Preparation During the Wait

Like me, you may be currently TTC’ing, or maybe you’re currently in the NICU with your premature child.  Either case, you’re dealing with something that’s beyond your control, especially during a diagnosis of infertility, or battling against prematurity and fighting for your child’s life.  A diagnosis of infertility makes you feel that you’ll never become a mother.  Having a premature child makes you feel that you possibly did something wrong to cause your child to be born prematurely.  I know I felt that way, among other things that I felt during my son’s time spent in the NICU.  But, I want to encourage by reminding us of God’s promise in Isaiah 41:10 “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.  Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you.  I will hold you up with my victorious right hand (NLT).” Let me remind you of another one of God’s promises.  Luke 1:13-14 (NLT), “But the angel said, “Don’t be afraid, Zechariah! God has heard your prayer.  Your wife, Elizabeth will give you a son, and you are to name him John.  You will have great joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth.”   Both of these passages start by telling us DO NOT BE AFRAID!  In Isaiah God says do not be afraid because I’m with you.  In Luke He says do not be afraid because I’ve heard your prayer.  If God tells us to not be afraid because He is with us, and He’s heard our prayer we should take Him at His word, literally!  Even when our natural experiences while having a sick baby, or wanting to become a mother makes us feel fearful, God says DO NOT BE AFRAID.  Preemie mother, He will give you strength; He will hold your sick baby and you up with His victorious right hand!  Woman battling a diagnosis of infertility, he has heard your prayer for a baby, and just like Zechariah and Elizabeth you will be able to rejoice at his/her birth.  But first, God requires that you believe Him…trust Him…and have faith in Him.  It is when you and I completely have faith in His ability to heal ANY sickness, diagnosis and open our womb to conceive that He can truly manifest His glory.  I am a living testament to this.  I recently learned that He’s completely healed my right fallopian tube that was diagnosed as severely scarred 3 years ago.  The RE told my husband after an emergency laparoscopy that we’d never be able to conceive naturally because my left fallopian tube was blocked, and my right was scarred; therefore, being unable to get the fertilized egg to my uterus.  Now, 3 years later after MUCH prayer and faith God has healed and COMPLETELY opened my right tube, and I believe Him to do the same for the left. So, give God your faith regardless of what it appears to look like in the natural!

Having said all of that, now that you know how important it is to believe Him…trust Him, and have faith in Him, you should now be getting prepared.  Prepared for what you may ask.  You should be preparing for the homecoming of your preemie, because he/she WILL be coming home!  You should be preparing for your predestined one (baby) because he/she IS on the way!  Faith believes that God will do what we can’t see with our eyes naturally.  It’s knowing that God will heal your baby, and that He will completely heal you of infertility, and he will give you your predestined one (baby)!  So, get that nursery designed and completed, go buy an outfit or two to put your faith into action!  This is a time of preparation during the wait.

How to prepare while you wait for your baby to be discharged home to the NICU:

1.       Keep praying for your son/daughter’s healing.

2.       Meditate on the word of God to keep your faith strengthen.

3.       Buy clothes for them to wear once he/she is home. 

4.       Design, decorate and prepare their nursery.

5.       Plan and organize a baby shower (if you haven’t had one already).

6.       Make any necessary adjustment to finances.

7.       Get rest.

How to prepare while you wait on your BFP (Big Fat Positive) confirming pregnancy:

1.Keep praying for your healing against infertility (if that’s your desire), and for God to open your womb. (Lay hands on your lower abdomen).

2. Meditate on the word of God to keep your faith strengthen.

3.  Buy a onesie/article of clothing for your predestined one (baby).

4.       Design, decorate and prepare their nursery.

5.       Pick a name, and pray daily for the baby that’s on the way as if they are already here.

6.       Make any necessary adjustment to finances.

7.       Choose healthier food choices.

8.       Drink more water

9.       Exercise at least 3x/week.

The above mentioned are just a few things that we can do in faith.  If you feel led to do something else that’s not on the list, go for it!  The point of this is to put our faith to action while believing God’s promises.  We have to see it, before we see it! 

Let’s keep one another lifted in prayer.  I’m praying with you and for you, and know that NOTHING is impossible for God!

God is GREATER THAN prematurity or infertility!

~ Tiffany Finley