If you happen to be one of those moms, I wish you courage, strength and patience. You are that baby’s rock, their place of safety and their first love. The road is slow but you will get there eventually. From one mom to another, keep it together and know that someone is rooting for you.
My Matteo was on earth for ten days. In that time I saw what can only be described as miracles happening because of how this tiny baby brought people together. Your baby will have a different journey, and you will learn things about yourself you never knew. Just know this: you are enough. And I am certain these gladiator babies choose their moms very specifically, no matter how long they are in the arena. I wish you hope and strength for your journey in the most sacred trust of all: motherhood.
Depend on your family for support and know that your strength filters down to baby and vice versa.
Trust in your body, if it gave birth before the due date is because it was the best to do that, something went wrong and your baby is better out than inside your body.
Your baby will be ready one day soon, and all this will be over. S/he will grow big and strong and no-one will ever believe they were ever a preemie.
When I told my granny she said, ‘You are in labour !’ I laughed at her and said I still have two months to go, how is that possible.
Get as much sleep as you can, trust that your little one is growing as fast as they can so they can come home with you.
Be brave, find courage in your little fighters. They are small but they are mighty.
At that point, your baby needs you, and you need to be there. You push all your emotions away, and move forward somehow so that you can be there. You feel numb and overwhelmed with caring for this tiny human. I also felt unsupported emotionally because nobody else I knew had a preemie and didn’t understand what I was going through, I would often get comments that they might have thought were supportive but I found them insensitive and hurtful.
Take one day at a time. Soon your baby will be home.