  September is Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Awareness Month. This month is designed to honor families who have experienced the NICU and celebrate the professionals who care for them. This month is special to me, because I have two miracle babies that spent 55 and 65 days in the NICU. While I feel that every month with my children is a celebration of how amazing the care received from the NICU can be, this month I want to do a little bit more to raise awareness. If you would like to as well, here are 4 ways you can spread the NICU love.
Tell Your NICU Story If you have a NICU baby in your life, use this month as a reason to tell the story in person, or online. One of the most prevalent feelings reported by NICU parents is that of loneliness. Hearing another’s NICU tale can really help combat these feelings. Sharing can certainly help someone else, and it might just provide a little healing for you too. Spread the Word Take to social media to spread the word about NICU Awareness Month and organizations that are making a difference like Project Sweet Peas. Project Sweet Peas is a national non-profit organization coordinated by volunteers, that provides support to families of premature or sick infants and to those who have been affected by pregnancy and infant loss. They established NICU Awareness Month in 2014. Make a Donation So many of the organizations that help NICU families are non-profits. A great way to celebrate NICU Awareness Month is by making a financial donation to these organizations. I suggest the Preemie Parent Alliance, a network of organizations offering support to families of premature infants. YOu can make a donation through their website here. Give Back If your baby was in the NICU for 1 day or 100 days, you know how difficult that experience can be. Receiving a small gift or a book to read to your baby while in the NICU can really brighten your day. Consider collecting funds from friends, family, and colleagues, to buy children’s books or personal care products (think dry shampoo, chapstick, snacks, and hand sanitizer) to give to current NICU families. I hope you will join me in celebrating all NICU babies, their families, and the amazing health professionals that care for them this September.  Regardless of how you ultimately choose to feed your baby, if your baby is born early you will probably be encouraged to start pumping breast milk right away. Preemies need more calories and nutrients to help them grow quickly. In addition to providing nourishment, breast milk can also help reduce the risk of NEC, build immunity, and prevent infection. Few preemies are able to feed from the breast or a bottle right away. Therefore, expressing your breast milk and providing it to the NICU in both it’s fresh and frozen form is an important part of your child’s medical care. But, it is not easy. Pumping is a labor of love and requires a great deal of commitment and time. I am not a medical expert, but I did pump exclusively for my preemie twins for 15 months. Here are a few of my tips and favorite products to help make things easier.
Start pumping as soon as possible after your baby’s birth When I arrived in my hospital room post c-section, there was a breast pump and a lactation consultant waiting for me. I started pumping right away. It took several days for my milk to come in, but pumping early and often was vital for establishing supply. Every single drop was taken to my babies in the NICU. Establish and maintain a pumping schedule In the beginning, you will need to pump at least every 2-3 hours around the clock. It is hard to set an alarm and wake up in the middle of the night to pump, but a schedule that mimics the newborn feeding pattern will help to maintain and grow your supply with your preemie. As your baby grows and needs to eat less frequently, your pumping frequency will change as well. Find support A lactation consultant and your baby’s medical care team are great resources. They can provide you with any specific guidelines you need to follow when expressing and storing your breast milk. Also, make sure to discuss with them how you intend to feed your baby post hospital, so they can prepare and support you in that decision. Lactation consultants are not only available during a hospital stay, you can