Parents Who Journal in the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit Promote Healing & Celebration

Feb. 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Transposing one's feelings into a record for purposing of healing, understanding emotion, documenting memories and more. The effectiveness of journaling has long since been known, but the perspective of using the processes of documenting thoughts and feelings for those who have been medically challenged is a new concept.
In 2007, a Mother gave birth to a premature infant, 10 weeks to soon. Within having her first born son, and touching his tiny hand through an isolette window, her yearning for journaling began. "It became the most important thing to me. To recall all of the first moments that I had shared with my son. It became a way to cope and to deal with the stresses of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit."
Within months, the journal was finally available to the public. Within one more month the book was listed on Amazon and number one as Google shopping results for a Preemie Baby Book. The dreams of a preemie parent had been taken to a hole new level, and the realization that helping others in the moments of prematurity would be an absolute part of her destiny drove to more results.
I was wheel-chaired down four floors to visit his isolette. I was limited to touch his foot, his hand and head. I had no idea when the glass would be removed and when I could hold my baby for the first time. That came four days later, after I was discharged from the hospital."  A Preemie Parents journey is a long and full of feelings of loss. The health of a premature infant is fragile and well, unpredictable, especially for parents. "I did not know what to ask. I did not want to ask to remove the isolette for fear I would push the situation at hand and endanger my child. The journal outlines progresses and reminds parents to ask those questions in order to predict when they will be able to bond, hold and care for their Preemies." Picture after picture, night after night, milestone after set-back parents wonder in a world called the NICU. Alarms, procedures and even surgeries are a part of a premature infants life. "The NICU tries it's best to provide a society of parents who can meet and learn from each other, although it can't do this job effectively enough because professional nurses, social workers, doctors and others are so overwhelmed with their daily tasks. I have seen it first hand. I wish, and I know that the professionals wish the same, that there was more time to do more for the parents. They just don't know what they can do in the time that they have." Social workers provide information to families about financial planning and aid for the future. Developmental Care Specialists offer support for preemies and their families by sighting issues and predicting next steps. Lactation Consultants offer support with breast feeding and the benefits of a Mother's milk to a premature infant. Head Nurses spend a minimum of twelve hours assisting up to 25 babies per day and a staff of over eight nurses. Neonatologists spend their mornings bonding with the team, calling parents daily with reports on the prior night, and assessing new goals for babies for the day. "It is team of people that seriously have dedicated their lives to these little lives. As much as I love little babies, this job is not for me. I would be an emotional wreck! I know that. Caring for high-risk infants calls for some of the most talented people in the medical industry. There is no justification for prematurity, cancer, heart issues; there is no explanation for it, just that they have to trust that they are in the role to help a child make it one more day, and to let go when the battle is too much. What kind of an individual does that take? Someone who is close to God, possibly someone who understands that there is a higher purpose than what we know of right now, in this moment." We can all expect and take for granted the fact that we have children. We can see it as a pleasure or as a burden at times, but when we see that there are so many parents struggling to have just one, healthy child at such an emotional cost, we have to look back into the eyes of our child and know these are the blessings that we have and that others would greatly cherish in a heart beat. Treasure your child, hold them dear... 'A Journey to Home, A Preemie Baby Book and NICU Companion Journal' is written and designed by Jessica Williams, Illustrated by Lara Payton and is available on Amazon as 'A Journey to Home, A Preemie Baby Book and NICU Companion Journal. Released in 2010, the journal is available in both Teal and Pink Covers. The design quality is excellent an exceeds any Preemie Baby Book and NICU Journal on the market today. Please take the time to consider 'A Journey to Home' as part of your Foundation, Organization or Preemie Parent Support Group. This fill-in journal lends much healing to the moments of prematurity and allows parents to walk away with memories of their birth, celebration in moments, and empowerment in the processes of healing. For both parents in and out of the NICU, we thank you for your consideration.

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The Preemie & Miracle Bebe have been founded solely to provide support for families touched by prematurity. Our mission is to give back all of the moments of celebration in the birth of the infant, no matter at what gestational age. We provide products, resources, services, all free of charge and encourage parents of premature infants to share stories and to give back to others in the experience.