Preemie/NICU sub-forum or sticky? - Page 2

[eclipse]

i think this would be a great forum to have. my guy was early enough to be "preterm" but mature enough to avoid a NICU stay and able to go home after only one night. still, we're dealing with lingering preemie type issues, currently including RSV (which, thank some one, we have been able to handle without a hospital stay) which has me worrying about things like asthma later on. it would be nice to have a place to go to have everything organized and in one place.

[5xmom]

I'm asking for this too - my preemie just came home from 10 long weeks in the nicu. I would love the support of other preemie Moms and still be able to stay at MDC!

[mimid]

[wende]

More begging and a little

[crissei]

:


yes,yes please!

[eclipse]

just bumping this up, and showing another example of the type of question that would be on this forum. this one from me, re: solids and the former preterm baby
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...07#post4677707

[sweetpeasmom]

another example and extremely important issue for NICU moms
http://mothering.com/discussions/sho...d.php?t=413204

[Happypants]

i have to say that after my preemie was born 10 days ago, i was really surprised when i realized that mdc doesn't have a forum for support of preemie parents. it's hard to imagine a group that needs the support of others who have btdt more than us, especially if we don't want to go along with everything the hospital does automatically.

the long thread has been helpful to me, but i have a lot of questions for other moms and nowhere specific to ask them.

so, another vote for a sub-forum. thanks!

[Danielle283]

My dd (Full term but infected with GBS) was in the NICU for 2 weeks, then level 2 for another 2 weeks. I looked everywhere on the internet for some kind of message boards about babies in the NICU and found nothing. I think a forum thats easy to find would be a great idea!

[CarenSwan]

Just here for a friendly and to anyone in the NICU right now!

[CarenSwan]

It's me again, just back on my little soap box. This thread is just another reason why it would be great to have a preemie subforum: http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=429999

[mfp02]

I vote for this as well - I've had two little ones in the NICU before. So I'd love to see this and be a support to others in need.

[babycarrier]

it was a while before i realized there was a thread for nicu. when i was in the hospital with my ds, i had a few moments to jump online and it would have been a wonderful resource if someone would have said, hey check out the nicu forum/sticky.
we weren't preemie, so i would never have thought to look at a parenting forum.
I think just as the loss forum needs to exist on its own, as does the nicu issue.
a concise place to find info and support when many are pushing non-ap and less than natural measures upon you. it was a time that shook me to the core and challenged my ap instincts, a time i often turn to this amazing community to back up my beliefs with info.
i know my post rambles. i'm tired. i've been up for 3 days now watching my lil guy sleep as his breathing seems difficult due to a cold. This is something i would like to be able to post about in the nicu forum. my head knows he is ok, my heart is still healing from the trauma of the nicu.
thanks for your consideration of this topic.

[Jennifer-Juniper]

I agree with the sub-forum request. It took me forever to find the thread because at first I looked for it in all the sub-forums and assumed if it wasn't then there there wasn't one. Then, by the time I found it, I felt almost as if I didn't "need" it any more. It would be great for it to be as easy to find as some other topics that already have sub-forums, but honestly, aren't as literally "life or death."

[crissei]

Originally Posted by Jennifer-Juniper

I agree with the sub-forum request. It took me forever to find the thread because at first I looked for it in all the sub-forums and assumed if it wasn't then there there wasn't one. Then, by the time I found it, I felt almost as if I didn't "need" it any more. It would be great for it to be as easy to find as some other topics that already have sub-forums, but honestly, aren't as literally "life or death."

I agree.
Preemie/Nicu parents need a more accesible venue on this site. I became a member here while I was pregnant but, when my son was born I couldn't find the information I needed until it was too late. I had to make uninformed (NFL-wise) decisions during the most stressful time in my life. It would have been so wonderful to have came here and found information/support about breastfeeding/vaxing specific to premature birth.

[redwolf2]

I agree. My twins were in the NICU for 2 weeks. Originally in for feeding problems. (6 weeks early) But contracted an infection while there. Spinal taps and all, very scary. Luckily I have had a previous child and BF before. I was well informed of my rights and knew how to keep my supply and make sure they were getting MY milk.
I would love to help others in this scary situation and it would be helpful to have the subforum readily available

[redwolf2]

YES onthe preemie forum too. I still have questions about development of preemies and when they should do certain things etc. It would be very helpful.

[liberal_chick]

Just bumping again and wondering if any decision has been made about this?

M.

[mimid]

Just another bump!

[boscopup]

I too would love to see a preemie/NICU sub-forum - maybe that covers both issues? For preemies, there are things that need to be discussed both before the baby comes and after, and then there's the NICU time and the going-home time and the general development of a preemie. There is so much to talk about. When I first came to MDC, I kept hearing about a NICU support thread, but had no clue where it was. I couldn't find it! And then when I found it, I couldn't possibly read the whole thing. I think more preemie/NICU mamas will post and get good discussions about how to handle preemie/NICU situations in an NFL way if we had a subforum.

Some examples of things I had to struggle with... I'd previously decided not to vaccinate, but now I had a baby with immature lungs and getting something like pertussis would be more dangerous for him... and then there are the RSV antibody shots that are offered to preemies of a certain age and babies who had certain problems (my 29 weeker was offered the shots)... Those were decisions that had to be made in a certain context where talking to moms of full term, healthy babies wasn't going to help much. I needed to talk to other preemie moms. Another issue is vaginal vs. C-section birth... alot of doctors seem to pressure moms into C-section. Topics like these need to be discussed in proper context, and posting in the regular forums like vaccination or birth & beyond are likely to get alot of full term moms saying what they believe for full term babies without considering the situation of a preemie and how that's vastly different. It'd be so much easier to have one place to go for preemie/NICU needs.