New here, and I need some feedback :)

Shauna07

Hi Moms/Dads,

 

My daughter was born 3 weeks ago at 31 weeks and so far she's doing great -- the NICU nurses tell me she could come home next weekend (after Thanksgiving!).  My questions are, how long did you wait to have vistors over? I'd like to wait 2 weeks to get adjusted with her at home (especially since now I only see her once a day).  

If you waited a few weeks/a month before having visitors, how did your family handle it and how did you explain to them that your preemie needs rest/food and not a lot of stimulation? 

Also, if you had younger kids in school (preschool, daycare) did you remove them to prevent colds/flu from coming home?  I have a 4 yr old in preschool, but I'm not sure removing him from school until spring will truly prevent all colds....please let me know your thoughts.  Thanks SO much!

Lastly, if you plan/are breastfeeding -- how long did it take you to move your preemie from mostly bottle feeding to mostly breastfeeding? Weeks/months?

 

TIA 

 

 

 

jcsntms06

Congratulations on the birth of your little girl.

It looks like your LO will probably be qualify for synasis shot (I would ask her doctor in the NICU). You may find that they want her to be on lock down (no visitors, only doctors visits, etc) until after RSV season. I'm in Maryland, so RSV pretty much ends around April or May. My little one was born in March at the end of RSV season, she only received one synasis shot (due to her sister being in daycare). She was also born at 34 weeks, so we had no lock down, but with my oldest (born at 33 weeks in October), we took the doctors advice and didn't go out much. I made sure if we did have visitors that they were illness free and that HAD to receive their flu shot.

As for older kid in preschool, your doctor may want you to pull them, that's really a personal decision. With my oldest, she was in daycare when DD#2 came home from the NICU and I keep her in daycare too, but it was the end of RSV season. Plus I would be sending DD#2 to daycare at 3 months old, when it was time for me to return to work.

Praying that your LO is home with you soon.  

PhillyGal34

I had a 31 weeker as well but he was a summer baby so cold/flu wasn't as big a concern. I would have liked to keep people away for a while but I was "surprised" with a gathering of our entire families the day he came home... including my young nephews (NOT happy about that) but it turned out ok.  If it was cold/flu season I'd tell them they can see him in the spring. if they don't like it tough crap! I'd probably be a bit nicer... but you get the point.

 Can't speak to older kids, I only have one baby. 

 I EBF and if I remember correctly ... it was only a few months ago but I cannot even remember... we didn't give him any bottles when he came home.  Maybe one a day so my husband could feed him but that stopped after a week or two. it took him a few weeks to get off the nipple shield though.  I'd say that when he got off the nipple shield he stopped with bottles unless my husband took a night feeding so I could get some sleep.  

 

GOOD LUCK!!! and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that you have the best thanksgiving gift ever! 

Shauna07

Thanks Ladies! I appreciate your feedback.  Having a preemie is very different from having a full term baby (my boys were both fullterm at 8 and 9 pounds) -- so my DD is a little peanut to me.  I plan on stocking up on Purell ASAP and after reading your posts I will have to let people (family) know they can't visit if they are at all sick or have been exposed to someone who is sick.  Thanks again.