anybody read a book called "Baby ER"?

Mimi2RN, ASN, RN · Mar 5, 2004

I thought it was very well written. Isn't that the one by a guy whose baby was in a NICU? I believe it's an accurate portrayal.

I work in a level II, not level III. Anything really bad-cardiac kids, micropremies, surgical cases, take a ride to the local level III. I still like to read about my job, and theirs!

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2004

I also liked that book, and thought it was pretty realistic. Yes, I do believe it was written by a man whose baby was in the NICU. It really is like an ER, he hit the nail on the head. Babies are often transferred to NICU when they are just minutes old, and we take it from there. We even do surgery on the unit. Things can be quiet one minute and then all heck breaks loose the next. I have been in many situations where I felt like I was on an episode of ER, I can tell you that much! It's a wonderful mix, if you ask me. One day you can be feeding and bathing 3 or 4 feeder-grower preemies...and the next you might be doing chest compressions and IV pushing life-saving drugs.

You'll probably do a day or two in the NICU during your OB or Peds clinicals. See how you like it!

Good luck in school!

allnurses Guide · Mar 6, 2004

I read it. It was a great book. I don't work in a NICU though but think those who do are HEROIC.

Hiya Mimi . . . .

steph

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Mar 6, 2004

I read it ages ago so I don't remember much. Except how the teen mother's acted. Some, not all, are just so clueless. They come in a week after they deliver their 28 weeker and think it's just like regular baby and we don't know what we're doing.If one of them commented they wish they could have that tube in the babies throat at home so it wouldn't cry, I wouldn't be surprised in the least.

Jolie, BSN · Mar 7, 2004

I enjoyed it very much, and appreciated that the author did not gloss over the complications that preemies face. Of the 5 or 6 babies that were followed, only about half survived, giving readers a realistic view of NICU outcomes.

nursepearl · Mar 9, 2004

I have read it and its one of my favorite!

dawngloves, I think what you said about teens mothers is very inappropriate. I was a teenage mother and I know there are many others here who were also. I took great offense in what you said.....teen mothers are not bad mothers....there are MANY women who are bad mothers and who are just as "clueless"!

I think many middle aged women would be suprised to know that I, a teen mom, was teaching them how to take care of their newborn (which i was able to do thru nursing school).

Pearl :uhoh3:

Ps. I know you tried to cover your butt by saying "some not all" but it was still VERY offensive.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2004

dawngloves, I think what you said about teens mothers is very inappropriate. I was a teenage mother and I know there are many others here who were also. I took great offense in what you said.....teen mothers are not bad mothers....there are MANY women who are bad mothers and who are just as "clueless"!

I'm not dawngloves, but I understand where she's coming from. I think having a normal newborn baby as a teen is a little different than having one sick in the NICU. It's a different kind of stress, and I agree that 3 out of 4 teen moms I see are very immature about their sick newborns. I think it's just a lot to deal with, being a teen mom, without having to throw in the added stress of the baby being critically ill. Many teenagers aren't ready for this kind of extreme emotional stress, and they handle it a little differently than older mothers. Honestly, most adults aren't ready for that kind of stress! Yes, mothers of ANY age can be immature or clueless, that is for darn sure! But most NICU nurses deal with teen moms on a regular basis, and it's often just a different ball game. Their babies will be at 100% oxygen on the oscillator and 20mcg of dop/dob, and they're upset because we won't dress the babies in doll clothes they brought. This and similar things have happened to me more times than I care to remember! I think the biggest difference between having a normal newborn and a NICU baby is that you don't have to start taking care of the sick baby right away. A normal baby is that teen mom's responsibility from day one, and she must quickly become responsible and adapt to her new role as a mother. But in the NICU, they might only be able to visit the baby in for an hour or two a day, and they sometimes treat it like playtime. They are able to go back to school, back to their normal lives. They don't have to DO anything with this baby yet. It's not REAL yet. It's very different than having that baby with them 24/7 from the get-go.

Yes, this might be true of parents at ANY age. But if you spend any time in the NICU, you'll see major differences in the way a teen parent and an older one deals with the situation. It's just too much stress to deal with before adulthood, and just way too much information to handle at times. I wouldn't wish a NICU baby on anyone, least of all a teenager. It's hard enough on an adult.

Please don't flame me, I'm only going on my experience and that of my coworkers.

cswain12000 · Mar 9, 2004

I have also read that book, and feel that it portrays a very realistic view of life in NICU. Has anybody here ever read the book "Big George: Autobiography of an Angel" by James Jennings? that is my favorite all time book. It is based on a true story, and written from the baby's viewpoint. Reading it really makes you stop and think about how things we do may feel to the baby, and also made very real to me the spirit inside of those little bodies.

dawngloves, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2004

Yes Gompers that is exactly what I meant.Sorry you had to clarify it for me.I didn't think it would be necessary here.

Gompers, BSN, RN · Mar 9, 2004

Yes Gompers that is exactly what I meant.Sorry you had to clarify it for me.I didn't think it would be necessary here.

I understand. :)

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Another great book from a baby's viewpoint is "Saul" by Rosemary Kay. It's about a 23-weeker in Europe who had an extremely hard NICU course. This child's mother is the author, and she did an amazing job of giving him a voice and personality. It's very eye-opening for a NICU nurse to read a book from a baby's point of view. It makes you think twice about everything you're doing to these babies and how they must feel about it all. Just an absolutely wonderful book, I really reccommend it. Cried my eyes out.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0312253338/qid=1078868064/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-4249698-5690260?v=glance&s=books

oneLoneNurse · Jul 21, 2007

My nephew was born at 24 weeks at 1 lb 4oz. Three weeks later my mom tells me he has an infection and that he has blood in his stool. What does this mean?

I am not sure. He is in Toronto at either Mt Sinai or St Micheals. I am in Phili.

Thoughts?