Infant Trauma

For many years doctors believed that infants did not remember pain they endured. As we have become more educated, we now know that infants actually remember pain and trauma through body memories. Some people still struggle with this concept, but I live it everyday. My youngest son was born premature. He spent weeks in NICU where he endured numerous needle pricks, IV intrusions, feeding tubes, and monitors. When I brought him home I remember feeling that he still wasn't quite "right." He was a tight baby; one that did not snuggle in when you held him. He cried uncontrollably anytime I took his temperature, wiped his nose, or touched his chest. His cry was not "typical." It was terrorizing; like I was hurting him. His eyes would glaze over and he would freeze in a panic mode. This is no way that a mother wants to remember her child's infancy. As time progressed, he aged, but developmentally he did not. He required swaddling at 18 months of age. He craved sucking into his toddler years, and he remained easily agitated when he was touched on his nose, chest and arms. He never slept. He continued to wake every two hours on his feeding schedule that he came home from the NICU on. I honored his story of the NICU, which he told me through his desire to remain in infancy until it was resolved. I spoke kindly to him, letting him know that he was safe and that he needed to stay in the NICU to survive. I did sensory work with his body, used weighted vests and allowed him to wear hats to bed because it calmed him. I took him to craniosacral therapy with a great physical therapist took time to hear his story as well as mine. She sensed the trauma and heard the anger of a lost birth and attachment. Through a rebirth process he (and mother) were allowed to do it again. Amzaingly his body became loose, he calmed and was able to self-soothe, he slept through the night and he became age-appropriate overnight. It was the most amzaing and beautiful experience! Never question your child no matter the age. Listen and honor their story. Don't discount early trauma because it can sometimes be the answsers to all the questions.