contact them at any time. They can also help you to identify the signs and symptoms of plugged milk ducts and mastitis, both of which are quite painful and can hurt your supply. Accept the difficulty I have said it before, but it bears repeating. Pumping is hard! It can certainly feel like all you have time to do in a day is eat and pump. And there may be times during this journey when that is true! But if pumping for your baby is what you want or need to do, it can be rewarding and successful. Pumping Products Hands-free Pumping Bra- If you are going to be spending any amount of time pumping breast milk for your preemie, a hands-free pumping bra is a must. Every Momma can benefit from multitasking while pumping. Hospital Grade Pump- A powerful breast pump and a lactation consultant will set you on the road to success. And remember, you don’t need to buy a hospital grade pump. You can rent a pump for a monthly fee, which may be covered by health insurance. Car Adapter- At some point, you will want to leave the house. Being able to pump on the go can provide you with some much-deserved freedom. Insulated Bag- An insulated cooler bag is necessary for transporting pumped and frozen milk to and from the hospital. Breastmilk Storage Bags- Most hospitals will provide specific storage containers for breast milk while your baby is admitted. But once home, you will need something to keep milk in until you are ready to use it. Some women prefer a storage bag because they take up less space and are less expensive than storing in a bottle. Remember to label for future reference. Convenient Pump Cleaning- Keeping your pump parts clean is important especially when you are pumping for a preemie. If you are making trips back and forth to the NICU, you might not always have access to soap and water. Cleaning wipes formulated especially to clean pump parts are great in a pinch. Sterilization bags that go right in the microwave and are quick and easy to use. Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item. *this is not an endorsement of any product, just what worked for me  Summer is finally here, which means long days playing outside. While I love enjoying nature with my family, the sun is always a concern. As someone who lived in Florida for several years, I know about the damage the sun can do. So I take sun protection very seriously. If you are looking for a little respite from the sun, here are my favorite products. 1. Sunday Afternoon Play Hat- My favorite hats for kids, and I have tried many. They stay on, don't make the kids too sweaty, and have a safety release on the strap. They are also adjustable, so they can be worn for many years.
2. Long Sleeve Rash Guard- This is a must for us. Because sunscreen has it's limitations, my kids and I always wear protective clothing. There are many places to find long sleeve rash guards, but for kids, I like a budget option because you only wear them for one season. 3. Pop Up Tent- This is a new addition to my summer must-haves. If you have babies or young children, shade really is essential. There are options that are lighter/ easier to transport, but I like that this is large enough for my whole family and doesn't blow away on the beach. 4. EWG's Sunscreen Guide- The Environmental Working Group publishes a list of the safest and most effective sunscreens each year. It's a great resource. 5. Huaaniue Swim Hat- These hats are perfect for the pool or beach. They are made of quick-drying material and provide extra sun protection with a nice long neck flap. Some of the links are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item. "Your babies are not counting the hours and keeping score."  The inability to bond with a baby in the NICU is a common concern that many parents experience. Often your time in the NICU with your baby is limited by work schedules, other children at home to care for, and the time it takes to travel to and from the hospital. And if your already limited time is further divided by multiple babies in the NICU, you may be doubting your ability to form a strong, healthy connection. This was a fear I confronted during my twins’ NICU stay. Over the course of the 2 months they were in the hospital I employed several simple strategies that helped me to split my time without sacrificing our bond.
