Preemie/NICU sub-forum or sticky?

[CarenSwan]

The preemie/NICU support thread gets lost in B&B, partly because it doesn't get a ton of traffic. I would like to propose, however, that it get some kind of designation to make it easier to find. I think it would get much more use if it were more obvious. I was on MDC for a long time before I knew that it existed, and especially at the beginning when I was still raw from the traumatic birth, I could have used that support.

[liberal_chick]

I think this is a great idea. I had no idea the thread existed until many months after my ds was born.

M.

[crysmomofthree]

I agree with the pp, I have had two preemie babies since joining this board and I had no clue that it was there, I could have really used some emotional support with my babies :thumb

[CherryBomb]

Great idea!

[jo11]

great idea! :thumb I also had a premie and the support would have been great during that difficult time. It would also make it easier for those of us with previous premie experience notice the premie threads while "browsing" MDC- because although this is not a topic I might search out anymore (my ex premie is now 3) I could offer up hope and encouragement for those who are going through a premature birth.

[Cynthia Mosher]

I think traumatic birth is a separate subject from preemies and probably best in Birth and Beyond.

Preemies, however, might fit nicely in Special Needds Parenting and not get lost in the crowd. :thumb

[kondonis]

I too would love to see a sub forum specifically for preemies. Having a preemie covers a wide wide spectrum of issues that don't necessarily fit in "special needs" parenting (some preemies are just fine) which would also cover birth issues, getting pregnant again, development, vaccinations, circumcison, family issues, insurance issues, etc. If we had this, we could create stickies on common medical issues, such as NEC, RDS/CLD, RSV, IVH, ROP, Early Intevention, etc.

I find that the preemie thread is unbearable to get through- it is extrememly long nad so many people are talking about many different subjects it is extremley difficult to navigate.

many other boards have this as a separate forum and it works out very well for navigation, support, and information. MDC would have the leg up in the stickies and IMHO, make it all the better site for parents of preemies.

thank you for your consideration here - :Peace
Stella

[jkpmomtoboys]

I would ditto the request for a sub-forum, rather than a very long thread. As the mom of an older (5 1/2 yo) preemie, I would love to be a resource for moms just going through the preemie thing with their babies now, but don't think I have the time or patience to wade through a long thread.

As someone said, there are so many issues that go along with having a preemie, that a sub-forum would enable moms to find the help and assurance they need quickly.

[kondonis]

cynthia can we have this please?

thank you!

stella

[ozzyemm]

My baby was in NICU for a week. I got support from my DDC, but it would have been helpful to have a forum dedicated to this situation. There was alot of stuff that went on (Michael was given an IV without my permission, the nurse and doctor badgered me to give formula without due cause, he was given antibiotics also without our consent, and he wasn't sick) that we could have avoided if we had known better. I know my experience isn't unique, and I think other mamas could have given us support and information while our son was in NICU.

BTW-- he wasn't premature, just placed in nursery as policy because he was c/s. A routine test found he had elevated white blood cell count, which escalated into him being in NICU for 7 days of antibiotics.

[mimid]

This would be great for me as I'm expecting preemies and possible NICUers this spring/summer. I would love to be able to get advice from others.

[erika h]

Having a preemie covers a wide wide spectrum of issues that don't necessarily fit in "special needs" parenting (some preemies are just fine)I agree - a separate forum for preemies would be wonderful.

[kkiolbassa]

My daughter was born at the end of Nov. She was a 35 week preemie and spent 10 days in the nicu/special care nursery. It would have been a great have a support forum here at that time. I hope we can have this.

[kondonis]

please :heartbeat please :heartbeat please :heartbeat please :heartbeat please can we have our own sub-thread?

[wende]

Yes please! It is so hard sometimes. My youngest 2 were preemies and while they were both very healthy (one was a 31weeker, the other a 32 weeker and I'm tandem nursing them both thankyouverymuch despite being told they wouldn't nurse) and wouldn't fit into a "special needs" catagory there are just some things that others don't understand. It's so hard to explain my feelings to those in my ddc who are talking about their full term, 8mo, babies pulling themselves up while my baby, who's going to be a year old next month, just started crawling today. Logically, I know that she is perfectly within a "normal" range for her adjusted age but people are still inclined to think "why is that 10mo not crawling?"

I don't even go to the preemie thread because it's so hard to weed through. My kids are not special needs. They are perfectly normal and healthy. They have no problems other than my constant need to explain "he/she was 2 months early so he/she is really only....whatever age". Having a sub-forum to vent about these things, to brag about the things that some other moms won't understand, to offer encouragement, etc would be wonderful!

/begging

[sweetpeasmom]

yeah i'd agree with other pp's that my preemie is not special needs. She's fine, she may have some minor issues associated with prematurity but it's not really speical needs, she'll grow out of it in itme. There's so much pertaining to having a baby in the NICU, especially those babies in there for a long term and it's very helpful to have support of moms who have btdt during that time. One long thread does get a bit overwhelming.

[mykdsmomy]

Kondonis, I have an ex 26 week preemie who's name is William too :)

I think the preemie subforum is an excellent idea.....it's such a need when you are going through a nicu experience......

[crysmomofthree]

This sub forum would really help promote what mothering stands for. It is really hard when your baby is hospitalized and all the nicu staff and drs don't understand that you want your baby to be healthy but also get all the benefits of natural family living, such as touch (kangarou care) breastmilk etc. It seems that most of the time the only babies who's parents are well informed of the benefits of natural family living get that type of care. In my experience it goes against the grain of a lot of the nurses and drs. There is a lot of push to get baby drinking from a bottle because generally its faster and easier which means baby leaves the nursery sooner. While it might take an extra couple days (which is forever when your baby is in there) the benefits to mom and baby are enormous if they are encouraged to breastfeed from the get go, as soon as baby is able.

