Cold and flu season is here and for parents of preemies, this season can be hugely terrifying. Many refer to this time of year as a “lockdown” time when we do all we can to keep our preemie away from germs in order to keep them healthy. We asked our preemie parent mentors […]
It’s simply a fact that premature birth turns a family’s world upside down and tests the limits of their resilience. Parents of preemies face challenges that most people can’t even imagine. So it’s only natural that your baby’s early arrival can leave you feeling stressed out and frightened. Some of your fear may fade as […]
Simon is one of our Preemie Parent Mentors – specifically our mentor for preemie dads – and here he shares his experiences along with a father’s point of view. When my twins (2 fraternal twin girls, now 19 months and healthy) were born at 29 weeks, I quickly shifted my gaze from the SWAT team […]
My preemie Malena Lola was born at 25 weeks gestation and weighed 1.6 lbs. She spent almost 8 months in the NICU at the Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary, Canada. During this time I spent every day with my baby girl – I would arrive at the hospital very early in the morning and stay […]
The NICU days are stressful, as may be the days that follow if your preemie comes home with medical equipment and special needs. Prematurity is a difficult journey – one that right now, you may feel you’ll never want to relive – and so keeping a baby book or scrapbook for your preemie might be […]
All parents end up on the receiving end of advice they neither asked for nor want, but parents of preemies tend to have to listen to unsolicited advice more than other moms and dads. One reason is that so many premature infants and children look robust and healthy, even if they’re dealing with day-to-day health […]
Of all the things moms and dads of preemies do for their children, one of the most important is keeping those kids healthy. For parents of preemies who are still quite young – or those with weakened immune systems or fragile lungs – preparing for flu and RSV season and then getting through it is […]
Parijat serves as an advisor to the Graham’s Foundation Parent Mentor Program. You can read more about Parijat at the end of this post. I knew I would have a high-risk pregnancy when my first two pregnancy complications began in the first 2 months of my pregnancy. However, that still did not prepare me for […]
Preemies, especially very early preemies, often can’t be held or even touched for some time after birth. A combination of factors – from the delicate, thin skin of micro-preemies to the fact that premature infants often respond to touch differently than their full-term peers – can make it challenging or scary for moms and dads […]
For many families, prematurity brings with it loss. In cases where mothers and fathers must say goodbye to a preemie who was a twin or a triplet, coping with that loss can be a complicated and difficult process. One life has been lost but there is still life there that needs your care and attention. […]
Graham’s Foundation is a not-for-profit organization recognized as tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code section 501(c)(3).
Our mission is to inform and guide parents of preemies so that they may confidently navigate the journey of prematurity.
