NICU babies

[sugabeanzs]

I was just wondering if there was anyone else out there who has/had NICU babies. I think there should be a thread for this for emotional support as it is an emotional roller coaster.

My twin girls are currently in there. They were born at 30 weeks; spontaneous water breaking. Baby A (Mackenzie) has a little trouble with her tummy and digesting food and also her heart rate drops occasionally but she brings it right back up. They put her on 2 antibiotics to see if this was due to an infection. Baby B (Brooke) is doing great. She is on 6 cc of food and off her flow.

Baby A was born at 3 lbs 3 oz. Now weighs 2 lbs 15.7 oz (maybe more she gets weighed again tonight)

Baby B was born at 2 lbs 12 oz and now is 3 lbs 3 oz.

Mainly here for emotional support from other parents who have had or are going through the NICU experience. It truly is a hard hard thing to go through emotionally.

[kholtan]

Hugs!!!! I wrote to you on DT, but I am still huggin' You!!!!!

[suzhan]

Hi there - my daughter was born 6 weeks early and was in the NICU for a month, mostly with apnea/brady and also need to grow (was born at 5-1/2 pounds, but lost almost a full pound in the first two days.)

The first week is the worst, getting used to all the bells and whistles, nursing procedures, etc. Do what you can to get oriented and spend as much time as you can with your babies - they really can feel you there. I'm sure the nurses have already helped you with 'kangaroo care' - putting them on you skin-to-skin, and I tried to do that as often as she would like without tiring her out too much. Are you pumping breast milk? In a wierd way, that helped me feel like I was doing something, even though it was not so pleasant. I know it will feel like an eternity, but in a few weeks things will be looking so much better and when you take your lilttle ones home, you'll have it all behind you.

Even though this site is great for IVF support, I personally found it wasn't too great for supporting me through the NICU process. The page on the link below is really great and has lots of ladies who have been through it and/or are going through it.

http://www.pregnancy.org/bulletinboards ... =100&f=164

Hang in there and feel free to post any questions. I'm happy to share as much as you would like.

Take care of yourself, too - you've been through a lot and need to stay strong!

Hugs to you.

[fulloffaith]

My triplets were in the NICU for 5 days and one stayed for 8 days. Thankfully we had just feeders and growers. I am sorry that you are having to go thru this. I know the NICU is not a fun place. But soon your babies will be home, crawling and taking over the house! I know it is hard to imagine that now but just keep thinking positively, praying for them. It is a roller coaster ride in there. One step forward, 2 steps back sometimes. But it sounds like they are really doing well. I'll be thinking of you and praying for you.

Allison

[sugabeanzs]

Fulloffaith: Well, I do have to say I do not like those outfits! lol (Seminole fan in Tallahassee!!) but cute babies! I am surprised you got them that far! WOW! Yes one of the girls is home now and the other is soon to follow!!! She just got taken off her oxygen and is just being monitored for Brady/apnea now. Congrats on your little ones!!!

Question: How do you handle feeding them? I know right now it takes forever to feed mine because of them getting tired really fast so I do not know when I will sleep when they are both home because I will have to feed one, move on to the next and then start all over!!

[fulloffaith]

Oh no a Florida St. fan!! I'm sorry! HAHA J/K!!

Feeding them all at once took me time to get used to. I propped them in boppies with receiving blankets to do it all at once. It does get better, they will start eating more and faster. But in the beginning they are very slow. I remember we used to have to wake them up because they would fall asleep while eating! That's just because they are premies. They grow out of that and then they never want to sleep! It's frustrating feeding them until you get the hang of feeding them both at the same time. Sometimes I would feed 2 and then nurse one. Just remind yourself when you have both home that it could be worse, you could have another one to feed!! HAHA Hope you can catch up on some sleep!
That is awesome that you already have one home being that they were born at 30 weeks.
Let me know if you have any other questions. I'll try to help even though you are a Seminole!! HAHA

[sugabeanzs]

lol thanks. I am glad to hear that they do get faster at eating. I am finding her falling asleep on me all the time. Plus she still fluctuates between 50 and 60 cc. Hopefully she starts to eat more soon!

Well, we will see who wins when we play one another! Hopefully our team has a better year this year. GO NOLES!