Comments on: 10 Ways to Support Preemie Parents While Their Baby is in the NICU https://mamapapabubba.com/2016/11/16/10-ways-to-support-preemie-parents-while-their-baby-is-in-the-nicu/ Fri, 18 Nov 2016 14:29:28 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.2 By: brigittejames https://mamapapabubba.com/2016/11/16/10-ways-to-support-preemie-parents-while-their-baby-is-in-the-nicu/#comment-70777 Fri, 18 Nov 2016 14:29:28 +0000 https://mamapapabubba.com/?p=71323#comment-70777 In reply to Julie.

Wow, what a great gift Julie. It’s the little things alright!

]]> By: Julie https://mamapapabubba.com/2016/11/16/10-ways-to-support-preemie-parents-while-their-baby-is-in-the-nicu/#comment-70769 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 22:36:58 +0000 https://mamapapabubba.com/?p=71323#comment-70769 My friend brought me a gift bag with hand cream, lip balm and a notebook to write down what happened that day, my thoughts and feelings etc. It was the best gift l got. The hand cream and lip balm were desperately needed and the notebook was great for getting my feelings out, noting things the doctor said to tell my husband later and then looking back to see how far we’d come on the bad days. It’s a lovely (and emotional!) thing to look back at and to show your little one when they’re older.

]]> By: brigittejames https://mamapapabubba.com/2016/11/16/10-ways-to-support-preemie-parents-while-their-baby-is-in-the-nicu/#comment-70763 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 13:25:58 +0000 https://mamapapabubba.com/?p=71323#comment-70763 Oh my lord Jen, I’m so glad to know I did the right thing at the time (as you’ve mentioned a few of the things I did above) … Having had three of my friends go through the same at the same amount of weeks as you. At the time I wrote words to you, I thought I don’t “know” you but feel like I do given that you’ve shared so many amazing activities and guidance over the last few years. I felt like it was “OK” to at least share some happy stories with you for encouragement. You’ve helped me so much without knowing over the last few years. For goodness sake, you indirectly helped me wean my girl off breast milk with your amazing activities she could wake to instead of milk. She loved them and looked forward to waking from her afternoon nap! All I wanted to do was send some hope knowing how precious my friends little girls were … There’s some things that I wouldn’t have known to do as well so you’ve given a great range (as usual) for anyone going through this experience with their friends/family. One thing I will say, is I was fortunate back when my first friend was in NICU (in Perth, Australia) that I was allowed in there … Not long after that, they stopped allowing friends in there and it became a ward ONLY for the direct family. If it had been a year later, I wouldn’t have been allowed there so I feel so very privileged to have experienced it and be able to be there for my dear friend as her partner had gone to America at the time so that he could be back in time for the “proper” due date. Another thing would be worth mentioning is that if people do go to visit, they must make sure they haven’t the slightest cold, sickness OR (VERY IMPORTANT) cold sores. They bring a high risk for prem’s apparently. The other thing that’s really important … Well, in the one she was in, is NOT to look at any of the babies either side of the one you’re visiting. The nurses got quite upset with me when I looked over at one of the other babies in the same area. It was NOT the done thing apparently. Not sure if that goes for everywhere, but they really made it quite clear it was not the done thing to look at others. I felt very guilty for having done so … Thank you so much for sharing your ideas above. <3

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