According to the March of Dimes, 12.8% of births in the United States are premature \u2013 less than 37 weeks gestation. In most developed countries, it\u2019s a little less, 5-9%. The reason for premature birth is never determined in fully half of those births. Still, that\u2019s a lot of babies \u2013 1 in 8 \u2013 so I know we can\u2019t possibly be the only Pagan family who\u2019s been through the NICU wringer.<\/p>\n
![\"premature](\"https:\/\/wp.patheos.com\/community\/sites\/53\/2011\/07\/paganparentspreemies-e1310501176894.jpg\")
\nIMAGE: Premature infant in incubation and connected to IVs and life support tubes. Photo by Janet Callahan.<\/p>\n
These days, modern medicine produces some true miracles \u2013 one occupational therapist I know from our NICU experience points out that when she started working 25 years ago, the youngest babies that survived were 28 weekers \u2013 babies like Leaf. Babies like Acorn would likely not have survived at all (and frankly, I likely wouldn\u2019t have survived that pregnancy). Now days, more than half (depending on the study) of 24 weekers survive, and the youngest baby on record to survive was 21 weeks 6 days. That\u2019s not to say that there aren\u2019t lifelong complications for many of these tiny babies, but the odds get better the older babies are.<\/p>\n
Life in the NICU is complicated and stressful. It has the potential to be more complicated and more stressful when your beliefs are not quite so mainstream. When you know that many of the people you\u2019re depending on to care for your child aren\u2019t going to approve of your faith, you have to wonder what happens to your child if you\u2019re open about your beliefs. Hospitals have chaplains, sure, but in many hospitals it\u2019s hard to know which of them will be ok with your faith and which ones will not.<\/p>\n
I know \u2013 I\u2019ve lived it. And right now, I\u2019m living it again.<\/p>\n
For those of you new to my blog, let me give you the brief back story: Acorn, my 3-year-old son, was born 13 weeks early, and spend 291 days in the NICU, along with another 13 days in various PICU units in his first year. He came home on a ventilator, unable to breathe without its assistance, and a long list of associated diagnoses. Leaf, my newborn (almost 7 weeks old at this writing), was 12 weeks early, and is currently in the same NICU Acorn was in.<\/p>\n
After a lot of contemplation (because what else do you do when you\u2019re spending 4 hours a day every day for weeks on end with your breast pump, pumping milk for a tiny baby who cannot eat yet?), I\u2019ve come to the conclusion that families like ours could use a little more in the way of support. Sure, there are mainstream preemie groups out there\u2026.but who do you ask about doing energy work on your preemie, or about doing baby blessings, Wiccanings, Sainings, and the like in a hospital environment? Who do you talk to about concerns about being in or out of the broom closet in what can sometimes be life-and-death situations?<\/p>\n
With that in mind, I\u2019ve got some resources in the works. If you know a Pagan family of any type who\u2019s in the NICU now or was in the past, feel free to send them my way.<\/p>\n
First, a Facebook page for parents to network<\/a>. Search for Pagan Parents of Preemies, or use this link<\/a> (I hope the link works \u2013 once there are 25 likes on the page I can get a shorter nickname link, and I\u2019ll come back and fix it). It\u2019s my intent to have some discussion threads, and to try to get a prayer\/energy request post up every week.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also a blog \u2013 Pagan Preemies \u2013 I\u2019m hoping to post the stories of different families here, along with other items as they come up, and suggestions for surviving in the NICU. Guest posts welcome.<\/p>\n We\u2019ll also be putting together care packages for families in the NICU. There\u2019s a request page on the blog. Long term, I have some big plans for these, but we\u2019re starting small \u2013 blanket, appropriately sized clothing, generally useful things (hand sanitizer, lotion, etc), a religious pendant or emblem, a battery powered LED candle, and so on. More ideas welcome, especially if you know where I can find the items you\u2019re suggesting.<\/p>\n Also on the blog you\u2019ll find a newsletter sign up. That will have a recap of items from the previous month and a list of all prayer\/energy requests. It\u2019ll also have news about how many care packages are sent and what things we\u2019re looking for to go in them.<\/p>\n There are some additional things in the works. An ebook about surviving the NICU as a Pagan is in the works. A possible logo contest with prizes would be fun. I\u2019d like to get some publishers to donate copies of the various prayer books that are out there, or maybe collaborate with other NICU grad families to create our own. I\u2019m sure there\u2019s more that will come in time, but this is a good start.<\/p>\n A final note: at this time, this is not officially a non-profit, it\u2019s something I\u2019m doing because I think it needs to be done, so donations aren\u2019t tax deductible. But, if you happen to run a church or other Pagan non-profit that would be interested in taking us under their wing, I\u2019d love to hear from you! Pagan Parents of Preemies Facebook Group<\/a><\/p>\n Pagan Preemies blog<\/a><\/p>\n Our Little Acorn<\/a>: A Pagan mama with a medically fragile kid, just trying to figure out how to make it one day at a time.<\/p>\n Find out more about Janet at janetcallahan.com<\/a><\/p>\n Staff of Asclepius two part interview with Janet Callahan: by guest author Janet Callahan According to the March of Dimes, 12.8% of births in the United States are premature \u2013 less than 37 weeks gestation. In most developed countries, it\u2019s a little less, 5-9%. The reason for premature birth is never determined in fully half of those births. Still, that\u2019s a lot of babies […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13,14,16],"tags":[512,578,743,775,787,801,811,831,848,889,1173],"class_list":["post-1202","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-guest-author","category-health-and-wellness","category-magick-and-spirituality","tag-health","tag-janet-callahan","tag-nicu","tag-our-little-acorn","tag-pagan-children","tag-pagan-health-care-resources-team","tag-pagan-parents","tag-pagans","tag-pchrt","tag-preemies","tag-wellness"],"yoast_head":"\n
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\nJanet Callahan is a Pagan author, lecturer, and workshop leader. She\u2019s published many articles and posts across the internet. She has an essay in the book Manifesting Prosperity: A Wealth Magic Anthology published by Immanion Press, and edited by Taylor Ellwood. Janet is a member of the Pagan Health Care Resources Team<\/a>. Their goal is to create an open health resource for Pagans and helping professions regarding the needs of Pagan clients. <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n
\nStruggling with the May Pole<\/a>
\nLong Term Hospitalization<\/a><\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"