5 Ways To Help Preemie Parents

The birth of one's child is one of the happiest moments in a new parent's life. But for the parents of the 348,900  babies in the Philippines who were born prematurely, the moment is bittersweet. Worry immediately takes over as the baby is separated from his mother to receive proper care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). As a mom to preemie twins, I can tell you that the experience of having preemie babies in the NICU is terrifying. There are times when you feel isolated because your experiences are very different compared to your family and friends who gave birth to full term babies. This is why preemie parents also need a lot of help and support from their loved ones. November is Prematurity Awareness Month so if you know a family with a premature baby, here are some ways you can show them support:

5 Things A NICU Mom Should Know

September is Neonatal Intensive Care Awareness Month. It's a time to honor families going through a NICU stay and the health professionals who care for them. 

Our twins, Audrey and Antonino were born via C-section. They were 3 weeks early which required them to stay in the Intermediate Care Unit of the hospital's NICU. The twins are now 9 months old but I still find it difficult to look back at those 3 weeks without remembering the fear that I felt. A stay in the NICU can be one of the most stressful experiences in a mom's life and I think that one of the best gifts a NICU mom can receive is hope to help her get through it. Here are 5 things every NICU mom should know that can help her keep going.