https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 12 Apr 2026 02:08:19 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609753 Fri, 02 May 2014 18:20:50 +0000 Applesandbananas 1609753@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: hugs... I remember those days. I pumped by his bedside. There was a symphony right there and a sink to wash my parts. I pumped every two hours since I couldn't hold him much in the first couple of days. The nurses were really encouraging. Can you ask if they can help you set up to pump by his bed? I always got WAY more by his bed than in my room or a pumping room. Maybe they can pull some strings and make it work for you. </p> <p>I also ate a ton of oatmeal and carried a huge camelbak water bottle with me. </p> <p>Good luck, I know it's hard not to stress but try! I hope you get more baby snuggles soon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609730 Fri, 02 May 2014 18:08:15 +0000 littlek 1609730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: yay!!!! Great update! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609698 Fri, 02 May 2014 17:50:22 +0000 mfa_lady 1609698@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>So happy to see your update. Thinking of you! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609453 Fri, 02 May 2014 16:01:32 +0000 Ms.Badger 1609453@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: So, so happy your LO is off the vent (I am literally tearing up for you)! It's so amazing to see him without all that extra stuff. I hope T continues to improve. I don't have NICU experience, but boy do I have PICU experience, Ever need to vent about EVERYTHING, feel free to wall me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609446 Fri, 02 May 2014 15:59:11 +0000 LovelyPlum 1609446@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: amazing news!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609251 Fri, 02 May 2014 14:38:36 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1609251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: that's fantastic! Good luck : ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1609183 Fri, 02 May 2014 14:11:08 +0000 jhd 1609183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: you are awesome! thank you :heart: I can't think of anything right now but thank you! The hospital stuff does get confusing!</p> <p>T is off the ventilator and sleeping peacefully. Breathing on his own and just getting a little oxygen from a cpap. We are leaving in just a few minutes to see him &amp; I cannot wait!!! He will likely be in nicu for a while as there are some other issues to deal with but yay!!! </p> <p>And I started with drops this am and now I'm getting trickles! Not enough to get into those darn syringes but I'm going to go park myself by his bed and pump &amp; see what they can do with it!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608644 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:40:50 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1608644@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I found the Exclusive Pumpers group on BBC very helpful. There was also a facts page on iVillage I think. I've written quite a few milk-centered blog posts too if you want to check them out.</p> <p>I think a lot of it won't make as much sense until your milk comes in. But length of pumping time is important. You should pump 5 minutes past the last milk (although for me it never fully stopped...I always had to pump for 30 minutes). I also found that LC's didn't help that well with pumping besides saying that I could never ever miss a pump or do it less than 8x a day. My sister was the biggest help.</p> <p>Any other hospital issues that we can help with? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608525 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:10:34 +0000 jhd 1608525@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: no special nicu lc as far as i know. the hospital one stinks in my opinion. she is kind. but the only thing she says is "8 times a day" that's like her only advice. she didn't even check to make sure i had the right size flange!!! (and apparently she hates the LCs that work with my peds office so i have to be careful not to mention them. why do women have to be so catty and mean?---that's why i love HB so much. you ladies all just want to help. :heart: ) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608520 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:08:45 +0000 jhd 1608520@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: these are great suggestions. thank you so so so much. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608518 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:08:24 +0000 jhd 1608518@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: there is a pumping room so i hope to make use of that as much as possible in the weeks to come.</p> <p>@T.H.O.U.: we have video of the one time i did get to hold him and i've been watching it every time. as soon as little man has that huge tube out he might be able to make some noise and i'll make sure to capture that on video. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608488 Fri, 02 May 2014 11:01:28 +0000 littlek 1608488@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Also, is there a pumping room next to the NICU. I liked to pump right after holding him. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608473 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:59:19 +0000 LovelyPlum 1608473@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: these are good suggestions for me, too! Pumping is way harder than I expected it would be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608471 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:59:00 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1608471@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: Yes, pictures are great. I found watching a video to hear her cry REALLY helped. I think there are actually studies that show the change in a woman when she hears her baby cry. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608462 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:55:59 +0000 littlek 1608462@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Good suggestions! I found having a picture of LO really helped me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608454 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:55:24 +0000 littlek 1608454@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: I rented a pump as well. I feel like the hospital grade was much better than the one we had at home. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608451 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:54:51 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1608451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Aww I'm sorry. Pumping is not easy to just "get". </p> <p>A few quick tips:<br /> 1) You can use lanolin on the nipple if you start rubbing too much<br /> 2) Think about your baby, look at pictures, smell a blanket, listen to their cry from a video <a href="http://scienceofmom.com/2012/04/12/pump-up-the-music-improving-breast-milk-production-in-the-nicu/" rel="nofollow">http://scienceofmom.com/2012/04/12/pump-up-the-music-improving-breast-milk-production-in-the-nicu/</a><br /> 3) Use a warm washcloth to try to help loosen things up (lay it on the breast) and do gentle massages to try to pull the milk out).<br /> 4) Remember an infants stomach is only the size of like a marble, so you really aren't looking for a ton to come pouring out! <a href="http://babiesfirstlactation.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/the-newborns-stomach/" rel="nofollow">http://babiesfirstlactation.wordpress.com/2013/08/09/the-newborns-stomach/</a><br /> 5) If you think you've stopped flowing (or just need a break because nothing is coming), unhook and get a drink of water, and then come back. Sometimes even just a 60 second break and restarting the session can stimulate a new let down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608448 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:54:31 +0000 littlek 1608448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Does your NICU have a special lactation consultant? We had 2 at our NICU. Schedule an appointment with them and make them show you in detail everything you need to know. It's their job to help you. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608429 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:50:08 +0000 jhd 1608429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Madison43: great to know. They kept insisting the Ameda was fine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608424 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:49:32 +0000 jhd 1608424@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: NO! That's the whole issue. It's like let's throw you in the deep end of the pool when you're already exhausted &amp; then just tell you to keep swimming instead of throwing you a raft or getting in &amp; pulling you out!! We have two wonderful LCs not affiliated with hospital &amp; I got the symphony from one of them yesterday. She gave me a different size flange too &amp; I think it's helping. Also the symphony you just have to turn it on &amp; then it does all the changes etc </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608418 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:49:05 +0000 Madison43 1608418@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We rented the symphony and it was my best friend for a few weeks until everything got moving. I had the ameda in my hospital room and it definitely didn't work as well for me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608401 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:45:29 +0000 jhd 1608401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I got the symphony yesterday afternoon (hospital folks said Ameda would be fine...2 LCs that work with peds office disagree!) so hoping that helps </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608372 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:39:19 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1608372@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah! Do you have a Medellin symphony? It has a preemie setting. It worked really well for me. I'd rent one if you can't get it for free. (Actually only the NICU version had the preemie setting, but still that pump is so much better than some others!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608367 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:38:41 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1608367@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh yeah! Do you have a Medellin symphony? It has a preemie setting. It worked really well for me. I'd rent one if you can't get it for free. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu/page/2#post-1608363 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:38:01 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1608363@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: I totally remember the first few days of pumping. Waking up in the middle of the night without a baby crying is sooo hard! And washing pump parts, etc made it hard to get out of the house and to the NICU in the morning. But it just gets easier. My husband and I always went to dinner together before or after our evening NICU trip. It was a nice normal time and a chance for is to try to process our emotions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu#post-1608344 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:34:31 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1608344@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: How do you feel with the pump? Did they take time to show you how to use it? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu#post-1608333 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:32:36 +0000 jhd 1608333@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@littlek: @Mrs Green Grass: @T.H.O.U.: thanks ladies. :heart: we will get there I know but it's just so much to learn all at once. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu#post-1608317 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:29:18 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 1608317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: pressure doesn't help milk production! My best pumping advice is pump every 3 hours. Get a hands-free bra!! Drink lots of water. It's totally normal to have a really slow start. Every drop is worth it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu#post-1608312 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:28:18 +0000 T.H.O.U. 1608312@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: Remember, each and every drop counts! Those initial drops are so potent they are great for him! Keep up the great work! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/tips-for-going-home-while-baby-stays-in-nicu#post-1608308 Fri, 02 May 2014 10:27:32 +0000 littlek 1608308@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jhd: that's great! Hopefully he will be able to be off the ventilator soon. :) </p>