I received this from a fan of IAPT and had to share!!  I am the mother of a 28 weeker preemie who is now 6 years old. My niece who is 10 years old has written a wonderful paper for her homework assignment about my sons birth and being premature. By: Arianna Raimonde Date:  11/11/12      Have you ever gotten to hold your baby cousin that is a miracle baby?  I have, and this is [...]

So I thought I might just post this for many who are considering doing gift bags for families in the NICU over the holidays.  Spencer was born on Black Friday 2009 and we weren’t released until 64 days later so spent Christmas and New Year’s in the NICU (and yes, that’s Spencer in the picture in the stocking).  We had a few former parents bring us small gift bags by and it meant the world [...]

Could You Have PTSD? By Sue L. Hall, M.D. Can the smell of hand sanitizer instantly transport you back to a particularly challenging day you experienced in the NICU, bringing tears to your eyes?  Is it difficult for you to even drive past the hospital where your baby was in the NICU?  Do beeping noises or ambulance sirens make your heart race?  Are you awakened by nightmares or troubled by recurring flashbacks to frightening days [...]

**CONGRATS GO TO: Sara, Kristen Pentz, Anna Witt, Brittany Moomey and Katy L for being the 5 selcted via Random.org!!  Please email me at sales@itsapreemiething.com for your code to order online for your free shirt!** Wow…I am humbled that so many of you are following It’s a Preemie Thing on Facebook!  Since we launched on Labor Day 2010, it’s been amazing to learn about so many of your miracles and hopefully you don’t get to tired [...]

WELCOME TO HOLLAND by Emily Perl Kingsley (1987) I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability – to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It’s like this…… When you’re going to have a baby, it’s like planning a fabulous vacation trip – to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your [...]

How Preemie Moms Are Chosen by Erma Bombeck Did you ever wonder how the mothers of premature babies are chosen? Somehow, I visualize God hovering Earth, selecting his instruments for propagation with great care and deliberation. As he observes, he instructs his angels to take notes in a giant ledger. “Armstrong, Beth, son. Patron Saint…give her Gerard. He’s used to profanity.” Finally, he passes a name to an angel and smiles. “Give her a preemie.” [...]