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Preemie Books
The
Preemie Parents Companion: The Essential Guide to Caring for Your Premature Baby
in the Hospital, at Home, and Through the First Years by Susan L Madden M.S,
William Sears MD, Jane E Stewart MD
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Wanting to share my "preemie" experience with the world, I looked to the Internet. I found a lot of people who share the same experiences as my family went through...twice. After the birth of my first child I felt scared, alone and wasn't sure if we were even going to be able to bring a baby home from the hospital. The second time, with support from friends and family I did not feel alone. My support, aside from my family came from other parents of preemies. Upon searching the Internet I have found that my views are common and are shared by many from all over the world. But one issue divides us as discussed in an online e-mail community, Gawkers. The question was posed, "How do you deal with gawkers?" You know who they are, the well-meaning people who think that your four-month-old is a newborn. The dear grandmotherly types who feel the need to "touch that cute TINY baby." And, last but not least, those who just cannot pass up the need to feed curiosity by asking, "What are those?" while referring to oxygen tubes, apnea monitor leads, traches, or other medically necessary shreds of a preemie's daily routine. There are some who are embarrassed to discuss the circumstances around their baby's birth. It's as though we have to make excuses for small stature, or medical imperfections. When asked how old their baby is, they have admittedly given the adjusted age as opposed to the actual age to prevent questions or comments on the baby's size, or developmental delays. How are we going to promote preemie awareness like this? I urge you to take this opportunity and educate. And then, there are those people who like myself insert the preemie topic at any given moment. At my three-year-old son's ice skating lessons, one mom got more than she bargained for; she simply stated, "He is skating so well, and is so big. He looks like a hockey player." With that I answered, "Thanks, we are sure proud of him, he was born 10 weeks early..." I am so very proud of both my "Early Blessings". I am proud that they are here. I am proud that through the tough obstacles of prematurity, they have emerged as healthy and developmentally on-target kids. I am proud to admit that they have taught me a lot about life, as near as we have come to losing it. I feel that I was blessed with my little men to help teach others about prematurity, the United State's second leading cause of infant mortality.
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