Premature is premature

Premature birth, the number 1 killer of infants. I wish I didn’t have first hand experience with this, but I do.

It’s funny, though not really funny, that I have had two premature babies, but I often forget that my first child was also born premature because I am fixated on Hunter being a micropreemie and having not survived because of this.

Xander was also premature, but because his hospital stay was shorter and easier (in hindsight), it is often forgotten. Because he is here, and you would never know it now. At the time, though, we were so scared. When the doctors told me that I was in labour and that he was coming, I think my heart skipped a beat and I was worried, because it was too early.

I remember when Hunter was alive and fighting in the NICU saying, “man what I would give for a 34 weeker”. But when I had that 34 weeker 4 years prior I was just as terrified as I was with my 24 weeker. The biggest difference is that my 34 weeker got better and it was happy news when talking with doctors; versus my 24 weeker, where it ended in devastation and meetings with doctors were just the worst.

In the end though premature is premature. No matter how premature or sick your baby is, you are terrified for their lives. You are terrified of the unknown. You are terrified what is going to happen next. You are terrified that you have to leave your baby in the care of someone other than yourself.

So today on World Prematurity Day, we will celebrate all of the preemies that fought their battles and won; and we will also remember the ones who fought their battles but just didn’t make it.

Premature is premature and premature fights like hell. I am a proud premature parent!