https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 02 May 2026 07:02:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/support-for-a-nicu-stay#post-2927473 Tue, 20 Sep 2022 13:32:56 +0000 LadyDi 2927473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL and BIL are facing a long NICU stay when their baby is born in October (due to surgery for a heart defect). Does anyone have suggestions for the best way to support them? It could possibly be months before the baby is able to go home and we're local so we're going to offer to do things like mow their lawn and hang out with their dog. They have had a rough summer for a variety of reasons so we've already provided some gift cards for local restaurants so they can get take out. Any other ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-moms-give-me-your-best-tips-and-tricks-for-staying-sane#post-2900015 Sat, 19 Oct 2019 03:23:06 +0000 karenbme 2900015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hello. I’m pregnant with my first, and after a complicated pregnancy my water broke yesterday at 34+0. Based on emerging literature, my OB agreed to let me wait in the hospital so that I could let baby cook as long as possible with close monitoring and not induce until 35 weeks. So baby is going to be a minimum of 5 weeks premature and we’ve been prepared that she’ll probably need some time in the NICU—anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. If you’ve had a baby in the NICU what kept you sane/allowed you to bond with baby in the time (s)he was in the hospital especially after you had gone home? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-moms-and-pumpingsupply#post-2884353 Tue, 14 May 2019 06:01:07 +0000 magnolia 2884353@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don’t have energy to get into detail but my newborn is in the NICU and I am exclusively pumping for now</p> <p>If anyone has experience please let me know suggestions on effective pumping at the hospital and at home, to promote my supply. My milk hasn’t come in yet but I am producing good amounts of colostrum </p> <p>Also any advice on dealing with nicu staff and this stress....</p> <p>Thanks </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-help#post-2861666 Wed, 12 Dec 2018 11:11:07 +0000 lilyofthewest 2861666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my #2 on 11/22 at 32+1 by emergency c-section following a placental abruption. </p> <p>Tomorrow makes 3-weeks in the NICU with no real timeline for him to come home yet. He had a very bad first several days with persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn and a symptomatic patent ductus. </p> <p>The respiratory issues are much improved now...he was extubated 11 days ago, initially to c-pap, then high flow/high O2, then high flow room air, then low flow room air, now just wall O2 at 1/8thL. They'll send him home on O2 if needed.</p> <p>The challenge we still have is feeding. In order to go home, he has to take all of his calories by mouth for at least 24h. Right now he's taking less than 20% by mouth and that hasn't improved at all over the last week. Feeds are done every 3 hours and need to be completed within 1h to "count". </p> <p>They also say he needs to be able to sleep flat without having symptomatic reflux. </p> <p>I'm worried that with these criteria he's never going to be ready to be discharged. At least not if he's anything like my first kid. My #1 kid wasn't born until 41+5...and he strongly preferred to eat every 1h50m (and to spend 40-45 minutes doing it) until he was about 4 months old (at which point he "spaced out" his feeds to about every 2h30m and got a little quicker). </p> <p>My #1 also couldn't lie flat without symptomatic reflux until he was 6-7 months old!</p> <p>I'm concerned that these feeding goals feel like they are setting us up for breastfeeding failure. They don't do weighted feeds, so, anything he takes from the breast doesn't count towards his calorie minimum. Any time I breastfeed him (which he's actually doing well at!), if he takes less by bottle afterwards then he's not counted as making progress. </p> <p>This is a well regarded level IIIb NICU. Really frustrated. </p> <p>Any NICU alums or staff have any advice? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dealing-with-long-hospital-stay#post-2831137 Thu, 28 Jun 2018 15:46:23 +0000 Ms. RV 2831137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS was born with a known heart defect four weeks ago and had surgery to fix it at five days old. As a complication of the surgery, he cannot eat without aspirating and has a nasogastric tube. He is on the schedule to get a g-tube at 7.5 weeks old (unless by some miracle he passes swallow study #3). </p> <p>I spend 2.5-3 hours driving every week day to be with him in his hospital room and solo parent my nearly 3 year old on the weekend so OH can spend time at the hospital. I also spend 2-3 hours pumping (and DS is combo fed because I don't produce enough). I don't want to stay at the hospital because we tried that and DD did not respond well (nor did I!)</p> <p>I will be having to extend my maternity leave by two weeks with vacation/unpaid time so I don't have to go back before he is out of the hospital.</p> <p>I am currently so stir crazy. I don't know how I will spend four more weeks in a hospital room. </p> <p>Any tips or words of encouragement? