#PrematurityIs. . . .What it Means

Today is World Prematurity Day.  According to bliss.org, the theme for this year is #PrematurityIs. Our youngest son, Easton, was born at 33 weeks and 5 days. Over the course of Easton’s birth and life, I have learned so much more about prematurity and its implications. Some of these things I’ve learned through our personal journey, and others I’ve come to learn as I’ve learned more about prematurity as a whole.

This is what Prematurity is to me.

Prematurity is the birth of a baby before 37 weeks.

Prematurity is so much fear when you realize your baby will be born earlier than he should.

Prematurity is barely catching a glimpse of your baby as he’s whisked to the next room so that they can begin stabilizing him.

Prematurity is not being able to hold your new baby for days-sometimes longer.

Prematurity is seeing tubes and wires working to keep your baby alive.

Prematurity is learning more about oxygen levels, heart rates, and blood pressure than you ever cared to know.

Prematurity is weeks, if not months, in the NICU.

Prematurity is a whole lot of hand sanitizer.

Prematurity is waking up every 2 hours at night to pump, even though your baby can’t eat your milk yet.

Prematurity is counting grams and milliliters.

Prematurity is introducing your baby to his siblings, grandparents, aunt and uncles through the walls of an incubator.

Prematurity is holding your baby while he “eats” through a feeding tube.

Prematurity is learning to change a diaper and tuck the wires in just right.

Prematurity is sending a text to your entire family and posting on Facebook because your baby drank 5 MLs out of a bottle.

Prematurity is adding miles to your car driving back and forth from the hospital to home and then back again.

Prematurity is barely seeing your husband because you’re on opposite “shifts” so that someone is always with the older kids and the other parent is always with the baby.

Prematurity is trusting the NICU nurses to take care of your baby when you’re not able to be at the hospital!

Prematurity is sleeping on hospital couches and chairs.

Prematurity is two steps forward and one step back.

Prematurity is daily conversations with neonatologists about your baby’s progress and next steps.

Prematurity is shopping for teeny sleepers that snap to accommodate monitor cords.

Prematurity is crying happy tears when your baby drinks his first whole bottle.

Prematurity is saving that first bottle and displaying it like the great trophy that it is!
 

Prematurity is telling the NICU nurse “SHUT UP!!” when she tells you today is the day you can take your baby home!

Prematurity is finally taking your baby home and feeling the greatest sense of pride and joy!

Prematurity is a constant calculator in your head to factor in adjusted age when comparing your baby to others his age.

Prematurity is also the leading cause of death in children 5 years and younger.

Prematurity contributes to half of all neurological disabilities in children.

Prematurity is a worldwide epidemic.

Prematurity is all of this and so much more.

 

Sarah
Sarah has lived in the Omaha area her entire life. She currently lives in Papillion with her husband, Adam and their sons Turner, Camden, and Easton. Their son, Bennett, passed away shortly after his birth and is a cherished member of the family’s daily life. Currently a homeschooling stay at home mom, Sarah loves the hustle and bustle of life with all of her boys! There’s never a quiet moment! She loves baseball, football, reading, traveling (mostly to Disney World), Harry Potter, pretending to be organized with the help of her planner and long, quiet Starbucks enhanced walks around Target!