The oximeter is gone. How will I ever sleep again???

Rachel&Joe

So the equipment company came this morning and took all of our oxygen tanks & the oximeter.  She has been off of her O2 for over a month now & is doing great, but the oximeter was our security blanket.  We hooked her up to it at night & knew she was fine unless there was an alarm (there never was thank God) & were able to sleep pretty soundly.  It was also nice to be able to hook her up here & there during the day too just to make sure her sats were OK (we used to do this after shots, or during a nap when we didn't want to have to constantly check on her). 

We have an AngelCare monitor that we are setting up today (anyone have any tips on how to set these up in a pack & play?  Did you put a piece of plywood or something underneath the "mattress" of the pack & play?) but I don't think it's going to provide nearly the level of piece of mind as the oximeter.  For those of you that became really dependent on the oximeters, how did you wean yourself off of it?

Thanks ladies!  I am just so nervous about tonight!

TriciaJoy

we didn't have an oximeter (though I've frequently wished for one!) but we had an apnea monitor forever. I was a wreck when we stopped using it. We also got an angel care monitor, which we still use because it helps me sleep better. Robbie is tube fed, so he's in bed with a tube and I'm always scared about him getting it around his neck.

We didn't use it in a PNP, though a few people said yes, a piece of plywood or even some sturdy cardboard under the mattress work for them.

Really, the first week, I still checked on him constantly.. tested the angel care monitor about 465 times.. but over time, the anxiety lessoned.

beachykeen1723

We put a piece of plywood under the angelcare.

I have started using it for naps in the day, instead of the apnea monitor (we are only required to use it at night), just so we will be comfortable and used to it when we lose the monitor, and so far so good- it knows the second I pick him up, and I can watch the tic symbol for his movements. GL!

boolos2B05

We did not have a monitor of any kind when we brought DD home, but she was a very noisey breather, so as bad as it sounds the noise was our "security blanket, when she started to out grow this we had several sleepless nights and many many wake-up because we couldn't hear her anymore. MIL bought us the Angel Care and we love it. I can now just roll over and see the motion indicater thing and then go back to sleep.

mcdev

I haven't used the oximeter in months other than to spot check her a few times.  I was a nervous wreck the first night I put her down monitor and oxygen free.  But you know what?  I surprisingly slept like a rock!  Unbelievable, I know.  I realized that I *knew* she was truly fine.  My intuition told me that.  My anxiousness at night was more the anticipation of the alarm going off (which was ALWAYS a false alarm).  You just might surprise yourself, Rachel.  Oxygen free, pump free, and monitor free all in one month?!  Wild horses might not be able to wake you tonight!!!  Good luck!

lstaylor73

I remember those days.  I don't miss them.  We never got the Angel Care monitors, but we do sleep with the monitor turned up really loudly and I have always slept like a cat since the boys were born.