Fletcher’s NICU Story
The NICU was our home away from home, a refuge where our family’s babies gain weight and learn to eat since they didn’t bake long enough in Mama’s tummy to be programmed with that knowledge naturally.
Someday the kids might ask me what it was like, or what goes on behind those doors they were only allowed to cross if we were lucky enough to be past flu season and if they were old enough. Here’s a bit of what went on when you were a baby!
Cutest Thing on Wires
Machines beeped constantly monitoring your vitals. That scar on your nose was from the feeding tube that delivered your nutrition when we didn’t quite breastfeed enough and you didn’t know what to do with a bottle.
More often than I thought I could bear, the nurses and doctors told me your tiny and fragile veins were burst and they needed to stick you, my tiny preemie, with another IV. I walked in one day distraught that you had a needle coming out of your head—they assured me it was neither painful nor uncomfortable. And when that vein gave up, too, they had to run a central catheter through your little body to give you life-sustaining fluids and medication. They asked me to sign those PICC line papers because there was a chance that if they missed, they could hit your heart or worse. I cried when they said their first attempt at the operation didn’t take, and you had to undergo it again as soon as you were rested a little. My strong little baby, you underwent that PICC line several times.
Isolette
This little contraption was called an “isolette”, and it was meant to mimic where you lived in Mama’s womb. Inside was temperature regulated so that you stayed warm, and somewhat insulated so that the noise level allowed you to sleep. It gave you a safe place to grow during your stay. Mama could change your diaper through the little port holes, and steal a moment holding your hand before she had to leave you for the night.
All About Weight
Your weight was an indicator that you were eating well, and often! We celebrated every ounce you gained that it meant you were closer to coming home. Mama was there for at least 3 of your 8 feedings of the day so that you wouldn’t forget how to breastfeed.
Even Daddy helped with feeding! A specialist came to teach him exactly how to teach you to bottle feed, We learned how to tell if you were interested in eating, how to stimulate your little mouth first with a pacifier so you would know what to do with the bottle, and how to hold the bottle properly so you wouldn’t choke.
All the milk Mama made, pumped, and stored for you eventually made its way to your own little refrigerator. This eraser board on the front of your fridge told Mama how much weight you were gaining and how she could help you that day. You had a tight schedule, and could only have visitors to take you out (including Daddy and Mommy) during feeding.
This was where Mama spent her days with the curtains pulled for privacy. It was easier for Mama to pump at your side where she could see, smell, and hold you. She propped herself up with a couple of pillows, hoping to snuggle with you.
Primary Care Nurses
These angel nurses took care of you when Mama and Daddy couldn’t be at the hospital. They chose you to take care of every day during their long shifts, and they got to know your little personality well. Anytime you showed signs of progressing, they jumped on it and believed you could do it! They called Mama to come when they saw you needed her. You breastfed super early and left the NICU sooner than everyone thought thanks to their encouragement, guidance, and expertise. We will love them always!
Skin-to-Skin
My favorite moments here were holding you skin-to-skin covered in your little baby blankets after you fell asleep breastfeeding. The nurses told me that they knew you were happy, since your heart rate and oxygen levels were always the best when we held you this way. Even Daddy tried it after the nurses told him he should!
Bath Time
Twice a week, I left the hospital with this image of your perfectly satisfied face after we gave you a bath. It was your favorite thing ever—“swaddled bathing“. I think you enjoyed the relief from being free of some of your wires, or at least having them changed out for fresh new ones. We wrapped you in a snuggly blanket, and put supporting blankets in your tub so that you were always warm and comfortable. Your head was last to be bathed with water, and by that time your eyelids always grew heavy like you were falling asleep. Daddy and I even caught you purring during your bath!
Crib
When you were stable enough and were getting used to feeding, you graduated from the isolette to a crib! It was tiny compared to what Mama thought a crib would be, but it had some great drawers for easy access to all of your stuff when doing “cares” including changing your diaper, taking your temperature at your armpit, and switching the monitor on your foot to the other foot. The nurses often clipped your blanket partially over the top of your crib to help give you some snooze time. You liked the closure!
Going Home
Sitting upright in a car seat is pretty stressful for a preemie, so they had to make sure you were ready for it. They watched that your heart rate and oxygen level stayed stable while in your car seat before we took you home in it.
Daddy and Mommy took required classes from the hospital that helped us understand your needs as a preemie and how to help you at every developmental milestone. We learned what to expect in caring for you, and had to pass tests on giving CPR and working with your equipment and monitors.
On your last night, Daddy and Mommy stayed overnight in a special room at the hospital where we took care of you all on our own. The hospital wanted to make sure we could take care of you with all of your extra equipment like your oxygen tank. You slept in a little crib next to our bed, and we performed your cares just like we always had every 2-3 hours.
Here you are the morning that we passed our overnight test! We were waiting for Daddy to pull up in the car outside, and I was admiring you in your cute little outfit that your primary care nurse gave to you that you were starting to fill out a bit! The intimidating oxygen tank and plethora of wires was still there, but you were all mine. Perfect.
The End.
