Having a Premature Baby: Advice for Preemie Moms

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Wish We'd Known: 18 Things No One Told Us About Having a Premature Baby

Delivering your baby early is a major shock. Here's advice to help you get through it (19 Photos)

Mindy Berry Walker on Feb 9, 2012 at 12:14PM

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18 Things No One Told Us About Having a Preemie

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a Mindy Berry Walker on Jan 27, 2012 at 12:08PM

No one plans to deliver early. But nearly 1 in 8 women give birth prematurely (before 37 weeks), according to the March of Dimes. If you're one of them, you're likely having a birth experience that is nothing like the one you envisioned (you haven't even had your baby shower!) and you’re trying to do everything you can for your new baby, who may be in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Here's the emotional pep talk we wish we would've gotten during this emotional time.

Parenting Will Be About More Than Prematurity
When you give birth early, all you can focus on is everything that's gone wrong with your birth and delivery. As hard as it is, try to remember that this time is just an introduction (however rocky) to your whole life as a parent. Doctors can do more than ever to help preemies grow and thrive -- and someday (hopefully soon), the NICU will be behind you.