Stagger the Babies’ Care Schedules Once your babies are strong enough you should be able to change their diapers, check their body temperature, dress them and eventually feed them. Ask the nurses to stagger each babies’ schedules so you are able to take part in as much care of each twin as possible. Communicate with your nurses when you plan on visiting the NICU, so care activities can be saved for and completed by you. Keep Babies’ Isolettes Close As long as it doesn’t compromise their care, most NICUs will try to keep siblings close together. For the majority of my twins’ hospitalization, their isolettes were side by side. This made spending time with both of them simultaneously so much easier. Position a comfy chair in between the beds and both babies can benefit from your presence. Simultaneous Kangaroo Care The hallmark of bonding is physical touch. And for NICU babies, this often means snuggling skin-to-skin. Kangaroo care has many health benefits for preemies including stabilizing heart rates, improving oxygen saturation and regulation of body temperature. Whenever possible, I would do kangaroo care with both babies together. They benefited from the cuddles with me as well as each other. Recruit a Holder Occasionally, you may need to provide undivided attention to one baby. When this occurs, recruit a family member, partner, or close friend to come and hold the other baby. Being held by someone who loves them, even if it’s not you is beneficial. Each NICU has different policies, but most allow approved guests to visit. Asking for help is part of being a parent of multiples, so you might as well start now! Use Your Voice There may be times when your babies are not stable enough to be held. At these times, remember the power of your voice. Babies can recognize their mother’s voice at 22 weeks gestation. Hearing a familiar voice promotes attachment, produces a calming effect, and can counteract all the background noise from alarms and equipment. Talk or sing to your babies. You can even record yourself telling a story to play for your babies when you are gone. They love the sound of your voice, even if you don’t. Position yourself between your babies and chat them up. Read Bring several of your favorite children’s books and read to them. Studies show that reading to babies in the NICU reduces stress and aids in brain development. This is another great activity that all your preemies can enjoy together. Music With permission from the medical staff, you can put together a playlist of soothing music. This is useful if you are unable to be with them, or are needing to focus on one baby at a time. Scent An additional bonding tool that doesn’t require your physical presence is scent. Scent can help babies identify and attach to their parents. Many NICUs provide fabric hearts, or a lovey that you can put in your shirt to pick up your unique scent. This is placed in your babies’ beds to cuddle and smell. If your hospital doesn’t provide such a device, ask what you could use that would be safe for your babies. Feeling like there is not enough of you to go around when you have multiple babies in the NICU is understandable. Balancing life, work, family, and sick children is daunting. But your babies are adaptable. Your babies are not counting the hours and keeping score. Do your best to be present with them, whenever you can, and know that what you give them will be enough. "When I discovered the need, it became my passion. I began to research and design a line of preemie clothing that would genuinely address their unique requirements and sizing." ~Cressie Baerg, Preemie Store  As I sit and write this article for our guest blog post for Ali the founder of Me Two Books, I am struck with the realization that I have been making preemie clothing longer than some of the mother’s that might be reading this blog post have been alive! Some would feel it is time to retire, but when you are doing something you love, why quit?! The question then is asked, "How did you get started making preemie clothing?" "Did you have a preemie?” No, I didn’t have a preemie. Actually, someone I knew in the church I was attending, had a preemie baby, and nobody was able to find any suitable or affordable clothing for it. I told them, "I can make preemie clothes!" You see, I had sewn all my life, from my own clothes to clothing for my 3 children. When I discovered the need, it became my passion. I began to research and design a line of preemie clothing that would genuinely address their unique requirements and sizing. Of course, I don't personally sew everything we manufacture today! We've far outgrown what I can produce alone. We have a team of great people that manufacture our preemie clothes right here in the USA. We offer our Perfectly Preemie line in 3 sizes - starting at just 1-2.5 pounds. We make many of our items to be as NICU-Friendly as possible, with open shoulders, quick velcro closures providing easy dressing. We also offer fun dresses and playsuits plus we are hoping to add some great outerwear options this next winter, as well as some more fun ideas. Last fall we acquired the Preemie Store and now have combined our great Perfectly Preemie line to the over 36+ brands carried on the Preemie Store. We want parents to be able to find anything they might need for their little miracles in one place. Things have changed in so many ways over the 26+ years we have been working with preemie families. The biggest advance has been the internet and the ability to have an online store that is open to parents 24/7. This has been very nice for preemie parents who spend most of their time in the NICU not allowing them time shop at a physical store from 9-5. Most brick and mortar stores carry very little preemie clothing anyway, because preemies are still a small percentage of all live births. I also now have the privilege of working alongside my daughter, Melissa who was in elementary school when I started. She takes care of all the order fulfillment, customer service, and so much more. It is a real joy to know the stores are in such good hands with someone who has been with me along this beautiful journey as long as I have. She is planning to take over whenever I am ready to retire, the problem is I have no intent at this time! You see I just love what I do. Along with Melissa, my wonderful husband Kevin helps out with all the bookkeeping, and marketing strategy. We are a small business with a great big heart for preemie families. The best part is hearing back from parents and families with pictures and stories of how having such cute, and easy to use preemie clothing has made a difficult situation so much better! Check out all the great things offered at Preemie Store today, www.preemiestore.com. "Kangaroo Care means holding your baby skin-to-skin on your chest."  Chances are if you have never spent time in a NICU, you have no idea what Kangaroo Care means.
