bringing my preemie home today!

3litttlebirds

Oliver was born at 33wks 6 days, spent 16 days in the special care nursery, and is coming home today at 36wks 1 day.

I am happy and excited, but also a lot more anxious that I thought I'd be. I'm thinking how am I ever going to get any sleep....I feel like I'm going to need to be watching him constantly to make sure he is still breathing, his temperature is okay, etc. I know I'll be so paranoid without the monitors and the safety of the special care nursery. How do you deal with that?

He never had any issues with his heart or breathing, so that makes me feel better. The only issue he's had is staying awake enough to take all of his feedings. Also, I think he has a bit of reflux, which I will address with the pediatrician at his visit in a couple of days because I didn't feel like the nurses/doctors at the hospital were as concerned about the possible reflux issue as I am. I was told he'd grow out of it at a year or that we wouldn't worry about it until he was spitting up so much that he loses weight....no thanks, even if it is just mild reflux, I still want to address it. The nurses sort of made fun of me saying that I was just overanalyzing his feeding because I'm a speech pathologist and that's part of my job. 

Any advice? 

rslhmg

Congrats on getting to bring him home! Definitely talk to the pedi if you think he's refluxing. DD came home on a monitor because of having a gerd. They went through all the steps for treatment in the nicu starting with elevating her head after feedings, then rice in her bottles, and finally medication. She's been off the monitor for about a week, so it does seem to get better with time. We still have to do the elevation, rice, medicine, and we can't play with her for about 20 mins after a feeding, which is probably the hardest part for me since she's so playful.

Kadyra

Congrats!

It's been about 10 days since we brought ds2 home. He spent his first night in his crib in his room last night and I didn't sleep at all. His fussing would've kept me up anyway, but the worry is worse.

I'm sure it takes time to work through it. That was my point with the anecdote! And a happy homecoming to Oliver!

Sept30Madison

To deal with the worry -- Angel Care Monitor at night and Snuza Go monitor during the day.  They save my sanity!!  best money I've ever spent on baby products.

For reflux, we just got on Zantac on Friday because Julia's projectile vomit just kept on slowly increasing no matter what we did.  Other things we do is keep her elevated during and after feedings, not too much jostling after feedings, and smaller more frequent meals.

aessary03

Congrats on bringing home your little man today!    How exciting!!!  OMG, I was a wreck the first week home.  Until you really get down a routine and get really comfortable, I'm sorry but you probably won't get much sleep.  I put my babes in a bassinette and just rolled her everywhere with me the first couple weeks.  It was nice because the noise of the NICU made it so that she could sleep through the noises at home so no one really had to be quiet! 

 

Good luck and congrats again!!!

mom2elijah

Congratulation!

jcsntms06

Congratulations!

Nita14701

Congratulations!!!