If you had a sick baby at birth.

[bananapancakes]

Random question for those who had a sick baby/baby in the NICU at birth.

What did you do in terms of photos from that time? Did you include them in baby/photo books or other mementos?

I'm finally starting L's photo book so I've been going through old photos. Below is the actual first photo we have of him and another taken after about a week when the awesome nurse told us when she was going to be changing his tubes/wires so we were able to get a "normal " shot of him. The first photo brings up a whole lot of feelings for me.

Anyway, I know there's no right or wrong answer here. I'm just thinking out loud and am interested in the thoughts of those who've been there.

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[ngdgtco]

I didn't really share photos of DS hooked up to the monitors and with an IV in his head (!) except with maybe our parents, but I will probably include one in the baby book since it was part of his "story." It makes me a little sad, but much less so now that he's thriving.

[humpforfree]

Nov 19, 2014 8:22:43 GMT -5 swank said:

I share those photos on facebook, in my home and in photo albums. They are very important to me and to the story of my children.

Ditto this. They are included in everything for us.

[andthentherewere10]

My photos look like that. I included them. I'm proud to show his growth!

[dcrunnergirl52]

I was in the NICU for a long time as a baby, and those pictures are definitely part of my baby book. I cherish that my mom put them in there.

[soozy87]

I include them. Like others said, it is part of his story. And really, even with the "normal picture" I would still be reminded of the circumstances.

[KaraOrNot]

Yes, we will include them.

[simpsongal]

J's baby book has a full two pages devoted to his NICU time (1 week). I even took a pic of the NICU board with all the information about feedings, nurses, schedules, etc. There are lots of pics of wires and IVs. The record book documents what happened, wires and all.

[Brie]

Sort of a different perspective, but my H was really sick when he was born (persistent fetal circulation) and then was hospitalized again shortly after birth with HiB. We have his pictures from that time period and I'm glad we do.

[rex]

they are part of his story (and yours) so i would definitely include them.

[pescalita]

Of course there's no "right" way to feel, but ditto the others. For us it's just a part of his story, it's his beginning just like anyone else's and it's important we include it.

Your son is beautiful.

Am I going to be the only one to AW here? Sure. This is our first family photo:

[bananapancakes]

Good idea, pescalita. I'll post another and I encourage others to do the same.

This is our first family photo. The fear in my H's eyes chokes me up.

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[MNH2013]

We haven't made her book yet (will on her 1st bday) I want to include them. It's a part of her story. Being able to see how well she is now compared to her first few days comforts me. Like everyone else said, there is no right answer, whatever you are comfortable with.

I once saw (maybe on a TV show?) that every year on the kids birthday they donated time or money or things to the NICU or advocacy program that helped them, I really want to do that. While she was not majorly critical in the NICU, it broke my heart for all the other families in there and I felt a need to give back in some way.

[Yankees21]

These pictures are so powerful and have me all choked up! Do what you think is right, but I would include them as they are a part of his (and your) story.

[bananapancakes]

This is the photo that was sent to me once he was stabalized at Sick Kids when I was still in a hospital over an hour away.

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gravytrain225, that photo of you and E is simply gorgeous!

[linz]

I will put the first photo in baby books. I also make photo albums each year and will include a lot. My babies were in NICU 26 & 32 days and I took 450 cell phone pics most were selfies but I do plan to include a lot to see how much the changed. I also liked having the pics from the milestones...no iv, jaundice cleared, hot box to crib, no tube, etc. I know this time was so hard but it was also their first month and I still want those memories.

[kershnic]

The pictures make me emotional too, but they're part of their story and will be included in everything.

This is Squeaky.  I am touching her foot because to touch anything else sent her heart rate up and her O2 down.

This is Squishy, my 3lb13oz breathing champ who fought IVs with all her tiny might.

This picture and its zoomed out version are our first family pictures.  Squishy was about to be moved to the special care nursery without Squeaky.  I didn't think the nurses would let us get close enough together to get a picture - but my wife asked and the nurse said yes.  I am definitely crying even though you can't see my face.

[t]

These pics have me tearing up. So much emotion.

DD was in the NICU for about 36 hours, and we do have a picture or two in her baby book. She and I were separated for about 24 hours due to my horrible inability to stop vomiting in order to get out of bed and visit her, so the pics I have from the NICU are really the first images of DD in my mind. DH split his time between us and would bring me back pictures so that I could see her.  I barely remember meeting her after my c/s; it was so brief.

Sorry this is so massive!  This is the first real image I have of "meeting" DD.  About 12 hours after birth.

[wavepool]

Taking care of him when he was 2 days old. Honestly, pictures like this used to kind of scare me before O. Now, I can "see" the baby in these pictures and love that people share them.

[wavepool]

t, her lips are so cute!!

[ijack]

DD1 actually has an entire book that documents her NICU stay. It was a Mother's Day present for me (she came home right before Mother's Day) but she's claimed it as her own and LOVES it.

[carolinagirl831]

def include them! its part of his life and where it was a rough beginning it shows what a miracle he is!

[bananapancakes]

wavepool, matching baby water beds!

[IndiaInk]

Oh this pictures have me tearing up. I am glad we have so many pics of DD in the NICU (she was there for 5 days after birth). It was such a physically and emotionally exhausting time and also so precious - it's where we first became a family. So many memories were made there. 
I love this picture.  She looks so tiny and squishy!  She was a fighter!

[ijack]

Oh and I've included them in school projects and stuff like that. I usually make sure they're pics where she's "cleaned up" and stuff, but she shouldn't be scared to scare them and it's a good educational opportunity.
The first time I saw her in the NICU (saw her briefly at birth) and right after her first bath (I like to share this one because it really shows how small she is).

[wavepool]

Nov 19, 2014 12:27:24 GMT -5 bananapancakes said:

wavepool, matching baby water beds!

haha, I never thought of it as a baby water bed, but it makes it sound much more comfortable!

[cmarie11]

Hugs to all you NICU mamas....these pictures are beautiful. What miracles your kiddos are!

[wavepool]

Nov 19, 2014 12:55:49 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

Nov 19, 2014 12:49:01 GMT -5 wavepool said:

haha, I never thought of it as a baby water bed, but it makes it sound much more comfortable!

Were your babies cooled differently than mine?  We didn't have anything that resembled a water bed!

It was basically a U-shaped tube that they covered with fabric. He was in just a diaper on top of it and had some lights on top I think?

[stealthmom]

Absolutely. Even when stealthson was hospitalized at 8 weeks I took a ton of photos and then included them in the photo montage I made for his first birthday party.

I think recording all of that is my way of coping. I don't quite understand it myself.

[bananapancakes]

Nov 19, 2014 13:03:22 GMT -5 wavepool said:

Nov 19, 2014 12:55:49 GMT -5 gravytrain225 said:

Were your babies cooled differently than mine?  We didn't have anything that resembled a water bed!

It was basically a U-shaped tube that they covered with fabric. He was in just a diaper on top of it and had some lights on top I think?

Yes and the tube thing was filled with cool water which kept his body temperature lowered. What did they use to lower E's temp?