Nervous

[Phoenix~Mama]

Ack! I'm so on edge!!! I just called to check in with the NICU to find out if DS took the rest of his feeds. He made his 48 hours!!!! But again the nurse noted how pokey he was with his feeds and how the last one took him 45 minutes with a lot of encouragement.

So now I'm a nervous wreck wondering if this is going to delay his homecoming today?

Would a NICU keep a baby for being a pokey eater?

And now I'm scared to death... what if I do bring him home today and he doesn't eat for me? We still don't have nursing down, so I forsee a lot of bottles at first. What happens if he doesn't eat?

I'm wondering what preemies are like when you finally get them home? What is that first day like? If you had a so/so eater? Did they pick up once they became comfortable in their new home? If you had been unsuccessful with BF in the NICU, did it get picked up at home?

[LeytonsMom10]

How exciting to be this close to going home, yet scary with all the unknowns. I asked my NICU nurse last night about feeds as we just started bottle feeding. She was telling me that they give babies 30 min to eat their feed and an min amount that has to be consumed. If they are working at it and have a little left at the 30 min mark they will work with the baby to go over but if baby shows no interest and there is alot left they will stop and document that. She said they look at it overall so if he took over the min at one feed and less the next then they would take that into account. But if he was taking less than min for a couple of feeds in a row then they start back over. Im not sure how life is at home, since we are still in the NICU but I would assume even if you had a good eater that there would be time to adjust. Im sure the home environment will be more calming than the NICU and you will be able read your babys cues and know what he wants when he wants it. Don't be scared to let your mamma skills come out!

GOOD LUCK today!!!! Keep us updated. I hope you can take your LO home.

[Phoenix~Mama]

That is true about Mama skills. So weird what the NICU makes you second guess. I'm going to try to not overthink the feeding thing, and do what I did with DD, and the LC told me to just make sure he eats at least 8 times in a 24 hour period and of course track the 6-8 wet diapers and one dirty per day. He will be getting weight checks at the peditrician too.


OMG!!! Doctor just called!!! She said he looks good and can come home today!!! So glad his "pokey" eating didn't hold him back!!!

OMG!!! I'm going to be able to sleep tonight with a baby on my chest!!!!!

*happy tears*

I have to admit I'm still hesitant and scared because I know anything can change in a couple hours time. I don't think I will do the very happy dance until he is safely home and him and I are snuggled up on the recliner with no wires and stuff. OMG I'm a billion emotions right now and keep going from crying to smiling. lol

[BookGoddess]

I'm glad to hear the good news. I hope things continue to go well.

[ShanaV]

CONGRATS!! Enjoy your baby!!

[justKate]

I always think of that going home day as the best day of my life. It's the day my daughter became MINE.

I'm so happy for you!

[mama2soren]

Congratulations! The nerves are normal You will be the perfect mama for him.

I was nervous about feeds at first, too. There were some rough days when it didn't seem like DS was eating as easily as he should. But, it helped to remember that even full term babies have rough first days too. We made it through the nursing struggles, and are still nursing at 2.5! Hang in there as you get nursing going smoothly. And have fun giving all those nighttime cuddles!

[justKate]

Just wanted to add that my DD didn't even latch during the 3 weeks she was in the NICU, but as soon as we got home, she was ON IT. So try not to stress. I hope things are going great for you.

[Phoenix~Mama]

We are home and I LOVE that I can snuggle DS anytime I want now.

Feeding is going okay. Nursing, not so much. He doesn't seem able to suck strong enough to get much milk. Wondering how long it usually takes for that to get better? Closer to his term age?

[MamaFern]

Originally Posted by Phoenix~Mama

We are home and I LOVE that I can snuggle DS anytime I want now.

Feeding is going okay. Nursing, not so much. He doesn't seem able to suck strong enough to get much milk. Wondering how long it usually takes for that to get better? Closer to his term age?

peeking in from the nov ddc (we miss you!)
im So happy to hear your little guy is home with you. i have never had a preemie, but my instinct is to put him to the breast as much as possible, even if he isnt sucking hard or much. of course feed him however you normally would as well because you want him growing but dont get too discouraged. he needs that close mama time and he will get stronger and even a bit of mama milk is so So much better than none.

[CorasMama]

Can you get, or do you have, an SNS?

[aikigypsy]

Also, are you using a nipple shield? It helped my guy learn to latch on, and he's now nursing without it. We transitioned off it between 42-43 weeks, I think.