Chances are if you have spent time in a NICU, some of your favorite moments happened during Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care means holding your baby skin-to-skin on your chest. It is the way many NICU parents spend hours of their day. What is so amazing about this special therapy, is it not only promotes bonding, it actually helps regulate the baby’s body temperature and breathing. I found Kangaroo Care so rewarding because it was a way for my body, which had failed to keep my baby safe on the inside, to start to heal my baby on the outside. A true exercise in redemption. One of my favorite memories of the 65 long days that my preemies spent in the NICU happened during Kangaroo Care. About 2 weeks after my 28 weekers were born, I was finally able to hold them both together. A lovely reunion for two babies that missed snuggling each other. It was no easy feat to get two preemies comfortable on my chest with all of their leads and wires. A team of nurses placed one baby and then the next, situating them just so under a layer of blankets. And then, one twin’s tiny twig of an arm reached out in a healing hug, and they embraced each other. The monitors were quiet as we all snuggled together. We were going to stay that way for a while. Books are a wonderful way to introduce a variety of career options to young kids. Here's a collection of my favorites.  Little People, Big Dreams Series
Little People, BIG DREAMS is a best-selling series of books and educational games that explore the lives of outstanding people, from designers and artists to scientists and activists. All of them achieved incredible things, yet each began life as a child with a dream. Clothesline Clues to the Jobs People Due Who wears what to work? The clues in each lively verse can be spotted hanging from the clotheslines. A mail carrier’s uniform, the artist’s brushes, and the chef’s apron all hang from the clothesline. Then turn the page to learn which professionals wear and use the special gear in the jobs they do. Clever illustrations show the workers helping one another, and in the end, everyone joins together for a celebration that is out of this world. A perfect choice for reading aloud and encouraging kids to join in the guessing and reveal. Who Will I Be? When Isabel’s teacher asks her students who they want to be when they grow up, Isabel doesn’t have an answer. Isabel knows it makes her happy to help her friends, neighbors, and family—but can a person really grow up to be a helper? It’s time for Isabel to open her eyes and her heart and see all the different jobs people do: the police officers, firefighters, soldiers, teachers, doctors, and clergy who dedicate their lives to helping people every day. The Career Explorer "What do you want to be when you grow up?" This is a common and favorite topic of discussion for kids. It's never to early to start talking about how and why people do the work they do. The Career Explorer is a book that introduces children to the basic principles of the career development process. With the help of Mae Morer, the career explorer, children learn that choosing a career is a life-long process that starts with looking inside themselves at their values, interests, personality, and skills. Colorful geometric illustrations and rhyming text highlight a selection of possible careers in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, art, and math). Jobs Around Town Searching for the perfect job, the Bear siblings learn to celebrate the many talents of others and begin to imagine where their own gifts will take them as they grow. When I Grow Up One night while getting ready for bed a little boy starts to wonder what will life be like when he grows up. He could be a painter, a musician, a mountain climber, a mayor. He tells his mother all about his big ideas…and all of the other things he wants to do. But when will he grow up? And why does it take so long? Astronaut Annie Annie's joyful exuberance and her family's whole-hearted support leave no doubt that her dream is within her grasp. This delightful story―with backmatter about women astronauts―encourages young readers to pursue their dreams and reach for the stars. Iggy Peck, Architect Some kids sculpt sand castles. Some make mud pies. Some construct great block towers. But none are better at building than Iggy Peck, who once erected a life-size replica of the Great Sphinx on his front lawn! It’s too bad that few people appreciate Iggy’s talent—certainly not his second-grade teacher, Miss Lila Greer. It looks as if Iggy will have to trade in his T square for a box of crayons . . . until a fateful field trip proves just how useful a mast builder can be. When I Grow Up It’s Show-and-Tell time in Mrs. Krupp’s class, and Billy just can’t wait for his turn! Today the class is discussing what they want to be when they grow up, and our exuberant eight-year-old hero is bursting to tell everyone about his future career plans. The Boy Who Loved Math Most people think of mathematicians as