by Lauren Dudley
Labor Day weekend of 2014, my husband and I decided to venture to Myrtle Beach for our “baby moon”. I had been given the go-ahead from our midwives and doula to do it since, as a first time mom, I probably had about five weeks left till birthing this baby! We left Thursday and by Friday night contractions had started. My husband decided it was high time to leave Myrtle Beach Saturday morning, in case it turned out to be the real deal. Well, it was! Christopher crashed our party Sunday night after 3 days of labor!
We were, of course, directed to UNC, after the midwives checked me and discovered I was already 4 cm! The rest is history! Carey, our midwife, was by our side for 12 hours at UNC until Chris was born. We ended up having to stay in the NICU for a little over a week due to jaundice and feeding issues. During that short time, the hour and fifteen minute drive back home might as well have been five hours when you’re emotionally exhausted. We missed our home and the small necessities you take for granted everyday.
By Christmas that year, I was more than thankful for the care we received from both UNC NICU and WBWC! I wanted to give those families stuck in the hospital over the holidays a little taste of home. Our bags started out very small, with a small fleece blanket, shampoo/conditioner, bobby pins and hair ties, snack bars and $5 Starbucks gift card. Over the three years we have done this, it has evolved into something amazing. We are now able to give all those things plus body wash, lip balm, toothpaste/brushes, journals and this year some photography sessions for families that will be there for an extended period. I asked Holly in the boutique for some of her contacts this year and ended up with Motherlove donating samples of nipple balm, hand salve and diaper cream. Moondance Soaps is donating soaps AND lip balm! I am overjoyed with the generosity these companies have shown us this year.
Every year I usually get one email from a mom in the NICU who has received one of our bags. It makes all the hard work and hustling SO worth it. Some send photos with the blankets we give them, some just a letter of how much it meant to them that someone cared. It touches my heart that I can help another family that was once us.
I remember sitting in the NICU for HOURS staring at this tiny human who couldn’t wait to meet us, so decided to come early. How the world outside of that tiny pod kept revolving, but here we were and time was moving so slowly. It was hard to put our own needs in front of our baby, but a small walk to Starbucks to get you out of the pod was lifesaving. I write the families a letter that go in the bags to remind them, the days are long but the years are short. Right? One minute he’s hooked to all these machines and the next he’s a flurry of a three-nager obsessed with trains and Mickey Mouse, who won’t stop talking to save his life.
I am so THANKFUL for WBWC and their amazing support. Even after our second came uneventfully, they have been unwavering whenever we have needed them. How amazing it is to have a place like this!
If you would like to support our bags, please check out our Go Fund Me page! I update frequently to keep everyone in the loop of our progress. These bags get delivered on Christmas Eve of every year! https://www.gofundme.com/chriss-nicu-bags