My daughter was in the NICU for 3 weeks due to low blood sugar. It was an extremely difficult time and a rollercoaster of emotions. Even though my daughter’s low blood sugar was resolved when she was 6 weeks old, I still worry. I’m currently in the process of writing about the experience and I’m hoping to have it up soon.
Don’t Worry, Be Snappy.
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I can relate to that experience. My son was delivered 12 weeks early, weighing just 2lbs. 6oz. He spent 4 months and 2 days in the NICU, and was on oxygen and an apnea monitor at home for another 4 months. It was the most difficult year of my life. He’s now 8 years old, and doing wonderfully, and sufferes very little long term problems from his prematurity. He is still tiny, weighing just 42 lbs at 8 years. He frequently gets bronchitis in the wintertime, but nothing overly serious. And he’s severely ADHD… that’s the fun part
I am so sorry with what you had do go through. I thought the 3 weeks my daughter spent in the NICU felt like a lifetime so I can’t even imagine the 4 months you had to endure. You are one amazing mama.
Thank you. It was definately a rough time for me. My hubby was stationed just far enough away, with a funky schedule, that he was only home for 3 out of every 9 days. So, for the most part I was on my own, and pretty much lived at the NICU. Then about 2 1/2 months into his NICU stay we moved! The good part was we were moving just down the street from the hospital where Gabe was, the bad part was I had to do most of the packing, moving, cleaning, and unpacking by myself, while still trying to spend as much time as possible at the NICU. Once we moved, the nurses were literally kicking me out at like midnight, because I was so close by that I never wanted to go home.
I had triplets in the NICU back in the 90s. 19 years ago I wondered if they would ever come home. 15 years ago I wondered if I they would kill me before I killed them! Now they are in college and I miss the little buggers.
We had two extreme premmies – first son was 24 weeks, 3 days, 1 pound 9 ounces, and spent 111 days in the NICU. We thought that was stressful, but he came home right on his due date – no oxygen and no ongoing problems – quite a miracle.
Second son was born at 25 weeks, zero days and 2 pounds exactly – woo-hoo we thought – 3 days stronger and we’ve been through it before. What a totally different roller-coaster that was. He was much sicker, and on top of it we were dealing with a very active toddler as well, and hubby had no leave left and was working stupidly long hours.
Second son finally came home after 121 days, on oxygen, with Cerebral Palsy and the liklihood of a severe disability. Now four and a half years later we have a very intelligent little boy who has only the slightest limp. They are indeed miracle boys and we are forever grateful to the Mater Mothers Hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Our boys would not be here without these amazing people.
The sad thing is that there are babies born later and heavier than ours, who don’t have as good outcomes. It is a scary thing walking into that NICU the first time and my heart goes out to anyone who has to do it.
Just came across your blog from The Bloggess & love it! My son was born premature as well at 31wks and spent 5wks 4 days (not that I was counting or anything) in the NICU. He came home on oxygen & an apnea monitor, it was really rough in the beginning but now a week away from his first birthday he’s an incredibly healthy, happy little man. What a difference a year makes!
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My P. was in the NICU for a time for prematurity and even though our stay was relatively short (compared to parents of 24 weekers and so on) it was still a difficult time for our new family. Take your time and write about it as it comes to you.
Personally, I still can’t listen to BBC World Service – which was what was on the radio when we’d make the last NICU run of the day.
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NICU is a very difficult time indeed. It’s a miracle if you come through it with sanity and sense of humour in tact. My daughter was born at 27 weeks in 2009 and spent exactly 11 weeks in NICU and SCBU. I’ve written about it plenty over my 2 years blogging. It’s difficult when it dredges up forgotten emotions, but it’s good therapy so i wholeheartedly recommend
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