Gwen I know exactly how you are feeling. Right about now you are probably feeling like you don't even have a baby at times?? I know that that is how I felt after having my first son at 32wks. The first time I saw him he was in a humidicrib & was only allowed to hold him for about 10mins. Not what I was expecting as a first time mum at all. But the NICUnit was terrific & I could sit with him for as long as I wanted day or night. I found it hard too because my partner & support system was 5hrs away at home. However we had a little fighter & after 5days he was transferred to a hospital closer to home, & this is where he finally made it out of the humidicrib & into a normal cot.
For me the hardest bit was not being able to hold my baby whenever I wanted. All I wanted to do was have him in my arms & would often end up back in my room in tears, but just kept telling myself that it was all necessary so that we would have our little boy in our lives for the long haul. I used to just sit with him for hours talking to him or just holding his hand, anything so that he got to know my touch, smell & my sounds.
Wishing you every success in this as before you know it you will be holding your daughter in your arms & you will forget all the times that you couldn't hold her. This is a short but necessary separation for you guys to be able to take home a perfectly healthy little baby girl to fill your lives with love, laughter & joy for many years to come.