We chatted with Ginger ('92), mother of 2 children aged 4 and 6.
Your first child was born at 25 weeks. It was a challenging time for you. How do you look back on that period now?
"True! Looking back, the first thing I often think about is how lucky we were that she suffered so little. You're living on a rollercoaster at that moment without really realizing everything was going on and how great the chances are that something could go wrong. If I had to describe it now, it was a period of very difficult and uncertain days, but also beautiful, loving moments! Thanks in part to the fact that she's doing so well now, we can thankfully look back on a period in which we were able to enjoy her for over three extra months."
What helped you most during this period?
Being able to be together, and especially the support from doctors and nurses, and the family and friends around us, was wonderful. We received a lot of external support and could always ask questions and have any concerns. The regular checkups with specialists showed us time and again that she was doing well, and that helped enormously.
What is one piece of advice you would like to share with other parents of a premature baby?
Take as many photos and videos as possible. It can be very awkward to do that in the hospital, but it's so valuable later. And if you have any questions, call! It's better to call once too often than not enough. They're happy to help!
You're now the mother of two children, aged 4 and 6. How are you experiencing this phase?
I think it's a fantastic phase! They're a bit bigger and more independent, yet still so small and dependent. You can communicate with them better, create memories, they're best friends, and they play together so much. You also get more freedom back, you can let go a bit more, and you can do fun things with them. They develop so incredibly quickly during this time, it's wonderful to see!
What do you especially hope to pass on to your children?
" Oh so much! That they can be themselves, always tell us everything, and we'll always be there for them. Enjoy the little things in life and treat others the way you'd like to be treated. You want them to become the best possible versions of themselves, and we're happy to help them with that."
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