Bringing home a premiee, super nervous (Advice please!)

[D&J09]

A short introduction, so I can get back to the hospital - I had twin boys on 4-06-09 at 31 weeks. I had a healthy pregnancy until 28 weeks when I starting dialating (1.5cm). I was placed on bed rest and did well until on4-06-09 I had PROM with twin A. Thirty minutes later we were at the hospital I was not feeling contractios but when checked I was 4cm and within 20 mintues 6cm. Because twin B was breech and they were still so small I had an emergency c-section. They were wisked away to the nicu at 1017pm and 1019pm I didn't see them until 4am. We were blessed they were only intubated for 30minutes and on cpap for 2 days. After 10 days in the nicu we were transferred to the step down unit and after 2 weeks there twin A (Daniel is coming home tomorrow). Twin B (Jacob) will be a little longer as he is still having one heart rate drop basically everyday. They are both taking a bottle like little champs. I know things could have been worse and it could have been a longer road and I will always be greatful that it wasn't like that.

I am getting so nervous about tomorrow. Any suggestions or advice from people that have been there and done that?

Thanks.

[yogafeet]

I remember that feeling! They are so small and seemingly delicate that you're afraid that you might break them!

After a few days of having them home and making sure that they're breathing every 5 minutes you'll realize how hardy they are.

I bought the mirrors for the back of the car so I could see them from the front seat. They were worth the cost.

We coslept with both of them side by side in a sidecarred crib. It really worked well for us. When I needed to feed them I would put on my ez 2 nurse pillow and feed them at the same time.

Hmmm.... what else am I missing?

[jlovesl]

It can be a little unnerving but your mommy instincts will kick in and you will quickly see that all will be fine. If they have to come home on monitors that may be different but my little one came home with no equipment and we carried on like he was a term baby. He was born at 31 weeks. Feeding him I found was the most important thing. It didn't matter where or when, when it was that time I dropped everything. We always felt we were in a rush to put the pounds on him. But he ended up dictating all the feeds anyways. We tried to keep him on the hospital schedule but quickly learn he was having none of that. The 4th day we were home he slept for 9 hours straight!!!!! I was so worried I called the doctor and he said he'll get up when he's hungry and not to worry. Well the next day I think I was feeding him every 2 hours. So he made up for his missed meals the day before. We never found the transition from NICU to Home too bad. I think it was because we were at the hospital 20 hours a day, and did all his feeds, baths, diapers etc....Try not to worry. Besides, TWINS, you will be to busy to worry about anything anyways. HUGS and GOOD LUCK.

[karika]

Originally Posted by D&J09

They are both taking a bottle like little champs.

I am getting so nervous about tomorrow. Any suggestions or advice from people that have been there and done that?

Thanks.

Hello. I see this is your first post. congratulations on your babies coming home! I am confused about the bottle statement. Is there a medical reason you are not breastfeeding? Your breastmilk is the best thing for your babies. Perhaps you mean they are taking bottles of your pumped milk? I had a preemie myself, and they only used tube feeding when i was not there to breastfeed him to prevent nipple confusion. and it was always my milk. they gave me a hospital pump to pump for him while he was at hospital. it is common for nicu. i almost didnt write because of this statement. but then i thought maybe you just need some encouragement. get the babies on the breast for optimal health. babies are born to be breastfed. get a good newborn sling, set up safe cosleeping and hold your babies all the time...

[D&J09]

karika
"I am confused about the bottle statement. Is there a medical reason you are not breastfeeding? Your breastmilk is the best thing for your babies"

They are getting my pumped breat milk, however not very much as I am having a really hard time with production. In a good pumping session I get 1.5oz total. The past two days have been worse and I havn't gotten more than 3/4 oz total each time. I have been doing kangaroo care and the lactation consultant helped me with getting them to latch on. I am hoping once they are home and the stress from the hospital is gone my production increases. I am beginning to get frustrated with the pumping process and it's only been a month, if I was making enough it might feel better. Not ready to give up the idea of breast feeding yet so any suggestions would help. I have to add neosure to my milk when they get it anyway.

[~bookcase~]

i just kept them with me all the time and watched and listened and drank in the experience of being FINALLY with them. after a while i got over not having the monitors to listen for me.....it takes time.

we also co sleep. i had them in bed with me with bed guards. after a few weeks we got an arms reach co sleeper to extend the space.

hope all is going well for you

[~bookcase~]

cross posted with you! there are loads of threads here for milk supply issues and getting baby to the breast. if you can, read some to get general ideas, and then ask specific questions as they arise for you

[pixiekisses]

It'll be fine, really. It's so great to finally take them home, and being nervous is pretty normal. But you'll love it very soon! We co-slept and that makes it easier to feel that you know they are breathing all the time, and easier to feed. We also babywore all the time, which also makes you feel in control knowing that they are breathing. Good luck.

