Almost home....

adrielegorburu

Weve been in the NICU since DD was born on 3/11 - we finally are talking discharge which is wonderful - but why does the "final lap" seem soooooo long??? I have been happy to have DD in the NICU growing and getting better, I love her nurses and doctors and we have settled into a great routine.  She is almost completely off her oxygen support (room air with only a little bit of pressure and additional support for feeds) and is learning to bottle feed (this has been a little rough) her only remaining obstacle is feeding.  They have told us to be ready in the next 3-5 weeks for her to go home.  compared to how long we have been in the NICU thats nothing.  So why did I break down and cry last night thinking I cant do this anymore - I just want her home and to be out of the NICU.  I feel terrible for complaining.  Even though DD was a micro she has had a good NICU stay compared to other micros (if any NICU stay can be good) we dodged all major bullets (minimal bleeds, resolving PDA after indocin treatment, slight reflux, stage 2 ROP - no surgeries, no NEC scares) The only inconvience we are dealing with is her MRSA eye infection that has us in isolation (gloves and plastic gowns at all times in her room)  - but it all seemed to catch up to me now - we had her shower over the weekend and our house is finally full of baby stuff - her room is ready, and now so am I.  I cried during her bottle this morning because she took so little even though she tried so hard and all I could think of was this means we will be here longer - I got so frustrated! Did any of you feel like the last leg of the race would break you?

Natalie_may

The last part was the hardest hands down.  It felt like we were never going to get out of there! I used to sit in their nursery and cry, its hard to see everything ready with no baby to fill it. She sounds like she's doing so well though and will be out soon. 

Good luck and stay strong momma!  You can do it!

shanlubey

I know *exactly* how you feel. DS was in that stage of his stay for SIX WEEKS!! He also has what I call an easy stay: no bleeds, no heart issues, no ROP, no stomach problems, just bad BPD/CLD. I can assure you, it will go from one day to the next that you get the news and you'll be asking where the time went. Hang in there, momma. She'll be home soon!!

MrsLee22

Ughhhh I could have written this post word for word - except our issue is oxxygen support, not feedings. I have kept it together pretty well for the last 12-ish weeks but this past week I have had no less than three "OMG I CANNOT DO THIS ANOTHER DAY" breakdowns. I feel ya girl, I am just ready to have my babies HOME.

Kate621

The last 4 weeks in the NICU were torture for us. We had three different discharge dates before we actually got to go home. In some ways the end is harder than the beginning. Hang in there.

schenkertobe

Yes, the last leg was by far the hardest. Once LO's issue was just feeding, I felt like progress slowed to a snails pace. It seemed like every morning I called the NICU there was no new good news, just the same as the day before. Learning to feed is the longest slowest progress. Everyone told me that one day it will just all click and they will take off. Waiting for that day was torture and I often felt like it would never come, but it did. Hang in there. DH and I kept ourselves distracted those final two weeks by doing things we knew we couldn't do once Andrew was home- we ate out almost every night!

katie4253

I hate to compare my feelings to yours, because I know your road has been so much harder than mine.  But, I will say, I agree with the last part being the longest. 

We are anticipating discharge in the next 2-3 weeks.  They are asking me about car seats/reminding me of the car seat test all the time, making sure we have his room ready at home, asking if we have enough clothes at the hospital in case he needs to be changed when he is in his open crib, etc.  Between that and trying to be there to feed him for as many feeds as possible, I think I'll be exahusted when he comes home. So, I cannot imagine how you feel.

I think you breaking down seems 100% normal.  You have been in a NICU marathon and they are asking you to sprint after a marathon basically.  It's a lot to handle emotionally.  

**Hugs to you!**