In May this year, we published Shelly’s story. We called it “one of the most raw, most honest pieces we’ve ever published on Mamamia.”
Because it was.
Shelly lives in rural South Australia with her husband, Dan, and her two children, Lara and Archie. Archie was born premature, and taken by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to a hospital in the big smoke to receive treatment.
Today, on World Prematurity Day, Shelly has written for us once again, candidly detailing what it is like to have a child born premature.
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It’s late in the evening. I have been waiting impatiently since the previous morning for this moment, but as the nurse Emma pushes my wheelchair out of the third floor lift and to the entrance of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit I suddenly feel apprehensive, unsure if I want to go in.
The nurse enters the security code allowing the large doors to open and I look up at Dan and sense he feels the same as I do. The initial excitement of finally being here with our baby is taken over by uncertainty, a feeling that has engulfed us over the last two days.
The nurse leads us to a wash room where we have to scrub our hands before we can go any further. Again I look at Dan, hoping to share his strength, he squeezes my hand almost as though he is reading my thoughts. We continue down a corridor and I can’t help but notice the large photos that cover the walls. Faces of happy toddlers stare back at me and alongside each one is a photo of that same child as a newborn. Tiny fragile skeletons are covered by transparent skin.
Top Comments
Our twin daughter and son were born at 30 weeks, 10 years ago. There were so many similarities to the story, so many memories coming back - the flight on the flying doctors (we too are from rural SA), reading of Kaz Cook - I only got to chapter 29! Our daughter was included in the trial for caffeine , so it is amazing to hear how others are using what we were just learning about. It's a totally different world in NICU, but one we are thankful for everyday. Our daughter and son are no different to their peers and for that we will be forever grateful.
I was born at 26 weeks all the way back in 1990 when there wasn't much hope for premmies - had a massive brain haemorrhage, developed hydrocephalus and weighed about 850g (give or take a few). I'm 23, no real issues beyond shocking coordination, poor logic and maths, and a broken VP shunt cable plus a non-functioning shunt. As of this week I no longer see a neurosurgeon as I'm not shunt dependent, have an Advanced Diploma and three-quarters of a Bachelor degree, and I get married next October.