My daughter was born February 6th, 2010 at 34 weeks 1 day. She spent 18 days in the NICU, as a result of jaundice (resolved with one day of lights) and then the big one, getting to the point where she could consume what she needed to without feeding tube. She came home, and we have not had any problems since then. She was born at 6 lbs. 1 ounce. She is now 9 lbs.
Bear with me, this is kind of complicated. I have a 20 month old daughter who attends daycare at a center. It is a wonderful place, there is a very long waiting list to get in, and even then it helps to have other connections (referrals from other parents, etc.). We love the daycare and the providers, and we trust them so completely. My preemie was supposed to start attending daycare at this center 12 weeks after my due date, around June 6th. She arrived six weeks early, but that is still the first available spot for her. We asked my employer to extend my leave until June 6th, which would allow me to stay home with her until the daycare spot opens, and they have denied this request. I have to be back at work May 3rd in order to keep my job. A job I don't want to go back to at all, who has really kicked us while we have been down through all of this, but that is another post.
So we are trying to decide what to do. The hospital did not give us guidelines about daycare, they just told us not to take her out anywhere until she is 2 months old. Our pediatrician (who is not a huge fan of daycare anyway) , said she would like us to keep her out of daycare, especially a center, until she is at least six months old as she thinks her immune system will be caught up by then. She believes that we might do ok in a center because my daughter is exclusively bf, RSV season should be over, and she had Synagis shots in Feb. and March. So she doesn't prefer that we do the center at all, but kind of thinks it would be ok if we had to.
We have been trying to find a nanny/ babysitter who would provide care for my preemie at our home from May 3rd until she would start the daycare center on June 6th. We have some possibilities, but no one that we are very excited about or comfortable with. We do not have family support at all, so no grandparents or other family will be willing or able to help with childcare. If we talked to the daycare center, they would most likely make some scheduling adjustments so that our situation could be accommodated, basically would find a way for our preemie to start in May if that is what we need or want. We really felt strongly about not putting her in daycare until June (to give her more time to build up her immune system), but as more time passes, and the more we evaluate options, we are now leaning towards considering starting her in the center in May if we can.
I am trying not to make this too long, so I would love to hear from anyone that has an opinion about what we should do. There are other options (I stay home with both girls, I stay home with only the preemie until I can find another job in a few months, etc.), but I am trying to keep this simple. My older daughter loves daycare so much, and I don't want to take her out or she will lose her spot. And we are having some serious financial issues as a result of medical bills, taxes, needed roof repair, so it is financially better for me to work. So, can I have some advice, or any experiences you have had putting your preemies in daycare, etc... ?We are totally unsure what to do. I hope I have not been rambling all over and have given you enough information to form an opinion. THANKS!
Bear with me, this is kind of complicated. I have a 20 month old daughter who attends daycare at a center. It is a wonderful place, there is a very long waiting list to get in, and even then it helps to have other connections (referrals from other parents, etc.). We love the daycare and the providers, and we trust them so completely. My preemie was supposed to start attending daycare at this center 12 weeks after my due date, around June 6th. She arrived six weeks early, but that is still the first available spot for her. We asked my employer to extend my leave until June 6th, which would allow me to stay home with her until the daycare spot opens, and they have denied this request. I have to be back at work May 3rd in order to keep my job. A job I don't want to go back to at all, who has really kicked us while we have been down through all of this, but that is another post.
So we are trying to decide what to do. The hospital did not give us guidelines about daycare, they just told us not to take her out anywhere until she is 2 months old. Our pediatrician (who is not a huge fan of daycare anyway) , said she would like us to keep her out of daycare, especially a center, until she is at least six months old as she thinks her immune system will be caught up by then. She believes that we might do ok in a center because my daughter is exclusively bf, RSV season should be over, and she had Synagis shots in Feb. and March. So she doesn't prefer that we do the center at all, but kind of thinks it would be ok if we had to.
We have been trying to find a nanny/ babysitter who would provide care for my preemie at our home from May 3rd until she would start the daycare center on June 6th. We have some possibilities, but no one that we are very excited about or comfortable with. We do not have family support at all, so no grandparents or other family will be willing or able to help with childcare. If we talked to the daycare center, they would most likely make some scheduling adjustments so that our situation could be accommodated, basically would find a way for our preemie to start in May if that is what we need or want. We really felt strongly about not putting her in daycare until June (to give her more time to build up her immune system), but as more time passes, and the more we evaluate options, we are now leaning towards considering starting her in the center in May if we can.
I am trying not to make this too long, so I would love to hear from anyone that has an opinion about what we should do. There are other options (I stay home with both girls, I stay home with only the preemie until I can find another job in a few months, etc.), but I am trying to keep this simple. My older daughter loves daycare so much, and I don't want to take her out or she will lose her spot. And we are having some serious financial issues as a result of medical bills, taxes, needed roof repair, so it is financially better for me to work. So, can I have some advice, or any experiences you have had putting your preemies in daycare, etc... ?We are totally unsure what to do. I hope I have not been rambling all over and have given you enough information to form an opinion. THANKS!
Will the center really not work with you on those 6 weeks you need? With my DCP, since we're established clients (already have 2 kids going there) we get first priority as to any needed spots. Ugh, that's a tough spot to be in.
