Need advice for a friend PLEASE URGENT

[witchygrrl]

A close friend of mine gave birth on Monday to a healthy baby boy in a hospital, and right before they were to be discharged, they found that he was actually suffering from a bacterial infection. He had been panting a bit, but it wasn't consistent. So they were transferred to another hospital with a special care nursery.  The problem is now that they are not allowed to hold him or nurse him! She has to pump. I think this is absurd, but is there any reason why this would be the case?  When my daughter was diagnosed with sepsis, and was in a special care nursery, I was able to hold her as much as I wanted, so long as I kept her IV and monitor on.  Baby is 9.5 lbs, by the way...a big boy.

My friend is beside herself. Please help!

[coyotemist]

It sounds like there may be more going on than they are explaining or she understands.  Does the baby have meningitis?  Is the baby on bubble CPAP?

Prayers for a fast recovery, it's very very hard to be a new mama with a sick baby.  I was there just over 2 years ago, and at times I still feel traumatized by all that happened.  And my little guy wasn't even that sick!

[Phoenix~Mama]

I agree with PP... it seems that there may be more going on?  Is the baby on any special equipment that prevents them from being moved?  I have seen some babies that are really sick in the NICU that can't be taken out of their isolette.  When my DS was on a ventilator he could not be picked up at all either.  Prayers to her baby.  It's really tough going through it.

[MeepyCat]

I agree that it really sounds like it depends what kind of breathing support he needs.  In particular, if he's on a vent, or if he's not breathing room air, he does need to be in the isolette.

This is so hard - the NICU is such a frightening place to be.  Best wishes to your friend, for her baby's smooth and speedy recovery.

[witchygrrl]

Thanks all. he was not on any special breathing apparatus, and he is doing better from the antibiotics. He was cleared for meningitis, so I'm guessing it's sepsis. The concern was that because he was breathing so fast, and getting too worked up to eat, that he'd aspirate the food. It seems reasonable, but still horrible that they would encourage a mother NOT to hold her baby.

[coyotemist]

I also couldn't hold my 2 year old at first when he was born.  Any stimulation caused him to increase his breathing rate (it was over 70 at that point).  This is common with many babies who are sick, stimulation puts more stress on them than they can handle.  As they get better they do better.  I remember when Charlie's breathing rate was finally calming down and I finally got to kangaroo care him.  I was so happy!

[lac2]

My son was in the NICU for 9 month and was septic.  He required intense ventilation which required me not to be able to hold him for a month (maybe more, its all a blurr).

It was the worse thing I had to go through. The reason we couldn't hold him was because he was so sick it caused him more stress and because he was intubated it could lead exttubation which then would require reintubation again. Never a good thing.

I'm so glad to hear your friends son is doing well!

Hope he was home to enjoy the holidays!

Linda

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