velcro, thank you. I remember we've shared that we're both preemies before. But you were REALLY tiny, a miracle baby to weigh under 2 lbs. and survive! I'm sure that being in the hospital for 4 months was traumatic in some ways, but babies are fortunately resilient. I agree with you that being a preemie did not shape your whole life and that the other issues that came later had a bigger effect, even.

I was born at 33 weeks and was almost 4 lbs. so by today's standards, that's big! But when I was born, things were way different. Back in the dark ages!

I can't be sure the effect on me but my gut feeling is that I didn't get the holding and attention that I needed. It may be my imagination but I seem to recall my Mom saying something about being afraid to hold me because I was so small. My grandchildren were all preemies and I held them, but things are different today in the NICU where the nurses care for preemies.

Peaches: I think the separation from your mother at 6 weeks definitely could have prohibited bonding, though the first month is probably more crucial. Were you in an incubator when you were born, too?
Yes, my thinking has shifted since the session. So, whether or not it's TRUE about what happened to me as a preemie, I feel better!! I feel better about my T, too. The strange part is that the session did not seem so remarkable. My T said we needed to work on the EMDR about the incubator next time too and I put the feelings away in her bear's gift box. Maybe that's why I feel good and not sad? The sad feelings are put away? But I'd rather feel good. Even when I wrote the poem I wasn't sad.

SD: I'm glad what tree posted helped you. Maybe I didn't get it before. You mean: I feel good, and that's a fact!! Whatever happens later doesn't take away from my feeling good NOW. So, enjoy! Is that the idea?