06/24/2023
As NICU mamas, so many of us wish we could say, “The day my baby was born was the best day of my life.” But the reality is, the birth of our NICU babies sometimes marks the beginning of one of the most difficult seasons of our lives. For mamas who had pregnancy complications, received difficult news at a prenatal appointment, or went into labor prematurely, this difficult season began sooner, sometimes long before their baby’s birth.
Once a traumatic experience has ended, we also wish we could say “It’s only up from here!” But healing is not linear. We know that there will be ups and downs, and anniversary dates are notorious for being one of those ‘downs.’
Whichever day or series of days holds significance for you, you may anticipate it coming or it may sneak up on you. You may find yourself thinking about your NICU experience more than usual and suddenly feeling more sad, anxious, irritable, or depressed. This reaction is common. It’s normal - even natural. It does not mean you haven’t made progress. It means you are still healing.
Many NICU mamas say the first year was the hardest, but that doesn’t necessarily mean the years that follow are easy. What your heart and mind needs one year may differ from the next, and that’s okay. There is no one right way to feel, cope, or heal through an anniversary. 💕
So today we want to gently remind you that no matter how many anniversaries you have seen come and go, these days can still be difficult. We know the memory of all you’ve overcome may never fade completely - and you may not want it to! This is your story after all. But we do hope the memory comes with less and less pain as each new year brings more time and opportunity to heal.
As you walk through your next anniversary, please remember you are not alone. Your NICU sisters are walking with you, and we are still healing too. 💕
