Yesterday I saw the social workers, who suggested that I may be able to spend a bit of time in the NICU family room in order to avoid going home yet. We live far enough away from the hospital that I qualify for extra help re boarding and travelling. However, from eavesdropping on the nurses in NICU it sounds like there is another family in the room.
Which, fine, there’s one room and an awful lot of families – but I don’t want to leave her yet.
Everything is back up in the air now until I can see the social workers again later today to find out what can be arranged. Insert sick feeling here.
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They weighed Evelyn last night and her grand total post birth weight loss is a mere 95g. I am so very impressed with that, considering Isaac lost nearly 300g and Amy lost around 280g – despite neither of them having feeding issues.
On today’s agenda is discussing the possibility of moving her to a pigeon bottle for her top up feeds, rather than an NG tube. Of course we need to be guided by Evelyn in this, and how strong she is. I’m hoping that she’s strong enough, but we’ll see. She’s still waking herself at feed time and breastfeeding well, so I am cautiously optimistic; however if NICU has taught me anything, it’s how fast things change and how you can’t rely on anything.
As far as I know her jaundice has cleared up – they took her off the biliblanket last night at 6pm – but we’re waiting for this mornings bloods to come back and tell us how her levels look. They were treating her conservatively, working on the basis that she was 34 weeks at birth – even though she still continues to act closer to 36 weeks, according to everyone who actually knows anything about Prem babies.
For me, I’m doing okay this morning. Let’s see how the day goes.
Lots of love to you all today xx I hope you get to stay.. And I hope little Evelyn keeps up the great work!
Oh sweety, fingers crossed all goes well and you’re able to get the family room. Been thinking of you lots xx
Stay strong beautiful mama xx
Hope they can work something out for you and you are able to stay together. The ups and downs of the NICU are hard on the mother heart and that feeling that they’re not quite yours lingers long afterwards. Sending love as always xx
Hello little princess. Loving the skin to skin there! Been thinking of you all.
I so hope you get the family room! I’ll share some advice I was given when I had my premmy, and you can take it or leave it, because I know unsolicited advice can be a pain:P
Two things that helped me with a premmy: lots of baby massage (didn’t use oil in hospital, just stroked whatever bare skin there was. Once we got home I massaged her with sweet almond oil for ten minutes a day). I was told that premmy babies who are massaged put on weight a lot quicker, and once I started, we definitely found that to be the case!
The other thing is that when I wasn’t with my baby and expressing, I’d have a photo of her in front of me, and it seemed to help me to express a lot more milk.
Been being a lurker as usual but – just wanted to let you know I’m here, reading, and pulling for you and baby and family. Love and strength to you!! Someday maybe I’ll make it to Tasmania or you’ll make it to California or something and I will give you a (very gentle) hug in person. You are amazing.
thinking of you all constantly.
Kiss and squeeze that girl for me and get your mum to give you a big hug from me.
I hope you can stay juuuust a little longer until all is well enough that you are confident things will be ok at home on your own. But seriously you are living in a totally different culture. I would about hit the roof if a SOCIAL WORKER came into my hospital room. :/
Oh my lord she is precious!! I hope you can stay. What huge things to be going through. She’s a beautiful little joey. Much love XXX
I met most of the social workers at the royal, during my long stay there, and thankfully most of them are lovely competent people who have your interests rather than the hospitals at heart. Fingers crossed that something can be worked out. *hugs*
Well, that’s another adorable photo that makes me clucky (and I already have a baby!). Fingers crossed you can stay with her.
Good luck Veronica. I hope you get to stay.
Not being a mum, I don’t have the knowledge to understand any of the details…. so I don’t understand why you can’t stay???? Seems silly to me. Wanted you to know that we are thinking of you all though. Love, kisses and hugs xxxxoxoxoxox
Awww, look at her all snuggled close to your heart! Looks like she’s doing well.
She is just beautiful xxx I hope things keep improving and she gets to go home very soon.
Locing the Kangaroo care pic! This was one of my all time favourite things to do in NICU. I think like all hospitaks Facilities at are always busy and usually stretched, NICU and family support services are definatly no different and in high demand these days too. I hope you were able to get into the room and stay a while longer. I’m catching up reading all the posts now as I’ve had no much time with our impending birth arrival & possible NICU/SCBU stay I’ve been trying to prepare for.
Take care xx
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