I don’t know if anyone watches the TV series “18 Kids and Counting” I know I have personally tuned in just to see a glimpse of this family’s chaotic yet extremely organized life. Anyway, I just read that baby Duggar “19” just came into this world very early on 12/10/09. Josie wasn’t expected until March. It is safe to say she was born around 25/26 weeks. She weighed 1 pound 6 ounces. I’ll pray for the health of Momma Duggar and little Josie. Obviously mom needs to be home & healthy to care for all the other little ones.
However, I must say that I was extremely annoyed with the article’s casual report of baby Josie.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34379874/ns/today-parenting_and_family
It was reported that baby was “resting” in the NICU and a family spokesman told People magazine that the infant was expected to be fine. Now, I realize I have personal insight to what this family is really going to experience. BUT, who dare reports that a 25 weeker is “fine and resting” The last thing baby Josie is doing is resting! She is battling for her life! Her little lungs are working harder than they will ever work. It is probably safe to say she isn’t breathing on her own. Reporting that any mircopreemie is “fine” is ridiculous and creates a great misperception of this baby’s true struggles. I guess it brings me back to a time when everyone was pretending that Grey would come home once he weighed 4 pounds or maybe it was 3 pounds that they were stating. Regardless, he wasn’t even breathing on his own! He was also being fed by an intravenous tube. However, many thought we would pack up our belongings and head home once the scale read a special number. I now understand why this happens… because 25 weekers are reported to be fine and resting.
Hopefully someone will accurately report this family’s fight. Maybe TLC can show the world what it is truly like to have a micropreemie. OR maybe they will continue on with the false perceptions of the world.
I guess I’ll step down off my soap box.
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2 comments:
I read that article too and wondered... really a baby less than 2 pounds in the nicu and the article acts like all is right in the world and it was just a run-of-the-mill birth? Even not having experienced a premeie birth like yours, I can imagine they have a long road ahead of them. I do have to say that I am amazed that this is the first child they have had that was a preemie and needed nicu help (to my knowledge) Anyway, don't worry about getting on your soap box ;)
Kiley - I felt the same way when I read those articles about the Duggar's 19th baby.
This is the second time in the past few weeks that I have seen the press make it appear that a micropremie will be ready to go home in a few weeks without any problems. I think by conveying these perceptions to the general public down plays the tremendous fight that both the baby and family are enduring.
All we can do is pray for little Josie and that eventually someone will accurately represent the life of a micropremie in the NICU. It isn't a walk in the park... if it was we wouldn't be an intensive care unit.
Hope you guys are doing well!! :)
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