prematurity

Tonight I was sitting on the bed playing with Avery and I asked Phillip if her ever just thinks about how lucky we are to have Avery. I know we are lucky to have Chloe too, she is our amazing, bright, full term miracle. Avery is a tiny little miracle too. 27weeks is considered a viable pregnancy and even being born that early babies have a good chance of survival but with babies that small there are SOOOOOO many things that can go wrong. We are so lucky to have Avery, and I get so emotional thinking about how close we came to not having her. It also reminds me of just how much I miss McKenzie.
I think what people don't realize is that prematurity doesn't end when you leave the NICU, it is a lasting fear, guilt and trauma that you carry with you long after you are home. It is a constant worry about EVERYTHING. I wish more people were aware of just how much prematurity affects the entire family, and just how much of a toll it takes family and relationships. I wish that more people were made aware of just how common premature birth is and I wish more people would donate to places like the march of dimes who are working so hard to help prevent premature birth.
I wish that people understood that if you yourself were a preemie, you have a higher chance of having a preemie. My hope for the future is that Avery never has to experience the heartaches and traumas and stress of the NICU with her own babies some day. Hopefully this year i will be able to meet my march of dimes goal and do my part to help stop premature birth and make sure that some day no other mom will feel what it is like to be in the NICU.