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Meet Carmen, Preemie Mom

November is World Prematurity Month. To honour and support the moms of preemies, we are sharing stories of moms who’ve been there and who can offer support from the other side of a long road. This is Carmen’s story.

 

Tell us about the day your baby was born.

We had a scare at 32 weeks. I had to spend the night in hospital. The nurse thought I was having contractions. Thankfully it was not. My bubs had growth restriction, My gynecologist was going on holiday the next day… and wanted to see us… That afternoon I met the gynecologist who would deliver our bubs in the late morning. I was fine until I was taken into theater. I was shaking so much that I do not know how they did the epidural. The pain… oh my word… they had to stop and wait a few minutes… They then proceeded. It felt like I was lying there for hours. I was staring at the clock.  Finally our son was born. The cord was around his neck..He was so tiny but yet so perfect..After spending my time in the recovery room I was taken back to the ward. It was visiting time… The room was full of visitors. I was out of it.

 

Can you describe some of the emotions you experienced during the early days and weeks with your baby?

We went home on the the third day. I was in a lot of pain but happy to be at home. On the third day I noticed our baby Daniel was not crying as he usually did when we bathed him. I asked my hubby to phone the pediatrician. He said I was being paranoid… but he will have a look. He examined Daniel and said he could not find anything wrong. I was not happy so he booked him into Constantiaberg for tests. Hardest thing I had to do was leave my baby there.They discovered that his sucking reflex was not developed enough. They had to tube feed him. He spent 8 long days in hospital. I gave up breastfeeding him as it was just too much for me at the time.

 

Do you have any words of encouragement for a mom who is currently waiting for her baby to come home?

Enjoy the time you are able to spend with your baby. Appreciate the nurses and doctors that are doing great jobs at looking after many tiny bundles of joy. Take one day at a time. Soon your baby will be home. Take time for yourself. Your baby needs you to be strong.

 

Read more stories like this one.

Image credit: César Abner Martínez Aguilar on Unsplash