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When my first child rolled over for the first time, her daddy and I cheered. We applauded her when she sat and later when she crawled. We laughed when she said her first word, “duck”, and laughed more when she began calling everything “duck”. Like all new parents, we thought everything she did was exceptional. [...]
I had all of 10 minutes’ notice I was about to become a preemie mom, which was barely enough time to hysterically call my parents and send a few text messages before I found myself off on a wild stretcher ride and into a scene that looked like it was from a weekly TV medical drama that left my head spinning and body reeling. Clearly, this was not how it was supposed to happen. This was not the plan! This was not how I had imagined my right of passage into motherhood that I had waited 30 years for and fought for so hard for. This is not how it was supposed to be. [Read more]
This story was thoughtfully submitted by one of our readers. The week after my husband and I were married, we decided we wanted children and I was overjoyed. We had my son 11 months after we were married and besides having preeclampsia, I was called a “constant contractor”. I went up to the hospital many [...]
Follow the link “Little Keith” to watch a short video created by Anthem Health. Little Keith
When my preemie was admitted into the NICU I determined to keep a daily journal of her NICU stay. I kept track of her weight, feedings, blood work, nurse and doctor names, oxygen levels, visitors, room changes, and medical procedures. Somehow I knew that I would someday be glad I had so much detailed information [...]
In February, Afton wrote a terrific post about her pumping experience called “Nessie the Milk Cow.” Here’s an excerpt: One day I left the parent’s lounge balancing milk bottles carefully on my way to the freezer when I saw another mother leaving a pumping area with only one little bottle in her hand – and [...]
So I was just musing for a minute today about pumping breast milk while in the NICU. The NICU provides a number of freezers throughout the unit where mothers can store their pumped milk. When I first arrived at the NICU I was introduced to the freezers and noticed that some shelves were packed full [...]
This post is a continuation of Breastfeeding: The Prerequisites. After your preemie baby has learned how to latch on and has begun receiving nourishment from you, you may begin a period of short nursing sessions, teaching your baby the suck-swallow-breathe routine, wacky pumping schedules, and waiting for your baby to grow bigger and stronger. This [...]
First of all, if you’re planning to breastfeed your tiny preemie baby, you need to read Pumping: Your Greatest Commitment and OTs: My Very Best Friends. Pumping will be your life for some time, and the Occupational Therapists will be such a help to you. Never forget to call on them because they’re amazing! Depending [...]
Question from Katie – We just had our first preemie in October. She was born at 33 weeks. I’ve had pre-term labor with all my babies (had lots of shots/pills to stop labor, etc). All my other babies have been born at 37 weeks, but each pregnancy has gotten progressively more difficult, and the labor [...]
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit 501(c)3 parent support organization and information and resources provided here do not intend to take the place of the relationship between a patient and personal physician.