Being in the NICU makes me SO sleepy

katie4253

Every time I go in there I am so exahusted.   I'll feel fine walking down, I'll sit down for a few mins, and then I am hit with a wave of sleepiness.  It is so strong that I start falling asleep in the chair.  H doesn't experience it at all.  Did any of you have a similar feeling?  I wonder if it is some pheromone that he is releasing that makes me sleepy (he is usually sleeping when we go down). 

Side note: I go home tomorrow, so we'll be embarking on our "new normal" routine.  I will be allowed to board at the hospital as much as I want though.  So, during the day, I'll probably be here all day to: see him, pump, nap, etc.  Then I'll go home to sleep at night.   That's the plan for now.  

Sweets2005

Oh my gosh, that happened to me and DH so bad! I was like in a coma every day! The lights are low, its warm in there, the only sound is the water from the oxygen which sounded like a babbling brook (they mostly kept the monitors turned down very low or off in our pod as they could hear them in another place or see them from the hall). Not to mention the pain meds I was on that made me sleepy! If the chairs had been comfy (like some NICUs have), I would have definitely fallen asleep!

schenkertobe

Every single day. I think its the warm temps, low lights, and background noises of all the machines. Get some rest at home.

njdcgirl

I'm guessing you are sleepy b/c you are still coming down from a huge emotional (and physical) ordeal of giving birth!  You're only a few days out, and are probably just needing to rest more.  Take advantage of being able to sleep while your there - it's a marathon and you need to be healthy for your LO!

mt1927

i get sleepy too. i wish i could board there. there r family rooms for pumping and if i really wanted to i could take a nap, but there r only a couple rooms for everyone. 

urbanflowerpot

Yes, totally! I would kanga with him just in case a sleepy-spell struck from nowhere. I'd feel drowsy just walking through the door if they were in "lights out" mode.

mrsmacias2008

I was tired all the time. Dh and I caught ourselves falling asleep! I think it's just the darkness of the room and the humming noises. Unless a baby is crying at the same time.

adrielegorburu

DH gets sleepy everyday! I did at first but not anymore.  I keep busy, writting in my journal or talking to the nurses.  We were in an open bay with 7 other babies for the first 60 or so days and weve just been moved to a private room so I KNOW if I had been in there at first Id fall alseep in my chair

kaylaaimee

Dude. Eventually the nurses were like "we just won't worry about it" b/c apparently you're not supposed to sleep holding the baby. But I'd lay back in the recliner with her on my chest and we'd sleep like that for a couple of hours each day. It was impossible to stay awake.

lemen99

definitely!

katieguth

Raises hand...  Me too.  I think, in fact, that I was more tired sitting in the NICU than I am now being home with LO.