Pets and Being Home from the NICU

zoeyandsummersmom

My inlaws took care of our dog while I was in the hospital. To give us a few days to adjust to being home, they kept her a few extra days so we could get a bit more rest. She just got home and knows there is no baby inside of me anymore and is now depressed. Any advice? I was thinking of brining home a blanket today from the NICU to start to get her used to Zoey's scent. I am trying to give her a little extra love and attention.

OscarQ

dcmetrobride:

My inlaws took care of our dog while I was in the hospital. To give us a few days to adjust to being home, they kept her a few extra days so we could get a bit more rest. She just got home and knows there is no baby inside of me anymore and is now depressed. Any advice? I was thinking of brining home a blanket today from the NICU to start to get her used to Zoey's scent. I am trying to give her a little extra love and attention.

That is so touching!  The blanket thing is good.  We took our own blankets to the NICU so we had to wash them at home and would let our pets sniff them before laundering.

We also bought a baby doll and carried it around, treating it like a baby so that the pets - and mostly the dog - had a clue that big changes were about to happen.  We wanted her used to the idea that she wouldn't be the center of the universe for much longer.  And we went overboard on treats and attention when my son came home from the NICU so she'd still feel loved.

JakesBride07

I agree alot with OscarQ, I went thru the same thing with my female dog. She just knew. She was always "checking" on the babies, by laying her head on my belly etc,....and the moment I came home she knew...

We showered her with lots of love, and I talked to her telling her it would all be ok.

komurphy

We had the same thing happen to our dog.  He seemed to know something was up.  When I came home from the hospital he wouldn't leave me.  He layed right next to me with his head on my legs (always away from my csection while it was healing) and followed me where ever I went around the house.  It went on for a few weeks.  Our NICU nurses suggested we bring home a blanket so our dog could sleep with it.

COmommy

What a sweet dog.

 It would be a great idea to bring a blanket home for her to smell.  I hope she starts feeling better soon.