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.
I plan on getting snacks, magazines, nursing accessories, preemie items.
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.
persimmon / 1331 posts
I did an internship in the nicu as a nursing student and I remember it was nice to have sleepers with snaps. So when baby CAN wear clothes, she can wear them and still have the wires and tubes come out!
grapefruit / 4712 posts
If they are not staying at the hospital I would include a gas card. I would have loved magazines also. For the snacks I would make sure that they have good amount of protein. It is hard to leave your lo to get a good meal.
watermelon / 14206 posts
I second the gas card. When DS was in the NICU, the church I was going to gave me a "gas card" shower, since going 30 mintues one way a few times a day really added up. It was such a blessing.
nectarine / 2019 posts
The sleepers with snaps is always something that I see NICU moms search for, perhaps a gift card to the hospital cafeteria, or simple restaurants that are around. Maybe gathering up the menus of the places that deliver even.
pomegranate / 3863 posts
Anything with snaps, soft hats (they always kept one on DS) soft blankets because again, they kept him nicely swaddled and covered up to keep warm. Maybe a GC to a local restaurant or even just dropping off a home cooked meal. That's all I asked for, I told everyone instead of buying clothes (since he didn't need much and they provided some in the Nicu) to just send us meals!!
blogger / pomegranate / 3044 posts
If baby is 27weeks he/she won't be wearing clothes anytime soon, at least in our nicu there were no clothes until baby was out if the isollete.
Maybe books for her to read to baby? A cardigan to wear to cover more when doing skin to skin... Of course snacks, gift cards for takeout/gas.
pomegranate / 3401 posts
I third the gas card! Or, depending on what the parking situation is at the hospital, a parking pass. My LO was in the NICU for almost 2 months and parking got expensive! We bought a pass, but still. Also, a good friend of mine bought me this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Preemies-Second-Essential-Parents-Premature/dp/1416572325
It was kind of nice having a reference guide because the doctors would talk. I would listen, try to process, and ask questions. But then of course they would be on their merry way and it was nice having something to read to better understand what was going on!
It would also be cute to put everything in a nice tote bag. I had an LL Bean tote that I carted around with me with all my NICU stuff....Oh and a nice waterbottle is always nice too. I drank tons and tons of water.
My friend also got me this book, it was really cute:
http://www.amazon.com/Good-Things-Small-Packages-Preemie/dp/0984238514/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1394498487&sr=1-1&keywords=good+things+come+in+small+packages
grapefruit / 4056 posts
Our NICU dresses the babies pretty early, like as soon as the umbilical and arterial line are out. Carter's prem size sleepers/clothes fit tiny prems awesomely and usually have snaps that work well with cords. Also most patents end up at the bedside a lot so snacks/drinks (something quick to grab and eat as they can't usually eat at the bedside) and magazines would probably be nice. If there is a coffee shop in the hospital a gift card there would also be awesome.
GOLD / wonderful grape / 20289 posts
I wanted something to keep busy while sitting there, I'm a crafter so I got a cross stitch that I made for LO. It made me seem like I was doing something productive. I also spent a lot of time pumping so reading material while doing that. I got free food at the hospital (a perk for pumping because they want you to be well nourished) but that got old fast so maybe gift certificate to a quick restaurant near the hospital. And starbucks.
GOLD / wonderful apricot / 22646 posts
Thanks all for your thoughtful and practical suggestions!!!
kiwi / 643 posts
Not sure if they have an older child, but possibly sending a care package to them? Otherwise, a home cooked, hot, healthy meal quietly delivered to the hospital. Other items would be a magazine subscription (People/Glamour/something super fluffy for the Mom, if you think she'd like it), plus maybe a Kindle gift card for the Dad if he's into that. Only other thought is to ask them about the sleeping arrangements at the hospital. We would have killed for a foam, egg crate mattress topper and earplugs!
pomelo / 5093 posts
I'd have appreciated real, portable food. Gifts of gas cards and restaurant delivery are great ideas. Magazines if you know they'll be there for a while. Depending on how close you are, having someone come over and clean my house would have been very welcome. Or dog walking, etc.
pomelo / 5628 posts
I used this preemie baby book.
I think some preemie sleepers would be nice, but no need to buy the super small micro preemie clothes because they won't get used. Or just a lovey to keep in the isolette.
Give them a link to Dylan's blog too: babydylansjourney@blogspot.com. It's not updated too far past the NICU stage, but it could be helpful for the beginning. (Or my regular blog.)
A friend sent us frozen meals which was great. We didn't cooked for prob the entire NICU stay.
pomegranate / 3414 posts
gift cards to restaurants/fast food nearby or even to the hospital cafeteria if they offer it
honeydew / 7504 posts
My husband's cousin also had a baby at 27 weeks. I sent a package full of Luna bars, which Mom loved, and a preemie outfit. And I don't know if your friend has an older baby already, but if they do, I got this book for Hubs's cousin's older daughter. Mom told us that M carried the book everywhere, and showed it to everyone, and it really helped her understand what was going on with her baby brother and she was FAR less afraid of him (all the tubes and stuff). http://www.amazon.com/My-Sister-Preemie-Childrens-Experience/dp/1451519664/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1394545918&sr=8-3&keywords=my+brother+is+a+preemie
blogger / cherry / 204 posts
I think gift cards are great, Amazon or diapers.com, there are so many little things that come up that you need and it's hard to anticipate, and ordering online is easiest, and it's hard to ask for things, we've really appreciated gift cards and just cards with checks, expenses like just paying for hospital parking and cafeteria food add up!
pear / 1696 posts
I've heard that cafeteria food gets old real quick, so I'd offer to set up a meal sign up so friends can bring homemade food in.
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