As many of you know, our DD arrived very unexpectedly last week at 25 weeks + 6 days. I don't have a lot of time or energy to post right now but I wanted to pop in and introduce myself....obviously this is going to be a long journey.
It will be nice to share with all you experienced NICU / Prem mums....for our own reasons we have not announced her arrival too widely as yet, just to our parents & siblings and a few close friends. Right now, she is just too precious and we don't feel like sharing too much right now. So to have an outlet here on BB to come to will be great for me I think. I'm still processing it all.
DD is still going from strength to strength. She is maintaining most of her breathing herself and is doing all the right things. Of course they are adjusting her fluids, lipids and other things regularly and monitoring her very closely but she is looking great for such a tiny bub. She is active and wriggly and loves pulling off all her wires...cheeky little girl.
Today I got to change her nappy and help clean her face. Plus give her another feed of EBM which has been so important for me to do.
No doubt I'll be back in to ask A LOT of questions, vent & cry a bit, and also celebrate her milestones.
I for one am happy to "listen" to yours and her story!!
I hope she continues gaining strength. She seems like a little fighter. I can't offer any adivce on premmies but am happy to give cyber hugs anytime
Infinity - she sounds like she's doing well. My DS wasn't prem, but he was a NICU boy, so I know the routine and I know it's tough to leave your bub there. Congratulations on the birth of your beautiful DD
she seems like a little fighter already... amazing she's doing so much of her breathing on her own.
lots of love and hugs to you, make sure you look after yourself in this emotional time xo
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 ;-)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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...
It's so hard to leave them behind, knowing that someone else is caring for your precious little bundle.
Have you got someone in your family you can keep updated and then let everyone call them? I used to ignore the phone too, the last thing you need at the end if an emotional day is to go through it all over and over again.
Your milk will still be coming in, it takes a while when they are so early, you are doing a great job every little bit helps.
Oh darl, I've only just read this, after responding to your PM I'm glad you were able to have a cry, and let it all out, it's really important to do that. I will come back later when I can and chat to you some more..........xoxo
If only there was a way cyber hugs could be felt, I would give you a huge long hug. You are doing such a fantastic job looking after you DS and dealing with the journey of a baby in NICU. A big cry is a good thing. Better out than in. It is so so good that DD is breathing so well, heart and head scans good and getting lots of your fantastic milk.
I had a similar problem with uneven producing boobs. My left is considerable smaller than the right and only ever produced half of the right one. No matter how much i tried with extra pumping it did not change. It is not as noticeable anymore and the leftie produces lots of milk.
It is heart breaking to leave the hospital but the nurses really care for their little charges. I hated that feeling of having no control, not being able to take my DD home so I tried to focus on the relationship I could build. Lots of kangaroo cuddles, when off the CPAP I would hold her all the time and every time I was there during the tube feed as I wanted her to know that I meant food. That said I cried a lot to let it out.
Thanks for keeping us updated and hugs sent to you.
So we begin our NICU journey....
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