Please come share your NICU story with us...

[SnowBirdie]

Please come to the resource forum and share your NICU experiences with us. we will use them as a resource for parents to use, and we would appreciate your input..tips, ways to cope, etc....thanks!:)

[Twintastic]

I have a story in the sub forum above. I will try to sit down in the next day or so and write a story about our time in the NICU. It is quite a story.

[SnowBirdie]

thanks, kristi! you have so much wisdom to share i know :pinkheart

[carchris kringle]

Here is my NICU story from 5 years ago.

My boys were born at 30w6d. Carter weighed 3lbs15oz and Christopher 3lbs14oz. Both were amazingly healthy boys. I will start with Carter, he was on his vent for about 50 hours, trying to come off after the first 24 and just not able to do it. He then had to go under the billyruben lights for jundice. once he was put in his incubator it seemed like he was doing great, just a feed and grow with a lot of growing to do....... In our NICU they have a healthy side a very sick sick and a place in the back for those who are getting ready to go home. The boys were put on the ready to go home side at about 3 weeks and were in the same crib at this point. So about 3 1/2 weeks into their stay DH and I got a call that Carter had blood in his belly and they think he had a serious bacterial infection. They were running tests and would call us back. Well we instantly got in the car and headed to the hospital, getting there as the were finished with the ultrasound and the catscan. They took his blood and we had to wait. Carter was put back in an incubator back on nose oxygen, and all feeds were stopped. He wasn't ready to come home.......We finally got the results and there was no infection, just his bowels not being able to keep up with his feeds, so they let his belly rest for a few days and started his feeds again. He started to gain weight and was moved back into bed with Christopher. At 5 weeks he was released and came home!!!!!!! We were fortunate for how healthy he was and still is. The only effects we had from their prematurity is Low Tone as an infant (not now at all), and a speech delay. He also has asthma.

As for Christopher, his adventure isn't as crazy as Carter's. Being the smaller of my boys, you would think he would be the one with issues. NO WAY, he was and still is a little fighter. He was on oxygen for less than 4 hours. Was put in an incubator within 24 hours and grew grew grew from there. He tolerated feeds, took a bottle at 2 weeks and was released with Carter at 5 weeks.

As for me. I look back on those days and wonder how I survived. I was the thinnest I had been since highschool, the bags under my eyes in pictures are incredible. My DH was amazing, he made sure that I didn't dwell on the neg, but looked forward to the positive. He let me be concerned when necessary, but lifted my spirits when I was missing my babes. We took me on dates for dinner before we visited the boys for the night..... At 11:00 when the NICU did a change of shift nurses at night, he would take me to the movies or just a drive in the summer night to wind me down. I really wouldn't have made it through this time if I didn't have him by my side. How he kept it together is beyond me.........

My boys are now 5 1/2 and busy, busy, busy. Healthy boys who you would never know were 9 weeks premature!!!!!!

I'm a lucky MOM!

[SnowBirdie]

oh, jenni! thanks for sharing your story, and wonderful your boys did so well. i know it was rough on you, but i am glad you got two healthy boys for all the worry. :clap :clap :friends2

[rtmommie]

I'll have to write one later. I used to work in the NICU so I have a different perspective.

[SnowBirdie]

cool! your perspective is welcome too:)

[YoMomma]

I will get to mine this weekend...my boys were born 30 w, 5 d and spent 7 and 9 weeks there.

[KrysiaG]

I am new here, but I can share my story.

My Twin boys were born at 31w1d after months of bedrest and weeks of being hospitalized and on Magnesium Sulfate. Twin A (Evan)'s water ruptured at 4:30 am on 11/30/2004.

Evan (Twin A) was born weighing 3 lbs. 9 oz. (37 NICU days)
Aidan (Twin B) was born weighing 3 lbs. 12 oz. (33 NICU days)

Neither boy was intubated. They were both placed on CPAP for a few days and did remarkably well. Evan struggled the most. They found a bacterial growth in a blood sample of his, so the immediately started treating him. He also had a PDA (valve in his heart that didn't close), and after a few doses of medicine, it closed without surgery.

The worst part of the experience was seeing the boys constantly "blow" a vein and need another IV. Evan ended up having a PICC line placed thru his main artery towards his heart. Aidan didn't require one, as he ended up coming off all IVs within 4 days. It was horrible watching them stick that PICC line thru his wrist all the way up to his heart. I thought I was going to throw up just knowing what they were doing.

Both boys struggled w/ the major prematurity issues - A&B episodes were frequent. Those also made my heart stop. How were we going to bring these babies home and not worry that their breathing would stop or their heart would slow down? I think I was in a constant frenzied state of worry about this until they were over 4 months old. Evan had to go on caffeine to help with his A&B episodes. Evan was also treated with Zantac for his reflux (which also helped reduce his A&B episodes). Evan was on Zantac until he was 6 months old.

Both boys came home at about 5-5 1/2 weeks. Aidan came home on 1/1/05 after 33 NICU days and Evan came home on 1/5/05 after 37 NICU days. The first weeks were the hardest, not knowing if they would be "ok." But as time went on, we felt more secure about them. They thrived and really did well.

They are now 2 years old (turning 2 on Thursday) and are VERY happy little boys. They were evaluated by our state's developmental program and are developmentally where they should be according to age (not adjusted age).

Here are pics of before and after:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/KrysiaG/EvanBirthNICU.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/KrysiaG/AidanBirthNICU.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v204/KrysiaG/Halloween2006EvanandAidanXSmall.jpg

[SnowBirdie]

Thanks for posting that, Christine, and I am happy your boys are doing well! It is amazing how well they do with some care and time, and lots of mommy love:) :clap :clap

Be sure to add their birthday to our calendar when you get a chance, and welcome:)

[jraptwins]

I added mine to the NICU Experience section as it was pretty long :)