Without a sub forum or dedicated area, a lot of parents of preemies don't even know that they can make the decisions for their own baby (re feeding and touch) It would be so helpful to have other parents with the same priorities as you give you hints and suggestions as to how to talk with the drs and nurses and get your families needs across

[kkiolbassa]

This sub forum would really help promote what mothering stands for. It is really hard when your baby is hospitalized and all the nicu staff and drs don't understand that you want your baby to be healthy but also get all the benefits of natural family living, such as touch (kangarou care) breastmilk etc. It seems that most of the time the only babies who's parents are well informed of the benefits of natural family living get that type of care. In my experience it goes against the grain of a lot of the nurses and drs. There is a lot of push to get baby drinking from a bottle because generally its faster and easier which means baby leaves the nursery sooner. While it might take an extra couple days (which is forever when your baby is in there) the benefits to mom and baby are enormous if they are encouraged to breastfeed from the get go, as soon as baby is able.

Without a sub forum or dedicated area, a lot of parents of preemies don't even know that they can make the decisions for their own baby (re feeding and touch) It would be so helpful to have other parents with the same priorities as you give you hints and suggestions as to how to talk with the drs and nurses and get your families needs across

This is very true. Also, I think a subforum (maybe under parenting issues) would be better than a thread because if would make it easier to find what you're looking for. When my daughter was in the nicu, I didn't have a lot of extra time - between caring for my other kids, pumping and running back and forth to the hospital.

editing to add, my daughter is not special needs, but there are still things related to her being a preemie that I worry about.

[Treasuremapper]

My dd was not in the NICU, but she was hospitalized when she was 8 days old and had to have major emergency surgery. They would not let her in the NICU because of the risk of infection to the newborns who had not been released from the hospital. The hospital staff varied -- while some were totally resistant to breastmilk, others went out of their way to help me.

Even though she was full term, information about newborns in the hospital and after discharge would have been incredibly valuable to me. I did not have the support that NICU mothers seem to have with each other, because she was excluded from NICU and had to figure everything out myself with nursing staff that had almost no experience with newborns.

So -- can those of us with my dd's situation somehow be a part of this forum? It sounds like a brilliant idea.

Even a babies in the hospital forum might be helpful. There really are some unique issues -- whether the mama can sleep in bed with the baby (mine allowed it and even pushed it) how nursing during IV insertions and heel sticks reduces the pain, how to push for breastmilk, machines to use after discharge, how to keep up one's supply with little or no support, how to care for toddlers at the same time, how to weigh diapers when using cloth, and on and on. It would be great if it were easy to find such information, because in our situation it was a horrible unexpected crisis and we didn't have any time to search.

[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]

:bump:

[wende]

More begging and a little :bump:

[crissei]

:yeah:


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/showthread.php?p=4677707#post4677707

[sweetpeasmom]

another example and extremely important issue for NICU moms
http://mothering.com/discussions/showthread.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 :bump: and :hug 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/showthread.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. :)

[farmlife]

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]

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. :thumb

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. :)

[Amys1st]

amen to what Vera said.

My child is a 25 weeker and had a special issue - she was early. She has no special needs and is a nursing champ.

That said I have received numerous pms over the past few months w qustions from other mamas here at MDC who asked me info about my experience w the nicu, treatments, bfeeding, pumping, support etc. I even volunteer to mod it if neccsary.

[Lousli]

I agree a subforum would be helpful. Although I've noticed the pregnancy resources forum has gotten some visits, most of the women who are currently pregnant don't seem to go to this area to look for advice, they turn to their own due date club or the general I'm Pregnant forum. I have found myself cruising the ddc's for people who are 1-3 months away from delivering looking for women who might need advice about PTL. Sometimes people try to give helpful advice, but it is different to hear from other moms who have BTDT. And I'd love to be able to keep up with other preemie moms now that my daughter is older with questions about development, growth, etc.

[sehbub]

Yes on the need for a forum!

My DD was 10 weeks early and only spent 27 days in the hospital, but we're still not nursing and I could use all the support I can get. Plus, it would be nice to have a place to ask BTDT mamas about what to expect down the line!

[Dena]

I am adding my support for a couple of sub-forums. Like a couple of other moms here, my dd was full term, but still spent three weeks in the NICU due to severe meconium aspiration, and it has taken me until now to even find a few other moms who were in my situation, because there just weren't forums out there for us. The birth loss/trauma forums are often not a good fit because we do have babies who are alive, and oftentimes the trauma happened after the birth.

The preemie/NICU thread is a great start, but it is a lot of information crammed into one thread that I think would be better addressed if spaced out. I think both a NICU survivor forum and a parents of preemies forum would be useful to help "organize" the mamas posts so we could all find the support/info we need in a more accessible manner.

[Dena]

I just wanted to add,

As those of us who have had full term babies in hospital/NICU appear to be in the vast minority here, if any of you other moms who are in our boat want to pm or email me, maybe we could start our own little support group? I think there are only three or four of us, from what I gathered reading this thread, so maybe that would not be enough for a separate NICU forum.

Also, Cynthia's post appeared to assume that NICU issues included birth trauma, and I just wanted to stress, from having spent time lurking on birth trauma boards, that this is not necessarily so. Many of those women had horrible experiences during the birth, but babies that were born healthy, whereas we are in almost the opposite situation.

[MamaPam]

I would also love to see a NICU or Preemie subforum. There are so many issues that are unique to those of us with preemies or NICU stays. Both of my girls were premature and it is likely that any other children we have will be also. It would be great to have a section here on the Mothering forum to talk with other mamas who are not only going through the same struggles but from a natural family living perspective and not just let the doctors do whatever to your child.

Pam

[ErinEmily]

I would like to add my voice to the crowd. It would be great to have a sub forum for Prem and NICU/ hospitalized babies in Parenting. I also agree that it doesn't really belong in Special Needs. I would never have found it there. I hope we can get this soon so that it is easy to find. As others have mentioned there are so many issues that are similar to term baby issues but that are totally different because your baby is early, small, sick or all three.

