Hand to Hold's Official Blog: Written by Parents for Parents

Meeting Sun & Sand with a Sensory-Challenged Preemie

Kellan, photo courtesy Sweetman family

Kellan loves to be outside but has severe sensory issues, as preemies often times do. The sun hurts his big blue eyes, the grass bothers his hands and feet, high pitched sounds seem to distract him, and the heat gets to him far faster than most babies. He’s 16 months old and not walking yet, so he has to crawl everywhere to get anywhere. Texture and location are two of my biggest concerns when considering activities for him. But it’s time for some summer fun and I want to give my little guy as much of an opportunity to get out there as the next little one. [Read more]

Life as a Preemie Working Mom after the NICU

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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]

Is it Colic, Reflux, GERD? What is Wrong with this Baby’s Belly?

Child eating in high chair

My little guy will not eat, is cranky and spits up all the time. I’ve pulled out all the “mom” tricks out of my bag (and the hair out of my head). I don’t know if it’s colic, reflux or GERD!  Here are some definitions of the three, a valuable parent’s checklist and video to [...]

Katrina’s Story

Jermaine

This story was submitted by Katrina, one of our readers. High Risk Pregnancy Throughout my pregnancy I had been deemed high risk as I had a previous preemie baby due to prom at 32 weeks, and successful treatment for cervical cancer prior to this also. During the first few weeks of pregnancy I suffered terrible [...]

Shannon’s Story

Caleb just born

This story was submitted by Shannon, one of our readers. This is the story of my 27 weeker, my miracle Caleb… I was 26 weeks pregnant and everything had been going well until one morning I woke up and thought that I had wet my pants a little. This was my second pregnancy so I [...]

Book Review: A Pound of Hope

“A Pound of Hope”, by Michele Munro Kemper and Jennifer Kemper Sinconis I seriously can’t express how fabulous this book is.  I was afraid that, being a parent of a preemie, it would be difficult to read because of the memories and trauma it would dig up within me. I was wrong.  It was fascinating.  [...]

Review of The Preemie Primer

Last night I finished reading The Preemie Primer, by Jennifer Gunter, MD.  Truthfully, it’s the first book about preemie babies that I’ve read cover to cover.  I was pleasantly surprised at how helpful and informative many sections of the book were, but I was also disappointed at how unpersonal it was.  Jennifer does share her [...]

The Story of Alayna Marrie

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Thoughtfully submitted by reader’s Marria and Raul. Alayna Marrie was born at 32 weeks in Brandon,Fl., due to my preeclampsia.  All throughout my pregnancy she was a fighter.  I was in and out of the emergency room, for spotting, severe headaches, high blood pressure…till they had to hospitalize me at 30 weeks for preeclampsia and [...]

Reflux: Does it Ever End?

burpcatcher2

My 27-weeker had reflux and we had her on Prevacid and Regalin;  I never thought either of them helped much.  It was very frustrating!  She spit up a ton, sheesh, I think until she was around 1-year old.  She was still spitting up when we were feeding her mostly table food. We didn’t have any [...]