Browsing all posts in "NICU Survival".

Due Date Come and Gone?

So, my 27-weeker preemie was in the NICU past her due date, which the nurses had told me was a bit unusual.  From the day we arrived at the NICU I received encouragement that my baby would be home before her due date, because most preemies were.  I never lost hope of that, which is [...]

NICU Nurses Good and Bad

I sometimes wonder if NICU nurses realize how huge of an impact they have on the parents’ NICU experience.  There does not have to be a lot of interaction between parents and nurses if it’s not encouraged by the parents, but even still the attitude, gentleness, and concern a nurse has for each baby is [...]

Ideas for a NICU Care Basket

Many family members and friends of those who have new preemie babies want to provide help and support but aren’t quite sure what is needed or what would be the most appreciated.  Especially during the first difficult weeks or months while the baby is in the NICU, a gift basket is a great idea!
I have [...]

Help Parents Get Sleep

Preemie parents need to get good sleep.  The biggest reason for this is to keep their immune systems strong so that they don’t get sick and are then unable to visit and care for their preemie baby.  It is a terrible thing to not be able to visit your baby because you’re sick.
How can you, [...]

Help Parents Find Shelter

Shelter is an important need, for obvious reasons.  If your friend or loved one has a preemie in a NICU near where you live then please, please open your doors to them!  Offer to let them move in for a few weeks if need be, or let them know that they can stop in any [...]

Help Parents Eat Well

The basic needs are where you, as family and friends, can actually provide the MOST help for the parent of a preemie in the NICU.  In review, the basic needs I described in my previous post were food, shelter, and sleep.
When I was in the NICU with my daughter, meals were the hardest thing to [...]

A Call for Help

HEEEEEEEEEELP MEEEEEEEEEE!
That’s the shout out that’s in the heart of every parent who has a tiny preemie baby in the NICU, but you as family and friends may never hear it.  You need to answer the call even if you don’t hear it directly from their lips.  They shouldn’t be on their knees every day [...]

NICU Survival Tip #1: Basic Needs

When I was wheeled into the Triage room (Room 1) of the NICU three days after my preemie was born, I was so overwhelmed by the hospital, my baby, the machines, the nurses, and what the next few months held in store for me and my family that I burst into tears.  What I desperately [...]