Prematurity affects one in ten pregnancies. It is a common fact that it is often understood that newborns spend a few days in the hospital, and if they develop, they are discharged like other boys or girls. The birth of a premature baby involves a long struggle that can sometimes last a lifetime.
To show what an untimely pregnancy is and its consequences, many families gathered today, Friday, in the old esplanade. Virgen del Camino Hospital together with the health team of the Neonatology Unit on the occasion of World Prematurity Day.
Fathers and mothers wear purple balloons with the name, gestational age, and weight of their children when they were born and leave them in the unit to support families who are now fighting with their newborns and “look what’s there. Esperanza”.
Today’s activity is “a celebrating hope, love,e and courage of families,” proudly said the spokesperson of the Neonatology Unit, in the same wa,y that he encouraged the celebration of “the tireless fight of these children because they the greatest example of strength”. The health company also took advantage of the opportunity to claim that “administrations must require that premature units be staffed by specialized professionals.”
One of the women in that unit is Mireia particular, he was admitted 127 considered extremely prematurely after birth in week 24 to get pregnant with a weight of 450 grams. His mother, Sandra Arzoz, is one of the organizers of the event and the WhatsApp group that now unites 64 families. Mireia has bronchopulmonary dysplasia and right hemiparesis due to a cerebral hemorrhage that caused damage to the left hemisphere of his “little head” which meant he had a slight limp, the use of his right hand was minimal.
“In addition to being a mother, I feel like a physiotherapist, nurse, caregiver,r and social worker”
“There is a series of jobs every day that is less well known,” explained Sandra, who confessed that “in addition to being a mother, I feel like I am a physiotherapist, nurse, caregiver, and social worker.” Parents have to face an unknown situation “which is very scary” and so the group of families together with health workers had a project to create an association to support and train future parents”.
Jennifer Usoz is the mother of Alejandro and Marktwo premature babies weighing 750 and 530 grams, each. They both have sequelae and suffer from bronchopulmonary dysplasia, so “any cold is complicated and they get viruses from time to time” although “they are very lucky” without serious neurological or motor consequences, their father confessed. Pablo Miranda. “However, we have a happy ending which, unfortunately, is not always the case,” added Usoz.
When their children are born inthe 25th week of pregnancy “Everyone still needs to mature, they have all their organs but very little” so they need admission to Neonatology where they spend more than 140 days. This situation represents “an abyss” for parents who have to face a situation they did not expect.
“Having a premature baby find yourself more easily with the bitter face of motherhood than with a sweet one”, because “you have to go through grief to assimilate that you will not have a pregnancy, a birth, and a postpartum as you expected.” Now they are proud to tell their story but recognize that “You don’t know what you’re going through until it’s too late.”.
“Health workers become your family to whom you trust the most precious thing you have, which is your child”
Within the shock that occurs in such a situation, one of the biggest traumas for mothers istheyu cannot contacttheirr child. After giving birth, they enter the hospital without a discharge date surrounded by tubes, probes, lights, and beeps, “lots of beeps.” In that situation, “what you want is for them to tell you it’s stable, but it’s too complicated.” They have to face a long series of tests, operations, and trips to other hospitals and they have no experience so their only support is the healthcare workers and the other families in the unit. “You can’t bring your child home”You have to leave him in the hospital and the health workers will be your family that you trust with the most precious thing you have, which is your child.”
The parents of Alejandro and Marcos, like other families who attended, appreciated the work of the entire health team for their “dedication, care and delicacy.” Usoz confessed that “you feel that no one understands you more than the people who are inside that unit.” As the days go by “you will feel that the child is more yours” and even when the time comes to give discharge does not allow peace of mind because “they come like a bag of medical instruction” and parents are full of fears and uncertainties.
“There is hope and these precious children will come first”
Sara enjoyed a double celebration. In addition to the event with other families, he celebrated his daughter Oliviatwo’s years old, He has been discharged from the Rehabilitation Unit although he still has some specific audiometry tests pending and also vision tests. Olivia was born in week 30 with the emphasis that 1,430 grams and his sister Diana was also born prematurelyin week 33 con 2.250gramss weight.
“The second you think about it it’s more but The shock of seeing him with so many pipes and a mask didn’t wear off.”It’s very difficult,” he explained. Her daughter was admitted for being underweight and Sara remembers how they celebrated any gains in the rest of the unit. The two little girls are “very healthy” and their mother is clearly “thankful to life and the whole group of newborns for everything they do for these little ones.” She wants to help other parents in her case and “teach that there is hope and these special children will thrive.”
