Bed Rest At the beginning of my twin pregnancy, I read a lot about bed rest. It's a pretty common occurrence in twin pregnancies, and honestly, it didn't seem to bad to me. Unfortunately, I didn't realize the full gravity of everything that would lead to bed rest. Bed rest isn't simply laying on the couch or in bed just for the fun of it, or just because you are … [Read more...]
Complicated Pregnancy: Severide’s Story
Complicated Pregnancy Premature birth can come unexpectadly, but often times it comes after a complicated pregnancy. This is so hard, as one highly emotional experience leads to another. So many different things can lead to a complicated pregnancy. Most of the time, even the doctors don't know why it happens. It can be hard not to blame yourself, but you did nothing … [Read more...]
Holding Everything Together: Luke’s Story
Holding Everything Together When you're in the NICU, everything is a struggle. Your sweet baby is trying to survive physically, while the parents are trying to do the same thing emotionally. Not to mention everything else in your life doesn't stop. There is work, school, family, and just day-to-day living obligations. Holding everything together during an experience like this … [Read more...]
Premature Mother’s Guilt: Merrick’s Story
Premature Mother's Guilt All mother's experience guilt at one time or another, but a premature mother's guilt can be overwhelming. Not only is there guilt about "normal" parenting decisions (like the guilt from choosing one feeding method over another, for example,) but there is guilt about the actual prematurity. Not being able to carry a baby to full-term can really play … [Read more...]
A Family Split Apart: Casey’s Story
Family Split Apart A family split apart for any reason is difficult. It's almost impossible when it's because the newest member is sick and in the hospital. Even though the birth of a baby is sometimes stressful, it's usually a very joyful time for a family. When the baby is born too early, too small, or too sick, it can be scary for everyone involved, especially the … [Read more...]