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:
Offer to create an update group. This way, parents can share
updates with family and friends without having to repeat their story again and
again.
Offer to prepare the baby's things. Since preemie babies
come early, preparations for the baby's arrival may be incomplete. My
sisters-in-law and mother-in-law handwashed the twins' stuff while I was in the
hospital to make sure all their clothes, booties, mittens and caps were clean
and ready to wear. My mom took charge of preparing our room to make sure
everything was ready when we finally came home with the twins.
Encourage mom in her breastfeeding journey. Some preemie babies may not be ready to nurse right away
which means mom will have to rely on pumping round-the-clock to establish milk
supply. Be there to encourage her and if milk supply becomes a challenge, help
look for donor milk. We're so grateful that our family and friends helped us in
finding milk donations from other generous mommies who were willing to give us
milk even if they haven't even met us or the twins yet!
Respect the quarantine. It takes time for preemies to build
immunity. Because of this, preemie parents may not be able to invite visitors
over to see the babies right away. And when they finally do, expect to be asked
to comply to certain rules like washing your hands thoroughly and using
alcohol, not wearing perfume and sometimes even wearing a mask. Please
understand that we're not being irrationally overprotective. These are simply doctor's orders to protect a preemie baby's
health.
Tell them they're doing an awesome job. Preemie parents are
under a lot of stress. Some preemie moms even feel guilt for not being able to
carry their babies to term. Show support by telling them what an awesome job
they're doing. Your words will definitely provide comfort during a difficult
time.
No comments