I didn’t think after my sweet boy was born, that I wouldn’t be allowed to hold him.
A fast and furious emergency c-section wasn’t exactly how I had planned to deliver him after all, but I quickly understood that holding him right after delivery wasn’t possible. I came to terms with it, but was insanely excited to hurry up and get out of the OR so I could see him.
When I was finally in my room and asked for my baby — the little darling I had just delivered and didn’t even really know what he looked like yet — I was told no.
He had to stay in the progressive care nursery, and I had to stay in my room since I was unable to walk. He couldn’t come to me and I couldn’t get to him.
I was heartbroken. The earliest I might be able to see him was in twelve hours.
Twelve hours before I could even touch my baby. I was mad. Surely there must be a better way?
I barely slept that night, and the minute the clock struck the twelve hour mark I hit the call button and asked for a wheel chair. I was heading to the nursery no matter how bad it hurt to get out of bed.
And I did. Groggy with swollen eyes and a pain level hovering around ten I finally got to hold my sweet boy.
As hurt as I had been to go without him for as long as I did, there are so many heartbroken mothers who don’t get to hold their baby at all. My boy was healthy and would be heading home with me in a few short days where I could watch him grow and love him.
My time in and out of the NICU area was short lived but there are so many families that are there much longer. We can encourage those families right now by sending them a hand-delivered card through the March of Dimes and letting them know we are here and we can’t wait for them to take their baby home and Give them tomorrow.
Post your amazing #babysfirst moments online with #givethemtomorrow to celebrate each memory and help give other families tomorrow.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of March of Dimes. The opinions and text are all mine.
Liz is a just a mom trying to keep it real about how little she sleeps, how often she gets puked on and how much she loves them. You can find her here every day writing about real-mom moments.
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