NICU check-in?

aliwisewoman

Anyone interested in doing a NICU check-in?

What gestation was your baby (babies) born?

How long have they been in the NICU?

Any milestones, issues, goals?

How are you handling being a NICU mom?

aliwisewoman

I'll start. Hopefully more will share! I need some extra support!

What gestation was your baby (babies) born?

30 weeks 1 day

How long have they been in the NICU?

1 week tomorrow

Any milestones, issues, goals?

Right now we are just trying to work our way up to full feeds. They are about 1/3 of the way there. Just found out Baby B (Dominic) has a hernia in his groin. It's not a big problem right now, but will require surgery to correct it. But it's one more thing to worry about.

How are you handling being a NICU mom?

I think I'm doing okay. I'm having a bit of mommy-guilt because I'm not spending as much time with my two big kids or my two tiny ones in the NICU as I would like to. I usually go to the hospital from 9-3ish and then come home, call around 9pm and get up just to do it all over again.

I have noticed that there are a couple babies who never have parents lingering around them. After my little break down last night, I wonder if those parents always come in the evening and think the same thing about my babies never having their mom at the NICU. :P

direy25

I posted a couple of weeks ago asking about a NICU check in and the general consensus was that NICU check-ins have been tried but sort if fizzled out and that people could just post their vents & updates on their own posts. You might get some other responses though!

We've been home for one week & one day after a 68 day stay so I know how you're feeling, it's all still pretty fresh in my mind. G was born at 27w2d. The hospital was 4 hours from home so I stayed at a Robald McDonald house and my husband commuted back & forth on the weekends.

I can't imagine what it's like to have other children while dealing with this.

That's great that they're already 1/3 of the way to full feeds! The nurses told us that it's usually pretty sudden, like a lightbulb turns on and they just take off, and that's pretty much how it happened for my LO.

I hope you don't mind that I posted even though we're not in the NICU anymore... Lots of luck to you and your LO's!

aliwisewoman

@direy25- I'm glad you did! I hope other people join in. All of us NICU moms need to band together! It's tough. And no one else understands what it's like.

I'm so glad you have your little one home. That must feel really good!
68 days must have felt like a lifetime but that's pretty good. How much does your baby weigh now? How many weeks gestation would they be? Sorry for the questions, you don't have to answer. I'm just trying to wrap my head around how they grow, etc. Right now I hold my two little guys head in my hand and wonder how they'll ever be the size if a full term newborn!

direy25

Please don't feel bad about asking questions - I wish I would have posted here more while we were going through it! LO was 2lbs 6.5oz at birth and as of last week, he was 6lbs 6.5oz (we have an appt with our pedi tomorrow so I'm anxious to see if he's grown since he's been home). He's 38w1d now. I look back at early pictures and can't believe it's the same baby! He seems so big to us now, we forget that he's still pretty small compared to a term baby.

hoping&praying2013

Anyone interested in doing a NICU check-in? yes i would love that.
What gestation was your baby (babies) born? 32 wks 6days
How long have they been in the NICU? Since the 22nd
Any milestones, issues, goals? Both got put in a crib together this morning and baby a is all bottles now and baby b is at 3 a day. They are both gaining well.
How are you handling being a NICU mom? Its very emotional. In the beginning when they had ivs and one had oxygen it made me feel so guilty that I cldnt keep them inside longer and they had to go through this. But its getting better Bc I did cry every night lol. I live an hr away so ive only went home 3 times since being admitted for contractions on Aug 9th. It gets lonely being here and my dh is home working but when I go home all I think about are my babies so its crazy how I feel and how much I love my babies already. Im also having a tough time making enough milk to feed them both so thats frustrating i started fenugreek last night. They eat 40 ml each feed a piece and thats about all I can pump every 3 hrs is enough for one.

andthatmakes4

aliwisewoman said:

What gestation was your baby (babies) born?

32 weeks 5 days but was the size of a 29 weeker

How long have they been in the NICU?

2 weeks on Friday

Any milestones, issues, goals?

They are trying to take out his pic line so hopefully that will be done tonight. He's eating great and gaining weight. Unfortunately, I don't make enough milk for him and he spits up formula so hopefully his little tummy will figure that out soon. They are trying to get him to try bottles but he hasn't shown any interest yet.

How are you handling being a NICU mom?

I'm that mommy that the OP was talking about that doesn't see their baby enough and I have extreme guilt over it. I have an 11 year old that started middle school right after he was born and a 22 month old also. Im not driving yet so I have to arrange transportation for myself and child care in order to see him. I try to spend an hour at least every day and usually get 2-3 but definitely wish more could be worked out. Hoping this gets easier for all of us.P

flerlgirl

Anyone interested in doing a NICU check-in? Sure - we're home now but can I still play?

What gestation was your baby (babies) born? 26 weeks, 1 day

How long have they been in the NICU? He was there for 115 days

Any milestones, issues, goals? He came home on oxygen due to issues with As and Bs and desatting. He goes this week to find out if he can come off the oxygen!

How are you handling being a NICU mom? It was rough... I will say that I have never appreciated the phrase "take it one day at a time" so much as I did then. That's all you can do - take it one day at a time. Sometimes one hour or one minute at a time. I just had to keep myself from riding the emotional roller coaster too much and concentrate on the victories, no matter how small they seem. 

aliwisewoman

I'm so glad all of you responded. It really is a crazy time with babies in the NICU. I just told the nurse that I feel like I should have a sign or t-shirt that says I just had a c-section a week ago and I have twins in the NICU. When people talk to me I feel like I'm in a cloud. I hear them, I talk to them, but I'm on auto-pilot. I think unless you are able to basically live at the NICU, you feel guilty for not being with them. But then you'd feel guilty for not being with your older children. So right now, it's all about compromise. Hugs mommas!