[Diane~Alena]

I think this idea Rocks! I have had 7 preemies 4 of them lived to come home and we deal with preemie issues even now years later. It would be so nice to talk to other AP about the issues of NICU's or SpecialCareNurseries's as we call them up here. The long term effects of being born premature and how it effects vacinations and other health issues.

I tried the special needs parenting and found I didn't fit in there. My children aren't special needs enough they just had a rough start. The special care nursury was so tough as a natural parent. I knew my daughter needed to be close to me to sleep and saw that her heart calmed and she had no A's and B's when in skin to skin hold with me but the staff fought me, I was also not allowed to read her charts or be involved in her care beyond diaper change and nursing. It is a kind of issue no one can understand but other NICU moms. I went home nights empty handed and in fear that she would die while I was away from her at home, I didn't feel like she was realy mine when I was there and pumping was horrible I just wanted to hold and nurse my baby but couldn't. I wanted to be with her 24/7 but I felt I had to be supporting to my older kids also because they feared they would lose another sibling I was so torn.

[Amys1st]

I agree what is said I would never have found this is
special issues, Loss etc. I started my own threads in my ddc since a couple of us had this same issue and others from other ddcs wandered over.

I think a Premature birth forum would be great with sub forums:
Life in the NICU/Special Care Nursery
a sticky for what all those abbravitiations mean- you know, PDA, IVH, BPD, stage this stage that, this many ccs, As & Bs, I could go on and on..
Taking Baby home
Life w a former nicu now a tot
discuss Early Intervention, delays etc
Parents and their PTSD- we all know what that is like


This stuff is so not mdc with our emergency c sections and having to go by what Drs say even though its not natural but since NFL is going more mainstream and there is more than 50,000 subscribers, you will have mamas delivering in this matter. Also since we can substain the life of my 24 weeker and she can come out of this fine and this wasnt possible even 10 years ago in some ways. As natural as a life I lead, I am so grateful for what we had to get me daughter home so I can raise her in a very AP way.

[Lousli]

ITA with Amy. I think the signs of preterm labor thread could be moved here and another great subforum would be preterm/NICU birth stories.

[farmlife]

A place to talk about the parent's trauma would be helpful. It still haunts me. Would love a place to explore what has helped others.
I would never look in loss or special needs as I don't associate either with my situation.

[MamaPam]

This stuff is so not mdc with our emergency c sections and having to go by what Drs say even though its not natural but since NFL is going more mainstream and there is more than 50,000 subscribers, you will have mamas delivering in this matter. Also since we can substain the life of my 24 weeker and she can come out of this fine and this wasnt possible even 10 years ago in some ways. As natural as a life I lead, I am so grateful for what we had to get me daughter home so I can raise her in a very AP way.

Sorry if I came off the wrong way in my post. With my second pregnancy I started having preterm labor at 19weeks and as nasty as some of the meds are for preterm labor at this point baby would not have survived. As I progressed it go to a point where risk to baby and me from meds outweighed allowing the baby to be born early. This and the struggles of bf/pumping and kangeroo care in the NICU are what I meant by having to push against the drs/nurses sometimes. I am also grateful that both girls survived and are thriving.

Pam

[Amys1st]

Sorry if I came off the wrong way in my post.


Pam

This was not directed at your post Pam so no need to be sorry!

What I was aimming at- the countless references to moms being forced into c sections in the mag which I agree to a point. Until the last issue about life in the nicu, I had never seen anything like that portrayed as a birth in Mothering. If it wasnt mama lying in water or on the bed w everyone delivering, it was bad bad bad. well I would have loved to do that but other plans happened and here I am w/ nicu exp under my belt and cding, cosleeping, bfeeding mama but may loose my club rights by the way Maggie was born in some people's mind. Heck someone in my ddc evern asked why I had a c section:dizzy:

so its hard for a nfl place like mdc to say- hey this happens!!

[Amys1st]

A place to talk about the parent's trauma would be helpful. It still haunts me. Would love a place to explore what has helped others.
I would never look in loss or special needs as I don't associate either with my situation.

100% agree. My dh is haunted by some stuff in the nicu.

[Danielle283]

I know I already responded to this post, but I wanted to add that I agree those that said they are still haunted. It's been 17 months and I still cry when thinking back on our time in the NICU. DH says I need to just get over it, but for some reason I can't. I would love a place to talk about these things with others.

[Dena]

Yes, I am in the same boat, even after 21 months, therapy, etc. I have already replied to this post (twice!) but wanted to jump in again to stress the extreme need for a NICU survivors forum.

I was just telling dh last night that it feels like something inside of me broke or went off kilter while dd was in the NICU, and it is a part of me I have never quite been able to get back. Feeling like I am alone in this doesn't help.

I have searched and searche for support groups in the hopes that there would be others in our position, but there doesn't seem to be anything out there, except for groups for preemie parents. As dd was not a preemie, just born gravely ill, we don't belong there, either. A NICU survivors forum open to ALL parents of NICU survivors, not just parents of preemies, would be a godsend, imo.

[plantmama]

This is such a good idea. I never read the support thread because it is too long and not specific enough. A sub- forum is a really good idea.
I felt so isolated from NFL after I couldn't have my ds at home like I planned and he was in the NICU for 6 weeks. Breastfeeding, pumping all this went fine...but I felt like I couldn't properly bond with him etc...until many months after he came home and would've really liked some support.

Like another poster said my birth was not traumatic (it was wonderful, drug free, perfect) but the aftermath was so hard.

Another vote for Preemie/ NICU babies forum. And my ds is 2.5 and doing great, but I would love to be supportive of other parents dealing with this.

[sweetpeasmom]

I know I already responded to this post, but I wanted to add that I agree those that said they are still haunted. It's been 17 months and I still cry when thinking back on our time in the NICU. DH says I need to just get over it, but for some reason I can't. I would love a place to talk about these things with others.

oh my gosh I so do too. Everytime I think of it, i cry like crazy. Even if your NICU time is over, it's really not over.

