World Prematurity Day A Different Type of Caregiving

Premature babies are not necessarily related to elderly caregiving.

 Except that they are at a higher risk for brain disorders later in life. Possibly even dementia.

Even so, this post is a just a shout out to premature babies everywhere. You go, little fighters!

My Preemies

I am the mother of twin preemies. Born at

36 weeks, which is really good for twins! But they were only a mere 4 pounds at birth, and the younger weighed just over 3 pounds when we brought her home. We were very lucky, in that only one twin had to go to NICU, and that was just for two days. Both babies got to come home with us when they were four days old.

My heart goes out to all the moms, dads, siblings and grandparents of preemies who are spending a lot longer in NICU. I wish the best to all of you!

Issues From Prematurity

Even though we got to come home, we still had problems. They were so tiny that they struggled to stay warm, to eat, and to sleep comfortably. Their little bodies were still underdeveloped and sensitive!

They both struggled with jaundice hypoglycemia.

My older twin was diagnosed this year with epilepsy, cranial stenosis and chiari malformation. That means that her skull began fusing too early, and has put some pressure on her brain. She has seizures often, and sometimes she will just pass out for no obvious reason.

Now they are 18 months old, and you wouldn't know they started off with a few bumps in their path. They are active, chatty daredevils.

Depending on how she progresses this year, my daughter may have to have surgery. So far, the seizures are mostly controlled by medication. So one of my caregiving roles is being he mother of a child with epilepsy. Scary!

Here are my premature babies:

Small enough to share a swing, a baby carrier, or a small bassinet

Now they tell me what to buy

Remember to show support for World Prematurity Day, for families who are struggling with the pain of being separated from their babies, and for the amazing medical professionals that save these tiny (but incredibly strong) lives!