My baby is here, 7 weeks early!

[Deleted]

Congrats! That is great she was breathing on her own. I hope her hospital stay is short and she comes home soon.

[Jalapeñomel]

Dec 13, 2013 12:29:11 GMT -5 sent said:

Dec 13, 2013 11:52:08 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Congratulations on your little fighter!

As you may know, my baby was born 7 weeks early, so if you have any questions or want to talk, let me know.

Yes, I remember your baby came early but I wasn't sure how early.  I will send you a message later because I do have some questions!

Anytime!

[AlpineSlide]

Wow! Congrats on your little girl! I'm so glad you are both doing good!!

[mannah]

Congratulations!! Amazing! I also love her name.

[sent]

I just realized we don't have her car seat yet either! It was ordered during the Black Friday sales and it shipped yesterday.

[browneyedgirl9]

Wow!! So glad she is doing great! Congrats!!

[sonrisa]

Congratulations! Are they letting you do skin-to-skin with her?

[hillarywhitney]

Wow! I'm so glad you both are doing well. Congratulations on your daughter!!

[sent]

Dec 13, 2013 21:07:14 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Congratulations! Are they letting you do skin-to-skin with her?

They said I can because she is above the minimum weight, but I am scared to do it.  Every time they take her in and out of the incubator, it seems to increase the risk of jostling her wires and dislodging something.  Especially because she was squirmy one day when we held her, and by the time we gave her back her IV had come out.  The nurse was busy with 2 of the more demanding babies, so she couldn't help reposition her to make her less squirmy and the thought of having to put another IV doesn't make me feel good.  So we have decided we will not request to take her in and out and let the doctors and nurses do whatever they need to get her feeding and her weight up so she can get out of the incubator.  Then we'll feel more comfortable about holding her and doing the skin to skin.

But I don't know if this is the right way to approach this.  Since I never got to do skin to skin the instant she was born, will when I finally do get to do it make a difference?  I thought instantly after they are born is the optimal time, but I could be wrong.

[sonrisa]

Dec 14, 2013 6:49:01 GMT -5 sent said:

Dec 13, 2013 21:07:14 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Congratulations! Are they letting you do skin-to-skin with her?

They said I can because she is above the minimum weight, but I am scared to do it.  Every time they take her in and out of the incubator, it seems to increase the risk of jostling her wires and dislodging something.  Especially because she was squirmy one day when we held her, and by the time we gave her back her IV had come out.  The nurse was busy with 2 of the more demanding babies, so she couldn't help reposition her to make her less squirmy and the thought of having to put another IV doesn't make me feel good.  So we have decided we will not request to take her in and out and let the doctors and nurses do whatever they need to get her feeding and her weight up so she can get out of the incubator.  Then we'll feel more comfortable about holding her and doing the skin to skin.

But I don't know if this is the right way to approach this.  Since I never got to do skin to skin the instant she was born, will when I finally do get to do it make a difference?  I thought instantly after they are born is the optimal time, but I could be wrong.

I understand being scared, but do it! Their staffing problems shouldn't compromise your child's well being. Skin to skin is sooooooo important for all newborns, especially premies and NICU patients. If you've gotten the okay that it is safe, it is as important as anything else the doctors or nurses are doing**. It helps them establish a good heartrate, breathing and temperature. It helps with weight gain and shortens hospital stay time. It may even lower chances of infection. It isn't a "two hour window after birth" thing. It's something you want to do as much as you can for those first weeks and even months with every baby.  

(** this is hyperbole. But there are studies out there about how NICU babies are more likely to thrive with "kangaroo care.")

[Jalapeñomel]

Dec 14, 2013 6:49:01 GMT -5 sent said:

Dec 13, 2013 21:07:14 GMT -5 sonrisa said:

Congratulations! Are they letting you do skin-to-skin with her?

They said I can because she is above the minimum weight, but I am scared to do it.  Every time they take her in and out of the incubator, it seems to increase the risk of jostling her wires and dislodging something.  Especially because she was squirmy one day when we held her, and by the time we gave her back her IV had come out.  The nurse was busy with 2 of the more demanding babies, so she couldn't help reposition her to make her less squirmy and the thought of having to put another IV doesn't make me feel good.  So we have decided we will not request to take her in and out and let the doctors and nurses do whatever they need to get her feeding and her weight up so she can get out of the incubator.  Then we'll feel more comfortable about holding her and doing the skin to skin.

But I don't know if this is the right way to approach this.  Since I never got to do skin to skin the instant she was born, will when I finally do get to do it make a difference?  I thought instantly after they are born is the optimal time, but I could be wrong.

