Every year in Ireland, around 4500 babies are born prematurely.
Needless to say, this is a very anxious and stressful time for parents and extended family too, and during the past 18 months, as the world has been shutting down in an effort to combat the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, especially so.
We recently spoke to Irish mum, Karen Lester, who had her third baby, Lauryn, in the middle of lockdown here in Ireland.
Lester's NICU journey is very recent and raw as she was subject to the restrictions that were imposed during Covid-19. Karen gave birth to baby Lauryn, who is now five months old, three months early.
You gave birth early – did you have any idea this would happen?
I had no idea, I had two previous full-term pregnancies so it was a complete surprise.
It must have been a shock having the baby early – did you have any immediate concerns?
I wasn't sure if she'd make it. Because she was born so early, I was concerned about her lung and brain development. It was tough for me to comprehend that Lauryn would be born so early.
I had great hopes that she would hang on for longer, but when I went into spontaneous labour and realized her birth was happening, I felt an immense fear, unlike anything I had ever felt before.
How long did you have to stay in the hospital for?
Lauryn was born at 28 weeks gestation and weighed 2lbs 13oz. She had a total stay of six weeks in hospital. I was only in hospital for four days after delivery, due to Covid restrictions, but Lauryn had a total stay of six weeks
Looking back, what made your stay in the NICU easier?
Support from family and friends but also the NICU Staff Nurses and Doctors were extremely supportive. I also relied on the Irish Neonatal Health alliance charity for information and support.
As a parent of a baby born prematurely, have you got any advice for parents who are dealing with the stress of having recently welcomed a preemie?
If possible, enlist the support of relatives and friends, especially if you have other children. Speak to organisations like the INHA and avail of the education and support provided.
If you can, get extensively involved in your child’s care while he or she is in the NICU; this not only helps with bonding but also gives you more confidence in caring for your baby.
Provide your children with the right care and protection. Pampers Preemie Protection nappies are the smallest nappies designed to protect the delicate skin of babies weighing as little as 1.8lb. They offer a customised fit to minimise disruption and give premature babies the comfort they need as they continue to develop.
Please get professional treatment if you require it, even if it is years after the event; there will be several triggers and emotions to cope with. Working through these issues with the help of a professional is sometimes the best option. My first piece of advice is to take care of your mental health.
What did you find the most challenging about Lauryn’s NICU stay and was there anything that made it easier?
Seeing Lauryn for the first time in an incubator so small and helpless, hooked up to so many tubes was a very hard realization and I was flooded with intense guilt. You strive to give your baby the best possible start if you can, so I was pumping and expressing milk at all hours of the day and night, but I was trying to balance family life as I have older children, which was quite difficult. In addition to this, my husband was not allowed to visit me due to COVID.
Do you feel there is enough support for parents of preemies?
If you look for it, yes there is support from organisations like the INHA, however, not everyone is aware of charities like this.
The INHA supports and empowers parents of premature babies and provides access to the developmental support and education needed to care for them.
This year, Pampers are supporting parents of premature babies to ensure every premature baby’s delicate skin is protected and that their families are supported and feel confident caring for their little one.
For every pack of Pampers purchased from retailers between 1st June – 30th June 2021, Pampers will donate a Pampers Preemie Protection nappy to those in need. For a preemie baby, every touch feels huge which means everything that touches their delicate skin must provide gentle protection. Pampers Preemie Protection nappies are the smallest nappies designed to protect the delicate skin of babies weighing as little as 1.8lb. They offer a customised fit to minimise disruption and give premature babies the comfort they need as they continue to develop.
Pampers is going beyond product donations and has joined forces with the INHA to help support families of premature babies. The INHA provide parents with access to the necessary education and support so they feel confident caring for their little ones.