[Diane~Alena]

My eldest daughters are turning 9 in a few days and as the day nears I think more and more about their delivery and the fear for their lives. My daughters were born at 29 weeks and my second born was stillborn and revived, they lived 66 days in the SCN before coming home on EBM and bottles. I have had three preemies since their birth 9 years ago but I still remember the emotions and feel the guilt and regret about them. A forum would be a great place to talk about older preemies.

[Amys1st]

Funny- its more my dh than me- he is haunted and says that he left a part of himself there. But I have not had as much an issue becuase I had a long talk w one of Maggie's Neonatoligist one night in the special care nursery when she was on call waiting for twins and I was the only other baby in there. I was there until 11:30 talking to here before she went to the twin delivery and she made me feel so much better. I wished dh was there because I felt the world lift off my shoulders. But not everyone has such luck.

I just put it as a list of what needs to be covered not knowing really how important it really is. So yes- we really need this forum!!

[jkpmomtoboys]

What I was aimming at- the countless references to moms being forced into c sections in the mag which I agree to a point. Until the last issue about life in the nicu, I had never seen anything like that portrayed as a birth in Mothering. If it wasnt mama lying in water or on the bed w everyone delivering, it was bad bad bad. well I would have loved to do that but other plans happened and here I am w/ nicu exp under my belt and cding, cosleeping, bfeeding mama but may loose my club rights by the way Maggie was born in some people's mind. Heck someone in my ddc evern asked why I had a c section:dizzy:

so its hard for a nfl place like mdc to say- hey this happens!!

:thumb

My crash c/s at 29 weeks because of my placenta abruption while on hospital bedrest makes me feel like a leper sometimes in the water birth home birth crowd here. And mine happened almost 6 years ago. I can't imagine a new mom with these issues coming here, not being able to find us, and feeling like she doesn't belong as a result.

We definitely need a subforum...

[sweetpeasmom]

:bump:

[5xmom]

We've been asking for this forum for so long - why no answer from the mods?

[Lousli]

I was just looking around the pregnancy forums and found:
one thread about a woman experiencing strong pelvic pressure and wondering if it was normal
one thread about a woman having lots of BH contrax at 34 weeks
one thread about a woman in the hospital at 33 weeks with possible PTL
ont thread with a woman announcing the birth of her 25 weeker

I think it would be REALLY helpful if all of these people could find each other, and those of us who have BTDT easily. It is really hard for me to see women experiencing signs of PTL and asking their ddc "Is this okay? Is this normal?" and to be told to drink a glass of wine, or lots of water, lay down, not to worry because the mucous plug can grow back, if it is real labor you'll know, etc. I know all of this can be true, but it is also so important for a woman to hear the other side, what the signs of PTL are and to trust her instinct and call her provider if she thinks something might be going on. I read women writing "I don't want to bother my midwife," and "It probably isn't anything" all the time. I'm sure there are quite a few women here who may have thought those things early on, and then realized later that the signs of labor were real! Preterm labor can be stopped, or at least delayed, if caught early on, an d this is really important to these tiny babies.

Please reconsider a special subforum for preemie/NICU babies. I honestly never in a million years would have thought to look at special needs parenting when I had 6 or 8 or 10 BH contractions in an hour. Or even in the 23 days my daughter was in the hospital. I don't think I visited special needs once to look for NICU parents.

[sweetpeasmom]

:yeah:
plus there is thread in breastfeeding on pumping for a preemie right now.
There always seems to be a thread here and there relating to preemie/nicu issues, they are all spread out.

I really wish I had more support while I was in the NICU relating to more nfl issues. I had a small preemie support group i'm on but honestly they were all mostly "mainstream" there were many things I did that they would never consider or understand, especially when it came to vaccination time for a preemie. I went though a rough time in the last month due to feeding issues from the staff, like scheduled feedings, withholding feedings that i wish i had btdt moms that could have helped support and given me advice. I fought daily with this issue with them and I honestly didn't have enough time to research the issue. A forum in this type of environment with mothers who believe in the same ideals as me would have been just the thing I needed.

and as for the ptl issues, thats another important point.

[Amys1st]

:yeah:

I really wish I had more support while I was in the NICU relating to more nfl issues. I had a small preemie support group i'm on but honestly they were all mostly "mainstream" there were many things I did that they would never consider or understand, especially when it came to vaccination time for a preemie. I went though a rough time in the last month due to feeding issues from the staff, like scheduled feedings, withholding feedings that i wish i had btdt moms that could have helped support and given me advice. I fought daily with this issue with them and I honestly didn't have enough time to research the issue. A forum in this type of environment with mothers who believe in the same ideals as me would have been just the thing I needed.

and as for the ptl issues, thats another important point.

oh yes the scheduled feedings and withholding feedins. It was like someone opened our chest and tore our heart out when they would do that. and yes btdt would have helped a lot. No one has time to research this issue since it is put upon you so quickly. One day you are pregnt and feeling a bit uneasy and a few days later you are standing by a open isolette w a warming lamp and a tiny baby w a million wires running to it and your head is spinning.

[Dena]

Please reconsider a special subforum for preemie/NICU babies. I honestly never in a million years would have thought to look at special needs parenting when I had 6 or 8 or 10 BH contractions in an hour. Or even in the 23 days my daughter was in the hospital. I don't think I visited special needs once to look for NICU parents.

:yeah:

While some preemies/NICU survivors may have ongoing issues that would qualify under special needs parenting, many do not, and most parents would not even think about that element when their babies are fighting for their very lives, which, of course, is the time a support board is most important. A special subforum for NICU survivors is essential. I think a second subforum under speciall needs parenting for preemie issues may also be extremely valuable, but they are two separate issues, and should be treated accordingly.

[liberal_chick]

We've been asking for this forum for so long - why no answer from the mods?