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-a-nicu-stay#post-2804531 Thu, 15 Feb 2018 20:04:04 +0000 Ms. RV 2804531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Right now, DS is pretty much guaranteed a several week stay in the cardiac ICU of a children's hospital immediately following birth. He will only be at the woman's hospital for a few hours after delivery before he is transferred. What's it like to recover from a birth while your LO is still in the hospital? It is a 45-60 minute drive from home.</p> <p>I go for a third fetal echo in eight weeks to make sure nothing has changed and that DS still exhibits the need for heart surgery in the first few weeks of life. I will be meeting the surgeons plus care staff after that. Any questions to ask them? I already am planning to ask about pumping. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/any-micro-preemie-moms#post-2588474 Tue, 19 Jul 2016 13:31:39 +0000 tiramisu 2588474@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Are there any other micro preemie mom's out there? My son is a 25 weeker and we are over 11 weeks into our NICU stay. It's starting to feel like a reeaaally long time and I think we might be there past his due date. I thought things were improving but we can't seem to wean from his oxygen support and breast/bottle feedings aren't going exactly great either. I'm exhausted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/care-package-for-parents-of-critically-ill-nicu-patient#post-2543393 Fri, 06 May 2016 18:13:33 +0000 Madison43 2543393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey all - a close friends baby was born full term with some very serious medical issues, the gravity of which were not fully understood until birth. I don't want to get into specifics, but things took a bad turn recently and this little one is fighting for his life. There a few states away and I wanted to send my friend and his wife a care package of some sort. I spent a month in the NICU with Lo2 so I understand the things that would have been helpful to me (snacks, wrap sweater, water bottle, magazines) but they all seem so trivial given the seriousness of their situation. I don't know, I'm just at a loss. Anyone have any ideas? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-for-respiratory-issues#post-2525580 Fri, 15 Apr 2016 00:24:04 +0000 iluvboba637 2525580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi mamas - please tell me your experiences about the NICU and respiratory issues. </p> <p>My 37wk +3day dd was born today (induced bc I have PIH). When I was finally a bit more alert, after being so out of it from the nubain, I realized her breathing sounded a bit off, like she was gasping for air every minute or so. So I asked them to re-examine her and they decided to bring her to the NICU to be observed for a couple hours. Then they ended up saying they're gonna keep her overnight. </p> <p>Her "color" looks a lot better than earlier though but her chest is still rising and falling a but difficultly. They did a chest X-ray earlier so I'm gonna call ~11:00 for the results. </p> <p>It was a lot of info to take in but basically she's in a bit of respiratory distress, so she has the oxygen in her nose and she has a tube in her mouth coming from her stomach bc her stomach is distended (this I didn't understand too much). </p> <p>She also has an iv and they gave her antibiotics just in case but initial labs show no infection. (Note: my Gbs results did not come back in time so I did get antibiotics before I delivered) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-your-37-weeker-go-to-the-nicu#post-2520722 Sun, 10 Apr 2016 10:49:42 +0000 iluvboba637 2520722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'll be induced at 37.5 weeks because of high blood pressure. Just wondering if baby will need any NICU time. My first was born at 40+1 so obviously I have no idea about 37 weeks. Tell me about your experiences. :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-you-send-a-thank-you-note-to-your-nicu#post-2474167 Thu, 25 Feb 2016 11:45:00 +0000 BSB 2474167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a thank you card that has been sitting on my desk for the past 5 months. Finally wrote it out since we are donating some preemie clothes to the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/when-were-you-allowed-to-try-breastfeeding#post-2460905 Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:45:56 +0000 sunny 2460905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>LO is in the NICU and is 34 weeks. The nurses said they needed an order before they could allow me to try breastfeeding since they are tracking his feeds very closely. I've been pumping the nurses have been giving him breastmilk + formula for each feeding. They are doing both bottle and NG tube feeding. </p> <p>When were you allowed to try breastfeeding? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/items-needed-in-nicu-list#post-2366326 Sun, 22 Nov 2015 18:13:23 +0000 cmomma17 2366326@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>NICU moms, what would you include on a list of things you needed/wanted during your time in the NICU?</p> <p>Everything from a nursing cover and boppy, to a good book to read and snacks. Any ideas? What made the time a little more comfortable? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/twins-are-going-home-today#post-2296310 Sun, 20 Sep 2015 13:17:20 +0000 BSB 2296310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Earlier this week (on Monday), I asked the nurse when they think the twins would go home. She said probably a few more weeks. By the time Thursday came around they were getting their feeding tubes removed and the Drs were talking about discharging them. Nurse said after I tried BFing them again, it was like a switch was flipped and they started meeting their feeding goals. (They have already been good with meeting their growth and temperature goals.) Both of them will be coming home... Which we were told was rare for nicu twins where one was a bit behind the other at birth. Our baby girl is such an underdog to catch up to her brother. Actually, she eats better than her brother! I heard of stories where the weaker twin comes out on top but I wasn't sure it would happen in our case. Definitely true for us.</p> <p>Our 34 weekers will have been in the nicu for 15 days. We could have taken them home yesterday but we asked to room in with them on Friday night to get used to their schedules and last night was our last night alone. </p> <p>Two nights ago, I was terrified but I'm feeling better today.<br /> I would like to thank everyone for their well wishes and support over these past weeks. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294142 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:14:11 +0000 Mrs. Tea 2294142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi ladies! My friend had her little girl at 35 weeks the other day and she is in the NICU with some feeding issues. . I am a few hours away but really want to do anything I can to help. What would you have liked or what would have helped a little in this situation? Thanks so much for the advice in advance. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-check-in#post-2291079 Tue, 15 Sep 2015 07:54:26 +0000 BSB 2291079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Anyone's baby in the Nicu at this moment?</p> <p>How are YOU feeling? Your SO/DH/DW?<br /> How is your baby (or babies) doing?<br /> When were they born? Or what caused them to be sent to the nicu?<br /> What milestone/ goal are you hoping they get to next?<br /> Hopes? Concerns? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-do-you-say-nicu#post-744897 Thu, 25 Apr 2013 20:57:35 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 744897@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our hospital calls it Nick-U so I have always known it as The NICU (nick-u).<br /> But, I'm watching A Baby Story and they call it the N.I.C.U.<br /> Mind blown.<br /> My husband is here and has worked in numerous hospitals and says that he's heard both. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/babies-in-the-nicu-birth-weight-vs-weight-at-discharge#post-2270225 Sat, 22 Aug 2015 01:43:40 +0000 BSB 2270225@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just wondering what your baby's birth weight was versus the weight when they were released from the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-to-prepare-for-nicu#post-1626035 Sat, 10 May 2014 06:00:51 +0000 littleredhairedgrl 1626035@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>since water broke at 30wks we know that the latest I will carry lo is 34wks. </p> <p>trying to prepare ourselves, mentally mostly, as much as possible for a stay in the NICU and would love any pointers or tips on how to begin the process and get thru it as best as possible. I know we are in great hands with our hospital, just want to be prepared as much as possible. thanks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/expecting-a-nicu-baby#post-2252368 Sun, 02 Aug 2015 09:52:26 +0000 BSB 2252368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As you guys know, my babies will be born at 34 weeks or earlier due to PPROM... NICU dr has confirmed they will go to the NICU even at 34 weeks.</p> <p>Trying to get a list together of things to get done when I do give birth...</p> <p>(Oh, I'm also on hospital bed rest (since 28w) so my list includes things I plan to do once I recover and finally get to go home!!!)</p> <p>Babies will be in the NICU for at least 2 weeks (NICU Dr said that babies could stay til their due date (6 weeks) , so I can...</p> <p>-get car seats installed (I know there is a chance that I may have to get a preemie car seat, since the car seats we have might be too big), but I think it's good to have our car seats check and inspected<br /> -buy/rent hospital breast pump<br /> -rent a hospital scale (if suggested)<br /> -buy new/used premie sized cloth diaper covers (prefolds will be supplied by a cloth diaper service)<br /> -organize and get/do last minute nursery items<br /> -bring home a onesie for dogs to get used to babies' smell<br /> -start looking for used preemie gear on MOM (mothers of multiples sites). Do this after babies are born since they may or may not need to wear preemie clothes when they are released to go home.<br /> -Twin related: plan to bring one baby home, while one remains in the hospital. Plan on lots of trips to/from hospital to feed babies</p> <p>What else am I missing or forgetting? