NICU – The book you have to read!
- Jul 16, 2022
- 2 min read
I promise after reading it, you will feel 2X better about your whole preemie / NICU life.
First few days, I could not wrap my head around this prematurity thing. I was shocked, depressed and had little knowledge. Few days after the delivery, when I was able to make little room for my brain to take over, I thought I needed to at least gain some knowledge on the subject asap. I always thought information is power. I started searching for the best book on prematurity. It is not that hard to find the best one as there is not many in the market.
I picked “The Premature Baby Book.” Name sounded very scientific to me when I first saw it online. I guess I wanted to read a more emotional book. Not a good idea! Again, I had to let my brain to take over and looked at the content and the authors. Turns out this was the book I needed!
It is written by Martha Sears and William Sears, who are pediatrics experts and have extensive knowledge on NICU and prematurity. The book has ALL the answers to your questions and concerns about your baby: feeding your baby, dressing her, tests and complications that can happen, post NICU process, what to do at home and many more. The book gave me confidence when I talked NICU team as my questions became more educated.
It also has an entire section, "Working Through Your Fears and Feelings", for your emotions that you are ashamed to verbalize out loud.
I felt ALL the feelings described in the book. Robbed. Unnatural. Overwhelmed. On an emotional roller coaster. Ambivalent. Not close to my baby. Hating Waiting. Doing double duty. Separation Anxiety. Stranger Anxiety. Bedside Boredom. Helpless. Guilty. Afraid. Prone to meltdowns. Depressed. Dreaming about departure day.
This book did not just help me normalize my feelings but also let me move forward in the process instead of getting stuck in my feelings and feeling guilty even for feeling them.
My husband read it too. As he read this section, at one point I remember him turning and telling me "I had no idea you felt this way. I am so so sorry" He came and hugged me and assured it will be alright.
This book changed how we perceived what has been happening to us. I believe that shift in perspective is highly needed for the sake of your future relationship with yourself, your partner and your baby.
Preview of the book here:
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