solitary, working away in isolation. And, it's true, many of them do. But Paul Erdos never followed the usual path. At the age of four, he could ask you when you were born and then calculate the number of seconds you had been alive in his head. But he didn't learn to butter his own bread until he turned twenty. Instead, he traveled around the world, from one mathematician to the next, collaborating on an astonishing number of publications. With a simple, lyrical text and richly layered illustrations, this is a beautiful introduction to the world of math and a fascinating look at the unique character traits that made "Uncle Paul" a great man. ABC What Can She Be Each page introduces a letter of the alphabet and highlights a career that is fun, challenging, and makes a big impact in its own way. A boldly illustrated, fun family read, ABC What Can She Be? is a great way for parents to introduce their small children to the bright futures before them. Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item.  Before I was a mother to preemie twins, and a children’s book author, I was a career counselor. During my 8+ years in the profession, I worked with hundreds of young adults struggling to select majors, choose careers, and plan their futures. Many of these students were experiencing significant distress over these decisions. Of course, this was understandable, because there is a perception that you must choose the perfect career. But career research tells us that this perception is false, and most people have several completely different careers throughout their professional life. One thing that always struck me was that after a few meetings, students began to relax. Once they were introduced to the career development process, the stress decreased and they were able to create a plan to find a career that was a good fit for them at this point in their life. If only they had been introduced to the career development process earlier. Perhaps they could have avoided a great deal of stress and unrealistic expectations.
The career development process is the same whether you are 5 or 50 years old. And it is never too early to discuss with children why and how people do the work that they do. In fact, around 3-4 years of age, is the ideal time to introduce the basic tenets of career exploration. This is the age where pretend play is developing, and many parents begin to notice an interest in careers and the future. Here are a few things that parents can do to foster a healthy sense of career development in young children. Learn About the Career Development Process The career development process begins with self-awareness. One must know their own values, interests, personality, and skills. Without this information, a career decision is incomplete. Often times people are making career decisions based on one or two of these factors (typically interests and skills). Parents can assist their children by helping them build self-awareness in all 4 areas. Encourage Exploration When children are young, exploration is key. Career decision is many years away, so the focus at this age is exposure to as much as possible. One simple way to do this, is by reading books about different careers. Encourage children to explore what they like, what they are good at, and even what they aren’t so good at. Interest and skills can take years to develop, so why not start now. Early exploration builds skills, career awareness, and a variety of interests. All of which will be beneficial down the road. Share Your Own Career Experiences A very easy way parents can help their children in the career development process is to share their own experiences. Make sure you are sharing what your work day was like, and what you enjoy about your job. Stay Positive Children go through many phases before a career idea ultimately sticks. Regardless of what your child is currently “in” to, it’s best to always talk about it in a positive way. I can’t tell you the number of college students that I have counseled that have found their passion, but it’s not accepted by their families. I advise parents to always come from a place of support. There are plenty of people and factors that will tell your child that they can’t do something. What they need from you is unconditional support. Career development is a life-long process. Its never too early to start helping young children understand the steps. If you want more information, I have many more resources to assist parents, including an Introduction to Career Development eCourse. Check out www.metwobooks.com for more. March is National Reading Month! In honor of this, I am sharing some of my favorite children's books for preemies.  There is no denying the joy of reading. Reading can be an important activity to aid in bonding with your hospitalized baby, and also provides some pretty amazing benefits for your child. Research suggests that story time promotes brain development, reduces stress, and starts building the skills needed to talk and eventually read.
