Coping with baby in NICU

The nicu was very hard. I remember it, but at the same time I have blocked it out. I can hardly look at the pictures with all the things attached to her. I would bring a blanket to hold her skin to skin and bring it home with me and snuggled it during the night to smell her. It comforted me. I spent 12 hours a day with her and would sob the hour ride home, and all through the night as I pumped. I remember my chest physically aching when I had to leave. It will feel like a weight off your shoulders when she is home with you. I feel like being a nicu mama with no support made me feel like I could go through anything. It made us stronger.

Lots of love and prayers for you and your sweet baby. Stay strong mama ♥️

My little girl was born at 30 weeks exactly.. we spent 8 long weeks in the nicu. I had an emergency C-section so felt ripped from being a mum and giving birth. Best advice anyone could ever give a nicu mumma is take the rest you need, listen to your body, cuddle your little one as much as you can when possible and talk to your baby as much as possible. My girl is now 7 months old from birth and 4.5 months from gestational age and she’s so smart.. loves to smile, talk away and laugh! It does get better. Those nurses are the best 💛

I hope all is well for you!! ❤️ My son was born at 35 weeks and he had a major surgery at 3 weeks old, he’s doing amazing now and turning 1 next month!!

Hope all you lovely people are alright take care god bless xx

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Anyone want to be friends I have been a nicu mummy one of my boys he was born at 26 weeks he is now 6 years old and I wrote a song for world prematurity day and would love people to tell me what you think to it abd maybe subscribe to me

I've been there I want you to know this shall pass..it may not seem like it, when people told me I'm like but rn my heart is aching..know the nurses care and love your baby..he's fine and he's counting on you to be strong for the both of you ..

Please please PLEASE speak to your doctor about postpartum depression....it is a real and silent killer. I pray your sweet baby comes home with you soon. But please, mama, you need to take care of yourself, too. You can't pour from an empty cup 💜💜💜

My son was born at 31 weeks. We spent 4 weeks in the NICU. I spent 13-16 hours a day there, drove 1 hour each way, showered/ate/slept then repeat. It his a horrible feeling leaving your baby there, but you need to eat/shower/sleep well to recover!

I can relate to you hun. My son was 28 wks 3 days prematured and he spend 78 days at NICU. He is 2 yrs and 9 months now. And everything went well. I have a post partum as well while he was at NICU it was difficult. Spend lots of time to your baby. Be strong and keep positive.

@Lana Oh wow. My daughter was born at 22-5 weighing 1lb 2oz as well!!!

I wasn’t away from my baby very long as I didn’t live local so was given a room to stay with her but it’s definitely hard I use to keep a Muslin with me that had been with her and then do the same for her and leave one that had been with me and changed it every time I went to vist. I would take lots of videos and photos and the hospital had phones/pads they’d use to take photos and keep us updated also if ring through the time I wasn’t there. But it’s okay to cry but I tried to focus on the positives that my baby was in the best place for them at the time and that they’d be home soon ❤️

Aww sorry that your baby is in nicu

Focus on the positives. Your baby is alive. One. You are still very much connected to that baby and didn't dissociate so deeply from the trauma of the separation that you feel nothing and the child doesn't feel like your own. Focus on your blessings. Be grateful for what you do have. Thats all I can advise. Baby will be home soon and you will be well enough to be the best Mum to them.

Nicu baby... one if the hardest things a new mom can go through! I can totally relate ❤

Been home for 5 weeks now after 12 weeks in nicu. My little one came at 27 weeks and what an emotional rollercoaster it has been. The guilt it real, I would be ther for 8.30am until 10pm I would knacker myself out but needed to know he was ok and being looked after xx

ooh darling I feel your pain my little one was in there for 10 weeks you need to be strong for the baby and have lots of skin to skin it's healing for both

My baby girl was born at 28+1 weighting 880g we spend 5 months in Nicu and Icu because she had Nec twice, but now she grown so much you wouldn't tell , is hard when somebody is telling you to hang on because is getting better, you only see what is happening then and now not in the future. They are little fighters and slowly they will get there . In the morning I always did her cares and when I was taking her out for cuddles I would tell her what I did home and what we will do when we will go home 🏡. I wish you all the best in this journey and don't forget we are if you need support. ❤️ ❤️❤️🤍