Before they take her out, make sure to go over how to hold her so that you won't mess with the IV.  This is a totally normal/common thing to happen with NICU babies and first time parents.  Do you have a rocking chair next to the incubator?  I know it's totally scary, but it will get easier, I promise.

Our NICU encourages kangaroo care, so they will do whatever they can to make sure that you get as much skin-to-skin contact as you can.  It will help with the health of the baby and for you.

Are you pumping?  I would highly, highly suggest pumping, even if your milk hasn't come in.  They gave D all the colostrum I had in addition to his IV fluids.  I was also able to request BM only, and the doctors would follow that unless he wasn't putting on weight like they wanted.  Thankfully, he took to it well, and he did not end up needing any formula.

How are her billi levels?

[pitterwoo]

Wow! I hope she gets to come home soon and that you and your H keep holding up well with everything. Really like that name ever since I heard it on Nashville too

[sh10]

Wow congrats! I hope she gets to come home soon,

[bugandbibs]

Welcome baby Rayna!

It sounds like quite the whirlwind. I'm glad things are going well.

[sent]

Dec 14, 2013 10:52:46 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Before they take her out, make sure to go over how to hold her so that you won't mess with the IV.  This is a totally normal/common thing to happen with NICU babies and first time parents.  Do you have a rocking chair next to the incubator?  I know it's totally scary, but it will get easier, I promise.

Our NICU encourages kangaroo care, so they will do whatever they can to make sure that you get as much skin-to-skin contact as you can.  It will help with the health of the baby and for you.

Are you pumping?  I would highly, highly suggest pumping, even if your milk hasn't come in.  They gave D all the colostrum I had in addition to his IV fluids.  I was also able to request BM only, and the doctors would follow that unless he wasn't putting on weight like they wanted.  Thankfully, he took to it well, and he did not end up needing any formula.

How are her billi levels?

There is no rocking chair in the room, there are some in a side room where parents pump.  There are signs about skin to skin, but it's only the crazy lactation lady who talks about it.  None of the doctors really say anything about it either way.  Her bilirubin was up for 2 days at first, then down, and today when we went she was back under the light.  She hasn't been fed since Tuesday because she wasn't digesting.  They just restarted feeding tonight, 2 cc every 3 hours.  2 cc, that's funny, because in the meantime I'm at home pumping every 4 - 6 hours and I just made 350 cc today.  The staff assures me she will catch up and drink it all.  :-)  Crazy lactation lady said I should be pumping every 2 - 3 hours because that's how often the baby will feed but I think I will deal with the baby's schedule when she gets here.  I only have so much room in my freezer so every 4 hours means 6 bottles vs 8 bottles if I do every 3 hours vs 12 bottles if I pump every 2 hours!  They will feed her BM only, they have a note about that.  

I talked to my husband's cousin tonight who had a 26 week preemie and she said I should try the skin to skin as well because she was doing it within a week and her baby was hooked up to more wires than mine.  I am waiting for my husband to get home and we will talk about it and make a decision.    

[sonrisa]

The lactation consultants tried to talk me into pumping 8 times a day for half an hour with DD. As well as nursing 8 times a day. Each nursing session was already an hour. I pumped 4 or 5 times a day + all the nursing. It was still insane and didn't work for either of us (because it isn't like you can hold the baby or do anything else and pump. Or at least I couldn't with the other issues going on.) This time, if things go that badly, I'll just supplement with formula.

Skin-to-skin is much nicer than crappy pumping.

(The NICUs around here really push for skin-to-skin with premies. I also have a friend with a 26 weeker and they started it right away. The photos are so precious.)

[stretchad]

I know I don't hang out on this board hut I saw your post title on the app and wanted to wish you congratulations! I had my baby at 7 weeks early as well, due to a bleed from placenta previa. Let me know if you have any questions about having a Preemie, the hospital, or pumping. My little guy was in NICU for a week then to intermediate care for another three to learn to eat and grow. Other than that, and a couple stints under the photo lights for jaundice, he has had no issues. Good luck with everything!
I hang out on the MMM board as do a few other preemie moms.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using proboards

[Jalapeñomel]

Dec 14, 2013 23:14:41 GMT -5 sent said:

Dec 14, 2013 10:52:46 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Before they take her out, make sure to go over how to hold her so that you won't mess with the IV.  This is a totally normal/common thing to happen with NICU babies and first time parents.  Do you have a rocking chair next to the incubator?  I know it's totally scary, but it will get easier, I promise.