Reading to my preemies was one of the things that I enjoyed most while my twins were in the NICU. It made me feel like a “normal” parent and I could block out all the noise and imagine that I sitting in my children’s nursery reading to them instead of a hospital. It helped me forget about the stress, if at least temporarily. While there are certainly many lovely children’s books available, reading a book about a preemie, to a preemie is a special experience. Here are a few of my favorites to begin building a library for your littlest bundle of joy. Lily’s Hope- by Jennifer Driscoll and Lily Driscoll This children's book follows the experiences of Lilian Hope and her little brother, Aidan Patrick, both born prematurely. "Hope means wishing for good things to happen," Lily says, as she realizes hope has followed her since the day she was born. Lily and Aidan share hope in their non-profit organization, Lily's Hope Foundation, that supports families with premature babies. Once Upon a Preemie- by Jenné Johns This short inspirational book is written for parents whose children were born prematurely, and had a NICU stay. The book is a bedside companion to support any parent who faces the roller coaster ride of nurturing a preemie baby in the hospital until they go home. Once Upon A Preemie offers encouraging messages of hope, faith, and love. Peanut- by Lindsay Nolan "Little baby, I understand that life never goes exactly as planned, and that something so little can be something so grand." This is a story for small but mighty preemie babies. It's a story about love. Go Preemies- by AP Male Go Preemies! was written for preemies of all ages as a fun, inspirational and educational guide that highlights the world-changing accomplishments that preemies have achieved, and can achieve, despite the challenges of their preterm birth. Written and illustrated by two adult preemies. Soon- by Jessica Watson "Soon" takes the reader on a hopeful journey, honoring the fighting spirit of a preemie along the way. Beautiful, realistic illustrations give a glimpse into the NICU world without overwhelming young children with too many tubes and wires. Families will treasure time spent turning the pages of "Soon" together and smiling with pride at how far they have come. I Was a Preemie Just Like You- by Ali Dunn I Was a Preemie Just Like You is a sweet children's book that shows preemies what they went through, and that they are not alone. Colorful geometric illustrations and rhyming text reimagine the NICU experience as an amazing adventure. This book is perfect for preemies of any age but was developed specifically for toddlers as an introduction to their own premature start. Some of the links below are affiliate links. At no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission if you use the link to purchase the item. We are a month into a new year and everyone is talking about resolutions and goals for the next 365 days. What if simply flipping the calendar isn’t enough to erase the discouragement of the past? What if everyone’s new found motivation is making you feel resentful that you aren’t in the same place? Over the course of any career (regardless of the type of work that you do), it’s normal to have times of great accomplishment and success and periods of disappointment. While discontent is uncomfortable, it often can be an amazing catalyst to propel you forward to something even greater in the long term. Until that day though, here are some strategies that can help you to embrace where you are.
Create a “good for you” file I was given some advice in my very first professional job, from an amazing woman and mentor. She said to take every thank you note and every positive email, and save it in a “good for you” file. When you are feeling discouraged, get out all of these kudos and reflect on all you have already accomplished. Conduct a community audit Comparison to others robs you of joy. If the people you are spending time with, or the way that you are spending your time is not making you feel good about yourself...get rid of it. This not only applies to people you know in real life, but to your social media feeds as well. Surround yourself with people and endeavors that make you feel worthy and energized. Set intentions instead of resolutions Resolutions can have a negative connotation. They are firm and rigid, and if you stumble just once you can feel like you have blown it for the whole year. I challenge you to reframe how you think about goal setting, and set intentions instead. Intentions are flexible, and allow for grace. Intentions enable you to improve and change while still being gentle with yourself. Discouragement is mostly a temporary state of being, but that doesn’t mean you must grin and bare it. Allow yourself a little time to wallow, and then try to move yourself and your work back to a place of contentment and fulfillment. |
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