NICU Awareness Month

Hello Friends,
The month of September is NICU awareness month, and I figured it was the perfect time to share the story of my two NICU warriors. 

After my son was born prematurely at twenty-eight weeks over nineteen years ago, I thought that my life as a NICU mom was a part of my life that I would never relieve again! Unfortunately, I went back to the NICU for another 55 days after my youngest child was born when I was only thirty weeks pregnant! 
 
When I was told by doctors, in both pregnancies, that I was experiencing a High-Risk Pregnancy, and that I needed to be on strict bed rest. I followed every instruction given to me by my Doctors. Even at eighteen years old with my first pregnancy, I knew that my baby's life depended on me. I did everything I could to stay pregnant for as long as possible. Unfortunately, there was nothing else to do since I had Cervical insufficiency with both pregnancies! It's the reason why both of my kids were born prematurely. 
 
Having a High-Risk Pregnancy with my youngest child was a lot harder for me! I got pregnant with Little Penny after the second round of IVF. After a painful and stressful journey of infertility, I was finally blessed with a miracle baby! The last thing I wanted to hear was that I was having a second High-Risk Pregnancy. I was devastated because I knew what was ahead.
 
Both pregnancies were very similar. I was put on bed rest when I was around twenty-weeks pregnant. With my oldest, I was on bed rest at home until my water broke. With Little Penny, I did about five weeks of bed rest at home, and then I was admitted to the hospital where I continued bed rest for the remainder of my pregnancy. 

​Being a NICU mom changed me forever! Everything became so different after I experienced life in the NICU. Watching my children fight for survival gave me a new appreciation for life. I will never forget the sights and sounds; it all become part of me forever! 
I would spend my entire day in the NICU every day. I would go home at night and cry because I missed them so much. I remember, hoping and praying that today was the day that my babies came back with me. Every night that I went home without them was incredibly heartbreaking! I do consider myself to be one of the lucky ones because eventually, my kids got to come home.
 
I thank God every day, because even though my kids were born prematurely, they had no major health complications at birth. I am incredibly thankful for all the NICU nurses and doctors; they watched and cared for my kids like they were their own. 

My heart goes out to all the NICU moms because I lived it, not once, but twice. No one could ever prepare you for life in the NICU, but if you need me, I'm here for you!

I'm looking forward to our next chat!
XO-Cinthia