A helpful reminder of how to get through the tough NICU days, and what might help your get through.

Happy Day everyone!

Now that we have had my son’s birthday, I cant help but think about the hard times that came with having my little blessing.

I was one day shy of 28 Weeks pregnant when I had my little boy, and it was the scariest day of my life!

When you start planning your delivery day you never think that something like this can happen yet there I was. I did everything right, I was very careful with what I ate, what I drank, and what I did. But that didn’t matter. I developed HELLP syndrome and my husband and I had to decide between my life and my sons. I remember that day like it was yesterday, and all I can say is that if my mother had not been there I don’t believe that my son and I would be alive today!

For all of you soon to be grandma’s out there, Follow your instincts! If something seams wrong with the soon to be MOMMA then you need to speak up! If my mother had not insisted that I have lab work done I would not have lived through the night.

How can HELLP syndrome be prevented

It cant, there is no clear reason for HELLP and there is no way to Prevent it other than delivering the baby!

My son was in the NICU for 2.5 Months, and boy did this have some bad affects on me. PTSD-YES, Post-partem Depression-YES, Anxiety- yes, Weight loss- Yes, Anger and resentment towards EVERYONE- yes. And there was no Controlling any of these things.

I had to find something to do to so that I could survive until my baby was home with me.

I only missed ONE day the entire time my little man was in the NICU and if I hadn’t gotten into a routine I would not have been able to survive the long days.

Here is what I did to make the days pass by.

Blank Calendar

We spent every day writing down what was happening. That way when when our little one is older he would know what happened during those first few months. I put everything on here; the start of Night and Day, First bath, Who visited, eye exam, when the Bibap went on, when the vent came off ect. It help me see that things were happening and that I couldn’t loose hope.

Coloring book

Everyday After Lunch, before I was able to hold my son I would read and color a verse from this book. Then I would hang it around his room so that I could see them every day! This helped remind me that God was in this place and watching over my baby boy!

Lunch Box Cooler

We were BROKE after our son was born, in the NICU you weren’t allowed to eat in the room so I had to do something to save money and Keep myself fed to I could keep my milk supply up. I used this bag to bring in milk or take home milk, keep my food cold, and it helped me keep my mind on something else by being a reminder of needing to pump, or to go eat, ect. This seems to be a little ridiculous now but when your going through this event the littlest thing helps.

Anxiety reliving crossword book

One of my closest Church friend bought this for me, it really got me through the times when I felt like I was going to LOOSE my mind. This was a good way to try and relax.

Devotional

While I had MANY devotionals that I went through, But this one was one of my top 3. It really helps you open your eyes and realize that you are not alone in any of this.

The other thing that helped me get through was knowing that I was not the first person who went through this and that I wouldn’t be the last. I found someone to talk to who had been through this and who helped me figure out that this wants in my control. I learned that I had to let God take over and guide me though this.

God Bless all the NICU moms and Babies!

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