:yeah: Its been right at 6 months since the original post in this thread. What is the hold up?

M.

[mimid]

I'm so surprised we are waiting on this.

[farmlife]

Seems the answer is to try posting a thread in special needs.

i don't know, i checked out the forum the other day and it is no where i would have looked right after i had a birth issue. i would think birth and beyond.

or how about a sticky in the pregnancy forum - pointing in the direction if the need arises. i mean, nobody plans on going to the NICU. it was wretched but wonderful - had it been years ago, i would have lost my guy. now he is 10 months old and toddling around. i don't know what lingers from him from that first week, but i know i still fight my demons about it.

[Amys1st]

or how about a sticky in the pregnancy forum - pointing in the direction if the need arises. i mean, nobody plans on going to the NICU. it was wretched but wonderful - had it been years ago, i would have lost my guy. now he is 10 months old and toddling around. i don't know what lingers from him from that first week, but i know i still fight my demons about it.

I would have lost my Maggie as well. And yes 4 mos later we are fighting demons about it.

[mimid]

Seems the answer is to try posting a thread in special needs.



Why would I go to special needs? None of my girls are special needs. The NICU experience isn't only for special needs kids. I think it should be right there as a subforum of Parenting.

[fireant]

I agree. The NICU experience is its own separate of special needs. It was so traumatic for me and my DH and only other NICU parents can really understand what we went through. We're still dealing with NICU to try to resolve some errors they made so I'm very involved with it still 6 weeks after we got her home.

[wende]

Seems the answer is to try posting a thread in special needs.

i don't know, i checked out the forum the other day and it is no where i would have looked right after i had a birth issue. i would think birth and beyond.

or how about a sticky in the pregnancy forum - pointing in the direction if the need arises. i mean, nobody plans on going to the NICU. it was wretched but wonderful - had it been years ago, i would have lost my guy. now he is 10 months old and toddling around. i don't know what lingers from him from that first week, but i know i still fight my demons about it.

The answer should not be posting a thread in special needs. My babies were NEVER special needs and so I'd have never gone there. They were perfectly healthy and aside from taking a bit longer to learn to walk, they don't appear to have any life long affects of being born premature.

I also don't think that a sticky is the right place to host this either. Stickys tend to be very long and jumbled. I'm sorry but, especially w/o the search feature, I am not about to read through an entire thousand+ post thread of different people talking about their different issues to find what I'm looking for and someone may miss out on valuable information/advice because of that.

Preemies/NICU babies all have very different issues and parents of those babies all have different concerns. We should not be relegated to ONE thread for all the issues that may come up. I mean, we have a forum for blended families and a VBAC section but we don't have one for this??? How is this any less important?

[Dena]

The answer should not be posting a thread in special needs. My babies were NEVER special needs and so I'd have never gone there. They were perfectly healthy and aside from taking a bit longer to learn to walk, they don't appear to have any life long affects of being born premature.

I also don't think that a sticky is the right place to host this either. Stickys tend to be very long and jumbled. I'm sorry but, especially w/o the search feature, I am not about to read through an entire thousand+ post thread of different people talking about their different issues to find what I'm looking for and someone may miss out on valuable information/advice because of that.

Preemies/NICU babies all have very different issues and parents of those babies all have different concerns. We should not be relegated to ONE thread for all the issues that may come up. I mean, we have a forum for blended families and a VBAC section but we don't have one for this??? How is this any less important?

:yeah:

[sweetpeasmom]

The answer should not be posting a thread in special needs. My babies were NEVER special needs and so I'd have never gone there. They were perfectly healthy and aside from taking a bit longer to learn to walk, they don't appear to have any life long affects of being born premature.

I also don't think that a sticky is the right place to host this either. Stickys tend to be very long and jumbled. I'm sorry but, especially w/o the search feature, I am not about to read through an entire thousand+ post thread of different people talking about their different issues to find what I'm looking for and someone may miss out on valuable information/advice because of that.

Preemies/NICU babies all have very different issues and parents of those babies all have different concerns. We should not be relegated to ONE thread for all the issues that may come up. I mean, we have a forum for blended families and a VBAC section but we don't have one for this??? How is this any less important?

:clap
very well said and 110% agree
one thread is extremely hard to get to all the issues.
Many moms need a seperate thread to insure they get the adequate support and help.

[sweetpeasmom]

I would have lost my Maggie as well. And yes 4 mos later we are fighting demons about it.

:grouphug
know the feeling, almost 2 years later and I still have nightmares

[proudhsmommy]

I just wanted to agree that there is a need for a forum for preemies/nicu etc.

Our daughter was born 6 weeks early, but stopped growing at 31 weeks. I went very preeclampsic and thought my swelling was "normal" water retention. Her birth was traumatic, she had no vitals when born and miraculously started breathing on her own after 10 minutes. I had major blood loss and full HELLPS.

I wish that I had somewhere to go back then. No one else I knew had been through anything like that. She spent 2 weeks in the hospital, I was in 10 days. She had a massive brain bleed from the forceps delivery into the uterus. Would have been great to be able to know if anyone had been through that. I felt SOOO alone and scared.

She just turned 5 and is in the 90th percentile. I remember the days when she wasn't even on the charts and look at her now.

There is definately a need for this!!!!

[Lousli]

Bumping this as I'm seeing a huge issue in the special needs forum about gifted children. I would think that some might take issue with having an area in special needs for preemies with no ongoing issues aside from prematurity.

[farmlife]

I was just reading over there in special needs and cannot take my stuff over there. Mine was a birth issue. He is thriving and well now. I am haunted.

My thoughts are at the time of needing NICU at birth, if it happens as it did for all of us, who is clearheaded enough to find it in a parenting section. Many of us are familiar with the ddc and pregnant forum, why can it not be somehow "housed" there? Crucial, critical information on maintaining attachment in, my experience, a very detached setting. Kangaroo care - do you know I never even thought to pick him up and hold him more to help regulate his breathing. I just trusted that the thought seemed to be that it would be too much stimulation for him and he was best in that little plastic bin.
edited to add: I craved holding him but was so sure that the more he was 'resting' the better. After a few days, in my arms I learned that was what he needed but i lost that first day.

