Friend having triplets!

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

First, congratulations on your pregnancies!

A friend of mine is having triplets. Her doctor said the avg gestational age is 33 weeks & then NICU time. A couple friends & I are getting together to surprise her at her shower with a NICU care package.

Would they be micro-premies? What would be good to get for her? I know hats are always needed, but what else? She wants to try to BF, but I don't know how that would work.

Any advice on what could go in our care package?

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

Thank you so much! I didn't even think of those!

Brummy14 · February 2014

These are all fantastic ideas. Maybe you and your friends can coordinate amongst her broader circle to bring her meals to her home (leave on doorstep in cooler) so she doesn't have to think about cooking? If she makes it to 33w, which would be rockstar for triplets, she's still bound to have plenty of ups and downs during her NICU stay, so also be prepared that she may not be the exact same person on 'the other side' during those first few weeks. The other women on here can attest -- even if you know you'll end up in the NICU, you cannot prepare for how that experience will impact you until you're there.

Maybe pool some money to hire a pro photog to do a NICU session for her -- we did that, and we treasure those photos as a memory of how far we've come!

24karat · February 2014

Gas cards and prepaid parking are helpful as well if they do end up needing NICU time. There are online stores that sell micropreemie clothing and, if any of you are the crafting type, you can find patterns on etsy and other sites for making preemie hats.

jocie2581 · February 2014

I wish I had more comfortable post pardum clothes. A couple of hoodies to cover my flappy stomach. Some comfortable nursing tops.

And I agree with pp about food. Dropping off dinners or getting gift cards.

megs3084 · February 2014

Nicu nurse chiming in. At 33w, we don't consider them micropreemies. They may be growth restricted or small for their age tho. I'll agree that outfits w snaps are best, or onesies. The wires fit and work better than w a zipper. Also, receiving blankets are a perfect size for the beds and help families feel more like home. As far as breastfeeding, we encourage pumping at least, and can transition to nursing as they get older/stronger. Snacks and a refillable water bottle is great. I'd also say memory cards for cameras, or disposables are good. We don't allow cellphones so its nice to still be able totake photos.

pea-kay · February 2014

Mine were born at 33w2d and were just feeders and growers. They were about 4.5 lbs each, and they were all home within 2 weeks.

That said, a nice rich hand lotion would be nice. All the hand washing dries them out!

seawater · February 2014

How awesome that you are doing this for them! The ideas from pp are are all great. For me though, some of the more "task" related things were most helpful (though I truly appreciated the material gifts as well) Bringing meals was HUGE and a dear friend made an account for us as at mealtrain.com. Basically it's a site that allows others to log in and sign up for days to bring you meals on an interactive calendar. You get an alert email when someone signs up and there's a place to write info about your family (dietary restrictions, times of day that work best for meals to be dropped off, directions to your home, etc) This was such a blessing to us.

Also, if she doesn't know already: point her in the direction of this site as well as other encouraging blogs and websites for her to check out when she has time (kellymom and La Leche Leaue are great ones for BF support) Just being able to read other peoples experiences and know you're not alone in your struggles is a tremendous encouragement.

Oh, and when you visit her: wash her pump or bottle parts for her. Doing that a billion times a day just plain sucks.

PrimRoseMama · February 2014

Just to clarify-- do the outfits need side snaps? I see a lot of regular crotch snaps, but with wires etc. I'd think side snap would be better?

mommaoftrips · February 2014

The paid parking, doing meals - even frozen meals for once the babies do come home (my neighbours all made me a bunch of frozen food, which was SOOO nice), gift cards for any meal places at the hospital are great. The other thing is to do something with helping them at home - housekeeping, walking their dog, mowing their lawn.

Very nice that you guys are doing this for them.

msditz00 · February 2014

This is so nice of you and your friends. Everyone has already given great ideas. I just wanted to add, from my experience in the NICU with my son, to please visit. I can't tell you how many people found out they couldn't meet my son (we were restricted to 4 visitors on "the list" besides my husband and I) so they just didn't come. Or they found out their kids couldn't come to the maternity floor so they didn't come. I was dropped off by 8am each day and my husband came after work. So in between feedings got very lonely. When you visit, bring a book in case your friend needs to leave to pump or do a feeding.

liz080808 · February 2014

We were in the nicu for 10w. The pjs w/out footies w/snaps down the middle worked best for us. Or the gowns w/snaps down the middle. The Aden and Anais blankets are the perfect size for the isolettes then open cribs when they graduate to those. Our nicu didn't allow hats. Preemie sized was even big on the babies for so long! Gift cards to restaurants nearby the hospital would be nice - gas gift cards - starbucks giftcards. Johnson & Johnson makes these pre-soaped washcloths that I wish I knew about while we were in the nicu. Would have been so great for baths! A little laundry bag for all of the clothes/blankets to take home & wash each day. An ink pad & unlined notecards to make hand/foot prints. Our hospital doesn't do those anymore! A little cooler bag - the pack-it gel bags are great! - to transport pumped milk back & forth. Wet bag for pump parts. Good insulated big water bottle - so so dry in the hospital! Lansinoh has a 'therapearl' breast cooler type thing - great for those first couple weeks while new to pumping (can be chilled or heated). All of the above posts are great! Wish we had friends like you guys - ours conveniently fell off the face of the earth while we spent our summer in the nicu

katiebenes · February 2014

zero NICU experience but I have played the supportive friend. be ready to make her some lactation cookies if she is bf-ing.
I've made "NICU care packages" before. they ALWAYS have quick parent snacks (energy bars, cookies, quick meal stuff), gas cards, a photo book coupon (shutterfly, burb, walgreens... somewhere that she can upload and make a book), regular books, offer to come take pictures if they allow it, give her your support, ask the hospital what their clothing rules are for the babies, if she's religious then a small token from her religion for each baby's area, if she isn't religious then maybe a four leaf clover

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Friend having triplets!

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