
Updated: Family seeks help while preemie in NICU
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This is my daughter, my Ebony-Reina Marin, born at 27 weeks 5 days. 15 inches 2.5lbs. My fiance was feeling contractions the night of the 19th. It got worse as we went grocery shopping and her midwife advised she go to the ER to double-check everything is ok. We went without a bag thinking we'd be sent home. After arriving to the hospital and the DR checking her. It turned out she was 4cm dilated. I was informed if I left at any point I would not be able to return to the hospital. So I stayed with my fiance for the support as its her first child and she was scared to be alone only 1 support person was allowed. We lost some time from work but family first.
So as of right now my fiance has never held her baby. She only saw her baby in person for less than a minute. Due to COVID-19 we are not allowed in the NICU. We get a daily call with an update and a video chat so she can see her baby. She cries after every video call. She misses her baby terribly and its effecting her mental state. She has been trying to pump to get her milk supply going. She pumps every 2-3 hours and sleeps very little. She okay'd the hospital (UIC) to use donor milk if her supply wasnt enough. While she held it together to ok this with the doctor i could see the heart broken look on her face as she saw herself as a failure. She's feeling anxious all the time and worrying especially since our daughter is premature and facing medical issues.
As it stands i've missed some work to help where i could. To try and cheer her up, to drive to drop off the milk everyday, to wake her up from her power naps to pump, to encourage her and lift her spirits when she feels she's alone in her pain. I cannot let her drive herself on what little sleep she gets. If i go to work i will be too tired to drive and i dont want to fail my fiance. She needs my help but we will not be okay on 1 income (her maternity leave). This is costly in gas as we have to drive from park forest IL to UIC in Chicago. We've used up our rainy day fund when baby decided to come early to get the essentials for her.
I dont think there are many others who are facing what my fiance is facing. She cannot hold her baby for a minimal of 1.5-2 months from now. If you're able to help i thank you. This will help get any stuff we may need that may have forgotten. This will allow us to continue to drive to UIC with no worries and for me to support my fiance any time she may need me.
So as of right now my fiance has never held her baby. She only saw her baby in person for less than a minute. Due to COVID-19 we are not allowed in the NICU. We get a daily call with an update and a video chat so she can see her baby. She cries after every video call. She misses her baby terribly and its effecting her mental state. She has been trying to pump to get her milk supply going. She pumps every 2-3 hours and sleeps very little. She okay'd the hospital (UIC) to use donor milk if her supply wasnt enough. While she held it together to ok this with the doctor i could see the heart broken look on her face as she saw herself as a failure. She's feeling anxious all the time and worrying especially since our daughter is premature and facing medical issues.
As it stands i've missed some work to help where i could. To try and cheer her up, to drive to drop off the milk everyday, to wake her up from her power naps to pump, to encourage her and lift her spirits when she feels she's alone in her pain. I cannot let her drive herself on what little sleep she gets. If i go to work i will be too tired to drive and i dont want to fail my fiance. She needs my help but we will not be okay on 1 income (her maternity leave). This is costly in gas as we have to drive from park forest IL to UIC in Chicago. We've used up our rainy day fund when baby decided to come early to get the essentials for her.
I dont think there are many others who are facing what my fiance is facing. She cannot hold her baby for a minimal of 1.5-2 months from now. If you're able to help i thank you. This will help get any stuff we may need that may have forgotten. This will allow us to continue to drive to UIC with no worries and for me to support my fiance any time she may need me.
Organizer and beneficiary
Edgar Marin
Organizer
Park Forest, IL
Brittany Warner
Beneficiary