I just wondered what your take on this situation is. I have always wanted to be a nurse, but when I became pregnant at 19, we got married and I stayed home with our daughter. She was born at 34w4d weeks but did not need to go to the NICU. I had several miscarriages and found out I was pregnant in October, 2003. When we made it to 20 weeks and had the "big" ultrasound, we thought we were in the clear. Little did we know less than a month later I would be admitted and our son would be born. Aaron only lived 4 days. He developed a bilateral grade IV IVH and we knew we had to let him go. That was March, 2004.
In August, 2004, I found out I was pregnant again. There's a story behind that. We had made the decision to donate Aaron's body, hoping that maybe someone could learn something that might help someone else in the future. They told us at that time we would not be able to get his ashes back under any circumstances. I had gone in to have some bloodwork done to see if I was still anemic from my difficult c-section in March. Someone accidentally ran a pregnancy test. My doctor called me to tell me I was pregnant - I was on the pill. A few hours later, we received a letter in the mail saying they could give us Aaron's ashes if we just send in the form. The same day...
I went into preterm labor at 24 weeks again. I was in and out of the hospital for a month, hit toxic levels on the mag 4 times, had terbutaline, steroids, indocin, an aminio and all sorts of things before I was finally dilated too far to wait any longer - they had to do another emergency c-section. (I had a classic before) Cameron was born at 28 weeks and spent 2.5 months in the hospital. He's now doing quite well. A few minor problems, but nothing that prevents him from being a sweet baby boy!
Anyway, I know I've rambled on and for that I apologize. This is something that is incredibly important to me. I have always wanted to be a nurse, though I thought L&D was where I wanted to be. The NICU has been calling me since the moment we toured the NICU when I was pregnant with Aaron. Since that time, the pull has only become stronger.
I started taking prereq's last summer, about the time Cameron was discharged. Thankfully I've been able to take night classes so that my husband can be home with our children. I'm moving more slowly than I'd like, but being here is very important to me. I think it will be better for Cameron to be a little older when I'm doing clinicals anyway.
Do you find many NICU moms (or dads for that matter) express an interest in NICU nursing? Have you worked with any nurses who have a personal history in the NICU? How do you feel about former moms (or dads) becoming NICU nurses? Do you think the past experience helps or hinders? I won't be offended if you think it's a bad idea, I'm just looking for honest opinions and experiences in this matter.
I honestly can't see myself anywhere else, though of course I am fully aware that may change as I go through nursing school. Thank you all for what you do. You helped my family through the loss of Aaron, and through the joy and fear and the million other things we felt when Cameron was born and through his NICU stay. Words could never describe how grateful we are for what the nurses did in both situations. Thank you.
