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River is in the NICU  

post #1 of 21
4/8/08 at 2:05am
Thread Starter 
Well my babe was born 3/28 and today she ended up in the NICU for jaundice...which I guess is unusual since she is 10 days old. I noticed she got more yellow and tired yesterday and today found out her billirubin is 27 and her hemoglobin is very high. One doctor told me it was because we left the cord attached too long : She is the same doctor that gave my baby FORMULA without my permission. I also had a nurse give me a dirty look for saying I don't put my baby down so she will fuss a lot at first in the box. Other then those two though, everyone else here is really great and my doula came and sat with me for a while. I hate having to pump and bottle feed though...it makes me cry thinking I haven't been able to hold her for hours now or have her breast feed.
Anyway, just wanted to vent a little about the dumb nurse and doctor. Wish us luck that we'll get out of here soon!

Ally
post #2 of 21
4/8/08 at 2:13am
((hugs)) I am so sorry that River is in the ICU. Sending healing thoughts your way for a quick recovery and return home. Good for you for pumping your breastmilk so she can continue to have that! Hang in there mama.
post #3 of 21
4/8/08 at 8:17am
post #4 of 21
4/8/08 at 9:45am
oh ally!! i'm glad your babe is doing okay, despite being in the icu.... i'm so sorry that you are stuck in there right now, but you are doing all of the right things and will be out soon. and, that nurse who gives you dirty looks, forget her!! you know you are mothering your daughter the way you should be, she can roll her eyess all she wants, your're doing the right thing!

hang in there, we're all pulling for you.

trin.
post #5 of 21
4/8/08 at 10:11am
Thread Starter 
Thanks everyone. I am hoping that nurse doesn't come back today because I will have to tell her to stay away from me and my baby and I'm not sure how well that will go over here! I just don't want people like that around me. She has a right to her opinions but she should keep them to herself. She also made me feel bad because over and over again she kept telling people "this is the most orange baby I've ever seen!!" How is that suppose to make a new mom feel that a NICU nurse has never seen jaundice this bad?? I'm tempted to report her to someone but I don't have the energy.

Ally
post #6 of 21
4/8/08 at 10:16am
Pixie...I am a RN, and I would report her to the Unit Manager. It is vital especially in a NICU environment that compassion and empathy be a part of who a nurse is, and that is unacceptable to me that she is making comments like that. I would just ask the unit secrataty who the Unit Manager is and either write her a quite note expressing your concerns, call her, or even just stop in her office. The NICU is a very sensitive place and if she is treating you that way, just think of how she treats others.
Alicia
post #7 of 21
4/8/08 at 10:53am
hugs!

i hope she heals quickly!!!
post #8 of 21
4/8/08 at 12:01pm
post #9 of 21
4/8/08 at 12:30pm
Best wishes to you both!

One option for dealing with the nurse might be to give her another chance but to say "That isn't helpful" if she repeats her comments or has other commentary that doesn't relate to River's care or the support you need and deserve as a parent. Hang in there!
post #10 of 21
4/8/08 at 12:51pm
hugs..report her
post #11 of 21
4/8/08 at 1:11pm
post #12 of 21
4/8/08 at 1:26pm
big hug to you! hope you come home soon!
post #13 of 21
4/8/08 at 8:09pm
I'm sorry your baby is in the NICU! I hope she comes home soon.

We had great NICU nurses, so I can't relate there - I hope you get your share of awesome ones . . . but just make sure you take care of yourself too, in between all that pumping and visiting. One thing I recommend - and it's a small thing, but small things can help you feel better when you're dealing with big, awful things - is to keep lotion on your hands. Between all the handwashing at the NICU and washing pump parts, they can crack and bleed. And you want to stay well so that you can mommy your baby the best you can!

Also, even if they don't let you take her out from under the bili lights, you should be able to stick your hands in the portholes and hold her head and feet, sort of making your hands into a cozy nest for her. She'll know you're there!

Hope your baby comes home soon.
post #14 of 21
4/9/08 at 1:30am
I'm sorry to hear that River is in NICU. I hope he improves quickly. Can't the doc let you nurse him? Seems like lots of nursing time could only help, but I am certainly no expert on jaundice. I just hope you are in a breastfeeding freindly place.
post #15 of 21
4/9/08 at 10:23am
SO sorry to hear about the NICU placement. I know how hard it is not to be able to hold and feed your baby, and it must be worse with unsupportive staff. From what I hear, even late jaundice doesn't often warrant a long NICU stay, so I hope it's at least over soon if not already, and your little one is in your arms soon. ((big hugs)).
post #16 of 21
4/9/08 at 6:05pm
I hope the bili lights do the trick fast so you can both get out of there! And I hope they let her take some breaks from the lights so you can have some nursing/cuddle time.
And pbbbbbbt to the mean nurse.
post #17 of 21
4/9/08 at 6:31pm


hope River is outta there soon! keep us posted...
post #18 of 21
4/9/08 at 10:14pm
That must be really difficult. Hang in there!
post #19 of 21
4/10/08 at 1:12pm
I hope this is all behind you soon!
post #20 of 21
4/10/08 at 3:15pm
I hope you guys are home soon.
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