Introduction

DuckDuckGoose123

Hi ladies,

I've been a regular poster on the June board, as my little one was due June 1, but she decided to make a grand entrance on April 10 at 32w4d.  Hoping this board will be a good place to post and get some support. (btw please disregard my ticker and signature picture - I'm having problems editing them and haven't heard back from Bump support yet).

She's doing really well - she was born 4lb 11oz and 18 inches long, and started to suck/swallow within a day or two (though it took her a few more days to get the suck/swallow/breathe process down), and now at 9 days she's taking most of her feedings by bottle and is doing wonderfully.  She's almost back to her birth weight as well.  In fact, the NICU doctors and nurses have been asking me if I had my dates wrong, because they think she might be a week or so older than we thought.

I got discharged last week, but I've been visiting her 3x a day since then and trying to nurse - for those three feedings, they push her milk through her NG tube while I nurse her, and she's really starting to get the hang of it.  She's doing wonderfully well, but the hospital won't release her til 35 weeks, since that's their preemie policy (I'm ok with that - I'd rather be confident that she's in good shape to come home rather than chancing bringing her home early).

All that aside, and I'll probably sound whiney because I know a lot of moms here had their preemies much earlier than me and have had a much more difficult journey, but it's SO.HARD. to leave her each time I head home from the hospital.  It just breaks my heart to put her back, and I so can't wait to bring her little self home.

Looking forward to chatting with you all and learning more about taking care of my little sweetie. 

njdcgirl

Welcome!  Leaving is always hard, but it is wonderful that your little girl is doing so well!  No matter how long you are in the NICU, you suffer the "loss" of the pg/delivery/homecoming that you always dreamed of. Hopefully she'll be home with you soon and these days will be long gone!

I notice you are from NOVA.  Which hospital?  My son was in Fair.fax NICU and they are A-W-E-S-O-M-E there.

DuckDuckGoose123

njdcgirl:

Welcome!  Leaving is always hard, but it is wonderful that your little girl is doing so well!  No matter how long you are in the NICU, you suffer the "loss" of the pg/delivery/homecoming that you always dreamed of. Hopefully she'll be home with you soon and these days will be long gone!

I notice you are from NOVA.  Which hospital?  My son was in Fair.fax NICU and they are A-W-E-S-O-M-E there.

You're so sweet!  And you're so right, though I was kind of out of it the day I was discharged, I'm really feeling now that I lost that happy homecoming moment.  But my husband has been making a big deal out of getting balloons and things to welcome her home when she's discharged, so maybe we can recreate it a little.  I tend to cry whenever I think about it, so hopefully that'll pass soon...

We're at the Reston Hospital, and I just love it!  We didn't really shop around for hospitals per se, just went with the place where my OBs' practice delivers, but I've loved the experience there.  The whole process was great and the NICU staff is fantastic.

jcsntms06

Congratulations on the Birth of you daughter.

I know everyone here will say the hardest part is leaving their LO in the NICU. I know for me it was. Praying that your LO will be home with you soon. Please keep us posted. 

CLAYLIOVER

Congrats!

DuckDuckGoose123

Thanks, ladies!