Trigger Warning: Child Loss
Despite having a healthy pregnancy and following all the guidelines, my twins made their entrance into the world at just 27 weeks gestation—nearly three months ahead of schedule. I didn’t even reach the third trimester. Like many parents of premature babies, I was entirely unprepared for the reality of life in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
My children were delivered through an emergency C-section and immediately taken away to fight for their survival. It wasn’t until several hours later that I finally got to see them. Overwhelmed by fear and shame, I soon realized that my challenges paled in comparison to theirs. Their organs were not fully developed, their skin was fragile, and their tiny bodies were smaller than most dolls.
The difficulties of being a NICU parent are well-documented. Handing over basic parental duties to medical staff is a struggle. The relentless cycle of expressing breast milk every two hours for months is exhausting. The uncertainty of whether your baby will pull through adds to the emotional toll. Feelings of guilt and shame often weigh heavily on parents, even when we know, deep down, that we are not to blame for the circumstances.
The Experience of Preemies
While the NICU journey is grueling for parents, what about the experience of the preemies themselves? What is it like to be confined in a glass enclosure for hours, days, weeks, or even months when, developmentally, they should be nestled in their mother’s embrace?
What does it feel like to be forced to breathe, eat, and regulate body temperature when they are not ready for such demands? Preemies demonstrate remarkable resilience, yet the hurdles they face are nothing short of daunting.
I watched in anguish as my children struggled to breathe. When they couldn’t manage on their own, I witnessed medical professionals insert breathing tubes. I anxiously observed as my little ones were taken into surgery, praying for their safety. Leaving the NICU each night for months was a heart-wrenching experience as I longed for the dawn to return.
Thanks to modern medicine, my twins had a fighting chance. Level IV NICUs provide care for the most vulnerable infants, utilizing advanced interventions and expert clinicians to help babies who otherwise wouldn’t survive.
A Bittersweet Journey
Being born prematurely makes infants susceptible to serious health complications. Tragically, 324 days after their birth, my son Lucas passed away due to complications from necrotizing enterocolitis, a severe intestinal condition. Yet, his twin sister flourished against all odds and is now a healthy, vibrant child. This bittersweet experience of losing one twin while the other thrives highlights the unpredictable nature of premature birth.
November is Prematurity Awareness Month. According to the March of Dimes, 1 in 10 babies in the U.S. is born prematurely each year. Just thirty years ago, many very-low-birth-weight infants didn’t survive. Today, more preemies are thriving than ever before. Join the NEC Society in honoring the strength of these tiny warriors, the commitment of their families, and the exceptional care provided by NICUs throughout November and on World Prematurity Day, November 17.
The NEC Society is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). This devastating intestinal disease primarily affects infants in their early weeks and months of life. Babies born prematurely or with medical issues are particularly at risk. For more details, visit NECsociety.org.
Additional Resources
If you’re interested in learning more about family planning and home insemination options, check out this insightful post on home insemination. Also, for reliable resources on donor insemination, take a look at American Pregnancy. And if you’re considering home insemination kits, Cryobaby offers a great combo kit to get you started.
Summary
Emily Thompson shares her emotional journey as a NICU parent after her twins were born at 27 weeks. She highlights the struggles faced by premature infants and the intense challenges experienced by their families. Despite the heartbreak of losing her son Lucas, her daughter thrived, illustrating the unpredictability of prematurity. November is a time to raise awareness about prematurity and honor the resilience of preemies and their families.
Keyphrase: premature birth
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