So So true. All really great points. It’s up to you if you feel emotionally ready to talk to other parents at get togethers, but I agree with finding a way to disconnect from the baby’s isolette if only for 15 good minutes. It’s hard to pull yourself away, but it’s necessary for everyone’s sanity. Warning: this is SO MUCH harder to do than it sounds, but you can do it.
Having a baby in the NICU is an intense experience that hits you like a giant slap in the face. Then it waits for you to shake it off, and it dropkicks you in the stomach. Not only are you heartbroken and terrified and desperate to see your baby grow and develop and eventually be discharged, you are also constantly on the verge of losing your mind completely from the stress and exhaustion and worry and all the emotional ups and downs.
The good news is that there are many (many!) of us who have been through it, and we’ve learned a few things about how to hang in there. And while no families have the exact same experience, there is a lot of overlap in how parents tend to feel during a NICU stay. So if you are pregnant, have a baby in the NICU, or know someone who does, hopefully this…
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The Tangerine Owl Project 