since water broke at 30wks we know that the latest I will carry lo is 34wks.
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!
honeydew / 7916 posts
No advice, just want to say you are amazing for making it through these last few days and you will do an amazing job with the whole process. 
kiwi / 714 posts
No advice here either, but I wanted to say I'm thinking of you and Ava and hope everything goes as smoothly as possible.
grapefruit / 4712 posts
Just know that there are a lot of noises and monitors. I always told myself if the alarms are going off but the nurses aren't running over, I had to just relax. I could hold E at first but I could at least touch him. I also asked if there was anything I could do instead of the nurses doing it. I changed his diapers and swab his mouth out before feedings. I also brought things from home for him like pacifiers and clothes ( clothes came after he was out of the isolate). I also brought E's baby book up so we could print his feet. I took a lot of pictures of him.
pomelo / 5628 posts
Has the Neo already come to talk to you? That helped me a lot. You can also get a tour of the NICU is you are stable enough...I never was.
Right at the beginning I found it helped to read Dr. Sears' book about preemies just to get all the basic info about what would be happening.
The biggest thing for preemies is lung development, but even at 30+ It shouldn't be as much of an issue. Next will be maintaining body temp which is hard for preemies, hence the isolette. Then last, is feeding. It doesn't come as automatically for the preemies. That's what kept us in past term. Those are the basics that all babies have to deal with. I know lots of people that went home way before term because their babies did so well. The longer you make it, the higher that chance.
Last, if prepare for pumping now and start learning about it. I liked the exclusive pumpers boards on babycenter and ivillage the best for basics. Feel free to check out my blog for pumping for NICU advice..I also kept a separate blog for just NICU stuff, I just don't publicly post the link, so I could send you a text or email .
persimmon / 1135 posts
thanks @spaniellove: @lauraeabel: 
@MrsRcCar: good to know about the monitors and noises! I feel like I try and understand things like that on my own too much in general. I will have to work on letting go and trusting the nicu staff
@Mrs Green Grass: we did have a nicu dr come talk to us (boy, what a heavy conversation!) and it was very informative and dh and I feel like we are in great hands. I will see about him getting a tour since I am stuck lying almost upside down and can't leave the bed. I will def look into the preemie book and would love the link to your nicu blog if you can post privately to my wall or I can wall you my email, whatever works best for you.
thanks ladies for the warm wishes and advice!
pomelo / 5607 posts
@Mrs Green Grass: Could I get the nicu blog link as well? We could theoretically wind up delivering as early as 34 weeks, so I'd like to be as prepared as possible for all eventualities.
blogger / pineapple / 12381 posts
30 weeks is so different from 34, so it's really hard to know exactly what you'll be facing. A 34 weeker will pretty much be a feeder-grower, who may have a very short stay if they can maintain their body temperature and feed, while a 30 weeker might be in for 6-7 weeks dealing with lung development. There are lots of experienced NICU moms here, but my best advice is that the nurses are your best advocates, so don't be afraid to tell them any concerns or needs you might have!
grapefruit / 4712 posts
@littleredhairedgrl: The NICU also gave me their direct line so I could call any time to check up on E. The other NICU alum. moms on here are wonderful!!
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
My water broke at 36 weeks and I delivered 5 hours later so I didn't do anything to prepare, it was all very sudden. The nurses were awesome, if we couldn't make it there for rounds (which we rarely could because we had a toddler at home) they would go out of their way to get the doctor to come to us later and tell us what was happening. They told us that usually you should prepare to have your LO there until their due date, but we were very lucky and she came home after only 10 days.
What helped me get through it was just staying busy. I felt like I was constantly pumping, which was nice because it was the only thing I could do to be productive, especially in the beginning when I couldn't hold her. I also went out and got a cross stitch to do for the baby. That way I also felt productive, and it kept my mind and hands busy while I was just sitting there unable to pick her up.
We had to take a CPR class before taking her home, I would do that as soon as possible if you have to do it too. We were advised to do it in the beginning because we couldn't hold her then, and we wouldn't want to take away from the time that we could hold her. We also took an infant care class.
Good luck, wishing you the best and sending healthy baby thoughts your way!
eggplant / 11408 posts
Just wanted to say good luck! You've done a great job keeping Acooking! You've got this
persimmon / 1135 posts
@MrsRcCar: yeah the nicu dr told us we could call anytime which will be great!
@heffalump: yeah they told us to expect to have her here till her due date, but hoping it won't be that long. keeping busy is going to be huge for me, but is glad that pumping will take up a good amount of time and energy and I will be doing all I can to get her the nourishment she needs and I can feel like I'm more involved. CPR class is a great idea I will definitely talk to dh about doing that even tho we aren't required to.
