[Resurgan]

One of my dad's was of the idea if the baby cries and you cuddle them you make a rod for your own back. (perhaps a diff thread to discuss)

This was a 29 weeker who had only been touched through the portholes. I felt baby was stable enough for a cuddle and suggested a kangaroo cuddle at the next appropriate (for all) moment. Mum's face positivley glowed but dad immediately said no due to the beleive mentioned above.

My break (all 15 mins as we were rammed busy!) was spent finding/copying the unit literature for him. Then I spent a good few hours discussing with him the merits of kanagaroo cuddles, the need for mum and him to cuddle and his reasons/ fears for cuddles.

He relented if somewhat reluctantly, I like to think of effective teaching but hey if it was brow beating then im a bully.

The gratitude in mums face had me welling up with happiness. After mums cuddle, including kick ass grin dad had a brief cuddle too. Well the look on his face (I know you know what i mean), the guy finally melted and realised what he'd been looking at through the portholes all this time.

My loss of a cup of tea and that other overrated stuff- food, made a mum a mum and a dad a dad e.g. a family complete. that's why i nicu nurse and love it.

[DC3RN]

Watching a new father cry because he is so in love with his baby.
Helping new parents and just watching their confidence grow.
Seeing the patients come back to visit, remembering their nurses name and knowing I made a real difference in someones life.
There are so many little things, it's the best place to work.
Denise

[danissa]

Originally Posted by DC3RN

Watching a new father cry because he is so in love with his baby.Denise

YEP...Gets my heart every time.!!!!!!!!

[juliachloe]

Mom's shirt soaked with tears because you just told her she's gonna hold for the first time.

Truck driver burps - always from the little girls.

Elation that your kid pooped for the first time in 3 days.

Daddy gets pee'd on.

Knowing you make a difference - I miss that.

[juliachloe]

Cobedding twins hitting each other or sound asleep with one's hand in the other's eye.

Oxygen-filled eyes since they hate it in their noses.

Future rock-climbers that manage to get up and out of their nests and into the portholes.

Toe-sucking.

Turnip heads - always pooping while their eating and turning so red.

A 23-week vented kid that just got a pacifier for the first time and sucking like mad.

[beachgurl]

Awwww these are all so touching

[elizabells]

I don't know why I never read this thread before - but I'm glad I read it now. My primary of five months is probably not going to make it, and I needed this tonight.

Okay, my happy NICU moment - Finding a wee one trying to kick out the porthole of the isolette might be my favorite. And yes, that look of relief on my primary's parents' faces when they see me walk in the door is good too.

[EricEnfermero]

Originally Posted by elizabells

My primary of five months is probably not going to make it, and I needed this tonight.

That's really rough. I'm sorry. I'm glad that we have this thread to help us decompress at times like those.

[RainDreamer]

(((((Eliza))))) So sorry to hear that

[elizabells]

Thanks, guys. This is why we don't fall in love with CDH ---> ECMO ---> PPHN kids.