https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 06 May 2026 18:27:38 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294690 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 10:01:17 +0000 MrsRcCar 2294690@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tea: it can be so hard when the NICU baby is the second! E is the little brother too. I was lucky to have a wonderful support system for myself and my toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294634 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 09:18:09 +0000 Mrs. Tea 2294634@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you everyone for your kind advice! I am working on a care package of gift cards and things like onesies and snacks to send up there as we speak. I really like the idea of the NICU journal as well so I'm placing an order for her ASAP! Hoping to get the package sent out today. </p> <p>I am hoping to head up there next week for a quick visit (little people free) - so hopefully I will be able to make her a few meals ( and sneak some things into the freezer ) and help with cleaning etc. </p> <p>For those that asked yes she is close by the hospital so she is travelling back and forth right now and this is her second little one ( I am going to send some treats for her toddler as well ) </p> <p>Thank you again and I will pass on your kind wishes as well :)<br /> @Mrs. Champagne: @MrsRcCar: @Ash: @bluestriped bee: @BabyMats: @ChiCalGoBee: @mrsjenbug: @MrsSRS: @Ms.Badger: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294481 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 07:43:50 +0000 MrsRcCar 2294481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When E was in the NICU, I found it hard to pull myself away to eat. I did however eat when I would pump in the dedicated pump room they had. So simple but great for you foods would be awesome. I personally loved cliff bars and fruit. If I had a friend sending me something I would ask for a basket of pumping essentials and throw in some great protein snack choices. </p> <p>Hope your friend and her baby get to go home soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294438 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 06:38:24 +0000 Ash 2294438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with gift cards for food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294404 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 05:12:28 +0000 BandDmommy 2294404@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son was in NICU 11 days. I would say gift card for food. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294373 Fri, 18 Sep 2015 01:57:05 +0000 BSB 2294373@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tea: My babies are in the Nicu now. So a question for you and your friends situation. Is this her first child? Are they staying at the hospital like overnight? How far are they from the hospital?<br /> I live 10-15 minutes from the hospital and we see them twice a day. We don't stay at the hospital overnight because we are close and we have dogs at home. Plus, some night nurses like to wake parents while they stay... That just didn't seem like something I wanted to do considering I am already pumping. I wanted to get some sleep and it would be more comfortable if I was home. We eat at the hospital but the food isn't that bad.<br /> I would say for me, I would appreciate having meals delivered to my house. Like casseroles. Since we travel back and forth, we end up not having time to cook dinner at home so we eat fast food fairly often since it's quick. Though we do go to chipotle and other quick serve places. But a home cooked meal would be awesome right now.<br /> Oh, maybe home cooked desserts. Cupcakes, cheesecakes and pies. DH isn't into dessert but I have been buying carrot cake slices from the hospital. So yummy. </p> <p>Oh, if you can make some lactation cookies that would be great, too. I have been telling myself to make some but by the time we come home, I have to concentrate on doing baby laundry or nursery stuff. I guess if someone offered to do that it would be appreciated, as well.</p> <p>As for preemie clothes, my hospital had some that were donated that we could use while they were in the hospital. So it might not be necessary to buy them. Though some moms want preemie clothes of their own so they can bond and feel like they are dressing their own child and not just what the hospital has. I guess I'm not that picky. I did however buy some preemie onsies on clearance before I got pregnant. The onsies are better when they don't have an IV line. But I agree, sleepers that snap are best. Avoid the ones that zipper. If the babies run cold, they may prefer the fleece ones... Especially later when they are in the open air bassinets. But if they run hot, they may prefer a thinner fabric. With that said, you can see why some babies might prefer short or long sleeved outfits. It all depends on the baby.<br /> I've also heard that you should wait to stock up on preemie clothes because by the time they are released they might have outgrown the preemie size. Right now, one of my babies will probably be in preemie clothes when she is released and the boy might be on the border line of preemie and newborn.<br /> Oh, I can't believe I didn't think of this earlier.<br /> Go to preemiestore.com and they have this NICU journal that is great. I don't journal but it kept me involved and helped track their progress. It's a cheap book at $9 each. Lastly, check out the preemie calendars that they have. Preemies have different milestones than full term babies (like when they are off the ventilator, on room air, when they move into isolettes or into open air bassinets, when their feeding tube is removed). I got a twin version and I've heard so many compliments on it.