What do you get a Parent of a Premie Baby?

With an unexpected birth filled with complications and trauma for both parents and baby, as a loved one, it can be hard to know what to do and say to a new parent of a Premie. 

I found those that greeted me with congratulations a more relaxing place to be. Being around positive thoughts and well wishes were always a welcomed visitor. 

I do understand though, that it was quite tricky finding an appropriate gift for either myself or my new baby. Clothes were too big and with all the tubes and cables, he couldn’t wear them anyway. He was too small for dummies, couldn’t use a bottle and was in a sterile environment so toys in his crib weren’t advised. Unfortunately with premature births, there is also the unspoken knowledge that there is a possibility he won’t make it out of the hospital and home to use those gifts. 

As for me, I was at the hospital day and night focusing on my baby’s growth and health so I wasn’t in need or want of the usual gifts. However going through my experience I found the best gifts allowed me to write out my feelings and experiences so I could process the extreme amount of information I was receiving daily. A journal was the perfect gift for my mental health and journey. Now, years after leaving the NICU, I can also appreciate the ability to look back and remember the significant milestones Kai, my son came up against and triumphed. A daily diary of how strong we both were. 

During my NICU stay there wasn’t a journal specific to parents of Premie babies but today you can find a few options. I feel TSH’s one encompasses a whole lot more that a daily journal. It will depend what you are after as you can get very simplified notebook style journals or a more in-depth version.  TSH's journal contains lined journal pages with motivational quotes, mindfulness practices of daily tasks and colouring pages, financial and baby room planning and a breast feeding log to name a few features. 

Check out TSH version of a complete Premie Journal.