My micropreemie's first experience with snow. Not so micro anymore. :) |
They are the reason I begain doing the NICU posts and created my NICU page. It was all to pay-it-forward. I still like to find other ways to help other new NICU families and celebrate with other older NICU families.
Recently I have started checking out the #NICU, #Preemie and #Micropreemie hashtags on Instagram.
I love leaving "happy comments" such as, how cute their baby (nose, hair, toes, whatever can be seen) is, especially on the micropreemies. I honestly look for something to complement their adorable little person on. I remember how upset it would make me to not be able to share my little guy with my family and friends in person. When I did share him online, I hated the "how sad", "it makes me wanna cry" etc. comments.
I remember quite vividly when our youth group took us to a local (to our NICU) concert to get us out for a bit. Lil' C was about a month or so old, and doing great! I, like any other mom of a newborn, was showing off his pictures. One of the kids (a middle schooler) loudly proclaimed "I can't look!! It's just so SAD! I wanna cry!" Honestly... I kinna wanted to smack her... I was thinking... "WHA??? this is my baby!! He is cute!" So I make sure I do what I can to give other moms "happy comments" because we get those other ones too often.
I also leave comments in preemie mom groups and give advice. Seriously, when my blog posts start to slack, that means I'm posting too often there :P My main one is the What to Expect: Mom's of Preemies Group. The second is Breastmilk for Preemies Facebook Page.
So, what do you do to support others?
My MIL started to cry and be dramatic when we showed her a pic of our baby smiling after her TOF surgery in nicu. "Why did you show me that", she said. Really? We showed you because your granddaughter is a brave little girl! Some people just don't get it.
ReplyDeleteMany people don't have a clue. My MIL is of a similar dramatic persuasion. *sigh*
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