He arrived on Saturday night, and is doing really well. 4lbs 4oz and breathing on his own but not eating. They plan to keep him until sometime around his due date of 9/20.
It was crazy because hubby and I went to visit A in the hospital that day and left her at about 4:30. She'd been having contractions every 8 minutes that she really couldn't talk through, but for some reason, I didn't pick up on that. They had told her earlier that she was actively dilating further and it could be as much as four weeks until the would induces given that her water was already broken. The baby was born four hours later! Craziness. (my secret confession? I'm glad it's not a girl. I'd be jealous!)
So glad they are all doing ok!
Now, I get to start physical therapy for my shoulders (in the waiting room now). Fun times. And I almost fell down the stairs last night during one of trips to pee. We live in a split level and i have to go down half a flight to get to the bathroom. Now my ankle hurts. Awesome!
Sending thoughts and prayers to them and their little sweetheart! We didn't have a long stay relatively speaking - only about two weeks total. But here are some things that she may find helpful:
ReplyDelete1. Things like movies, books, magazines, etc., to help her pass the time... it's tremendously helpful to keep your mind occupied at times for a mental "break" from what's going on around you.
2. If she's wanting to breastfeed, she probably has a long road ahead of her. If you know that she wants to and would be receptive to things that will help with pumping until he can breastfeed, the M.other Love More Milk Plus is amazing (but tastes terrible), fenugreek capsules, and Milkies Milk Savers to capture milk later when she breastfeeds are amazing. These are actually wonderful for any mother who's wanting to breastfeed and is concerned about supply/building a supply through pumping.
3. Lots of meals when they get home. Being discharged after a stay in the NICU or ICC involves usually a lot of home health care visits and pediatrician visits (particularly when there are issues with eating and breathing)... sometimes several each week. Having meals taken care of is extremely helpful!
4. Someone to bring them their mail, etc., to help them keep up on bills and life in general while they are in the hospital. And if they have pets, someone to feed and water them. For us, this would have been incredibly helpful so that we could have minimized the number of times Mech had to leave the hospital - particularly when treatments or treatment orientations required that we both be there.
5. Comfortable pillows. Aromatherapy. Anything to make where they're staying a little more like home.
6. If they're staying somewhere with a Ronald McDonald house, making a donation in their baby's name can be incredibly special. My mom did this for Firecracker and we were so grateful!
Wishing her the very best!