- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Preemies
Dreading this afternoon
I am being discharged from the hospital this afternoon, and will have to leave little Natalie here. I have been dreading this day all week. I cry just at the thought. How did you cope with leaving your LO in the hospital after you were discharged? I just never imagined having to deal with this. I hate not being able to be right here if she needs anything, and not being able to be at every feeding. I'm really struggling.
Warning
No formatter is installed for the format bbhtml
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Dreading this afternoon
First, I am going to tell you what I did.
I faked it. You know the old expression "fake it 'till you make it?" Well, that's what I did. 100% fake. I pretended to be happy, joyous, gleeful, everything but what I really was. Running on pure adrenaline is what got me through those days where she was in the NICU and I was discharged.
Now, do keep in mind I was on bedrest for so long it was somewhat of a relief to be able to be up and move around whenever I wanted to. The Saturday she was discharged I went to Target (I am so superstitious and didn't want to repeat anything that had been done on the day the originally planned on discharging her) and it all seemed like a big dream.
Now, for what you should do:
Let yourself feel whatever you feel. Sad, happy, mad, grief, anger, madness, joy, excitement, apprehension, etc. The list is endless. Be there as much as you CAN (meaning if you aren't feeling up to being there, don't go. It's ok.) and know that they are taking the best possible care of your little girl.
And know, this will pass. It is so hard while you are living it, and it will linger even after she is discharged, but someday, it literally will be a memory.
I hope you are able to bring her home soon, that she grows big and strong quickly, and you have a very uneventful NICU stay. The ladies on this board were my sanity when I was living it...I hope you find the same.
I wish you the best. (Hugs)
It was one of the worst days of my life. I just bawled and bawled and DH didn't get it. (He was trying to be nice but didn't understand me.) Men don't get it - we've had our babies with us since the moment they existed. They've been separated from us since birth which was hard enough, but at least they were down the hall/in the same building in the NICU. Now we have to get even further away from them. It's 100% unnatural for us as moms.
I'm so sorry, I wish I could be there to hug you and help you to the car and hug you more there and cry with you as you have to go. Things that helped me: set up a specific plan on when you're coming back. Define it before you leave and tell DD that you'll be back at ____ time tomorrow when you say goodbye. Talk to the nurse on staff before you leave to help yourself be more comfortable leaving her in great care. Remind yourself that you are being the best mom you can by insuring she gets the best care she possibly can; right now, that's unfortunately in the hospital instead of at home with you. You are NOT abandoning her. Let DH take care of you when you get home and try to focus on your recovery at home so you can focus on hers while at the hospital. HUGS!
It worked out so when I was discharged was 2 hours before his first feeding that I said I would be back for. So I raced home shower, changed, my mom feed me something. I went right back to the hospital. It was hard to leave but it made it a little easier knowing I was going to get to see him soon. It was hard spending the first night at home but we called and checked on him a lot.