It gets better, my little boy was born at 28weeks, and we spent 3 months in the nicu. there is nothing more lonely then the nicu, my best advise is have as much qualitity time as possible,but don’t burn yourself out, I used to read so much to my little one, as soon as you’re allowed too have as much cuddles as possible, and skin to skin is vital. I wasn’t able to hold him for the first 4 days of his life so little things like singing to them is helpful. As far from reality as it may seem get yourself into a reasonable routine to prepare you for when little one is home, I would always make sure I changed him before I went home and it made me feel like I was doing his nappy to go to bed with (even tho I knew I wasn’t) I’d read a bedtime story and I’d ask the nurses to do most of his cares, sending you all the love xx

I know exactly what your going through its the worst sort of pain I also went through this my baby was very small he was only 4 pound 3 amd was 2 weeks early he got whipped away straight away at birth as his platelets were so low and he wasn't getting enough oxygen I can definitely say the best thing you can do is try take time for yourself have a nice coffee and try and relax try keep been positive positive bibes been sent your way ❤

Aww hun feel for you gets easyer in time mine were 24 weekers and spent 5 months in nicu home now and has been 3 wks

I just went threw the same thing and after 9 weeks my little girl is home at first it feels so long but she was born 28 weeks and they really are so strong and little fighters please try make sure you’re looking after yourself drinking,eating and sleeping I know it’s a lot harder to actually do but a c section is a huge thing and he’s in the best place possible!xx

My 1yr old ended up in nicu due to him not getting enough oxygen xx

I feel your pain mamma. Everyday while going to the NICU I would be anxious of how his night would have been or how I will handle the updates or decisions for the day. But I realized that the hardest part was leaving him there at the end of the day. The NICU was the best place for him during difficult times and I thank God we had their care & support. I still breakdown every now n then(even as I write this). A big hug to you and all the brave preemie mammas. Our kids make us stronger everyday just like they are❤️

My baby girl was born 6 weeks early and spent 2 weeks in the NICU. She was a large NICU baby at 5 lbs and 6 oz, and overall healthy, but the separation anxiety and guilt was very real. I could spend the night in the NICU but I made the tough decision to go home at night so I can rest (as much as I could rest) and recover from my c-section. I went to the NICU when I woke up and stayed until 7-8 pm. It was very difficult leaving even after being there all day. I would have random breakdowns as well and constantly look at her pictures when I was home without her. The thing that I would tell nysekt that gave me some peace is that she was in better hands at the NICU at the stage that she was at. They knew way more than I do in hoe to handle any situation, they have her hooked up to all kinds of monitors to make sure her vitals are good, and they have are awake and working all night which I wouldn’t be able to do.

1 reply

last year

I also made a point to stay until the night shift nurse came on so I would know who was in charge of her that night, which would usually give me a lot of comfort. Their shifts were 7-7, so they would be switching right around the time I would be leaving. I really liked the nurses and staff which helped.

Awww! My little premie boy was born at 33 weeks! Had 12 days in nico and I couldn’t stay with him! I had a 20months old little girl at home who couldn’t come with me, Had to recover from a c section to. It was hard leaving one baby home to visit an other baby. Many many many breakdowns Now my little boy is 8.5months old and doing so well, i will never get over that time and his first start of life. But it realy does get easier when they get older- I no nothing anyone says will helpX But your not aloneX message if you want to x I am from the UK mind x

My baby was in 2 nicus, luckily I was able to stay in both. I broke down constantly & had major separation anxiety. When we went up to recovery ward at GOSH I was so exhausted that I struggled to look after him... night feeds and changes plus I was a single mum solely looking after them both. I was drained emotionally and mentally make sure you rest you need to for his sake so you can look after him when he comes home . We came home 10days after his oh surgery & I can't explain the relief of being home even though we went back into hospital or appointments everyday for the next three months and I stayed everyday 😶🥴🙃. But when the day comes that you bring him home you'll feel so happy & when he has his naughty days you'll want to send him back for the nurses to look after him lol. Message me if you like xxx♡

I had babies born prematurely at 34+1 and 35+2 and had nicu stays ranging from 6-19days...i struggled with one bc her 4lb birth weight, trouble eating, reflux, colic and jaundice. I struggled with the second having silent reflux and Laryngomalacia and jaundice... It was and is hard

Went through the same thing. I had really intense separation anxiety. Cried every morning and night

My daughter was 10 weeks early and she stayed in nicu for almost 3 months. It’s so hard being in that situation I use to feel so empty when I was home. I stayed there all day. You got to be strong and everything will be ok. Xx

Been there momma, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, my journey wad 86 days. Now my son is 4 and thriving. You got this! One day at a time ♡

