7 Things I Wish People Knew About Prematurity

Pregnancy is supposed to be easy, but sometimes your baby girl or baby boy ends up in the neonatal intensive care unit. Some friends and family think they understand what you’re going through, but here’s 7 things I wish people knew about prematurity, its effects on a family and how to help someone in the NICU.

Five years ago prematurity happened to our family. Out of the blue, it sucker punched us. Looking back, there are lots of things I’d tell myself – accept help, take it one day at a time, buy more concealer. But, in honor of World Prematurity Day, I also wish people knew these seven things about…

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5 Things I Wish I Would’ve Known About Post-NICU Motherhood

I’m the mom of six—teenager to newborn. No, I’m not certifiably crazy, but there are days I wonder. Two of my children were born premature. One skated home two days after delivery with zero problems, the other? Well, a 44-day NICU stay, seven surgeries, countless therapists and specialists and a very scary touch-and-go surgical case…

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Don’t Mind Me, I’m Having a Prematurity Moment

Four years post-NICU and the triggers for PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) are still there. I’d like to blame it on pregnancy hormones, and perhaps that’s what it is, but the moment when I think I’ve put it all behind me, the reminders rear their ugly heads. Just last week, a friend posted on Facebook of…

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Dear NICU Momma

Four years ago, I wish I had known lots of things. I wish I would’ve known that my hands would no longer be recognizable from all the hand washing. Or, that people would say things that were meant to be nice, but really just cut to the core of our reality. “Oh, you’re so lucky…

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Top Ten: A Reality Check

I’m not sure that I’ve officially launched the news here on the ‘ol blog, but I am now serving as the Lead Blogger over at Hand to Hold’s parent blog, PreemieBabies101.  What an honor!  We talk about all things related to prematurity, child loss and children with special needs.  I have already met some crazy…

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