm and cozy. As a NICU nurse, one of the things I know to be very important for preemie baby development is giving them a boundary to push and stretch off of—similar to their experience in the womb. This helps build their muscle strength and is excellent for their neurological development. One of the ways we do this in the NICU is by swaddling our babies and using positioning devices to give them those ever-important boundaries. Once I got the hang of our Solly Baby Wrap, I realized this was a perfect way to give her those same boundaries while also keeping her close to mama, and I fell in love.
What’s a time in the last week when your heart has felt full?
I truly believe that I was put on this earth to be a mama, so getting to be that every day for my three littles is truly what fills my heart up the most. But, my son Beau has recently started saying “I love you, mamam” completely unprompted, and gosh does that make my heart weep.
What is your favorite thing about your Solly Wrap?
Getting all of those sweet snuggles and being a comfort to your new babe as they adjust to life outside the womb. I can actually feel Wes relax when I put him in the wrap. It has definitely become one of his happy places, and I love having him close and snug.
You mentioned that you ’re a NICU nurse. What has your transition back to work from maternity leave been like?
I came back to work part time in January after my maternity leave. Prior to having our third baby I was working full time, so coming back part time has been such a blessing. You wouldn’t believe what a difference another day at home makes. I truly love my job and believe I was meant to be a NICU nurse. I love connecting with our families and getting to know them over the days, weeks, months and sometimes year that they are with us. Though I would ultimately love being fully at home, I know that work with our sweet NICU babies is the next best place to be. It’s always hard leaving my own babies for a full day of nursing, but it gives them time with my mom (Gigi), who they love. I think it’s good for them to get out of our house and be in a different environment with new toys and someone else’s attention for the day. We are so grateful to have her help so that our babies don’t have to be in daycare.
What was your NICU experience like with Blair? Any thoughts on the best ways to support NICU parents?
Blair was born at 33 weeks and 2 days. At the time that she was born, I had been a NICU nurse for three years. It was such a strange experience because I knew what to possibly expect. I had an idea of the worst case and also best case. In a sense, it calmed my nerves because I had dealt with almost every kind of NICU patient at that point in my career. However, I had never been a mom, so along with the scary possibilities of a NICU stay came the worries and fears every new mama experiences. And my husband, who is not in the medical field, had no idea what to expect. Fortunately, Blair was very well-behaved, (I think she knew mama had high expectations), and we were only in the NICU for about 5 days and then a step down for a few weeks. Having a baby in the NICU has undoubtedly changed me as a nurse. I will never question a parent expressing concern or paint them as overbearing or irrational. The emotional rollercoaster of being a NICU parent is one that you truly can’t understand unless you go through it yourself. Now I feel like I can connect to my families through our shared experiences and have found that many parents appreciate knowing that the nurse caring for their baby has gone through something similar.
My family was such a wonderful support system for us when we had Blair early and spent time in the NICU. At that point in my pregnancy, I hadn’t had a chance to “nest” and we hadn’t had my baby shower. My parents made sure that the nursery was ready for her when we got home and we ended up still having my baby shower when it was originally planned for a week after she was born. I would tell parents dealing with NICU stays to lean on their loved ones. Let them bring you food, watch your other kids, take care of your house etc. That way, your focus can be on you and your new sweet baby. And my biggest piece of advice is you know your baby best. Always be your baby’s advocate and voice as they don’t have one yet. If you feel like something is off or you aren’t understanding or getting the care you need, speak up.
What would you do with an extra hour in the day (other than sleep)?
Hold those babies a little while longer. Time is fleeting, and before you know it that new baby you brought home yesterday is three and ready to take on the world. I’d do anything to pause time just to soak in some more moments with them.
What’s something you loved to do before baby that you still do or would like to start up again (eventually)?
Before I had Blair I was really into hot yoga. My mom and I went almost daily and it was such a good outlet for me. I always left feeling calm and strong. Right now life is a little too crazy to go, but I’d love to get back on the mat one day soon.
Words of wisdom would you share with other moms?
You are everything your babies need and more. Even on the hard days, your love fills their cup and in all of those moments YOU are their hero. Trust that you were made to be mama to your littles, and you will always be their favorite sense of home.
What are three things in your motherhood starter pack?
A Haakaa, Lou Lou & Company jammies, and of course a Solly Wrap!
What Solly pieces(s) do you have? What ’s on your wishlist?
I have eight wraps (and counting, lol), they are my absolute favorite. We truly use them every day! We also have the crib sheets and love them! I have one sleeper outfit that we used for our daughter Blair but I’d love to get some new ones for Wes. I also recently got the Full Heart Era sweatshirt and live in it!
How about a round of rapid-fire favorites…
Indulgence: Mountain Dew Baja Blast from Taco Bell
Podcast: Ok don’t cancel me but I am not a podcast listener
Children's Book: Pout Pout Fish
Mama-time activity: Getting my nails done
After bedtime snack: Cinnamon Sugar Pop Tarts
