11/17/2023
It’s still hard for me to look back on photos of Zelie’s birth, even to remember
I’m not of the opinion that all that matters is a healthy baby. No matter how long your baby spent in the nicu, it changes you as a mother.
When Zelie graduated from the nicu, I was thrilled to have her home, but there was/is a lot to work through from that experience. And like most things, you have to do it while the world steams full speed ahead. I’ve learned you have to allow yourself the grace to feel whatever emotion you need to feel, whenever it might hit. That others might not allow you that same grace because you came home with a healthy baby and you should appreciate that.
While I mourn the loss of an experience I had hoped for and time without Zelie, I’m also able to appreciate the empathy I’ve gained from all this. It helps me support mothers better. Mothers can support their healthy baby coming home, but who is going to help support that mother until she is healthy again, no matter if it’s 2 months or 5 years?
Hugs to all the parents of premature babies out there. Especially to the ones who never got to bring their sweet babies home 👼🏻
