[rnkelly]

We have a 30 weeker and last night her father got to hold her for the first time. As this huge man held this tiny baby girl, tears just rolled down his face. All of us had to hold back the tears at this beautiful moment.

[anniesong]

The "look" on a babies face when they breastfeed successfully for the first time and seem to really "get it" makes me smile. As does his or her mother's expression of joy when it happens.

[crissrn27]

How they turn their heads and try to drink the water if you put them in a "tub" bath. They think their back home!

[ldh]

I have a funny incident which happened recently - a mother, as she was changing her baby's diaper, was asking one of the RNs about the mongolian spot on her baby's buttocks. The RN bent down to have a look (real close) at the spot and the baby farted, really loud right in her face! It was hilarious!

[prmenrs]

Originally Posted by ldh

I have a funny incident which happened recently - a mother, as she was changing her baby's diaper, was asking one of the RNs about the mongolian spot on her baby's buttocks. The RN bent down to have a look (real close) at the spot and the baby farted, really loud right in her face! It was hilarious!

This could've been much, much worse!!

[ldh]

Originally Posted by prmenrs

This could've been much, much worse!!

Very good point, I totally agree!!

[Ashalee705]

I love this post, I can't wait to be an RN! I love reading everything about the NICU!

[mamas3angels]

I'm not a NICU nurse yet but when my son was in the NICU my hubby was on his way in to see our son and the nurses were changing him and right as my hubby walked a round the corner her heard one of the nurses say "This baby has big balls." My hubby just played it off like he didnt her them, but the got super red. I'll never forget the story...

Though that would make you laugh!!!!

[danibanani]

I just love this thread. We were infertile and went through many attempts at IVF before adopting our little man. We made a plan with his birthmom at 20 weeks... and on a Sunday night (26 weeks) she called and said "Your son is here!" We were throwing clothes in suitcases, leaving the house in a disaster to go and meet our new son. When we arrived, he was so small, so fragile. We had never really experienced a "baby", let alone one that weighted 820 grams! We were terrified.

Our primary nurses, Michelle and Karen, taught us so much. I was away from home to be with him for 3 months while he was in the NICU when hubby had to come back home. They were such a wonderful teachers. Another poster wrote... "The mother told me she could actually sleep when I was on duty". I felt the same way toward our nurses with wings.

Our little D suffered 2 IVH (Grade III), ROP, and was battling coming off of Crack-cocaine. There was one night when we seriously thought about taking him off of life support, he looked like he was in so much pain. I won't ever forget him crying that silent cry while he was on the vent. Michelle told me: "Do what your heart tells you. You already know what to do." Little D came off the vent 2 days later. He was so irritable. When I held him for the first time, he finally seemed content. I cried and cried. It was amazing holding my baby boy for the first time.

He's now 6 and full of **** and vinegar. He has quad. CP and BPD, but he truely is the light of my life. He's articulate, smart, and so darn sassy. He's developmentally right on target despite the IVH's. I honestly couldn't imagine my life without him. Because of his nurses, he's alive and is my beauty boy. He is my happily-ever-after.

Before our NICU experience, I would have never thought nursing was for me. Now, I'm almost finished with my program. My life has been forever changed due to D's NICU nurses.

Thank you so much for everything you do.

[cherokeesummer]

I really enjoy reading these stories I'm crying from the one just above this post...D's story is very amazing and beautiful.

I finished nursing school, with the exception of one more clinical this weekend and then I study for my NCLEX and then start my new job in the NICU in September. I love reading these stories, they really reaffirm my dreams.