ETA: I'll post this weekly, if anyone wants to join in!

ashleymarie512

What gestation was your baby (babies) born?
---DD born at 29w6d due to preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome, measures at 28w and weighed 2lb 3oz

How long have they been in the NICU?
---About a month, since Aug 3

Any milestones, issues, goals?
---Was finally off cpap and vapotherm but due to nasal stuffiness from what they think is too much dry air, she's back on the vapotherm at a pressure of 2.0. Hoping she settles so we can do back to trying PO feedings. We only have a nuzzling order, but I want a bottle order as I won't be able to nurse much. I only make about an ounce between both sides per session. Talk about frustrating! Optimistic goal would be to bring her home at the end of the month, but we need to get breathing and feeding under control.

How are you handling being a NICU mom?
---It's hard. It was harder when I was still recovering, but when she has good days I have good days. When she has any sort of back progress or issue, I'm a mess. DH has been a total rock for me the last month, but he's starting to become more frustrated and stressed (he's a phd candidate and super busy). He opened up tonight just saying how sick of the hospital he is, tired of people saying "it'll be ok". I'm glad he opened up, but wish I could help more. I just went back to work yesterday so I could save my leave time and I feel guilty for not being there longer during the day. Luckily I'm about five blocks from hospital at work so I can go over lunch if I want to. Phew, I guess I had more to say than I thought!

Thanks for posting, I'd definitely post weekly!

khadijazmalik

Hello. I am new here. I finally got the chance to be on the net after tough few days. Sigh



What gestation was your baby (babies) born?

My baby was 30w 1d.

How long have they been in the NICU?

he has been in NICU since Friday, august 30th, 2013.

Any milestones, issues, goals?

He's off the oxygen tube that they were using to help him with breathing (but he came out breathing on his own)
His jaundice levels are good, so he's off the light
The iv from his hand is out and the UV from his stomach is supposed to come off in couple of days. so, my goal is to stay strong till then.
I am happy he's born at 30 weeks, because I actually went into labour at 24 weeks, 6 days, and i was in Sunnybrooks hospital for a month, so I am very very happy he stayed inside me for another 6 weeks before coming into this world. It's been  a long and tough journey, but we are making it through.

How are you handling being a NICU mom?

It's not easy, especially the fact that so many of my friends are pregnant and their babies or pregnancies are going smoothly, it makes it that much tougher.
I have my days when I am down, and when I am okay. It's mostly the night time, when I have to leave him and come home that is the hardest, I hate saying good bye to him.
However, I seem to be doing a lot better, I only cried twice today.

ashleymarie512

khadijazmalik said:

Hello. I am new here. I finally got the chance to be on the net after tough few days. Sigh



What gestation was your baby (babies) born?

My baby was 30w 1d.

How long have they been in the NICU?

he has been in NICU since Friday, august 30th, 2013.

Any milestones, issues, goals?

He's off the oxygen tube that they were using to help him with breathing (but he came out breathing on his own)
His jaundice levels are good, so he's off the light
The iv from his hand is out and the UV from his stomach is supposed to come off in couple of days. so, my goal is to stay strong till then.
I am happy he's born at 30 weeks, because I actually went into labour at 24 weeks, 6 days, and i was in Sunnybrooks hospital for a month, so I am very very happy he stayed inside me for another 6 weeks before coming into this world. It's been  a long and tough journey, but we are making it through.

How are you handling being a NICU mom?

It's not easy, especially the fact that so many of my friends are pregnant and their babies or pregnancies are going smoothly, it makes it that much tougher.
I have my days when I am down, and when I am okay. It's mostly the night time, when I have to leave him and come home that is the hardest, I hate saying good bye to him.
However, I seem to be doing a lot better, I only cried twice today.

I completely agree--night time is the hardest for me too. It's when I get in bed and stop moving around that I just sit and think about her.

staceymack

Hi,

I haven't been on the bump since my girls were born 3 weeks ago at 33w4d. They spent 2 weeks in NICU and were able to come home last Friday at 35w 5d. I apologize if this isn't the correct place for this info or if it's a repeat. I wanted to share some of my experience in hopes it can help others. The first week was the hardest, darn hormones. I cried almost constantly when I was away from them. I tried to be there as much as possible. The nurses and DH would get onto me for my 12 hour days spent there because I needed rest to heal from my c/s. As hard as it is make sure you do take time to rest and eat. The last thing I wanted was to become sick and not be able to visit at all.

 Also, look for family network/support group consultants in the NICU. I knew for days that I needed emotional help/support but wouldn't go find it. I finally attended a luncheon for NICU moms. That was a great bonding experience and I felt much better afterwards. Take advantage of those. 

Keep a journal. Our lead nurse provided  a notebook and decorated it for us. It was a great place to keep up with treatments, prognosis, thoughts and feelings. 

Never be afraid to ask questions or call. Even if I spent most of my day there, I would still call at night when I got up to pump. Never feel guilty for not being able to be there often. I know that's easier said than done. The nurses will take good care of them!