Our NICU encourages kangaroo care, so they will do whatever they can to make sure that you get as much skin-to-skin contact as you can.  It will help with the health of the baby and for you.

Are you pumping?  I would highly, highly suggest pumping, even if your milk hasn't come in.  They gave D all the colostrum I had in addition to his IV fluids.  I was also able to request BM only, and the doctors would follow that unless he wasn't putting on weight like they wanted.  Thankfully, he took to it well, and he did not end up needing any formula.

How are her billi levels?

There is no rocking chair in the room, there are some in a side room where parents pump.  There are signs about skin to skin, but it's only the crazy lactation lady who talks about it.  None of the doctors really say anything about it either way.  Her bilirubin was up for 2 days at first, then down, and today when we went she was back under the light.  She hasn't been fed since Tuesday because she wasn't digesting.  They just restarted feeding tonight, 2 cc every 3 hours.  2 cc, that's funny, because in the meantime I'm at home pumping every 4 - 6 hours and I just made 350 cc today.  The staff assures me she will catch up and drink it all.  :-)  Crazy lactation lady said I should be pumping every 2 - 3 hours because that's how often the baby will feed but I think I will deal with the baby's schedule when she gets here.  I only have so much room in my freezer so every 4 hours means 6 bottles vs 8 bottles if I do every 3 hours vs 12 bottles if I pump every 2 hours!  They will feed her BM only, they have a note about that.  

I talked to my husband's cousin tonight who had a 26 week preemie and she said I should try the skin to skin as well because she was doing it within a week and her baby was hooked up to more wires than mine.  I am waiting for my husband to get home and we will talk about it and make a decision.    

You need to pump so your milk comes in/regulates ( or at least this is what I was told). I pumped every two and a half hours every day he was in the NICU. They should have storage for you there. So I would pump then go and do skin to skin until I had to pump again. But you need to do what's right for you.

The doctors also didn't say anything to me about skin to skin but mudslide and snickers suggested it, and then I talked with the LC and nurses about it.

Keep up the good work! She's gonna be out of there soon!

Oh and I second going over to MMM; there are several women who had preemies that were a great support to me.

[pixiedust]

Congrats! I hope she continues to do well.

[mudslide]

Dec 15, 2013 12:36:09 GMT -5 Jalapeñomel said:

Dec 14, 2013 23:14:41 GMT -5 sent said:

There is no rocking chair in the room, there are some in a side room where parents pump.  There are signs about skin to skin, but it's only the crazy lactation lady who talks about it.  None of the doctors really say anything about it either way.  Her bilirubin was up for 2 days at first, then down, and today when we went she was back under the light.  She hasn't been fed since Tuesday because she wasn't digesting.  They just restarted feeding tonight, 2 cc every 3 hours.  2 cc, that's funny, because in the meantime I'm at home pumping every 4 - 6 hours and I just made 350 cc today.  The staff assures me she will catch up and drink it all.  :-)  Crazy lactation lady said I should be pumping every 2 - 3 hours because that's how often the baby will feed but I think I will deal with the baby's schedule when she gets here.  I only have so much room in my freezer so every 4 hours means 6 bottles vs 8 bottles if I do every 3 hours vs 12 bottles if I pump every 2 hours!  They will feed her BM only, they have a note about that.  

I talked to my husband's cousin tonight who had a 26 week preemie and she said I should try the skin to skin as well because she was doing it within a week and her baby was hooked up to more wires than mine.  I am waiting for my husband to get home and we will talk about it and make a decision.    

You need to pump so your milk comes in/regulates ( or at least this is what I was told). I pumped every two and a half hours every day he was in the NICU. They should have storage for you there. So I would pump then go and do skin to skin until I had to pump again. But you need to do what's right for you.

The doctors also didn't say anything to me about skin to skin but mudslide and snickers suggested it, and then I talked with the LC and nurses about it.

Keep up the good work! She's gonna be out of there soon!

Oh and I second going over to MMM; there are several women who had preemies that were a great support to me.

You really should do skin to skin as often as possible. It is very good for both and baby! The best place for that little girl is on your chest. I can't stress this enough.

Ivs are going to fall out, and feeding tubes will be pulled out whether you are touching and holding her or not. Tiffany pulled out multiple IVs and feeding tubes. It happens. Your baby NEEDS to be touched and held by you whenever possible.

Era: you really need tone pumping more often than 4-6 hours too. You should be pumping every 2-3 hours during day and every 4-5 at night. It is much easier to lose your supply when you're pumping and away from baby. Sorry for being preachy but I don't want you to lose your milk or miss out on that really important kangaroo time.