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anxiety & skin to skin.. anyone have advice??

appyloveeappylovee member
in Preemies
I'M having a problem, and wondering if anyone else has gone through this.. I'm able to finally do skin to skin with my little boy. He's now 35 weeks ( week and a half old) but is just getting back to 3 pounds ( which was his birth weight.) I tried putting him on my shoulder for the first time yesterday, and I had an anxiety attack. I think we both hated it. There was nothing comfortable about it. Now I'm afraid to to try skin to skin. He hates being on his stomach, and I'm totally uncomfortable not being able to see his face. I know he will read that Im stressed, and it will stress him out. He is just so small and it totaly scares the crap out of me. I HAVE HORRIBLE anxiety to begin with, and it only seems to be getting worse, since having my baby boy.
My little pumpkin was born at 34weeks, weighing 3lbs, due to severe IUGR & Unexplained Placental Insufficiency. He spent 49 days in the NICU. Lilypie Premature Baby tickers imageimageimageimageimageimage
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Re: anxiety & skin to skin.. anyone have advice??

  • Missa_gMissa_g member
    I think some anxiety is normal.  Our boys are about the same size and hooked up to a bubbling CPAP.  The machinery makes it more nerve wracking I think.  What we do is sit in a rocking chair near them.  The nurse will bring them to us and lay them on their belly against us with their head turned to a side.  We'll put one hand on their bottom and one to support their neck.  They're positioned from our chest to abdomen.  Usually our boys will fuss for a minute but settle down very quickly to snooze for the rest of the hour.  Are you getting him out yourself?  I would ask for a nurses help, at least the first few times, if so.
    Lilypie Premature Baby tickers
    Married 9/22/07, began TTC 8/10
    Diagnosed with DOR, LP defect, mild endometriosis and cysts
    BFP #1 EDD 9/10/11, natural miscarriage at 6w
    BFP #2 Medicated cycle, twin boys born 4/4/12 at 29w4d
    BFP #3 EDD 8/8/14, D&C for missed miscarriage at 8w, baby boy with triploidy
    BFP #4 June 2014 CP
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  • JuliaJAGJuliaJAG

    I felt a lot of anxiety at the very beginning but found that it helped when the nurses brought over a mirror (it swiveled and was on wheels) so I could see his face really well. Have you tried using a mirror? If not I would ask about it. Your LO may find it more calming than you realize, and if you can see that, it may have a calming effect on you, as well. 

    Also make sure the nurse clips the call button to your sleeve or somewhere else you can reach easily. One time a nurse forgot to do that and I couldn't reach the call button and I had a panicky feeling until she came by and fixed it.  You might even ask the nurse if she can stay during your next skin-to-skin time. Having a calm presence in the room might be helpful.

    Hugs to you! It's definitely not easy having a baby in the NICU but you're doing great!! 

    Julia ~ six miscarriages ~ our sweet miracle baby, Jack, due 5/3/12, was born at 29w1d on February 17, 2012, weighing 2 pounds 8 ounces Lilypie Premature Baby tickers BabyFetus Ticker
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