Hun, I've said it before - if there is anything I can do, even if its in months and months time - catch up for a coffee with the kids - if you want to chat about anything - I'm here for you.
I've also ridden the NICU rollercoaster too - there are ups and downs. But don't forget to look after yourself in the meantime hun ;-)
We be following your journey hun, so proud of how your little girl is doing, and take your time sharing your news, here for you anytime and I look forward to celebrating every little milestone, because even the smallest milestones are HUGE in the premmie world
Take care xxoo
Hi Infinity, I wrote in your BA thread to not forget about you... make sure you have snacks, bottle of water etc in a bag - I found this really handy as often I would just be about to go get something to eat and DD would stir or a monitor would go off and I wouldn't want to go anywhere and those snacks held me over!
My DD was born at 34w1d and she was in for 2 weeks. I know that your and your DDs journey will be longer than that but I am happy to support anyway I can.
Are you still admitted to hospital, being discharged myself was one of the hardest moments for me
Hi Infinity - congratulations on the birth of your daughter. I had a micro prem (27+5) & Imogen was 815grams. So a little bigger than your little one. You are right this will be a long journey & nothing anyone will tell you will prepare you for the length & rollercoaster of NICU. It is both Heaven and Hell & everything in between. I am so glad you are in here and reaching out - so important. I also am so happy to hear your little one is having ebm - I know how wonderful it is to feel like you are doing something active to Mother your little one. For me I felt that Immy was the "property" of the hospital & my milk was her link to me.
I want to tell you just how amazingly your baby is doing to be breathing unassisted - that is wonderful. It took Immy 10 weeks before she was so your little girl is going great guns!
If you want to talk at anytime you pm me and I will give you my mobile #. If you were in Qld I would visit - I know how important someone who "gets" it is. Reach out to the social work staff, utilise the lactation consultant and pump the staff for any and all info. Be fully informed about your baby. Put your hands on her whenever you can - just filling her little body with your energy to help her through. Talk to her. Play her music. Also remembe she is still gestating! Look after you. Get a massage, lots of cuddles from your partner/friends/family is very very important.
Sending you courage, strength & support as you travel this road.
thats just brought tears to my eyes i remember the first time i got to hold chakotay or change him such a special moment. What a trooper hey I totally understand why you have not told everyone.
Not sure what hospital you are in - but when I had DD at 31 wks the WCH had a 'wookie' system, where DD and I would have a piece of material each which had a sphere at the top (like a head) and a material hat was sewn into it (if you can imagine casper the ghost in bright flowery colours wearing a floopy wizards hat we are on the same page). I had one wookie and DD had the other, and at each visit I would swap them so we could get used to each others smell. I had my wookie stuff down my bra ALL the time lol....and it just made me feel closer to DD when I sadly couldnt be by her side. Once I thought I lost my wookie and I was in hysterics - but phew, found it next to my bed.
leesa i agree good idea i was sick and could not visit my son in nicu so i sent up my nighty for the nurses to make his bed in (my dad said to do this) and got them to take pictures for me . It helped alot.
I'm glad you're in a place where you feel comfortable, and able to rest and recharge. Good on your for being so determined to keep going with the pumping - it's amazing that they need so little to start with (although my DS was bigger and having more, 10mls every 4 hours) but soon enough you find that their need increases, and the milk starts disappearing from the fridge and freezer so much faster! Which is why it's so important to establish a good milk supply at the start, so it's there for them when they're bigger. Do you have any literature about breastfeeding prems? If you don't have the ABA booklet 'Breastfeeding Your Premature Baby' I'd love to organise to send you a copy. My DH found it a really helpful thing to read too. If you don't have it, swing me a quick PM with your address and I'll get a copy off to you.
You're doing so well by the sounds of it, just hang in there, and keep doing what feels right for you
Janie, you're a sweetheart. I've been meaning to track down a copy of the ABA prem booklet but haven't got my head on straight yet! I will PM you, thank you so much. I don't have the words. The nurses suggested that for the first few days I don't get myself up at night to pump to try and rest a bit which was very kind of them, but now that I've had a few good nights sleep to re-charge, I'll be getting up to pump at least once overnight. I'm so determined to keep my supply strong, I don't want it dwindling.
DD is still doing really well. She will have some big changes today though with her central line so one step at a time.
Infinity, you are doing so well and my heart breaks for you having to leave your tiny girl behind at the hospital when it's time to go home. I hope your DS is better soon. What a fabulous job you are doing juggling everything! Your expressing efforts are obviously helping Heidi enormously. LOL at the slow rightie. It might be frustrating, but if it makes you feel any better, many, many women have an underperforming bb. Mine was leftie. I'm sure it produced about a quarter of what the other side did. I used to console myself with the idea that if a mother can feed twins, then only one bb needed to be firing on all cylinders to keep one baby going really.
It's great to hear from you. Take care of yourself, it sounds like you are doing a very good job of managing what you can and can't cope with. I am seriously in awe.
Another NICU mum here wanting to extend her arms and give you a huge hug.
Remember to drink plenty of water...hospitals dehydrate you so much and you need all the strength to get your supply continuing. hon....we're all here behind you
Registered User
I totally understand why you have not told everyone.
I hope your DS is better soon. What a fabulous job you are doing juggling everything! Your expressing efforts are obviously helping Heidi enormously. LOL at the slow rightie. It might be frustrating, but if it makes you feel any better, many, many women have an underperforming bb. Mine was leftie. I'm sure it produced about a quarter of what the other side did. I used to console myself with the idea that if a mother can feed twins, then only one bb needed to be firing on all cylinders to keep one baby going really.
Bookmarks