I am a NICU mommy. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I bawled every time I held him and everyday on my way home and whenever I talked about him. He was strong and had zero problems besides being early but it was still scary to see him so little, 3lb, with all these cords and tubes. And I just felt so useless because I was so scared to even touch him. And then it was beginning of covid on too of everything and it was scary. You need to focus on your healing especially from a C-section. I wish all the best love 💕

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last year

Lol snap... then all these mums surrounding me didn't cry and I felt stupid lol

I understand I felt this with my daughter I found the stand leaving her and after visit I just break downs and cry i try to think of happy moments and try to think positive….take it one day at a time he coming home momma

I’m kinda late to this post but my 4yr old was in the NICU for 30 days. It was the hardest 30 days of my life, but I knew the NICU nurses were amazing and he was in good hands. I would visit him every single day and it is very hard to deal with. It is has to go home without them but the day I was finally able to take him home was one of the happiest days and I also knew it was worth it. They took good care of him❤️

I know how guys feel

It’s super hard. I focused on getting strong to support him while he was there. Once I healed from the c-section when I wasn’t there I made sure to rest because it’s long days in the NICU those alarms going off all the time are tiring and you have to make sure to look after you so you can be there for your baby. Also I spent time making sure the house was ready for him coming home; that helped give me a positive mind frame. I’d tell him about what I was doing and describe his room and the house and the people waiting to meet him. I tried to focus on being present and on the things I could manage day to day. 🤗 your not alone know lots of moms are with you in spirit.

Hey momma I had my son at 35 weeks and he spent 3 weeks in the NICU and it was extremely hard I developed separation anxiety and postpartum depression but I got to visit him as much as possible because my father in law was a vascular surgeon at UF SHANDS Downtown so I would go up there when my father in law worked and spend all day up there with my son it's not easy by any means but as long as you have a great support system and people who've been where you are it helps a little

I am so sorry you are going through 😭I know it’s si stressful and scary !! My first was in nicu as well. I would visit him everyday and stay there from morning until night time . They let me actually take an empty hospital room to stay in . I’m not sure if that’s something you can ask about I was able to stay there for like a 4 days. I hope all will go well :) it will be ok mama !!

🤗 how’s the baby? Any updates ?

I had my baby in NICU for 9 months. He was born at 27 weeks and with all the issues a premie could get. He is 14 months now with a lot of development delays, he is growing and getting strong. His one smile takes all my stress away. We are fighter Love and prayers to you 🙏

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2 years ago

Hey! We are at month 8 in the nicu. How’s being at home, for you?

I had a full term NICU babe! We were in for 3 weeks due to breathing in poop in the womb. It’s so so hard, but just try and focus on being there fully in the moment with your little when you are. Soon they will be home and you will be feeling whole again💙 I started a new group on here for NICU Warriors so we could all support each other and tell our stories and ask questions! It’s called NICU Warriors❤️💙 Love and prayers to you!🙏🏻❤️

I'm with all you ladies. My little girl was born at 33 weeks and was 2.5 pounds. We stayed in the NICU for 1.5 months. Hang in there, there is light at the end of this tunnel. But that feeling of sleeping in your home without your babe is heart wrenching, and there is nothing that will compare. To get me through, I asked the nurses to teach me everything so that I could be as hands on as possible. And the nights that I just couldn't cope being at home I would go back and sleep in her room. There was no reason for me to be there, but it helped ME feel better for that one night. This whole process will teach you how strong you are as a mamma and how much you will endure for your babe.

I feel for you fellow mumma. My boy was in NICU for 7 weeks. I still don't know how I handled it and coped TBH. But I'm here if you want to inbox etc

My arch was In the NICU not because he was prem but he had a stroke, I had to drive every day to see him they wouldn’t let me stay x if you need to talk I’m here

Totally agree with this situation. One of the hardest situations I've ever been through. Having a baby in neonatal and coming home without my child was a day I'll never forget

My son is 7 weeks today and still in the NICU. Can’t explain all the guilt I have for not being there all the time but it’s also important to take care of yourself which is what I keep reminding MYSELF. So hard!

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2 years ago

Dont feel guilty, he is in the best place for him at the moment! You need to take care of yourself so you can take care of him ❤❤

I had premature twins who were in NICU for 2 months. Going home, id cry and feel worthless. But they are in the BEST place for them currently and you have to remind yourself that you can't do anything more than the best for them, which is what you're already doing. Xx

I had a similar experience with a prem baby, keep the faith, things do get better ❤️‍🩹 time is a healer. Thinking of you. X