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NICU Moms
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deliela999 posted:
I'm still amazed at how few parents we see in the NICU! I spend hours there every day, initially just sitting next to the isolette staring at her and now holding her. Early on the chaplain and social worker gave me crap about overdoing it being there too much. Last week the doctor said it was great because I'm learning all about how to care for her when she comes home soon. Today of all days we couldn't think of anywhere else we'd want to be than to visit the one person we are most thankful for! We told the family to count us out and I cooked us a nice meal instead of the take-out we've been living on. The staff was surprised we went and it was extra empty of visitors. Have others seen the same thing? She's in one of the top hospitals in the country an hour from home and while the drive sucks we can't imagine not being there. Maybe it's another one of those things that is different because we fought so hard to have her and wanted her so badly?
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no1phillygirl responded:
I would do the same thing. You are a great mom. Please continue to let us know how the baby is doing!
 
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beckyatmoms responded:
My twins were born at 29 weeks and were in the NICU for 7 weeks. I was there EVERY DAY, even with a 45 minute drive, 2 other kids and a dog at home. Many of the nurses and the social worker all commented about how good I was at being at the hospital. To me there was no other option. I was sad I couldn't be there more. While I was there I didn't everything for my girls without any assistance from the nurses and the doctors seemed impressed with how involved I was. That made me think we are in the minority

My best friend is a NICU nurse and said there are many many parents who don't come at all....very sad for those poor babies.
Me (36)
DH (32)
DS (12)
DSD (6)
TWIN GIRLS (4 MONTHS)
After 3 1/2 years of TTC and infertility treatments and 3 rounds of IVF we welcomed our G/G twins 11 weeks early on 6/11/12!
 
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cacahead27 responded:
We were at the NICU everyday with our little ones. They came home seven days after they were born. I was there so much in those sevne days that when a nurse asked how I was holding up, I burst into tears. I was spreading myself too thin. (even without an hour drive) I wound up setting up a schedule with my mom so that when I couldn't be there, she was. Like you, I felt like I should be there. Regardless of the fact that the nurses/doctors know better regarding your child's medical situation, you are her mother and you are doing just that by being there for her everyday.
Sarah (29) DH (29): unexplained IF; 2 failed IUIs; 1 failed IVF; BFP w/FET; B/G Twins born @ 35w6d; 10/12: TTC4m; surprise BFP w/o assistance
 
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ninjarbaby responded:
You're such a good mama. I feel the same way. I was there everyday when Madden was in the NICU and even though I was discharged earlier than him, I still went back to the hospital to see him. Don't worry about what the social worker or any of them say. You're just doing the best you can and being there for your baby. You're being a mom and that's what we do!
Jane(31), DH(30), DSD(12) - Surprise BFP after almost 4 years TTC/unexplained IF. Madden was born 4/28/12.
 
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deliela999 replied to ninjarbaby's response:
Thanks everyone! I can't believe there are parents that don't want to be there with their babies. I know some have circumstances I don't understand, but you can tell from the nurses that many never visit.

Well, she should finally be coming home today!! 9 weeks and 5 days after she was born and finally going to be home. We're excited and scared all at the same time. I couldn't sleep last night, my last chance to sleep through the night for a while. Wish us luck that nothing delays her coming home and everything goes smoothly once she's here.
 
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beckyatmoms replied to deliela999's response:
Awesome. Just checking in to see how everything is going? Hoping she made it home
Me (36)
DH (32)
DS (12)
DSD (6)
TWIN GIRLS (4 MONTHS)
After 3 1/2 years of TTC and infertility treatments and 3 rounds of IVF we welcomed our G/G twins 11 weeks early on 6/11/12!
 
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deliela999 replied to beckyatmoms's response:
Hey, Thanks for checking in. She did come home Friday! I think we're doing pretty well settling in and trying to get some sleep. She was on such a schedule from the nicu we're pretty much trying to keep her on it and adjust ourselves to it. We had our last ROP check this morning! I know they are necessary, but it's so hard to watch her scream through them. We checked out well at the pediatrician yesterday and she'd gained 4 ounces in the 4 days she'd been home. She was small against the preemie charts the hospital docs used, but her trend followed the same trend as the chart. The ped put her on the regular chart and she's no where near, but the ped said it would be fun to watch her catch up over the next couple of years.

Overall I think she's a pretty laid back baby. She sleeps well and is happy to be in her bassinet awake. She rarely cries and when she does there's a reason and as soon as we fix it she's done. We're getting pictures done this weekend. A friend of our cousin is starting a photography business and going to do a shoot for us.


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