So we begin our NICU journey....

[Jennifer13]

Wishing you and your tiny DD all the best for the journey ahead.

[*Infinity*]

Thank you all for your kind words and generous offers of support. No doubt I will be using every one of them.

DP and I went to see our precious girl this morning, and I got to have my first skin-to-skin cuddle with her. I was so emotional when they asked me if I would like to, I couldn't get my top off fast enough! She settled beautifully and we just sat there soaking it all up for almost an hour. She has been so stable they wanted to give us this opportunity now, just in case she has any setbacks and needs to go back onto the ventilator at some stage. So I feel like I'm on cloud nine right now. It was just perfect and she was truly relaxed. How amazing.

She is still going well, they are keeping a close eye on her kidneys & fluids at the moment and constantly adjusting for her needs. She is taking my EBM well, and Deb you are so right, I have been adamant with them that she is only to receive my milk and thankfully my supply has come in nicely so she'll be well stocked in that department.

Now that the larger CPAP machine has been removed we can see her gorgeous tiny face which is a lovely sight. The poor darling is very bruised through the face, particularly her eyes, as they think she was presenting face down for part of my labour (which wasn't a very long one either!) Thankfully I got her out in a hurry.

Shazzi - I completely understand what you mean about the intrusion. DP and I are just not ready to share her with anyone else yet. He and I will be the only ones to see her for some weeks to come, we will let others in when we are all ready. I know it probably sounds a bit funny, I'm still finding it hard to explain that to a few family members - but I'm just focussed on protecting her right now.

Emotionally we are doing fairly well I think. We have DS who needs us too so we are juggling his needs with our own, and obviously everything we can do for DD we will. I'm sure the shock will start to set in over time but we are trying to remain as calm and level-headed about things as we can right now.

Thank you all again for everything xox

[squidipa]

i still forget things like his due date and birthday it was so rush rush from our scan to his being born today. It was all so full on for the 18 days we were there. rest as much as ya can and eat eat eat and drink sweet. Sounds like your in good hands there.

[Janie]

You sounds as if you are coping so well I'm so pleased that she is doing as well as she is. And massive YAY and WOOHOO for your first kanga cuddle!!!! You made me smile recounting that, I remember so well the first skin to skin I had with DS2, I too couldn't get my top off fast enough .

Here for you on your journey. I hope it is a smooth one, and that Heidi continues to progress well.

[Inanna]

Aaah I also smiled reading about your first kanga cuddle!

I am glad to hear your milk supply is doing well - you are amazing! Good work boobies!!!! I also took the sheet when it was changed from her isolette. Most tertiary hospitals in NICU won't let you put something of yours in there though due to cross infection. So, just a thought and what I did was when they did "cares" I took her sheet and brought it back the next day for my next Immy smell fix! Might help you. xxx

The other thing that helped me (& I like to think Imogen) was I put up positive affirmations over her isolette. I also had Quan Yin (she's special to me) and Mother Mary (my ex husbands Aunt was a nun). They protected her whilst I wasn't there! I also had a photo of her siblings up to watch over her...

All thoughts that you can take and ponder.

Big cuddles to you & special kisses to your special girl.

[Janie]

The photos are a lovely idea . We also had toys that DS1 had given DS2 tied to his IV pole. DS1 also drew him a picture that we laminated, and stuck to the isolette . I think those things helped DS1 as well, I felt he got ripped off too, of that lovely experience that most have of meeting their new sibling.

Don't be afraid to ask for kanga cuddles. You will soon enough get to know the 'routine' of things, but in the meantime, if you're not sure, just ask. Sometimes staff can be really busy, and don't realise that you're waiting to hold your baby (when you get to that point). It sounds as though your milk is coming in well, which is tremendous. Breastmilk is so so important for premmies, especially micro-prems. Those kanga cuddles will help your supply even more . If you pump soon after, you may be impressed by how much more milk there is!

Do you know yet when you'll be discharged from hospital?

[Inanna]

Aaaah we had the toys too Janie... All in plastic bags hanging on iv poles! *trip down memory lane*...

[feeb]

Aww glad to hear things are going well! I got teary reading about your first kangaroo cuddle.

Keep up the good work with expressing, take care.
xoxoxo

[ladybird11]

Aaaah we had the toys too Janie... All in plastic bags hanging on iv poles! *trip down memory lane*...

I remember the toys around the humidicrib, the blankets that used to be on placed over it to stop the light coming thru, sterilising the hands upon walking into the NICU / SCBU (everytime I smell that stuff it reminds me of those times....The top to toe baths, and by gosh I was good at changing a nappy while DD was in the humidicrib...

Most of all I remember the kindness of the nurses :-)

[Jennifer13]

Glad to hear Heidi is doing so well. Take care of yourself and DP as well, it must be tiring having to manage DS, who's still only little himself, and the trip to the hospital every day.

[Cassius2]

oohh yeah i was also going to second the "aktavite' choccy drink to help with milk supply...i also found keeping on my multivits and plenty of water really helped...

[shazld]

Congratulations on your little girl!!

I'm a mummy to a ex 25 weeker and was in NICU/SCN for 153 days so I know what a long tiring road you have ahead of you. Please if you need any support or want to ask anything, I am very happy to help out.

Shazz.

[*Infinity*]

Evening all, thank you all for your kind words and support. All the tips are really handy, especially on the milk production side of things. So far so good, I'm getting a little bit more day by day which is encouraging so I'm trying not to stress too much about it. I'm not getting much time to rest in between visits and taking care of DS so its hard to stay on top of things but we're getting there. DP is such an amazing guy - I already knew that - but sometimes it takes these challenging times to really see just how amazing he is. Physically I'm feeling a bit worn down, I guess the hormone high has worn off to some extent. Emotionally I'm going up and down depending on the day / time LOL! Leaving the hospital is very hard. I feel like my time with her is so broken and fragmented which is really tough.

She is still nice & stable. They successfully got a central line in her leg a few days ago and she is starting to re-gain some weight. They are monitoring some gastro-intestinal things which are simply a result of her immature digestive system but being cautious all the same. She is still receiving my EBM but just at less frequent intervals. The bruising on her precious face is improving day by day and she is just the sweetest little girl. We had another nice long cuddle too and I'm hanging for the next one let me tell you that!

Must go and be-friend the trusty pump for the millionth time LOL! I will keep everyone informed as we keep moving along.