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-twins#post-2010265 Mon, 05 Jan 2015 14:08:48 +0000 newatthis 2010265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My twins are 2 weeks old today, which means they have been in the NICU for 2 weeks. The only time I feel like they are mine, or that I am indeed a "mom" is when I am there in the NICU holding them. Then, I go home empty handed and go on as if I never had them (grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning up house). Is this normal? Moms/Dads with experience in the NICU...did you feel like this? Overcome this when your baby/babies came home? I am so afraid that I am just starting to feel detachment. They were born 7weeks earlier than their due date. They are doing great in the hospital. Doctors/nurses say although we are feeling antsy, they will be home "soon" but won't give us a timeline besides "by their due date". </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-costs#post-2107820 Fri, 13 Mar 2015 18:53:15 +0000 cmomma17 2107820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Share if you are comfortable - what was the cost of your nicu stay? Did you seek out any financial aid options? </p> <p>And just out of curiousity, how long was your baby's nicu stay and what was it for? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-parents-naming#post-2080562 Sun, 22 Feb 2015 11:55:09 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2080562@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last night during a middle of the night feed, I realized that we never filled out any of the paperwork stating our baby's name in all the confusion of NICU life. How and when does that happen for NICU babies? All of that worry over figuring out a name before discharge and our baby is still nameless in the eyes of the law! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/calling-nicu-moms#post-2074786 Wed, 18 Feb 2015 09:03:26 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 2074786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What did you do if you started feeling like you were getting a cold? I won't be allowed in the NICU with my son if I'm sick.</p> <p>I have a barely scratchy throat right now and I can't tell if it is from the dry air in the hospital or if I might come down with something.</p> <p>I'm so paranoid to get my baby sick but I can't imagine not seeing him. I wouldn't be allowed in if I asked to wear a mask.</p> <p>Any suggestions? As of right now, we have Mr.Jacks going in early today so that I can see if my body will tell me if it is sick or not. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tell-me-about-your-35-36-week-babe#post-2063614 Tue, 10 Feb 2015 23:33:33 +0000 BabyPenguinXO 2063614@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Were you discharged together? Or did baby remain in the NICU? Did baby just need a quick evaluation at the nicu or a couple hour stay?</p> <p>the NICU team will be there at delivery, i'll be having a c section at 35+6. I've been told that little girls often do better then boys. I'm hoping for minimal nicu time. I spent 22 days in the nicu with my son who was 34+3! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/late-term-preemies#post-2036113 Thu, 22 Jan 2015 16:06:15 +0000 Mrs. Lion 2036113@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If your child was born between 34-36 weeks, were they automatically taken to the NICU? If so, how long were they there?</p> <p>My first was born at 34+6 and was automatically taken to the NICU. We passed that milestone yesterday with baby 2 and I seem to remember them telling me that if we had made it to 35 weeks the NICU would have only been as needed. Curious about other experiences. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/breastfeeding-after-the-nicu-nicu-nurse-opinions-welcome#post-1988368 Wed, 17 Dec 2014 11:39:08 +0000 BabyPenguinXO 1988368@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hi Ladies,</p> <p>My son was born at 34 weeks due to Severe ICP. I'm 16+4 with our second and will be delivering early again, hopefully no sooner then 34 weeks but no later then 36. My son was latching good in the NICU but he was only there for the feeding trouble and inevitably we wanted to get him home and introduced bottles. I still tried to BF at home though I didn't do it enough.</p> <p>I'm going to be more assertive in the NICU about waiting on bottles if we have to be in there again. But I also want to make sure I can BF long term this time. Last time I just never got the transition down and was spending my day breastfeeding him, giving him a bottle so he wouldn't eat again in an hour, and then pumping so my supply kept up. </p> <p>My supply was INSANE. So I have no worries about that. It seemed he had a good latch but it was like he never quite woke up enough to eat? I don't think he ever cried once to eat! We woke him up on a regular 3 hour schedule to feed. He was also 6lbs 11oz at 34 weeks. So a little weight loss is a lot less worrisome at that weight I imagine. I feel like they treated him like a 3 lb preemie.</p> <p>Anyways, I'm looking for help on how to transition at home. Do I just forego all bottles and feed the baby on demand, even if that means every hour until she gets stronger and takes more at once? My son would have really awesome feeds by breast, and then really bad ones. It was so weird and inconsistent. We used the scale to measure how much he was eating in the NICU.</p> <p>I would love to hear how you did it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/nicu-mamas-and-babies#post-1484692 Mon, 10 Mar 2014 17:06:25 +0000 mrsjyw 1484692@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A friend/employee of dh's and his wife had their babygirl last wk at 27 wks due to plancenta issues. She is as well as can be in the circumstances they're in but id love to send a care package of things the baby or mom mt need.</p> <p>I plan on getting snacks, magazines, nursing accessories, preemie items.</p> <p>Any suggestions on what you needed during your extended hosp stay? I've not a chance to mt her so I also don't want to be rude in any choices. </p>