Im having trouble with NICU stay

Ashley - posted on 01/27/2012

My boys were born at 24 weeks, they were in the N.I.C.U. for 4 1/2 months. My boys were in the same hospital except for 3 days, my one boy got transferred to another hopital. That was very hard, I didn't drive at the time so it took a long time to get from one hospital to another. I can't even imagine them be seperated any longer! And being in the NICU is hard, the first month every night I left with a big guilt, even longer, but the pain slowly eased as I knew they were with great nurses and doctors. Once you get to know the nurses taking care of your little one while your with the other one, you will feel better. =) Best of luck, and just know that they are in good care and they will be home soon!

Angela - posted on 01/26/2012

I recommend a support group, twins club or something for NICU parents, the NICU should have information on that. Also, does the hospital that is farthest away have a place for parents to stay? What about a Ronald McDonald house? You could spend a weekend near the farthest baby...?



Yes, it is quite the roller coaster. And how we make it thru is beyond me. Pumping was like therapy for me, tho. It was the one thing I could do for my babies, and that felt great! You just put one foot in front of the other and count down the days, and you make it. Please be kinder to yourself. You were thrown a curve ball and you can only do what you can do. Holding on to guilt is not going to do you or your babies any good.



I missed a few days going to see my boys, we lived an hour away and they were in for 63 and 65 days. Some days I just needed a break, especially in the beginning it was pretty heavy. I couldn't take seeing them like that, and the machines beeping every 3 seconds. It takes some getting used to. One day we arrived, their machines would NOT stop beeping. I felt like I was in a pin ball machine, bouncing from beeping bed to beeping bed. I was there probably 5 minutes and I was a wreck, I thought I was going to lose it. So we left. I never beat myself up over that, because I knew I was at my limit. I knew I had to take care of me too. So cut your self some slack, keep pumping and they will be home before you know it!

Desiree - posted on 01/21/2012

my boys were born at 28 week i had ahard time too. but it will get a lot better. it will be worthit when they come home. my boys were in there for 2 months but they had a lot of problems. my boys were at different hosiptals because my little isaac had to get a shunt so i had to stay there with him for almost a week i felt so bad but i knew he was in good hands,

Melissa - posted on 01/19/2012

My b/g twins are 3 now but were born @ 26 weeks, we were in the NICU for 3 1/2 months, luckily in the same hospital. The NICU rollercoaster is hard enough, what a struggle for you them being in separate hospitals. Have you tried looking for any support groups online? that really helped me out. I live in SoCal and a member of Miracle Babies - San Diego Chapter. It's a great group of women, with all different stories. It's great to be able to ask for advice, vent, ask question and even laugh! Might be something to look into. Best of luck to you and your girls!!

Jodi - posted on 01/15/2012

My girls were born at 34 wks at 4 lbs and 4 lbs 2 oz. They had a 3 week stay in the NICU, thankfully both in the same hospital.



But, I had a toddler at home and being a stay at home mom, I had to be there for her too. It was horrible to leave, I pumped like crazy and saw them when I could (which wasn't often, we only had one car, children weren't allowed in the NICU and my hubby worked 2 jobs at the time with no one available to babysit our toddler.)



I called the hospital eveyr morning to talk to the nurses to see how the girls had done over night and the previous day (I sometimes called at night too!!!). I kept a journal of what the doctor told me and how I was feeling about their stay in the NICU. I also wrote them a few letters to stick in their babybooks for them to read when they're older. My toddler and I would look at pictures of them and talk about them and how they would come home soon and what could we do for them? (She drew them pictures to hang in their room, and folded their clothes and stuff.)



It's all stuff you just have to take one day at a time. I spent a lot of time cooking meals to freeze for when they came home and cleaning their nursery and folding and re-folding clothes to make everything perfect. But for me, the calls to the hospital helped me the most and keeping the journal.



Best of luck, this is a truly hard time for you but you will get through this and soon you'll have two beautiful babies home with you and this will just be a memory. Feel free to message me if you need to talk it out or an ear to listen or questions or whatever.*HUGS*