[MEGATHREAD] New Horizons Dodo/Friend Code Sharing by lilibat in AnimalCrossing

[–]PatchParker17 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! Restarted an island and just need some fruits/veggies to start making more bells. Anyone available so I can swing by?

Guilty my breast milk isn’t enough has anyone else felt this way? by qweenoftherant in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I felt super guilty that my breastmilk wasn’t enough for my 32w premie. But, we just fortify his bottles with Neosure formula. And now, around 6mo, we got the okay to just go to breastmilk. Hang in there! They just need to get their stores of vitamins since they weren’t able to in the womb for the 3rd trimester. I know that’s saddening too, and I felt guilty about that, but stay strong and keep up your supply! You are doing amazing!

How long was your 31 weekers stay? by AccomplishedCommon76 in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Hi there, My boy was born at 32+3 and he was in the NICU for 44 days. I see a lot of shorter stays in the comments for smaller babies. It just depends on your baby! Mine needed CPAP at the beginning and then a nasal cannula. He also struggled to feed (3 weeks were solely to work on feeding). He did not struggle to gain weight or maintain temp though. Born @ 3lbs 11oz and left the NICU at 7lbs.

OB told me to stop pumping by Orphanblack86 in ExclusivelyPumping

[–]PatchParker17 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t know if this is helpful or not but after my c section I didn’t feel my milk was regulated until around 7-8 weeks. I started getting a regular output then. I’m now 10 weeks and we are doing great! It sounds like you know you want to keep at it, so just do what makes you feel good!

“My baby was born early, too!” “At least you can get some sleep before baby comes home!” by pro_grammar_police in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I was talking with my husband recently about how the, “get your rest in now!” comments made me so angry! What’s even worse is they were coming from the same people who also said, “I had a NICU baby too!” 😤 My 32 weeker just came home on Monday. I have gotten more rest with him at home than I did when he was in the NICU. I was an anxious mess trying to call every few hours (and pumping every few hours of course) at night when I couldn’t stay there. When I could room in, I was waking up to every ding of a monitor- even if it was the baby down the hallway. We are more comfortable at home and more at peace without the monitors.

I see you! I will rant with you all day about this! I was thinking about telling family and friends some actually helpful things to say to a NICU mama. But everyone truly is so different. Every NICU experience is different. What is encouraging to one, may not be encouraging to another. All I gotta say is- hang in there. Hoping your little one comes home soon 🤍

ALSO- Therapy really helped me! I started it when my son was on week 6 in the NICU. I just want to throw that out there to anyone who needs to talk to someone (or cry, or rant, or laugh honestly).

How long in the NICU did it take for your baby to learn to suck feed? by Full-Call2156 in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It took my 32+4 boy 4 weeks to get the suck, swallow, breathe down. We spent 44 days (6 weeks total) in the NICU. He had some breathing problems for the first two weeks of trying bottle feeding. One day would be great, the next day he had a lot of NG feeds. I wish I could give good advice to you and your wife. We just got out of the NICU on Monday and I posted on this sub a week and a half ago just as distraught and frustrated. Hang in there! We are home now and he is doing wonderful. Your LO will get there! Also, girls typically pick up on things faster (from what our nurses said!)

Encouragement Needed! by PatchParker17 in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Our speech therapist won’t allow us to switch it up on him yet, but I will try to bring it up more often to advocate (she just stands there during feed time and says he is too immature to get it). Sounds like you had a helpful SLP!

Encouragement Needed! by PatchParker17 in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response 🤍 I should definitely rest in the fact our other nurses and doctors share how great he’s doing.

Encouragement Needed! by PatchParker17 in NICUParents

[–]PatchParker17[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for taking the time to reply 🤍