Hi all, I wasn't sure where to post this, sorry if this isn't the right place. I'm due in November with a very sick baby that will spend a month or so in the NICU. I wil be a scheduled C-section because I had one with my DS. My question is, do any of you have any experience with how you having a section works as far as recovery when your baby is cartered off to the NICU as soon as they're born? I am really sad that I'll probably only get a glimpse of him and it will probably be hours before I'll actually be able to get to the NICU to see him for the first time, for real. I already told my husband that I want him to go with him and leave me; my Mom will join them in the NICU if she's allowed. Then as soon as I'm in recovery I want my Mom to come into recovery to tell me everything that's happening with the baby. It really, really stinks knowing its going to be so long before I can see my baby, touch him, talk to him...etc. But, I know that's what's best for him. Just curious if the hospitals usually make special exceptions or anything? Would love if they could wheel my bed right into the NICU lol but I know that's not going to happen. Wonder how long before they'll allow me to get in a wheelchair and go??? Thanks for any input, and sharing any experience you may have. Yes, I realize every hospital and every situation is different. But I do appreciate anything you can give me!
10/16/04 ~ lost our first baby boy at 20 weeks due to IC
3/05 ~ another loss at 12 weeks
2/14/06 ~ Our sweet valentine miracle was born after a nightmarish 8 months!
Surprise Baby Boy, born sleeping at 31 weeks on 9/21/14
Re: C-section and the NICU
we went into the NICU and Peeked about 9 hours after they were born. Husband went up when they were about 4 hours old and came back 20 minutes later with a picture of each.
everything has Its time.
No periods due to 17 years of ballet and distance running after college. Zero response to 2 months of Clomid, little response to Letrozole. IUI left with 9 cysts = too many viable eggs due to age. On to IVF. Low dose of all meds still produced 37 mature eggs 12.6.11. Froze due to overstimulation.
FET #1.1 1.22.12 BFN. FET #1.2 2.22.12=GRACE! (and a vanishing twin).
Grace Katherine born 10.25.12 @ 36w6w 6#14oz 19.5".
FET #1.3 3.2013 BFN FET#1.4 4.2013 BFN. Never tried a fresh transfer. Let's try, despite 10 still frozen.
ER 6.26.13 27 mature eggs, slight overstim. ET 7.1.13 ectopic, FET 2.1 9.10.14 TRIPLETS!!
Boys born 3.18.14 @ 29w5d. Andrew Jack 3#6oz 16", Grant Robert 3#9oz 16", Charles Phillip 3#7oz 17".
10/16/04 ~ lost our first baby boy at 20 weeks due to IC
3/05 ~ another loss at 12 weeks
2/14/06 ~ Our sweet valentine miracle was born after a nightmarish 8 months!
Surprise Baby Boy, born sleeping at 31 weeks on 9/21/14
Married: 5/09 ~ TTC Since: 10/10 ~ PCOS ~ Progesterone from 10/10 - 2/11 ~ HSG on 3/18 - Clear ~ Started Metformin 1000mg & Clomid 50mg 2/11 ~ Metformin upped to 1500mg 4/6 ~ 6/7 Now going to SG and put on Clomid, Ovidrel, Gonal F, Prometrium, Estrace ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP!!!!!! March 6th our little man was born.
6/17/13 - Ovidrel, Follistim, Prometrium ~ IUI #1 7/2 = BFP! March 17th our St. Pattys day baby arrived
10/29/17 - Started process for IVF, got pregnant & miscarried a 2nd time since summer. 2/22 started stims - Menopur, Gonal F, Cetrotide - retrieval 3/6 - , PIO, estrace 3xday - FET 4/18 = Beta 1: 616; Beta 2: 1342 = BFP
They brought my son to an adjacent room for examination my husband went and took video and was a crazy man with the pics so happy for that. They updated me quickly and brought him out for kisses before he and my husband went to special care. I was sewn up alone even my nurse and nurse anesthesiologist got called away or were below the drape so it was a bit hard I had hardly digested that I was having a baby suddenly that day so a bit unorepared.
The other thing was I had to do 2 hours of recovery and only husband was allowed to visit so obviously spent that alone besides a quick update. I was brought down for a small bit of skin to skin and them was brought to my postpartum room for recovery.
I had 2 spinals and couldn't walk the next morning which was really like 4-5 hours later and went to see him in a wheelchair
For me, it was hard to be alone so often. I really hadn't prepared to give birth yet and hadn't known I'd be alone, so I'd definitely ask about recovery policies and skin to skin.
DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)
I had a 30 weeker. I had to have an emergency C-section. I got to see him for a second before they whisked him away. My dh went with him. When I was in recovery, my dh came back and talked to me about what was going on with my ds and pictures! I went back to my room (I had already been in the hospital for 12 days at that point). It was about 12 hours before I got to go see him. They just wanted me to be able to get into a wheelchair before I went up. I promptly vomited upon seeing him. The meds that were wearing off did not agree with me. Since he was so early, I didn't get to hold him for 6 days. While I was in the hospital though, once I had gone up one time I was good to go to the NICU anytime after that. ( As long as I could get up there myself no wheelchair needed.) I was absolutely up and walking the very next day. I knew if I want to see my baby, I have to get up out of this bed no matter how crappy I felt. The Dr who did my cs even let me stay an extra day. I didn't get released from the hospital for 4 days and still stayed one more night. Make sure you ask if they do courtesy rooms. A lot of times they will let you stay in your room one more night depending upon how far away you live from the hospital!
1. Make sure you find out baby's schedule, so you can be there to change a diaper, check a temperature, do a feeding. It is the little things that will make you feel so good!
2. Kangaroo care!
3. Pump pump pump those boobs (If you plan to! Don't get discouraged! It could take 3 days for your milk to start coming in)!
4. Blog about your experience! It is so wonderful to share the experience with a mother who really needs the info (feel free to msg me, and I will send you my blog link)
You got this Mama! I know it is scary. I know it sucks leaving your baby at the hospital. It is one of the hardest things you will ever do, but just remember that your baby will be exactly where he/she needs to be to get healthy.
Having a NICU baby can be hard, but I agree with pp - find out baby's schedule and be there for as much as you can. We would try and be there for all of his feeding, his baths, everything. The nurses even set me up with a reclining chair next to his little bassinet so I could rest but still hold him and be there. And get a good pump! I used a double electric, and it was hard to figure it out and stick with it, but DS1's tummy did so much better with the breast milk! Definitely worth it! GL!
My water broke at 31w5d and DS had to be delivered at 32w5d. After the delivery DH went to the NICU with the baby while I went to recovery. After DS was settled in the NICU and DH had spoken with nurses/drs there, he met me in recovery. After the meds wore off and I had feeling back and could get into a wheelchair, I went to the NICU myself to see DS. Honestly, there's nothing you can really do in the NICU except sit there and look at the baby. MAYBE hold the baby for a few minutes. After a week or so I was able to do kangaroo care. I pumped around the clock; every 3 hours. The hospital pumps were great- when we visited the NICU I tried to get 2 pumps in there.
The hardest thing for me was being discharged and having to leave my baby at the hospital. I second the poster that advised to know the baby's schedule. Try to be there for a feeding, diaper changes, etc., so you can participate in the baby's care.