@LovelyPlum: thanks!!
pomegranate / 3845 posts
One of the hardest things, other than being discharged without LO was that they couldn't tell me how long he'd be there. Thankfully it was only a few days but they just couldn't/wouldn't so I had a hard time dealing because I didn't know if it'd be 3 days, 3 weeks, 6 weeks, it was really frustrating.
We got the direct number too so we could check on LO whenever and I did and they were great about it.
See what your hospital offers in terms of LCs, mine had a NICU dedicated LC that had like 15 years of experience just with NICU babies, she was amazing! Maybe you can talk to an LC before delivery and get things situated with a hospital grade pump or at least find out what calls need to be made after birth to get set up (I had to call a nicu nurse at my insurance company).
Good luck!!!
persimmon / 1096 posts
No advice, just want to send lots of positive vibes your way. You are doing a great job, mama! My LO was in the NICU for a few nights - it's not comparable, but I know it's hard.
I like @heffalump:'s suggestion of a cross stitch, classes, etc. Maybe a book, too? I loved Bossy Pants (Tina Fey) and Operating Instructions (Anne Lamott). @Mrs Green Grass:'s blog is such a great resource for pumping/NICU info (I found myself on there the first night in the NICU when I was crying and trying to figure out the hospital pump). The other NICU moms on here are awesome too!
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
Another thing that might be helpful to know. .... when my lo was in the nicu she was a completely different baby then at home. She hated those wires and she loves being held, which I couldn't do. The nurses often used the word feisty to describe her.... one even said she was mean. She seemed annoyed when I touched her, and it was hard because I wanted to comfort her but didn't know how. The nurse can show you how they like to be touched and make them feel like they're in the womb. I was terrified my baby didn't like me and shed be really fussy, but she was an angel when we got home and could be snuggled. Also, the nurse gave me a cloth to put in my bra for awhile get my scent and then put it in the bassinet.
pear / 1696 posts
Get ready to pump pump pump! Pumping your milk is one of the most amazing things you can do for your baby, especially if you can't hold him/her right away.
http://kellymom.com/bf/pumpingmoms/pumping/exclusive-pumping/
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
My water broke at 30 and I delivered at 32.. I had a post on the NICU board where I got lots of tips! Good luck to you.
http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/requesting-nicu-for-dummies-tips
pomelo / 5607 posts
I read this book a while back. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0807011665/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) It might be kinda scary to read, knowing you're going there, but I really enjoyed it and I plan to re-read it now that I know it's a possibility. It gave me a better idea of what the NICU is really like, and it's written by a doctor. It's worth considering, but like I said, not sure if it'd be too scary since he doesn't really sugar coat things too much.
persimmon / 1135 posts
@beaker: thank you for the link! there is some great advice on that board
@seattlemom: thank you for the link!
doing well today and no contractions. just trying to deal with sharing a room right now which has been driving me up a wall. I am such a private person and I cannot get out of bed and can't see outside or anything and when dh isn't here I feel so vulnerable using my bed pan or washing, even with the partition curtains closed. gotta focus on the bigger picture tho!
pomelo / 5628 posts
@littleredhairedgrl: a bed pan is what almost drove me to insanity. I feel you! Great news with no contractions!
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@Applesandbananas: Did they give you a few days notice that you might be bringing them home soon? Or did they tell you the day of that you were taking your baby home?
pomegranate / 3845 posts
@bluestriped bee: he had criteria he had to meet: maintaining his temperature (which meant being in an open crib, not an isolette), breathing on his own, and eating all of his calories through a bottle for 24-36 hours straight. The first two were met within a day or so, the big hurdle was the eating, but I knew once he hit 24 hours of eating from a bottle, he'd be able to come home the following day so I had about 12 hours notice, with the caveat he had to pass the car seat test. We also had the key fit 30 and LO was just over 4lbs and fit well. They made us bring in the car seat and base to do the car seat test so it may not be worth it to install and inspect if your hospital wants to car seat and base.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
@Applesandbananas: Thanks. That's good to know that you had about 12 hrs notice. We have the Chicco keyfit car seats too. My hospital doesn't do car seat inspections but I know the nicu will do the car seat test. I plan to have the DH install the car seat have it inspected around the time the babies arrive or sooner.
pear / 1632 posts
@littleredhairedgrl: the Nicu will have hospital grade pumps you should definitely use while your there. One will get assigned to you and they are amazing! Your insurance should cover that as well as any LC visits you might need.
persimmon / 1135 posts
@jh524: thanks this is a super old post from when my daughter was born last May. she's now a crazy little 14mo who doesn't stop running
now just focusing on keeping baby #2 in as long as possible!!
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