[musiclady]

Originally Posted by D&J09

karika
"I am confused about the bottle statement. Is there a medical reason you are not breastfeeding? Your breastmilk is the best thing for your babies"

They are getting my pumped breat milk, however not very much as I am having a really hard time with production. In a good pumping session I get 1.5oz total. The past two days have been worse and I havn't gotten more than 3/4 oz total each time. I have been doing kangaroo care and the lactation consultant helped me with getting them to latch on. I am hoping once they are home and the stress from the hospital is gone my production increases. I am beginning to get frustrated with the pumping process and it's only been a month, if I was making enough it might feel better. Not ready to give up the idea of breast feeding yet so any suggestions would help. I have to add neosure to my milk when they get it anyway.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

I'm still waiting for Lilah to be able to join us at home. I just wanted to post some encouragement about the pumping. WAY TO GO for giving her the breast milk! It's truly the best thing you can do, and every little drop helps. And you know (as unpopular as this opinion may be) even if it is supplemented, you just do the best you can, give whatever that is, and go on. DO NOT FEEL GUILTY if you don't produce as much as you are hoping. I personally barely keep ahead of my little one. I know that I was a formula baby- and I did turn out fine. So you and I can be pump buddies- just keep going with it.

I met with the LC four times. Seriously- FOUR TIMES. And still I barely get 300ml a day. I have found that I do better when I pump every 2.5 hours, even through the night and drink quite a bit of water.

Kangaroo care is awesome, and it sounds like you are doing all the right things. So take care, mama, and have heart. You're going to be fine. I'm so happy that you get to bring one of your babies home. Best of luck to you.

[Amys1st]

First congrats and hang in there! I went thru what you are talking about 3 years ago this month. We had a quiet homecoming and didnt tell anyone the day she was coming home because it does change a lot. Plus you want to keep people away the first few weeks anyhow.

And as pp, even a few drops of breastmilk makes a difference. Dont beat yourself up and just do what needs to be done. I pumped gallons and gallons since this was my second and I know a lot about breastfeeding and I STILL had to supplement w neosure.

We are all here to answer questions!

[yogafeet]

Just so you know--- when I was pumping in the NICU I wouldn't get a ton of milk either. maybe 3 oz total per pumping. we never had to supplement when we got home. i think i was pumping so little b/c they were so little, too.

[ArcticRose]

Hi, I've been reading on this board for a couple of months now without posting, but your post inspired me to register and post.

My daughter was born last December 31st at 32 1/2 weeks gestation. She was in the NICU for five weeks before we were finally able to bring her home. I was so afraid! The first couple of weeks were really hard, I won't lie to you, but I think that must be the way no matter how old the baby is when you first bring him/her home.

I tried really hard to breastfeed in the NICU, but it just wasn't happening. I finally came to the realization that I was holding her up with my stubbornness and gave in to the bottle. I was pumping, so she was getting my milk, but I still felt like a failure.

Once we got home she still refused to breastfeed. After about ten days I had a long talk with my midwife, she suggested I take a day and not give her a bottle (she was past her due date by now and going a few extra hours without eating wasn't going to hurt her) I gave it a shot. It was frustrating for both of us and her latch was terrible at first ( leading to a lot of pain for me) but over the next several days we both got the hang of it. I stopped using the breastpump that day and haven't needed it since! (I really hated that thing!)

I can honestly tell you that in no time at all your fears will dissipate and you will get to concentrate on just being a mom.. no wires or tubes or beeping! My daughter is now 4 1/2 months old and the NICU is just a bad memory.

Congratulations! You have two beautiful (I'm sure) baby boys and you are very close to a time when you will get to enjoy them at home!

[sbrinton]

We had a little boy at 31 weeks last November. I remember being really anxoius the first few days with him at home. Even though he was our third baby - and our second preemie - he was still so little! We slept with him either in a co-sleeper or cuddled in our bed. It was so lovely to have him with me all night in my own home after being with him for a month in the hospital. After a few days, we relaxed. At first it made me nervous to not have him on monitors anymore, but he's done fine. He's a happy, healthy 6 month old now.

[AppleCrisp]

I really needed my daughter close to me, so the sleeping arrangements were important...I didn't want her in a crib in another room. I ended up buying a bassinet with wheels since she has to be flat all the time (can't be in a bouncy seat, swing or carseat because she is too tiny).

Also, someone bought us a video baby monitor, which has been a life saver - I never thought I'd want one but it has made me much more secure.

Things were soooo much easier at home, really - no artificial feeding schedules, total privacy, etc. The only problems we've really had are the usual baby problems unrelated to her being premature - like being up all night and lots of laundry! You might be surprised.

[Sandstress]

I didn't get any sleep the night before DD came home- mistake! We were up all night cleaning. I wish I had been rested.

I followed a schedule for a couple days and gradually deviated from it- as far as sleeping, feeding, etc.

DD was REALLY SLEEPY for about 3 days and then "woke up." I"m told that happens to NICU babies who come home- the lack of noise and light and the stress of the ride home maybe?

As for feeding- do what you need to do. I never got DD to nurse and ended up EPing for 16 months. I wish for convenience sake that she had nursed, but I ended up feeding her how _she_ wanted to be fed. Nipple preference is very hard to overcome for some. Once you get them home, maybe nursing will become easier, or maybe you can get some help in your home.

I have to add- I think this statement was a little uncalled for- the is the NICU parenting forum and NICU moms don't need any more pressure to keep doing what they're already trying to do.

i almost didnt write because of this statement. but then i thought maybe you just need some encouragement. get the babies on the breast for optimal health. babies are born to be breastfed.