Meet April, Preemie Parent Mentor
My preemie was born at: 24 weeks 2 days
Parent of Multiples: No
Our NICU Journey included: early prematurity, high risk Pregnancy, preterm labor scares,
feeding issues, gut issues, ROP, prolonged breathing issues
Our son was born 4 months early and our NICU stay was long and as bumpy as the medical staff told us it might be. And yet what I remember most about our micropreemie’s NICU stay was the peace I felt throughout our journey. It was a very intimate time for myself and my husband – we had to support one another and the experience really strengthened and stretched our faith. I think that doing your best to maintain a positive attitude can make a huge difference in your preemie’s own NICU stay as well as how you feel about it. It’s a scary feeling when your little one has to be in the NICU but it helps to realize that it’s where your baby will be safest, no matter how long their stay is.
I was moved to become a Graham’s Foundation Preemie Parent Mentor because I didn’t have peer support during our son’s time in the NICU. The thing I wanted most was to hear stories of hope and to know that there were other preemie parents who’d been where I was standing. Since our own NICU days we’ve met many people who traveled the same road and now I’m happy to be here for other preemie parents!
Micro-Preemie Support
The micropreemie journey can be like walking through a mine field for both preemies and their families. The moms and dads of the earliest babies celebrate not only the milestones, but also the minutes. Every hour in the early days is hard won. Every milestone met, a triumph. A micro-preemie parent’s courage and resilience may be tested to the very limits. The struggle may feel never-ending, but it’s important that parents know they are never alone.