I know, how cold and detached of me, I berate myself secretly on the inside for it. But I didn't know. I never had to watch and hope with everything in me that my child would live. "they" seemed a lot more qualified to make those decisions. Even though, in most arenas I don't see eye to eye with "them". This experience threw me off my rocker and I didn't have a leg to stand on those first few days.

I trust MDC for so much and have learned so much here. I wish when I had a few minutes and logged in here there would have been info in the pregnant/birth arena. For all of the very real issues related to NICU care, I wish lack of exposure to information didn't have to be added to the weight. I don't want to see another set of parents struggle when a sticky seems so easy.

[crissei]

You said it so beautifully!:hug I know EXACTLY what you mean. I still kick myself every day for the things I did/didn't do/allowed!
I don't want this to happen to someone else!
If MDC doesn't have a Nicu/preemie sub-forum here to give people vital and very time sensitive information regarding AP/NFL who will?
I had the Dr. Sears preemie book and, although it was very informative, it barely scratched the surface.

[Lousli]

I love the idea of having it in the pregnany section, or birth and beyond maybe. I know I keep reiterating this, but I think women who are facing PTL or a possible NICU stay for their DC would love to have a resource of ideas and BTDT mamas.

[Amys1st]

I had the Dr. Sears preemie book and, although it was very informative, it barely scratched the surface.

it scared the daylights out of us w/ his not so happening for micros like my dd

[iveyrock]

I think this would be so helpful for lots of reasons. I had three months of Preterm Labor, DS was born at term but with pneumonia. I am still trying to process what happened when he was in the NICU. I can't get straight answers from doctors, I wonder what could have been done differently, and I have SO much guilt for the way I handled things (I had never heard of AP then - but I should have known better. I can't believe I didn't).
Also, I would love to help out moms going through this now, so that they don't have the same residual issues I do, or just so that they have support. I learned a lot from the experience and from research I have done since.
It never occurred to me to look under special needs, I just happened to catch this thread on the main board.
Amber

[Lousli]

Cyneburh :hugs how many weeks along are you now? Were you contracting at all or was it just the water breaking? I think there are some moms on here who had ruptured membranes for many many weeks before delivering. There's a book called "preemies", I'll see if I can link to it, that has information om babies born at different stages of development and what some of the most common concerns and tests and procedures are at each stage.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/067103491X/sr=8-1/qid=1152813323/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-9370982-0006232?ie=UTF8

[Cyneburh]

Thank you!

I'm currently 32+4 and have probably been ruptured since 27 weeks but wasn't admitted until 29 weeks. So far any contractions have been a recent thing only and they're weak and intermittent. So that's wonderful news.

Baby is also doing superb. Has passed every bpp with flying colors except one and that one was just that we didn't see the breathing motions for long enough. Not a big deal. The twice daily monitoring strips always look wonderful though.

[Lousli]

That sounds really good! You're almost 33 weeks! If your babe is born pretty soon, you probably won't have a very long NICU stay at all. And maybe he/she will hold out a little longer and you won't have a NICU stay at all! My 36 weeker didn't, and my 33 weeker was only there 23 days. I'll keep you and your babe in my thoughts.

[Cyneburh]

Thank you!

They're talking induction because of the risk of infection from PROM between 34 and 35 weeks. I'm hoping to hold out a little beyond and make it to 36 weeks. Or at least into the 35th week. But I've decided to start advocating for that after I get to that point. It's just not worth it to advocate for it now since realistically I could go into labor at any point between now and then.

[Cyneburh]

Lousli,

How was the stay for your 33 weeker? What sort of complications did you face?

(Feel free to pm if you want, but it helps me to know what to expect until I can get ahold of that book.)

[Lousli]

Oh no problem, I don't mind posting at all. She was 4 pounds 1 ounce at birth, and lost some weight down to 3 pounds 7 ounces. She needed oxygen for less than 12 hours, probably because I had steriod shots for her. I don't remember them discussing this with us while I was in the hospital, but because of some complications I was a little out of it. Her records indicated that she had an infection, and they gave her antibiotics, but I'm not really sure if it was more of a preventative thing, since I had a fever and a virus when she was born.

She was IV fed only for a day or two, and then when she was a little more stable she was tube fed colstrum. Aftera while she was tube fed breastmilk and then bottle fed breastmilk because she still wasn't latching well at the breast even though we were trying. She did end up learning to nurse, but it took us three months. Most of her stay in the hospital was to learn to eat and to grow larger and maintain temperature. She was released at under 5 pounds, I think 4 pounds 11 ounces after 23 days there.

Let's see, we had to do the carseat test before being allowed to go home. They montior heart rate and breathing while the baby is in the carseat, the angle sometimes makes it hard for preemies to breathe well. They have to have a good heart rate and breathing for an hour and they pass. She failed twice and finally passed on the third try.

While in the hospital they tested her hearing, did an ultrasound of her head, did some blood tests, and measured her urine output by weighing her diapers and counted her dirty diapers as well. She was fine on all these things, just a small baby, as I said.

Unfortunately we didn't know a lot about kangaroo care, and i was exhausted from the traumatic birth experience and pumping around the clock plus nursing my older daughter. I was really torn between this tiny baby that needed me but had all these expert nurses around to care for her, and didn't yet seem like "mine" and her older sister, who was very vocally missing me and confused about why i had been gone so much and was so sad. I spent less time there than i should have, and didn't work on nursing as hard as i would have like until we were home. That made bonding with her difficult at first. but she is the light of my life now. :heartbeat
A few minutes after birth:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Lesleyluu/Firstnight.jpg
Three days old:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Lesleyluu/mylittlehandsmall.jpg
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Lesleyluu/PC240012.jpg
Ready to come home:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Lesleyluu/readytogo.jpg
This year, Father's day:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a288/Lesleyluu/fathersday06.jpg

[mimid]

Cynburh, my girls were born at 33-5/7 and were in the NICU for 2 weeks to learn to suck better and grow. After they came out from the bililights, they cobedded in an open bed for 9 days. I know you've been hearing it, but the longer you can go, the better. I'll be praying for you and your babe!

