Love, Katie

“Dear NICU Mama, You can be so grateful for your baby’s life and perseverance and also grieve that they don’t get to come home with you right away. This is not how you imagined your pregnancy chapter to close. Those feelings can exist together, and it’s okay. It doesn’t diminish your gratitude.

The NICU can be intimidating, especially in those early days when your body is recovering and you are experiencing an intense range of emotion you have never known before. You may ask yourself, “Am I attending enough care times? Will my baby know who I am? Am I doing this right?” The answer to all of these questions is YES. You had to gather so much strength and bravery in a very short amount of time, and you are navigating this journey to the best of your ability. You are the perfect mother for your baby, and all of us NICU mothers are here for you. Despite sometimes feeling as though you are alone on this voyage, I promise we are sailing with you.

There may be days you feel stronger and braver than ever before, and there may be days you feel your eyes couldn’t possibly produce any more tears. Celebrating beautiful NICU victories may be easier some days and more challenging on others. But we will always be here to pick you up on the stormy days and help bring you back to the brave ones. We believe in you, mama. And we love you.”

Love,
Katie

More of Katie + Donovan’s NICU Journey:

“My pregnancy was considered high-risk after my 20-week anatomy scan, and I was referred to a high-risk specialist because of complications. Although I was monitored closely, my water broke at 29 weeks and 6 days, and I was airlifted to a better hospital with the best NICU in the state. There I was on hospital bed rest, as the amazing staff tried to keep me pregnant until 34 weeks.

My son, Donovan Wyatt, had other plans and was born via emergency C-section at 30 weeks and 2 days, weighing 3 pounds 3 oz. I didn’t get to meet him right away, as he was taken immediately to the NICU. 

It was almost 36 hours before I got to hold my beautiful baby for the first time, and we did skin-to-skin for two perfect hours. I was still unsure of how stable and healthy he was, but he blessed us with small victories every day to let us know he was fighting to come home. I was told he would be in the NICU until his due date, but he proved all of us wrong and came home after only five and a half weeks. He is now four months old and a happy, smiley baby. I feel immense gratitude every day for him and his perseverance.”