NICU moms

I'm trying to put together a few thing for Yesenia since baby Q will be in the NICU for a little while?

Is there anything that you liked having or needed? Any good books on premies for her to read?

Any advice is greatly appreciated

Re: NICU moms

I don't have any book recommendations, I actually found the most helpful reading material at the NICU. What helped me the most was family and friends helping take care of household chores (cooking or bringing over food, cleaning, etc) and giving updates to other friends and family. All the running back and forth to the hospital was exhausting. Some friends also picked up some preemie and newborn sized clothes, since I didn't have any.

Re: NICU moms

I wrote this for someone else and will repost:

Offer to drive her to the hospital if she had a csection.

I didn't spend an entire day at the NICU and if she can't do that, she shouldn't feel bad. I found it extremely draining and I only went for about three hours a day (sometimes more), but there is only so much you can do in the very beginning. If I couldn't go on a particular day, I got permission to have family members go in my place. Maybe you can tell her that you would go for her, if she can't go for some reason. I had twins and one came home before the other, so this helped me a lot.

Tell her to do Kangeroo Care.

She should join a site called Carepages.com when she is ready. I posted updates on my babies on a daily basis. Everyone I know was able to check it and get the latest on their health. It was so much easier than getting a hundred phone calls a day.
My sister actually took all of my updates and pictures I posted and made a scrapbook.

I wouldn't recommend reading any books. When a doctor had a concern, I asked about it and than did some research. The books will scare her to death!!

She should communicate with others going through the same thing as her.

She should take the time to do things for herself and her baby. I finished decorating their room, hit BRU for last minute things, got together with friends ( to get my mind off of things), went to the spa...etc.

Tell her to find out about Early Intervention. If they are born at a specific gestational age, they automatically qualify. I love this program and even at my childrens 6 month review, I was still pushing for it (even though they are doing well). It can't hurt them and it's cheap!!!

Ask about putting a tape recorder of her voice in the isolette. She can read a book on it or just speak to the baby.

Message edited 3/6/2010 10:10:50 PM.

Re: NICU moms

The best thing for me was having someone take care of things at my house (esp. snce I was staying at ronald McDonald) The last thing I could worry about was feeding the cat and dog. ANd bring food...I never ate because I never wanteds to leave my sons side, I dove into snacks when people brought them!

Re: NICU moms

I wrote this in reply to an prior post

Be there for her! I delivered at 33 weeks.
Having someone help you out at home is the first thing!
I have an AMAZING family and groups of friends! They brought over meals, gifts (lots of GCs so we can order out if we had to) and even sent DS gifts.
My DD was born May 4th and on June 8th I finally got to bring her home.
She was born at 2lbs 6oz.
She came out breathing, kicking, screaming/crying all on her own.
It was a 45 min. drive each day to go see her in the NICU.
It can get overwhelming. Maybe offer to drive her there some days, if you can so she doesn't have to stress about driving as well.


Here is a link to the post......http://www.lifamilies.com/chat/topic-501409-1.html

Re: NICU moms

I posted on the previous thread as well---
I love the phone tree idea for updates so mommy doesn't have to give the same info over and over.......preemie clothes and food/meals definitely! I think its wonderful you ladies are helping her out!

Re: NICU moms

I found that I was really in need of rides to the hospital. I had a c section. It's also nice to give a gift card for some place to eat near the hospital. Also it really helped having someone just listen.

Re: NICU moms

I bought blankets for them so they could put them in their islolets. I also brought pictures and a prayer card for each of them that I had the nurses tape to their isolets. Also when the nurses allow them to wear clothes bring them in. They probably have to have snaps and not zippers for the wires of the machines. Babies R Us has a great deal of preemie stuff now.

I also took lots and lots of pictures of them while they were there. I look back on those pictures often and can't believe we lived through that time.

Re: NICU moms

I posted this question a few weeks ago, when my sister had her baby (see related topics below).

The first week home, I drove my sister to her dr appt and the hospital. In the weeks following, I've brought her dinner a few times. With running back and forth to the hospital, it was helpful for her to not worry about what to eat...

Re: NICU moms

When a family member was with her baby in the NICU at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia the whole family was at a loss. We helped keep an eye on things at home (they live on LI), which was a big help. I did make up a care package for the mom-to-be before she went down to Philly to prepare for her DD's birth. I got some good advice from moms on here and included a planner/calendar book for her to keep track of feedings, weights, etc., a light-hearted novel that had nothing to do with sickness or dying or children (I picked up Julie and Julia), some note cards, and a diary for her to write letters to the baby. Now that the family is finally back on LI (after 6 months), someone set up a foodtidings.com account for them, and I sign up to bring over dinner once a week.