Born Too Small, Too Soon

Today started like any other day in my life – my short life because I was conceived just some 8 months ago.

So as I was saying today started like any other day in my world.

A warm, dark, cosy quiet world where I was king.

All I usually hear is my mums voice…she sounds like an angel…she would talk to me and sing to me..

Like any other day, I would swim a bit (in the fluid you call amniotic fluid)

I would sleep a little, and play a little…

I love to chew on my umbilical cord and dance with it…. I sometimes even put it on my neck like its a little flying tie!
As I swam round and round and danced a bit, I heard my mum speak to me.

She told me how much she loved me…. how she would do anything for me.

I think she hopes I am a little girl….

I often hear my dad speak to me too… his voice is deep…and when he kisses my mums tummy, I swim up to his lips and kiss him back.

So today, after all the swimming and dancing and kissing, I fell asleep…a deep long sleep in which I dreamt I was playing with angels in Heaven, at the feet of God.

Then all of a sudden my world began to fall apart….. I was thrown and squeezed…. it was as if I was been forced out of my home!

The fluid around me was draining away… it was real… I was been forced out.

I didn’t know what to do. I thought I would die.

‘Help me’ I whispered….’I am too small, too fragile…I am not ready to be born yet. My lungs are not mature, my skin is too light, my tummy is too tiny… Somebody help me please!’

I was thrust forth into a noisy room full of people and bright lights and it was so cold. Too cold. I longed for my warm cosy dark quiet world where I thought I would spend at least a month more.

As I lay on my mother’s tummy and waited for a minute before they cut my cord, I felt so cold and wet like a little animal shipwrecked on an island faraway. I felt so alone

I began to cry…I cried out to God (I know Him well cos He was always with me and talked with me when I was in my mum’s womb)

I said ‘God please let me die. I can’t live here – the lights, the noise, the infections … I cant handle it, I am not ready… let me come back to You and Your angels.’

In a still small voice He answered ‘Fear not little one for I am with you, I have a host of angels on earth who will help you live. They come in the form of healthcare workers. Your personal guardian angels are your parents… your mum and your dad. And I will always be here with you.’

As I listened to Him, someone approached and rubbed me dry. She put a hat and socks on me. She cut my cord and placed me in between my mums breasts.

I could hear my mums heart beating again

I could feel her warmth warming my body

I could sense her breasts filling with milk for me… especially for my tiny sensitive tummy

I was safe… Her body would protect me from infections

When I forget to breathe, her breathing would remind me

The peacefulness would help me sleep and help my brain develop

I felt warm, calm and loved…. lying in between my mums breasts….. hearing her heart beat

I began to drift off to sleep as I lay there… and I heard God asking me gently ‘Little one, how are you? Do u think u can make it?’

I smiled at Him and said

‘With the help of the host of healthcare workers and my parents, though I was born too small and born too soon, I Will survive!’

Written by Dr. Adoma Dwomo-Fokuo