Meet Brandi, Preemie Parent Mentor
My preemie(s) was born at: 29 weeks
Days spent in the NICU: 55
Current age of preemie(s): 2
Parent of Multiples: No
Our NICU Journey included: Pre-Eclampsia, HELLP, and RSD (Respiratory Distress Syndrome)
My NICU journey began with an emergency that, fortunately, saved both my life and my preemie’s life. And while that journey was unpredictable and uncertain, there were also parts that were rewarding.
My goal as a preemie parent mentor is to help other parents, including those that may have experienced Pre-Eclampsia or HELLP like me, understand that they didn’t do anything to cause their children’s prematurity. That they couldn’t have predicted that premature birth would be a part of their journey or what they’d encounter in the NICU. It can be hard to cope but it’s okay to ask for what you need in the moment and to be your preemie’s advocate in the hospital and at home.
This isn’t an experience that others know much about until it happens to them or that people talk about when they’re not experiencing it themselves, but families should know that the silence doesn’t mean they are alone in this.
