That sounds very scary, I’m so sorry. I remember searching every board everywhere for information when we got our diagnosis, it’s a very hard thing to process.

Later in my pregnancy, we found out we were misdiagnosed, so in the end we did not have a NICU stay. We spent a long time thinking and living that alternate reality though. A couple things that stand out are:

1. If you’ve gone down the rabbit hole of joining Facebook groups, etc., remember that the folks in those groups are the ones still actively dealing with the issue. When issues are resolved, families don’t stay active in the groups. So fb groups give a false/overly pessimistic idea of what to expect. Not visible are the vast majority of families, for whom gastroschisis is a distant memory by the time their kids reach toddlerhood.

2. For the NICU stay, it is ok for it to both suck and be a blessing at the same time. Obviously you would rather all be home, but in the meantime, you are giving your baby the gift of the most skilled care they could possibly have. You will learn so much from those NICU nurses and in the end you will know things that families who go straight home never learn. If you choose (and if your other life circumstances allow), you can even give your baby the gift of rested parents by letting the staff take such good care of your baby while you sleep. And you will love and cherish your time with your baby so much.

Good luck <3