<br /> Oh, my hospital gave me (tonight! Kinda late) a nicu journal (maybe since I had my own they didn't feel to need to give me one of theirs.) It has some great info in it about the machines and terms used, but the journal section is just blank lines. The one my nicu gave out was specially made by the hospital. If things were a perfect world, I would like a hybrid of the two journals but it's not a problem having both. </p> <p>I was not able to eat in my nicu, only drinks with lids or caps. I like using my double breast pump bra and my nursing cover. I know each room has a curtain at the door but I wanted a bit more privacy. My nicu and birth center offered access to a hospital grade pump and I rented one for home use. I also had a private room, but I had twins. I'm told some nicu parents may have to share a room.<br /> Oh, you could call the hospital and ask the nicu what rules they have. That could help you get gifts that are specific to the nicu. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294322 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 22:25:00 +0000 BabyMats 2294322@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tea: i agree with@blackbird: food and snacks. And even giftcards for dinner. Would have made our lives so much easier </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294320 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 22:20:43 +0000 ChiCalGoBee 2294320@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with all that's been said. Also, do you know if she has a boppy/my brest friend? I spent a LOT of time working on feeding in our (thankfully brief) NICU stay. I had my husband bring mine from home. Also I'd get some Motherlove cream because if she's having to pump every few hours (if her baby isn't latching), that cream helped me so much with sensitivity and frequent pumping in the early days. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294288 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 21:49:20 +0000 mrsjenbug 2294288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Tea: gift cards (especially if you can look online as to where might be near the hospital/on their way home), a care package with some pumping stuff - if she's doing that (nursing tank top, nice pads, soothie gels, etc), see if maybe you could get some essentials delivered to their home, etc. I appreciated anything that just made it easier to go to and from the hospital without having to think about anything else. Dinners and such were great and I think one of my friends had her cleaning lady come over ( she didn't know how to contact mine). </p> <p>Hope her baby does well! Mine had feeding issues too and was in there for 2 weeks :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294224 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:54:53 +0000 MrsSRS 2294224@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Gift cards for restaurants were awesome. We could go out to eat on our way home from the NICU and not have to think about dinner. If she's pumping, some nice cloth nursing pads. Chocolate covered almonds, lara bars, trail mix. Hand cream for all the NICU hand washing. A cute outfit in size preemie if she wasn't expecting such a young baby. Sleepers that snap up the front are best for the NICU. An Amazon pantry delivery to their house with things like toilet paper, paper towels, snack foods. You're a great friend! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294213 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:46:49 +0000 Ms.Badger 2294213@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When I made a nicu care package I included: nice water bottle, fuzzy socks with grips on bottom, chap stick, fragerence free lotion, and snacks like brownie bites, nuts, kind bars. You could send restaurant food over with a service like restaurant to go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294189 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:35:49 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2294189@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My neighbours were there with their daughter for almost a week, so we sent her mom in with gift cards for them so they didn't have to eat hospital food. </p> <p>We did $25 for Subway. $25 for McDonalds and $50 for Swiss Chalet/Harvey's/etc. they are really grateful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294167 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:28:16 +0000 Mrs. Tea 2294167@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@blackbird: @Boogs thanks for the ideas - I can certainly send gift cards. I wish I could make food and bring it to them. It's tricky because of the distance. I want to go so badly but I'd have to bring two kids with me and that's not helpful at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294158 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:23:52 +0000 Boogs 2294158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No experience, but maybe meals to stock their freezer? Food gift cards? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/moms-that-had-babies-in-the-nicu#post-2294154 Thu, 17 Sep 2015 20:21:59 +0000 blackbird 2294154@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food. Snacks, especially. We had to eat lunch at the hospital and pick up take out every day going home. It was an unplanned for event. </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>