Our lives changed quite dramatically on August 1st, 2008. It was my first time setting foot into a place in whose existence I had previously been ignorant of, the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The joyous day that he was born came ten weeks earlier than he was due. Looking back now on how scared and anxious I was, perhaps it may be useful to share what I learned about life in the NICU.
First worrisome part of the environment surrounding the NICU for me was the constant dinging of bells and alarms that go off. I was sure that my son was in cardiac arrest, or had stopped breathing. Only this was not the case.
The nurses use all these sounds to simply understand what is going on with all the different babies they are caring for at the time. The dings mean merely that the oxygen is slightly lower than they want it, or the IV fluid needs refilled. When the alarms are sounding for something that is serious, you will know by their sound of urgency and the quick response by several nurses to your baby's aid.
Another concern I had was that the nurses go around to so many other babies and sometimes those babies have infections that are contagious, so why wouldn't my son get them? The NICU is so sanitary, as I watched the nurses, they washed their hands constantly. Also, all around the NICU are bottles of hospital grade hand sanitizer that are free for visitors and nurses to use as much as they can.
Nurses are also very busy with having many different kids to watch, so don't get discouraged if they don't run over to you right away when you come. It's good to let them know ahead of time when you can come the next day or so. Even if it's not your same nurse everyday, they are great at passing messages along and then they know when to expect you.
Also when you schedule your time coming in, there are also many others besides the nurses who are there to help you. They have lactation consultants to guide you in providing breast milk for your child. It is proven that NICU babies fed breast milk go home much faster.
Many specialists are available to help you learn all the unique tools you will need to care for your special baby. NICU babies do need special care and attention. These NICU workers are so interested in helping you that they get to know your situation personally and remember what skills you have learned and what you have yet to learn.
For example, they offer you Kangaroo Care where you can hold and bond with your baby, while also teaching them to hold their own temperature and control their own heart rate by taking the lead from you body. They teach baby massage techniques for bonding and calming of the baby. First aid is also very useful to learn while there.
I am hoping that your NICU experience will be much more than anxiety. You and your spouse can come away with a very useful learning experience if all these elements of the NICU are utilized to the fullest. These classes and services not only help time go faster by giving you something to look forward too, but it also helps you feel more prepared for the homecoming. It will allow you to feel all the important feelings of joy and excitement when your child finally comes into the safety of your home.
First worrisome part of the environment surrounding the NICU for me was the constant dinging of bells and alarms that go off. I was sure that my son was in cardiac arrest, or had stopped breathing. Only this was not the case.
The nurses use all these sounds to simply understand what is going on with all the different babies they are caring for at the time. The dings mean merely that the oxygen is slightly lower than they want it, or the IV fluid needs refilled. When the alarms are sounding for something that is serious, you will know by their sound of urgency and the quick response by several nurses to your baby's aid.
Another concern I had was that the nurses go around to so many other babies and sometimes those babies have infections that are contagious, so why wouldn't my son get them? The NICU is so sanitary, as I watched the nurses, they washed their hands constantly. Also, all around the NICU are bottles of hospital grade hand sanitizer that are free for visitors and nurses to use as much as they can.
Nurses are also very busy with having many different kids to watch, so don't get discouraged if they don't run over to you right away when you come. It's good to let them know ahead of time when you can come the next day or so. Even if it's not your same nurse everyday, they are great at passing messages along and then they know when to expect you.
Also when you schedule your time coming in, there are also many others besides the nurses who are there to help you. They have lactation consultants to guide you in providing breast milk for your child. It is proven that NICU babies fed breast milk go home much faster.
Many specialists are available to help you learn all the unique tools you will need to care for your special baby. NICU babies do need special care and attention. These NICU workers are so interested in helping you that they get to know your situation personally and remember what skills you have learned and what you have yet to learn.
For example, they offer you Kangaroo Care where you can hold and bond with your baby, while also teaching them to hold their own temperature and control their own heart rate by taking the lead from you body. They teach baby massage techniques for bonding and calming of the baby. First aid is also very useful to learn while there.
I am hoping that your NICU experience will be much more than anxiety. You and your spouse can come away with a very useful learning experience if all these elements of the NICU are utilized to the fullest. These classes and services not only help time go faster by giving you something to look forward too, but it also helps you feel more prepared for the homecoming. It will allow you to feel all the important feelings of joy and excitement when your child finally comes into the safety of your home.
About the Author:
Haylee Landford is the mother of a premature baby that is now six months old, and very healthy. She frequently is featured as a guest writer for Land For Sale.
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