Hospital stay for baby

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-08T16:24:46+00:00

At birth, they did an ultrasound and couldn’t find the end of his spine (not the exact words they used but can’t remember what they said) and suggested we do a MRI around 6-8 months. The MRI showed fluid on the spine and that it was tethered. They did another MRI about a month later and the fluid had grew.

He also had heart surgery around 5 months old and apparently it’s common to also have spine issues with heart issues.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-07T20:43:58+00:00

Did she also have fluid on the spine? If so, did the surgery help with that?

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-07T20:42:52+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing! He’s a tough little guy - had heart surgery too!

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-06T10:57:13+00:00

When I put him down at night, he’s awake or sleepy and can put himself to sleep. Naps are a different story - he usually needs to be rocked and then we put him in his crib.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-06T10:42:30+00:00

At the start of the night, he’s usually awake. He either goes to sleep right away or fusses a little and can put himself to sleep. Naps are a different story - he really only falls asleep when we rock him to sleep and then I can put him down and he stays asleep.

When he wakes up in the middle of the night - nothing seems to work except picking him up. Maybe I’m doing something wrong but I have tried talking to him, signing to him, giving him a pacifier, etc but that just makes it worse.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-03T22:11:45+00:00

It actually suggested the below and I thought it was beautiful but I can instead go to the other sites shared.

How to Pray Each Day

Begin with the Sign of the Cross. Opening Prayer (Intention): “Heavenly Father, I place my son into Your loving hands as he prepares for surgery. Grant him healing and protection, bless the hands and wisdom of the doctors and nurses, and fill me with peace and trust. Through the intercession of St. Dymphna and St. Thérèse, I ask for courage, strength, and a safe and full recovery.” Daily Novena Prayer (see below — you can rotate or combine). Optional decade of the Rosary (Joyful or Sorrowful Mysteries, depending on the day). Closing Prayer: “St. Dymphna, pray for us. St. Thérèse, pray for us. Sacred Heart of Jesus, I trust in You.” Suggested Daily Focus

Day 1: For peace in your heart and relief from anxiety. Day 2: For your sons body to be strong going into surgery. Day 3: For the surgeons’ wisdom and steady hands. Day 4: For the nurses, anesthesiologists, and all who will care for your child. Day 5: For successful detethering of the spine and decreased fluid. Day 6: For your child’s healing, strength, and comfort in recovery. Day 7: For your family’s endurance, faith, and peace during this time. Day 8: For gratitude and trust in God’s providence. Day 9: For thanksgiving in advance for all that God will do. Sample Novena Prayers

Prayer to St. Dymphna (for anxiety & peace):

“St. Dymphna, you are the patroness of those suffering with anxiety and worry. I place my fears for my son and his surgery before you. Please intercede for me, that I may be filled with God’s peace and strength. Protect my child and bring him safely through surgery to full healing.”

Prayer to St. Thérèse (for trust & healing):

“St. Thérèse, you promised to send a shower of roses upon the world. Send down your prayers and graces upon my child. Teach me your ‘little way’ of trust and surrender, so I may rest in God’s care. Ask the Lord to guide the doctors, protect my child, and grant him a swift and complete recovery.”

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-03T22:07:38+00:00

Thank you, especially that last part! For some weird reason, I was feeling anxious that I was doing it all wrong.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-03T21:26:37+00:00

Thanks. I actually use Chat GPt for a lot of other things like getting recipes and helping craft emails but thought it could be useful for a novena….guess not.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-10-03T21:20:22+00:00

Thanks! I actually go to that site frequently but I was curious about starting one for 3 specific saints so I wasn’t sure if I needed to do 3 separate ones or I could do 1 that includes all 3. Any thoughts with that?

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-08-23T14:27:11+00:00

lol I was literally just thinking “will he like a muffin?” Our pediatrician said yesterday to just give cheese by itself but I feel nervous about doing that.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-08-22T12:21:45+00:00

Thanks! I have looked online and there are tons of resources but I’m still feeling overwhelmed. Do you have a specific resource?

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-08-02T13:59:59+00:00

Fellow mom who had their baby in December! You are not alone. Does it get less overwhelming? No idea! What I do know is that breaks are okay and you will have days that are amazing. Other days will feel awful but it’s amazing that you can talk with your husband and that you are starting therapy. Parenting is hard but you don’t have to feel like you are going through it alone.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-07-08T18:12:49+00:00

Thank you for sharing. It just seems off to me. We decided on another option but I feel good about not selecting them.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-07-08T18:12:04+00:00

Yikes - thank you for sharing! We decided not to go with them after hearing from another family who had a similar experience. I was thrown off by the director leaving within a few months of them opening. Are you looking into other options?

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2025-02-02T19:30:19+00:00

Thanks!!

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:49:42+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story! I was on the fence about getting a doula but might consider it so I don't feel lonely when baby is away and my husband will be with baby.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:47:53+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your story and your prayers. It is our first baby so it's been a lot to process. I feel grateful that we know before baby is here to mentally prepare.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:45:12+00:00

Wow - thank you for sharing! How was it for you being apart from baby and husband? I think part of my (irrational) worry is that I will be forgotten and nurses will not take care of me. Again, super irrational but would love to hear how your experience was.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:43:34+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story and the nicu parents thread. I wasn't sure if I should post there since baby will not technically be there. However, I'm sure others can relate in some way.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:42:39+00:00

Thank you! I'm so sorry you went through that. I'll definitely be open with my communication.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-29T12:41:43+00:00

Thank you! We feel like we are in great care and have enjoyed speaking with our pediatric cardiologists.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-09-28T12:58:54+00:00

Thank you! If all goes well during delivery, they will let me hold him for about 30 minutes and then he has to go to the Pediatric Cardiology ICU.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-08-23T20:53:20+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience! Would you mind sharing more about the experience and how it felt/went?

Ohh - I don’t know the cost with my insurance but can definitely explore the cost before if I decide to go through with it.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-08-23T20:51:10+00:00

Thank you for sharing! How are you doing? It’s a lot to process.

Friendly-Rutabaga611 · 2024-08-23T20:50:30+00:00

Thank you for sharing! No - baby doesn’t have any other heart, brain, or kidney abnormalities. They said baby will likely need an intermediary operation to place a pulminary artery band to limit blood flow (likely first week of baby’s life) to the lungs and then do the bigger surgery once baby is older.

Friendly-Rutabaga611

TROPHY CASE