So, your baby is in the NICU and you’re wondering what you can do to feel more involved in her care? Because if you’re like many NICU parents, you might feel as if you’re more like visitors or bystanders than parents, and that’s no good.
It’s true that babies in the NICU need …
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I wanted to share a story today from Dianne, who writes about her experience having a 23 weeker last year. I asked her to share her experience with using the “Our NICU Journey” journal during her NICU stay, and here’s her story:
At 19 weeks pregnant…
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Bonding in the NICU is a struggle, but one of the very easiest ways to connect is to read aloud to your little one. Babies know their parents voices, so hearing you reading will comfort and connect you both. Are you worried you'll sound foolish or weird reading to your little baby in the NICU? Believe me - don't worry about it! There are a million weirder things that go on in the NICU every day - reading to your baby is not one of them....
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Looking for the best children's books about prematurity? Look no further - here are my all time favorite childrens books about being preemies and having a brother or sister who is a preemie.
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You’ve been through it all - suffered through the worry and fears of the NICU, and now you’re finally home - CONGRATULATIONS!
You’ve made it!
Finally, time to relax, sit back and enjoy worry-free parenting from here on out. Right?
I wish that was the way it went for every family. But as so many of you know…
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I can’t even begin to count the number of NICU mothers I’ve met who are overwhelmed with difficult emotions, quite often attacking themselves emotionally with guilt, anger, jealousy and more.
And I totally understand where these emotions come from!
But I also see how destructive these feelings are, and it breaks my heart to…
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to have a preemie? If you’ve had a preemie, you know it all too well. But if you haven’t…. I bet you haven’t every really given it more than a moment’s thought. Which is fine, of course.
But in honor of Prematurity Awareness month, would you let me walk you through the journey, just for a moment?
Let’s imagine. Go on.... take a breath and immerse yourself for just a couple minutes into this story of…
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This is pretty cool - Pampers has made a diaper that may seem odd to the general population, but for anyone who has had a micro-preemie, you know that even the smallest diapers can be way too big. One fantastic solution is a flat diaper, and I'm super excited to learn today that Pampers has designed one! Why a flat diaper?...
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Yes, you can and should sing to your baby while he or she is in the NICU!
Why?Well, there are lots of reasons, really. First & foremost,
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Mother's Day is just around the corner, and it's no time to forget the NICU moms in your life. In fact, these stressed out, worried, overwhelmed moms deserve pampering and loving more than any others, in my opinion.
So don't let this year pass by without treating NICU moms to a fantastic Mother's Day.
I've yet to meet a NICU mother who...
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In honor of Prematurity Awareness Month, I’ve teamed up with some incredibly generous folks to put together an awesome preemie giveaway that you’re sure to love! With items for preemie babies and parents alike, it’s gonna be an amazing gift for one lucky winner.
What’s Included?
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Your first holiday with your baby should be reason to celebrate! Even when you're in the NICU. Even when your baby is a preemie and it's hard to find cute holiday outfits that fit just right.
I spent the last week searching Etsy for cute holiday outfits for babies, and then checked to see who offers their outfits in preemie sizes. I reached out to several Etsy store owners...
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Here's a typical day in the NICU, with a beautiful twist: A baby girl sleeps in the NICU in a dark, warm incubator. She can hear the bubbling of her oxygen, the beep of alarms, the sound of nurses and doctors talking. She’s very little, quite fragile, and even though she is receiving the absolute best care, she is still disconnected from mommy and daddy.
For her safety and wellbeing, there is no other way. Her mommy and daddy...
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When your baby's first Halloween happens when you're in the NICU, you can still have a little fun, if you feel up to it. Any opportunity to smile while you're on this difficult journey is a gift, and you have every right to enjoy every holiday you want to with your baby. So go ahead - you have permission to enjoy your baby's first Halloween!
Of course, this can only be done with a sensitivity to the realities of the NICU....
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So you have a friend or a loved one with a baby in the NICU? And you're wondering what you really can do to help? You've come to the right place! Read on!
The truth is - NICU mamas are struggling. NICU mamas have had their babies taken from them. NICU mamas dreamed of blissful times snuggling their babies, but instead...
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Have you heard this one yet? Well, if you haven't, let me share a little treat with you.
"NICU at Nite" is a sweet, lighthearted song about having a baby in the NICU.
And if you've ever known the inside of a NICU, you'll see he's got it just right. You'll find yourself humming "beep..beep...beep..." right along with him! :) Enjoy!
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The NICU - ugh! Seriously, could it be any more sterile, medical, institutional, and scary? Could it possibly be less homey, comforting, welcoming and familiar?
In my quest to make the NICU a bit more bearable for parents, I need to share with you a key ingredient to NICU happiness...
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I have to share my new favorite NICU hack which some amazing nurses on the night shift recently taught me. They found a simple way to bring a little cheer, a way to help the NICU feel a little bit more homey, with just the right mood lighting - fairy lights!
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I've seen a lot of diaper rash in my 19 years of NICU nursing. People ask all the time about what diaper rash creams we use in the NICU and which ones I prefer. But the truth is, a NICU doesn't necessarily have access to all the best products, and many of the hospitals where I've worked have had pretty limited choices....
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New NICU parents - Does it feel as if you're not getting the support you need?
NICU's across the country are working hard to improve the care they provide to babies AND parents. But sometimes it feels like it's not enough. Many parents report feeling scared, overwhelmed, depressed, and more during and after their NICU stay.
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