The Tiny Nappy by Elizabeth Osmond

The Tiny Nappy

I find it helps to show, so I take

one of the tiny nappies with me.

Smaller than the smallest panty liner-

you cannot find them in Tescos.

I hand them around at lectures

a palm-width slip of tissue.

A child in year five is proud

of their prematurity.

I take the nappies to labour ward,

sometimes people want to prepare,

to hold something.

The nappy reaches the armpits

of the smallest ones, the straps fasten

around their chests.

We weigh them to calculate urine output

and if they contain poo we celebrate.

Elizabeth Osmond is a neonatal doctor and a poet. Her work has been published in print and online including previously in Dust. You can find her on Bluesky @bethosmond.bsky.social