Comments on: Leaving Without Your Preemie

By: Kristin

Kristin — Thu, 06 May 2010 01:56:59 +0000

I called every morning for an update. I always felt that he was in good hands and everything was fine. I left it in God’s hands every night. Also, the NICU nurses would call if anything was changing or wrong, no matter how little.

By: Crystal

Crystal — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:44:50 +0000

Nothing but the GOOD LORD HELPED US COPE!!!! He gave us the strength!!

By: Ann

Ann — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:44:34 +0000

looking back on our long stay i dont know how i coped, you just do. i had to have the last kiss and say to her see you in the morning, i would ring when i felt i needed an update and she had the best nurses, doctors etc, they all made us feel at ease to leave each day. All i can say is take it one day at a time.

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:44:13 +0000

Yes every room was set up as a suite. If the unit was full they did have to have 2 babies per room. But not all parents stay or are able to stay due to jobs or other children. It was a wonderful hospital!!

By: Afton Mower

Afton Mower — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:43:52 +0000

Wow, Jill, that’s amazing! Did they have that setup for every single baby?

By: Jill

Jill — Wed, 05 May 2010 22:42:56 +0000

I was very fortunate…I was able to stay with our little girl all but 2 days of her 126 day stay in the NICU. The other 2 days i went home to paint her room and her Daddy stayed with her for those days. They had a pull out couch and a recliner right in the room with our little girl. Showers and laundry were just down the hall. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way!

By: Connie

Connie — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:57:10 +0000

I phone before bed and in the morning to speak to the same night nurse. I then phone at 10am to speak to the day nurse. ♥

By: Susan

Susan — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:56:53 +0000

Calling to check up on them was the first thing I did in the morning and the last thing I did at night.

By: Mandy

Mandy — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:56:36 +0000

My husband and I did like a “breakfast lunch and dinner” thing we went in the morning and said our good mornings and did a morning feeding and visited and then when we left we said it was our sons nap time then we would come back for “lunch” and do the whole visiting and feeding thing again and then another nap. At “dinner” when we went we also “… See Moretucked him in” for the night. We just made it like a routine as if he were home and we thought of it as having a nanny for or beautiful boy while we were home sleeping and he was in the NICU. :o)

By: Samantha

Samantha — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:56:18 +0000

I called every hour to check in when I was not there for 4 months !!!

By: Diane

Diane — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:55:57 +0000

I trusted God. My babies’ lives have always been & always will be in His hands. That is the greatest comfort I know as a mommy.

By: Brandie

Brandie — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:55:40 +0000

we prayed with our daughter ever night and stayed as long as we could. Then we would call up and check on her and be right back up there when we got off work and after shift change. The hardest part was the day they sent me home after having her. Other moms were leaving with their babies and we had to leave our angel there. God gave us the strength to get through it

By: Katie

Katie — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:55:13 +0000

The best thing I did was find a primary nurse that I knew loved my baby and would advocate for her when I wasn’t there. Every night shift she would work (which was 4 day a week) I knew she would have my baby. I can’t say it enough…Find Primary Nurses that YOU want to have watching over your baby. It made it a lot easier to sleep at night. :)

By: Kathryn

Kathryn — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:54:52 +0000

I would say “Bye, Sugar, Mommy loves you” and walk sleepily out the door. Mind you, this was usually at shift change (so I had to leave) and I had already logged in over 6 hours that day in addition to working a full day at work.

By: Cecile

Cecile — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:54:32 +0000

me and my husband called up to the NICU probably about once every hour all threw the night except for when they shut down for shift change it was awful saying goodbye again every day it usually took us a good hour to actually get outta there just from walkin back and gettin one last smooch bye!

By: Crissie

Crissie — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:54:13 +0000

The first njght was the most difficult…. get to know all the staff in the NICU, dr’s., nurses, x-ray techs, chaplains, even housekeeping… It helped because I always knew someone was keeping an eye or ear out for him…

By: Shayna

Shayna — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:53:54 +0000

My only way of coping was doing as much for Alex as I possibly good, as if we were at home. I made sure I was there for his cares (when I was able to be), I set up a schedule with the nurses for when he got his bottle feedings so that I could be there, I changed his clothes while I was there (if I was allowed and if his body temperature allowed it… See More), I read him stories each night before I left him, and I always gave him a little kiss and told him how much I loved him. Of course, this doesn’t replace having him at home in my arms, but it helped a bit.

By: Ellen

Ellen — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:53:37 +0000

i say we are soo proud of our big girl…..we love you sooo much and will see you in the morning… I also say be nice to the nurses(she gets feisty) .

By: Marie

Marie — Wed, 05 May 2010 19:53:03 +0000

I coped knowing she was in good hands with loving nurses. They treated her as if she were their own. Every night I kisses her on forehead, held her hand, let her know how much I loved her and I had to always tell her how proud I was of her.