Congratulations to your SIL and Congratulations on being an Aunty
26 weekers generally spend until their due date, sometimes just over, in hospital. Most of that time is usually spent in NICU on breathing support. Bub will need tube feeding and SIL will most likely be expressing milk for bub. There are risks of complications, but I won't go into that now. The prem journey comes with lots of ups and down, very much a rollercoaster. One minute bub could being doing well, the next not so well and vice versa.
Depending on how far away from the hospital your SIL will be driving/taking public transport which can get very expensive, so maybe some fuel vouchers or public transport tickets or something like that?
Also just having someone to talk to is awesome in itself. I got very very lonely at the hospital (I stayed in accommodation next to the hospital as I live in the country) Offer her your ears, maybe organise a time of day you can call her or something?
Other than that I can't think of much else if you are unable to get down to see her.
ur SIL is very lucky that her baby is passed the gestation where survival could have been minimal, so there's a postive right there!
i think the fuel vouchers is a fabulous idea. and even tho u may not understand what she is going through, offering her ur support will be priceless.
something my mum did for me while my son was in hospital, was she paid for me to get my hair coloured. i felt very guilty for not being by my sons side, but it also gave me a much needed pick me up! so manybe something that will pamper her for an hour or 2 and make her feel like a person again
wish her all the best and congrats on becoming an aunty! xox
My mum has organised accomodation near the hospital for my bro and SIL when she is finally discharged. At the moment they have said they want no gifts, for either themselves or the baby.
I spent the afternoon researching about what they are likely to go through, and what not.
Would any of you want visitors early on or later in the piece?
I want to go up and help out, whether it be taxi driver, or what not; but I'm not too sure when would be the best time to go. What do you think?
Congratulations on the arrival of a tiny pink bundle of sugar and spice to the family!
Your SIL is very lucky to have the support of her family whilst on such a emotional journey.
Like your SIL, I did not want any gifts as I truly thought that we would never have the chance to use them. However, one gift that I did receive was a hand knitted beanie from my SIL that my little man wore when he was allowed out for kangaroo cuddles. It now holds pride of place in a memory box that I put together with bits and pieces from our NICU journey.
Everyone is different when it comes to visitors. The parent of the little boy who was next to DS asked for her family (including parents) not to visit the NICU. I on the other hand wanted all the important people in my life to meet our little man early on. Most only stayed for a couple of minutes as any longer than that was just too difficult for me, DS and NICU staff.
If you are going to be spending some time with them, the best help you can offer is stacking fridge/freezer with meals and general housework. When you are spending the majority of your day at the hospital, the last thing you want to worry about is dinner and if there are any clean clothes to wear for the next day
Talk to your brother and ask him what they would like you to do. Offer your help but leave the ball in their court.
Congraulations on the birth of your little niece and i wish your family all the best for a very happy future
My brother and SIL have had two NICU babies with two very different paths travelled. My nephew was born at 28 weeks and my niece was born at 30.
For them the hospital was 40 min away and they made the drive (usually 2 times back and forth) every single day. We went and saw both bubbas within a matter of days of them being born. With my nephew we visited every Sunday for a long time, they could only ever have two people visit at a time so a lot of time was spent in a waiting room while we all had our chance to visit. Also i think there is a general concensus of privacy in there and not really peeking too much at the others bubbas.
My nephews journey was very up and down and i think he was in there for a total of 10 months. His lungs were always his issue. But he made it home before celebrating his first birthday!! It is really difficult to know what to do and how to help as it depends on the person. I just did my best to show them as much support as i possibly could. Depending on how long your niece is in NICU i would imgine your SIL may like some company, she will struggle to leave her little ones side.
Last year they found themselves in a similar situation with bubba number two, at the same hospital in the same NICU. Thankfully her path was a much more straight forward one of positives all along. She was born in Dec and was home by mid Feb (i think). Just after Christmas she was transfered to a closer less intensive care hospital also which was very exciting. Again i did my best to visit once a week it was more difficult this time as i had two young children and the hospital isn't a place for them.
Depending on bub the NICU seeemd to do their best to involve the parents as much as possible. They encouraged the hugs once they were possible, baths, weighs, feeds (however they were being given). My brother and his partner became experts at looking at the screens and understanding what all the numbers meant and if bub was having a good day. I have a huge respect for them and the doctors/nurses in the NICU.
All in all the two stays were quite different, my brother did say to me once as much as they love to have people come and visit their little ones in hospital it did make them very nervous and could be difficult at times. It's a time of such unknown and scary emotions. They can do such amazing things these days and everyone just needs to stay positive. I remember my first holds of their precious little ones, i felt so privlidged to hold such little miricles in my arms.
I really do wish all the very best for your family and your little niece. May everyone stay positive and healthy
some advice please!?
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