Nalina Karunan Sathiabhama
September 2024
Nalina Karunan
Sathiabhama
,
RN.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Qassim University Medical City
Buraidah
,
Buraidah
Saudi Arabia

 

 

 

They even allowed me to hold and touch him, even when he was at his weakest, hoping he would regain his strength. But in reality, it was I who was regaining my strength.
It wasn't my first child, but as they say, the youngest, the weakest, and the farthest from you is the dearest to your heart. So, how could it be when all three factors come together at once? I will never forget the intense fear I felt for my child when the doctor informed me that he needed to be in the neonatal intensive care unit and that his breathing was still unstable. I felt like I was losing my breath, and tears welled up in my eyes. My pregnancy had not been easy; it was one of the most challenging times of my life. Despite all the pain I witnessed, the nursing and medical staff in the neonatal unit had a profound impact on calming me and offering reassurance. They even allowed me to hold and touch him, even when he was at his weakest, hoping he would regain his strength. But in reality, it was I who was regaining my strength. Not only that, but by God’s grace and thanks to their guidance and support, my baby never had to be fed formula milk. His nurse told me, "Don’t worry; your baby will always feel your presence through the milk you provide. Yes! We haven’t given him any milk yet, but your milk will be the first thing to enter his stomach and the first thing he tastes, so please be strong and give us the best milk your baby deserves." Indeed, I stayed by his side, providing him with my milk, by God's grace, until the moment my child was discharged, healthy and well, thank God. A heartfelt thank you to the entire staff of the medical city, represented by its administration and both medical and non-medical teams. A special thank you to the nursing and medical staff in the neonatal unit, and I especially thank Nalina for her dedication and constant reassurance