The last 5 days have been crazy. Having a baby in the NICU is every bit as tiring and stressful as I remember. Baby Mitchell is doing well. He is totally healthy, which I am so grateful for. He just has to learn to eat completely on his own in order to go home. The doctor and nurses tell me that babies born at 34 weeks just do not have the sucking reflex. But that he will develop it as he matures. Each day he does a little better with the nursing. I go down to the NICU every three hours to work with him. Today he latched on and ate for 8 minutes which is awesome.
I've been staying here at the hospital as a "hotel stay" so that I can go down through the night and nurse him. The charge nurse just came in and told me that I have to leave today. To be honest, I broke down after she left the room because I just can't bear the thought of really going home without him. He is so tiny and furry and I feel like I need to be here around the clock to nurse him and hold him and love on him. I'm also worried that since I won't be able to be here at night, it will just prolong his stay because he will have to take his night feedings through a tube and it will be less time for me to be with him and nurse him.
Anyway, I'm obviously a mess with all the postpartum emotions as well. I have to just focus on the fact that he is doing so well and improving with the eating each day. Please continue to keep him in your prayers!
24 comments:
ahh Brooke- you poor thing. Hang in there- my friend was just going through this same thing here. Do what you can for the feedings traveling to and from hospital and tell yourself that a good night sleep may help him get some better milk from your supply- you're amazing! Mitchell is SO cute! He'll figure it out in no time!
i too did the "hotel stay" but then had to leave Brooklyn....it down right just sucks! we moms just want to be with our babies, especially in circumstances like this. he will progress, i promise even if the night nursing isn't there. keep pluggin' along brookie, it will all be over soon and THANK GOODNESS Mitchell is so darn healthy!!!! sure been thinking of you this week. glad for the update. love ya!
He is so tiny and adorable, and I'm glad he's doing so well. It doesn't seem right that they can make you leave if you're willing to be there doing the work it takes so he can go home.
I'm so sorry. I'm sure it just feels wrong to leave him. He's sweet. Sammie told me all about him today. Please let me help you in some way.
I was talking to your mom at dance today. I can't imagine how miserable that must be! How heartbreaking to go home without him! I'll be praying that he gets it really quick!
Brooke, the NICU sounds so painful to experience. I'm glad he's making progress, but did they really have to kick you out? Come on, that's brutal. On another note, he is so so adorable. Enjoy him while he's so tiny. I can't wait to see him.
I can't even imagine what you are feeling. What can I do to help? Dinner, help with kids, flowers?
Brooke does the hospital have a Hotel floor? If it is near the hopsital you could try for the Ronald McDonald house. Ask if you can be given a caseworker who can help you work with the hospital so you don't have to leave. There are a lot of options the Nurses don't tell you about.
OH MY GOSH BROOKE! I can't believe he is here. I was expecting a light-hearted fashion post or something and here I am crying for you and baby Mitchell (happy AND sad tears)--I slept in my Volvo overnight when Wyatt was in the NICU, and cried for like a week because I was in pain, emotional, Kya was at home with a fever...but you know, it totally bonded us and I know it will you (not that you need any extra bonding to your little furry man! :)) I love you friend!!!! Praying that every bit of happiness and joy possible can be with you at this moment!!
I can't believe they kicked you out! On the positive side, 8 minutes is great.
Brooke, I'm so sorry that you can't stay with your baby in hotel hospital! He is absolutely beautiful and that alone would make me want to be with him 24/7. I'm so grateful he is healthy, at least you have that. Luckily time flies so sooner than you think he'll be sleeping in the crib next to your bed. Good luck! Garrett and I will keep keeping you in our prayers!
Ooh, this makes me want to cry and throw something. The American hospital system is seriously jacked....kicking a mother out to the street when her baby is in the NICU. But your baby--he's beautiful! Fingers crossed he's home with you soon!
Brooke... Its so understandable that you don't want to leave him Mummy's and Bubs shouldn't be apart. I'm so sorry that that is whats going on for you right now. Bubby Mitchell is in my thoughts and prayers and I hope that 8 minutes (which is really hard work for a little one) turns into a champion little feeder.
Take Care.
PS Fantastic shot of Dad and Mitchell!
Oh, Brooke, I wish I could be there to help. Hang in there. Your sweet little guy will be home soon and this will all be behind you. I'm so grateful that he's doing so well. We'll keep praying for him, as I know so many people are. Let's get that sweet baby home! I'm sure he's got brothers and a sister that can't wait to love on him, too. Keep us posted on his progress. You're in our thoughts and prayers.
My heart goes out to you. We have done the NICU thing and it is not much fun.
I have a little something for Mitchell. I would drop it by your home, but I don't remember your address. Could you email it to me?
shannonbaker_192@hotmail.com
Oh Brooke. That sounds so hard. Having a newborn at full term is hard enough - with the lack of sleep and crazy hormonal emotions. I can't imagine what you're going through.
I'm glad he's healthy and I'm sure you can't wait until he can just go home. It will happen. It sounds like he's doing far better than most at 34 weeks.
That would be sooo hard! Hopefully it will be a short stay for him!!
I have been thinking of you this week! It must be so hard. He is so cute and I wish you could stay longer to be close to him and help assuage your motherly concerns and needs! But he will be home soon and everything will be great! I am so happy that he is doing so well and is so healthy! He is such a cutie.
Congrats on his arrival Brooke! He is adorable-so darn cute! Hang in there! That is amazing he was able to nurse for that long. Good luck!
Oh, Brooke, I'm so sorry you got kicked out, too. I'm just glad that Mitchell is healthy and on the right track. You will be in our thoughts and prayers!
Mean old nurse. I hope little Mitchell comes home soon. Hang in there!
I am glad to hear that he is healthy. The nursing thing will for sure come. Just hang in there. He will be home before you know it. He is so dang cute.
I haven't congratulated you on little Mitchell yet - big congrats! He is soooo darling and you are so lucky that he is so big for how early he was. That is awesome! I agree with Kimmie, he'll keep progressing even if you have to be gone at night. He will, and it will be over soon.
You are a soldier! Love ya!
You poor girl. He is such a sweetie. Maybe this is your chance to go home and rest before you bring him home and the real work begins. Plus, those other three cuties are missing you, I'm sure. He will be home before you know it. Hang in there, and remember that your hormones are going crazy...the first two weeks after giving birth are the worst for that. Get your sleep now, while you can. We love you!
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