[fireant]

it scared the daylights out of us w/ his not so happening for micros like my dd

It bugged us with his only two types of parents: the go with the flow and the high maintenance. Because we asked a lot of questions we were considered high maintenance?

[Amys1st]

:( It bugged us with his only two types of parents: the go with the flow and the high maintenance. Because we asked a lot of questions we were considered high maintenance?


I guess we were considered high maitence too then. Funny I saw his book and thought- Great we would have never survivied w out the Baby book so this will be great. Wrong!

DH thinks it needs a new edition and it hasnt been updated w the times.

There is a story out today about the growing amount of premature births. The news showed our nicu and had Maggie's Dr on. Watching the couple who live 2 blocks away from me talk and seeing the isolette and all those noises etc sent both of us into a crying fit. I guess its still more raw than I thought:(

[fireant]

:(


I guess we were considered high maitence too then. Funny I saw his book and thought- Great we would have never survivied w out the Baby book so this will be great. Wrong!

DH thinks it needs a new edition and it hasnt been updated w the times.

There is a story out today about the growing amount of premature births. The news showed our nicu and had Maggie's Dr on. Watching the couple who live 2 blocks away from me talk and seeing the isolette and all those noises etc sent both of us into a crying fit. I guess its still more raw than I thought:(

Interestingly, our neighbors 3 doors down also had a 34 weeker a couple of weeks after we did. We thought maybe there was something in the water. We even had our water tested afterwards. We never found out why Marlow was born early.

I'm so grateful for you putting your NICU thread in our DDC. Without it I would have felt so much more isolated.

My DH and I were watching a hospital show on PBS the other night and the DSAT monitor went off on the show and my husband started crying and I had that sick panicky feeling I used to get in the NICU and he made me change the channel. Those beeping alarms are forever stuck in our minds.

[Cyneburh]

Thank you Miriam.

I've already surprised the OB at how long I've been in here without going into labor. And the perinatologists keep telling me how well I'm doing. My ultimate hope is to get to that point that baby can come home with me. Or even better, room in with me here at the hospital.

But at the same time, I keep looking at each week and wondering what I need to expect if I were to go into labor this week.

I've told dh to expect that baby won't come home until about 38 weeks. Then if baby comes home sooner, it'll be a welcome celebration.

[liberal_chick]

Kimber, have you reaccumulated any fluid? Have the doctors given you your AFI? I'm rooting for you! I made it 10 weeks between my rupture and ds's birth, but his lungs were quite stunted because I didn't have a lot of fluid. Feel free to PM me anytime!

And, once again, I am wondering why this need (very obviously a need) hasn't been addressed.

Mandy

[Cyneburh]

The fluid is constantly renewing. My AFIs have been as low as 1.5 and as high as 7. I don't know what it's at right now though because I haven't had an ultrasound since last week Sunday. So nearly 2 weeks.

But the constant leaking that I'm having shows that there is new fluid coming through all the time.

[mimid]

Just giving this thread a bump. I really need it now. I've been dealing with nap issues with the girls (10-20 minute cat naps, overtired, fussy, arms-only) and was reading The Baby Book and NCSS and they both have charts on the average # of naps and hours babes need based on age. So, do I use cga or chronological age?

[crysmomofthree]

Thank you!

They're talking induction because of the risk of infection from PROM between 34 and 35 weeks. I'm hoping to hold out a little beyond and make it to 36 weeks. Or at least into the 35th week. But I've decided to start advocating for that after I get to that point. It's just not worth it to advocate for it now since realistically I could go into labor at any point between now and then. How are you doing Kimber?

My 35 week 5 day baby came home from the hospital with me :) so I would try to hold out as long as possible I wish you the best of luck

[Amys1st]

here is the NICU Maggie was at and the Dr is her Dr.
http://cbs2chicago.com/health/local_story_194164354.html

[sweetpeasmom]

Miraim- i'd use their adjusted age. Sorry about short naps and all, you must be so tired :hug


Wondering why no answer on our requests? I saw that artists got a subforum after only 2 pages of requests. Nutrition got 4 new subforums. Here we have some moms in desperate need of support and we don't have a sub-forum? Honestly I feel a bit sad about that. A lot of the big "mainstream" boards have a seperate board for preemie/nicu issues and really I think it is vital that a commutity such as mothering should have one also, as it's really hard for us moms that follow this lifestyle to get any support on certain issues that pertain to a nfl lifestyle on the other "mainstream" boards.

[mimid]

Thanks Laura! That's what I was thinking since we use cga for developmental things and the body needs those naps to get to the developmental stages. We do great at night now (7-8ish bedtime and up at 7-8 with 1 night feeding). They just get so sleepy during the day.

I hav to say that I'm pretty disappointed in MDC about this. When you browse through the board, it seems like some of the boards could easily be done without but something that is such a big part of life for a lot of people is just ignored. Its not like I'm thinking "Well, my girls are preemies, but now that they are out of the NICU everything is normal and I can forget about it," because I can't. Everything I read, hear or talk about, I have to figure out cga or chronological? Then add or subtract 6 weeks if cga. Not to mention extra appointments, dealing with insurance and paperwork, and figuring out what things you should do for your preemie that you never dreamed of doing with a full-term baby. <<<sigh>>> It is something I knew I would have to deal with, but never thought it would be so tough.

