preemie timeline at home?

Dani816

mia danielle is still plugging along at the nicu (it will be 1 month on monday, and she will be 41 weeks), but the doctors are finally starting to sound hopeful about her coming home soon. yesterday, she did ALL of her feedings by bottle (although today she was back to 1/2) but it looks like we're finally on the right track (knock wood!)

so i'm starting to wonder about your preemie's "timeline" after they got home. at what point did you first take them for walks outside? at what point did you first travel with them? when did you take them to family gatherings? i know it will vary depending on your child's medical needs, but i'm just curious what your experiences have been.

thanks! and hope everyone is doing well

lemen99

yay!

The first thing we did when we got home was go on a walk.  Granted it wasn't TOO hot or TOO cold.  But it was such a good feeling to be free. 

We didn't go to any family gatherings for a long time or travel until he was probably a year old.  

LuckyMom0203

My husband and I consulted with my daughter's (she six months old-- three months adjusted) medical team right before she was discharged and then asked the same questions of her pediatrician and they all had the same answers (which we stuck to)...

1) We had no limitations with walks.  As long as the weather was decent and she didn't seem to mind it, we could walk her all we wanted.

2) Family gatherings (as well as trips to church, the grocery store, etc.) were out for the first three months she was home.  We brought her home before her due date so she was still very small (under five pounds) and her immune system was no match for crowds of people.

3) Travel-- plane travel was discouraged b/c of all the germs but in a couple weeks we'll be driving with her a few hours away to a lake house (approved by the pedi).

Basically, we were told that, like the rest of her, her immune system has to play a lot of "catch up" in the next couple years to get where it's supposed to be and it's not that she'll catch things easier but if she were to catch something it would do a lot more damage (she could have to be re-hospitalized).  The other thing they told us was to be mindful of how much overstimulation she's received in the NICU in the past 3 months and to do everything we could to counteract that in her first three months home.  Hence, no big family gatherings or other situations that were too stimulating.  They essentially told us to create a "spa like" environment for her at home!  Play soft, classical music, give her warm baths, and massages and make sure everything is as tranquil as possible.  So we pretty much retained the NICU rules at home-- two visitors (three max) at a time, wash hands, visit for small amounts of time.

Hope this helps!

FisMom

Took DD for a walk at a nearby park the day after she came home. Went to a coffee shop after her first pedi appointment two days later. I also asked boh her NICU docs and her pedi the health questions and was told that she could go outside whenever (properly clothed of course), we could go to homes of family or friends and also have visitors as long as no one was sick recently, everyone washes their hands, and to avoid crowded indoor areas such as malls and airports. I can now take DD to the supermarket and Target, and other shopping, as long as it isn't too crowded.

A lot depends on your LO. Yours was born full term and just has eating issues, so they'll probably tell you the same thing they would tell someone with a termie who went home right away.

stevenkramer48

We were told no friends or family to visit and that we could take her in the car, and outside as long as she was dressed for both for the first 3-6 months home. We have been home a little ove three weeks. It's rough but I have a wonderful nurse that makes it possible for me to go out and I come home and wash with Hospital grade soap from head to toe.