In the NICU too long when…
Just for fun, let’s see how many ideas we can come up with! I’ll start:
You know you’ve been in the NICU too long when…
You can identify every alarm when it goes off and you know what it’s for.
You’re allowed to adjust your baby’s oxygen when she starts to desat.
You’re perfectly comfortable changing your baby’s diaper in the isolette.
Your baby’s nurse asks you to keep an eye on things for a couple minutes while they step out of the room.
A custodian asks you if you work there. (funny story I’ll write about later)
You’ve had 50 different nurses tend your baby.
When you call the NICU for an update they know your voice by heart.
You’re on a first-name basis with the front desk receptionists.
The lady who brings around the nutrition cart recognizes you in the cafeteria.
You get upset when someone takes “your locker”.
You’ve watched every movie in the parent lounges… twice.
Your preemie gets her picture in two different holiday displays.
Affectionately Posted on
…you know immediately upon hearing a certain nurse has your baby that you are going to have issues during your daily visit.
So many of those ring true to me! We are still in touch with our favorite NICU nurse now, more than four months after coming home.
Lol – can relate to so many of these! We are still in touch with one of our primary nurses over a year after discharge. When it’s not rsv/flu season, we return for visits. Couldn’t wait to take our son home but have great affection for the people who had a hand in saving his life & who cared for him for 3 months.
That is too funny! I can totally relate to each one of your comments. Being in the NICU for 170 days with my ex 23 weeker gave me a lot of experience in learning everything about the NICU. I knew every alarm and what it meant, knew every nurse/nnp/dr. by their full names and had 4 holiday picts. of my son. The nurses had caller Id and knew my number by heart. Also, the staff would regularly meet me in the NICU, if nothing was going on, to take pictures of my son in Build A Bear outfits. He was pretty special to all of them.
we took pictures of our little guy in build-a-bear outfits too! LOL! : )
… you can look at you baby and see a destat before the monitor has time to alarm and can tell the exact moment when it will stop sounding.
… the security guard at the desk preprints your daily sticker pass and hands it to you during your drive by check-in.
…the cafeteria lady gives you the employee discount.
These are sooo true.