Browsing all posts in May, 2009.
CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
It was extremely difficult for me to see my baby on CPAP because it looked so uncomfortable and my heart ached that I could not help my baby. This breathing treatment involved a mask of tubing that covered most of my baby’s face and she had to wear a hat so that the tubing could [...]
A Memorial for My Son
It’s Memorial Day and my husband and I, with our two little girls, have gone home to visit the tiny grave of our first born son. We have not always made it to his grave for Memorial Weekend, but it is a wonderful experience when we can. The cemetery is breathtaking and beautiful and it [...]
Baby Shower While Baby is in the NICU
It was a wonderful experience having a baby shower after my preemie baby was born and while she was in the NICU. For one thing, I was living out of town to be with the baby, so being able to go home and feel support and love from so many wonderful family members and friends [...]
Hemangiomas
“What’s that big red spot on your baby’s head?” You’ll probably get that question every time someone sees your baby for the first time. A hemangioma is a large red bubbly spot somewhere on your baby’s head and it looks a lot like a giant blood blister. Despite how it looks, it doesn’t hurt your [...]
Pumping: Your Greatest Commitment
Pumping, pumping, pumping. As soon as you have your preemie baby, if you are planning to feed your baby breastmilk, you will begin pumping. It will feel like that’s all you do is pump. Pump, pump, pump. The nurses and OTs will tell you that you should pump for 10-15 minutes every 3 hours, and [...]
OTs: My Very Best Friends!
The OTs, or Occupational Therapists, were my very best friends in the NICU. For one thing, there were only three of them in my NICU and as soon as I started learning to breastfeed my baby I got help from one of them almost every single day. They were incredible. They were encouraging, helpful, informative, [...]
Separated from Spouse: Part 2
When we finally brought our baby home from the hospital our family was reunited. Our baby was entirely our responsibility and that was when we truly became parents. At last we got to experience the sleepless nights, blowouts, spit up, cuddles, smiles, and drool that many parents take for granted. It was wonderful. What wasn’t [...]
Separated from Spouse: Part 1
When your baby is sent to a NICU that is hours from where you live, chances are you and your spouse will be separated for some time. As if dealing with having a preemie isn’t enough, you have to face much of it alone. This, of course, only being the case if one of you [...]
