Hand to Hold's official blog
When Hand to Hold asked NICU parents what they thought was unique to parenthood after their baby’s hospital stay, parents were eager to share. There are some eye-opening differences in perspective for those of us who have raised a medically-fragile child and for the years following. [Read more]
Oddly enough, I knew about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) before having a baby of my own. Friends of mine had had a daughter born full-term and she contracted RSV her first year. She was so sick she was hospitalized and even now, nine years later, she has long-term health and developmental consequences that relate to that illness. And another [...]
Travel is not something you worry about while your preemie is in the NICU (unless, of course, NICU is far from home and you have to travel back at discharge). Bringing a preemie home, you get educated on germ prevention, hand washing and sanitizing, and keeping the baby away from crowds or even larger gatherings. You hear about Synagis shots, and how RSV may land your baby with fragile lungs back in the hospital. They tell you to limit exposure whenever possible. You get the picture, it’s best to keep the baby in a cocoon. [Read more]
When my son, Haylen, was born at 27wks 5days (2 lbs 13oz, 15.5 inches), we were much like other parents of preemies and we were caught completely unaware and off guard. From my own experience, I realized that though most people know that some babies are born prematurely, they really don’t understand the extent of [...]
Roxy came home on November 11, 2009. Two weeks before Thanksgiving. Our hospital had placed strict rules on visitors to the NICU and Neonatal Nursery during Roxy’s last two months because the flu epidemic had gotten so bad in our area. Only parents and biological grandparents were allowed to visit during October and the beginning [...]
In 2008, our 26 week preemie was released from the NICU a week before Halloween. We had been so consumed by her issues (weight gain and bottle-feeding) in the hospital, we hadn’t given the holiday any thought. Since Addie was quarantined during RSV season, we had no place to take her for Halloween, but I [...]
I was just wondering how many of our preemie babies have actually gotten RSV, either in the NICU (can they get it in the NICU?) or during their first few years of life at home. Some questions I’m curious about are: 1. If your preemie got RSV did you have him under strict quarantine or [...]
While our daughter Addie was in the NICU for 135 days, we struggled a lot with feeling isolated. Our small support system was great, but most of our friends were far away and those that did live close had small children that were restricted from visiting the hospital due to the H1N1 outbreak. We would [...]
Any marriage can and will change with the birth of a new baby, especially when it’s the first child being born to new parents. When a baby’s arrival doesn’t goes as planned, though—when a child is born with health issues or simply comes too soon—that’s when preserving a marriage takes a lot more work! My [...]
I attend a church where babies can go to the nursery when they are 18 months old. Before this time the children stay with their parents in classes and meetings, and when they are 3-4 years old they start attending classes with children their age. Most parents in my church can’t wait for the 18-month [...]
Hand to Hold is a nonprofit 501(c)3 parent support organization and information and resources provided here do not intend to take the place of the relationship between a patient and personal physician.