As I sit here, drowned out from a very busy day juggling school drop offs, kinder visits, work, study, dinners, washing, cleaning and the odd sibling argument I realise that the memory of both of them being little visitors has become very distant. Small things remind me off the heart break experienced of leaving your…
Winnie was born at 29 weeks, weighing just 1090 grams I had always planned to breastfeed if I could. For many years before I fell pregnant, this was part of my imagined future with my baby. But when I was admitted to hospital with pre-eclampsia at 27 weeks, and told that the little girl inside…
Its been 10 months since I started expressing milk for my son Etienne. T-E-N M-O-N-T-H-S. I’m so grateful that I was able to continue for this long, but if I told you I wanted to dropkick my breastpump out of the door I don’t think that would quite convey my feelings towards it. I have…
Deb Discenza is the Founder of PreemieWorld, created to help bridge the gap between parent and professional in the NICU, at home and beyond. With books, videos, and other products and tools, Deb and PreemieWorld hope to make everyone’s life just a little bit easier as the “new normal” is created in the life of the preemie…
The following story, about breastfeeding premature twin babies in the NICU is reblogged with the kind permission of Marian Hazel. In her blog, The Hut Chronicles, she talks about babies, good food, motherhood, gardens, flowers, baking, recipes, and her dogs. In the first few weeks after the girls were born Kanga cuddles were the highlight of…
There is no doubting all the emotions and thoughts that surge through you as a new Dad. Pride, fear, love, apprehension, excitement. Is the baby OK? Is Mum OK? Who do I call first? Where am I supposed to stand? Where did I leave the car? Your head is a whirlpool of conflicting thoughts and…
The following story is reblogged with the kind permission of Leigh Kendall. In her blog Headspace-Perspective. Leigh talks candidly about the loss of her son Hugo, HELLP syndrome, premature birth and many other issues. She also blogs for the Huffington Post. Hugo was born at 24 weeks because I had HELLP syndrome and pre-eclampsia. In the days between the…
Before I became pregnant, and during my pregnancy, I would have told anyone who would listen that I would be breastfeeding my baby. I had heard the mantra ‘breast is best’ so many times and wholeheartedly agree. I never imagined for a second that breastfeeding my baby may not have been an option. At Alexander’s…
My pregnancy was a very long awaited and wanted one, and we were cautious. We told almost no one – including family – until we were reasonably sure that everything was OK, which in practice meant we told people at 17+2 weeks after getting the amnio results. All was well, although our baby was on…
After having one prem baby already, I was pretty determined to not have another. Not because Having my 31 weaker was horrific, he was very strong! But because I didn’t want to pump! There was no reason found for Atticus being born early and no reason for this pregnancy to be early too. But I…
I watched my baby grow through a perspex window. Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. I learned how slippery time could be in neonatal intensive care (NICU). Horror-filled seconds would expand with the shriek of an alarm, only for precious hours to melt away when his breath was close to mine. My…
At 26 weeks and 4 days gestation I was told to come into the hospital so my blood pressure could be gotten under control. I’d been on oral meds for two days, but it was going up, not down. I knew it was likely I’d be there a day or two as even though it hadn’t…
