Parenting in the NICU is exhausting – physically, mentally, and emotionally. It takes a huge toll on your body and your spirit, and that’s true even when your journey is a relatively easy one. If you’re coping with the effects of extreme prematurity or your preemie is sick, you’re facing an even longer, tougher road. […]
The title of this post came from a study conducted in 2014 that found that mothers in particular have strong, varied, and long-term reactions to preterm birth. While most of us are personally and acutely aware of that fact, it was nice that the study’s conclusion recommended that more attention be paid to preemie parents’ […]
When you’re new to premature birth, everything is scary. Just looking at your preemie (and all their medical accessories) can be frightening. And the thought of holding a preemie? Terrifying! But at the same time, most new parents are desperate to hold their babies because they instinctively know that physical contact is a vital part […]
Leaving the hospital without your preemie is hard enough. Facing an uncertain future is doubly hard. Many of us are told that we shouldn’t expect to bring our preemies home until they’ve reached their due dates. Some of us are pleasantly surprised to bring our babies home before that ballpark discharge day. But other parents […]
The prematurity journey is so different for all of us. One preemie or multiple babies, triumphs and devastating losses, challenging pregnancies, and other factors change how premature birth shapes parents’ experiences. The things we all face are stress, uncertainty, and fear. Would it surprise you to learn that even parents whose preemies face relatively short […]
For Prematurity Awareness Month, we’re sharing Ivy’s story… During my first pregnancy I had all of these incredible visions of what giving birth would be like. I was convinced I’d go past my due date, I’d labor in water, I’d have my bags packed with everything I needed, and most importantly I’d get to spend […]
Giving birth prematurely is stressful at any gestational age, but having a very early preemie baby who will spend months in the NICU can be one of life’s most taxing and traumatic events. Many parents of preemies report symptoms of severe psychological distress and PTSD, and it’s not uncommon for moms and dads of babies in the […]
Parijat serves as an advisor to the Graham’s Foundation Parent Mentor Program. You can read more about Parijat at the end of this post. I knew I would have a high-risk pregnancy when my first two pregnancy complications began in the first 2 months of my pregnancy. However, that still did not prepare me for […]
Having a premature infant in the NICU is a traumatic event, so it probably comes as no surprise that researchers have confirmed that parents of preemies are at risk for developing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). What these parents experience is more than depression, and complicating matters is the fact that the symptoms of PTSD can emerge […]
Recently, on Facebook, we asked parents of preemies a simple question: did you know the NICU before your baby was admitted? As in, did you know where and what the NICU was? Was it part of the prenatal hospital tour? Did your care provider talk about premature birth and the possibility that your baby might […]
Graham’s Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).
Our mission is to inform and guide parents of preemies so that they may confidently navigate the journey of prematurity.
