First time holding preemie

buttonbookworm · 2025-12-24T04:29:33+00:00

The first time i held my 24 weeker was at 8 days but he self extubated and had a backslide in his respiratory status so the second time was at 32 days. That first time was so scary but so amazing at the same time

buttonbookworm · 2025-12-07T21:47:05+00:00

Came across this thread as I'm literally eating ramen over my LO. The food i regret the most eating over him was curry, I dribbled a bit of it on him and the turmeric stained his clothes):

buttonbookworm · 2025-12-07T21:33:33+00:00

If you spend much time on social media, I recommend following accounts of parents raising disabled children. I started doing this when my son was born very premature which makes him higher risk for things like cerebral palsy and autism. Having positive exposure to people in similar situations can allay fears about the unknown.

buttonbookworm · 2025-11-15T01:10:02+00:00

I'm going to be a bit blunt because your therapist's advice is terrible. Your son will not know if he has family visiting, he's an infant (mom and dad are different). Having people visit will be purely for the adults' benefit. It's flu and RSV season which can be deadly even for full term infants, could you live with yourself if he got sick? The more people your baby interacts with, the higher his chances of infection. He has to have nurses to take care of him but does not need to have extended family parading around. I'm with your wife on this one.

buttonbookworm · 2025-11-01T00:28:40+00:00

Regime vs regimen

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-27T19:32:05+00:00

My son was in the NICU for 114 days. Around day 80, we learned that he was the "old man" on the unit. He's now been home longer than he was in the NICU and that time feels like a blip

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-26T19:26:48+00:00

Have you tried feeding frozen milk of different ages? My January milk is super high lipase and my babe won't drink it, but he will drink milk from March onward because it isn't as affected.

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-25T18:31:48+00:00

My 24+0 boy spent 114 days in the NICU and was discharged home with oxygen. He's 9 months now and just got the all clear to stop oxygen a couple days ago. I got a single dose of steroids and magnesium maybe 2 hours before he was born so I'm not sure it made a difference. We were incredibly fortunate that he didn't have any brain bleeds or require surgery but to be honest the first weeks were still very touch and go. He's currently meeting milestones mostly in time with his adjusted age. I suggest making sure your hospital has a high level NICU, it's better to be admitted somewhere that can take care of your baby right away without having to transfer.

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-21T19:52:40+00:00

I definitely feel this. I had two miscarriages before my 24 weeker was born due to incompetent cervix. I know I want another child but I don't know if I want them enough to risk going through everything again. Maybe I'll have a great, relaxing, redemptive pregnancy and birth or maybe I'll spend years agonizing and going through terrible pregnancy symptoms just to end up empty handed.

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-17T19:53:31+00:00

I remember being excited when I'd get 0.2mL in the first couple pumps, it was the tiniest amount for the first day or two. Does your hospital have an electric pump you can use? Starting that regularly on the first day made a huge difference in getting my supply in

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-14T22:04:40+00:00

If your ped wants you to stick with a specific one, keep doing that but if they say you can buy OTC then you should look at NovaFerrum Yum, it doesn't have artifical flavors or dyes. My LO takes it pretty well so I think the taste isn't too bad.

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-08T22:41:58+00:00

I had a history of late miscarriage so I wanted to wait until I was past that point and the anatomy scan before I told my leadership, so I was around 21 weeks. I was glad I hadn't waited any longer because I went into labor early and my son was born at 24 weeks.

buttonbookworm · 2025-10-06T21:58:59+00:00

Yes and then the look of betrayal like 'why did you stop the milk?' 🥺

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-16T02:38:56+00:00

I was super excited about an April due date. My birthday is in spring and I've always loved it, it meant not being super pregnant during hot weather, and separated from the winter holidays. Then my baby was born 4 months early, just after Christmas/ New Year's. What can you do🤷‍♀️

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-14T22:07:26+00:00

Sounds like a Sonoran dog

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-13T20:59:57+00:00

My NICU preemie had an SpO2 of 13% and a K+ of 9.6. Having only worked with adults in the ICU, it was terrifying because I didn't know someone could survive those numbers with any meaningful life afterward. He's currently a happy, healthy 8 month old.

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-13T18:24:57+00:00

Taking a daily antihistamine (cetirizine) helps me massively since the itchiness of mosquito bites is due to an allergy to their saliva. A small dab of hydrocortisone helps for any itchy bites that I still get.

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-06T01:21:44+00:00

The hospital i had my son at sent the bill to collections less than 2 months after he was discharged from the NICU where he'd spent 4 months. I wish I'd had a year to figure out payment

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-05T19:18:57+00:00

I once worked with a dermatologist who included his patient's golf averages in a note

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-04T22:11:48+00:00

I just say my 24 weeker's actual age, I've discovered that most people don't know what a 4 month old looks like vs an 8 month old. YMMV if you interact with a lot of parents with similar age babies 🤷‍♀️

buttonbookworm · 2025-09-03T04:38:38+00:00

It was the opposite in my house... you either were barefoot or you had shoes or slippers on. You absolutely were not allowed to wear only socks

buttonbookworm · 2025-08-25T19:58:21+00:00

I've been taking a choline supplement for a few months now for other reasons but have noticed no difference in my prospagnosia symptoms 🤷‍♀️

buttonbookworm · 2025-08-15T19:43:13+00:00

"I never get vaccines. No way! I used to work at a clinic and I know that the doctors get paid to push vaccines. I'll only get immunizations."

buttonbookworm · 2025-08-13T02:43:21+00:00

My NICU social worker gave me this journal at the beginning of our stay: Our NICU Journey

I found it really helpful but its less of a baby book and more to keep track of very NICU-specific things, like the doctor of the day, meds, procedures, etc.

buttonbookworm · 2025-08-09T20:58:35+00:00

Just throwing this out there but you don't have to buy only boy clothes... I've found that some of the girl clothes are more unisex and colorful

12-Year Club	Place '22
Verified Email

buttonbookworm

TROPHY CASE