[Amys1st]

I hav to say that I'm pretty disappointed in MDC about this. When you browse through the board, it seems like some of the boards could easily be done without but something that is such a big part of life for a lot of people is just ignored. Its not like I'm thinking "Well, my girls are preemies, but now that they are out of the NICU everything is normal and I can forget about it," because I can't. Everything I read, hear or talk about, I have to figure out cga or chronological? Then add or subtract 6 weeks if cga. Not to mention extra appointments, dealing with insurance and paperwork, and figuring out what things you should do for your preemie that you never dreamed of doing with a full-term baby. <<<sigh>>> It is something I knew I would have to deal with, but never thought it would be so tough.

Add to the list- rxs, after care appts, adjusted age when and when not, early intervention.....

Who is the mod? Can we PM her or Cynthia?? I would love to get this up and going its so simple and can be part of birth & beyond or right after that.

[crysmomofthree]

Thanks Laura! That's what I was thinking since we use cga for developmental things and the body needs those naps to get to the developmental stages. We do great at night now (7-8ish bedtime and up at 7-8 with 1 night feeding). They just get so sleepy during the day.

. My preemies slept a lot (all of the time) for the first 3 months after birth. actually with baby #3 he only opened his eyes half a dozen times before 8 weeks

[crissei]

I spent half the day looking for a preemie AIO.
I found one that is in the 2-4lb range.
http://www.preemie.com/get_item_kuu060.htm
What a nice sticky that would make.:wink

Now has anyone here CD in the NICU/PCN? Will hospitals allow it? How do you deal with the I&O?
Hmm... would make for an interesting thread...:wink :wink

[kkiolbassa]

Miraim- i'd use their adjusted age. Sorry about short naps and all, you must be so tired :hug


Wondering why no answer on our requests? I saw that artists got a subforum after only 2 pages of requests. Nutrition got 4 new subforums. Here we have some moms in desperate need of support and we don't have a sub-forum? Honestly I feel a bit sad about that. A lot of the big "mainstream" boards have a seperate board for preemie/nicu issues and really I think it is vital that a commutity such as mothering should have one also, as it's really hard for us moms that follow this lifestyle to get any support on certain issues that pertain to a nfl lifestyle on the other "mainstream" boards.

I feel especially bad for the mom's with new preemies since the search function is disabled (how long has it been down now ?) I spent as much time as I could here searching for info on preemies, pumping for preemies, kangaroo care, etc while my daughter was in the nicu. I'm an experienced mom and already had 11 years of nursing under my belt, but preemies are different (I ended up pumping for 6 weeks and felt close to giving up at one point) It's got to be very hard to find helpful info now that the search isn't working :(

My daughter is going on 8 months old now. This post/request was started when she was around 6 weeks old.

[Lousli]

We didn't CD in the NICU, but we did as soon as we got home. It was too hard to think about it with all the other stuff that was going on, and by the time we realized we needed preemie sizes and we ordered them and they shipped, it was basically time for her to come home. She came home in a sposie and hasn't worn one since! We mostly used preemie prefolds at first though, since they were so much less expensive and we knew that they would be quickly outgrown.

[Amys1st]

nak

We cd from the moment we checked Maggie out. I had a huge stash I was building over the mos for June. I then ordered x small fuzzis and just these past weeks she outgrew them. Just sold last night on ebay

[sweetpeasmom]

no way i would have cd in the nicu, mainly because i was just too busy going back and forth, and just trying to keep up with regular laundry was almost impossible. our house was an utter disaster during those months.

My daughter is going on 8 months old now. This post/request was started when she was around 6 weeks old.

:(

[Cyneburh]

Another reason a preemie/NICU subforum would be good... to be able to talk about soon to be preemie issues vs already in NICU issues. The before birth vs. after birth things.

I just gave birth and I'm over to actually participate more in the NICU thread now.

I WANT OUR OWN FOLDER!!!

:1praying: :1praying: :1praying: :1praying:

[mamabeca]

So why no forum??? I think ya'll deserve your own forum. I think it's ENOUGH to have to deal with, having a birth that was, perhaps, not what you imagined/expected, then having to deal with NICU people, nicu time, nicu breastfeeding, pumping, etc., THEN not having your baby with you at home, and THEN having to watch that little baby with tubes and iv's and all kinds of invasive stuff have spells, low points etc... I HONESTLY think it's ENOUGH! HAVE YOUR OWN FORUM!!!!! I wonder why someone would NOT want you to? Interesting...

[crissei]

I thought of another one;

How to explain to the pulmonologist that, the pulse-ox sleep study WILL fail because your 6 month old (3 1/2 months adj.) doesn't sleep through the night and, WON'T be anytime soon!:irked:

Like any six month old would keep perfectly still for 8 hours with a sensor taped to their foot anyway!

[Valian]

Wow, I've just been reading along on this thread and waiting for the preemie folder to appear to begin posting but yikes, it doesn't seem like its coming any time soon. So, hugs to those mamas who are still in the trenches

Ds came only 6 weeks early but with zero warning. As in, my water broke waking me from a dead sleep and suddenly less than 24 hours later there he was in my arms. I spent several days in shock. Literally.

I feel very lucky that our experience went as well as it did but boy did could I have used some support. No one in my family knew anything about preemies and their care. Most books out there focused on micropreemies so talked about things that didn't apply in our situation but at the same time he certainly wasn't a wide-awake full term baby either. So in our case, I really needed some btdt stories.

I think another major need for a preemie section centers on how their needs differ from full term babies because info passed on by mamas who don't have experience with a preemie aren't always appropriate. I'm thinking of feeding/breastfeeding issues for example. Really, its just a different situation with different sets of practices and needs.

[fek&fuzz]

psst, check out the new subforum of life with a babe. :wink

[kkiolbassa]

psst, check out the new subforum of life with a babe. :wink

:twothumbs now if they could move some of the old threads about preemies there once the search function is fixed, that would be awesome :thumb

[crissei]

Oh, Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!:happyt: It means so much to me that preemie parents will be able to find good info so easily!
Now, off to do my part!:bolt

[farmlife]

Thank You!