A Celebration for Gompers

Specialties NICU

Published

To my fellow NICU forum posters,

As the countdown indicates, Gompers is getting quite close to motherhood!

Since we are scattered far and wide, and unable to come together to celebrate, I thought it would be fun to throw her a "cyber-shower".

Let's post our good thoughts, wishes, helpful hints, and gift ideas for her,, hubby, and the wee one. (Labor stories are strictly forbidden!)

I'll start:

My best wishes for an uneventful last few weeks of pregnancy, a comfortable labor with her loved ones at her side, a beautiful, healthy bundle of joy, and a good night's sleep before she goes home.

My gifts to the new family would include: 1. A Snuggli (I don't know how I lived without one with my first baby. My second LIVED in it, and was soooo happy and content!) 2. A CD player for the baby's room and a copy of Kenny Loggins "House on Pooh Corner", which contains beautiful lullaby music.

Best of luck to you and your husband!

Specializes in NICU.

Gompers, I'm so excited for you!! Sounds like everyone has already mentioned everything you'll need, sounds like you're prepared in that aspect. I wish you all the best and I wish you a safe and healthy labor and delivery and that your baby will be perfectly healthy ..... I wish you all the best!

Specializes in NICU.
I wish to give you a storybook shower. They did this for my cousin for her first baby. They asked us to brink a copy of our favorite childhood story book instead of a card and write a note in it for the new family. It was great. She got a great mix and baby's library was started. Oh and as much time off as financially feasible. All the expensive baby gear in the world won't measure up to being able to spend the time with your baby.[/quote']

Start reading to your baby NOW, if you haven't already, or let your husband do the reading! We had one daddy who came in to the nursery every night to read a bedtime story to his premie. Baby would open his eyes and look at daddy through the isolette porthole. (he didn't always hold the baby).

We now give a reading packet with a book (right now it's Good Night, Moon), info about things to do and book suggestions from birth to 5 years, and Nursery Rhymes to read or sing to baby. It's been very well received.

Looking forward to news about your safe delivery and healthy term baby!

I dont have a baby so...no tips to give here!!!!

But, congrats and good luck! I am so happy for you!

Specializes in NICU.

How're you feeling, Gompers?! You're getting so close! I remember when your countdown was like 100+ days away ..... and now it's just weeks away, wow! I hope you're feeling well, keep us updated!

Specializes in NICU.
How're you feeling, Gompers?! You're getting so close! I remember when your countdown was like 100+ days away ..... and now it's just weeks away, wow! I hope you're feeling well, keep us updated!

Actually, it's more like 11-12 days now! I check into L&D on the evening of the 19th and they'll start my induction, hoping to deliver on the 20th! I saw OB on Wednesday and nephrology today - my blood pressure is starting to rise and I'm officially on maternity leave now because of it. Hopefully I'll hold out until the 20th - I'll be basically 38 weeks - but if I spike any higher or start spilling protein, they'll probably induce even earlier. Reason they're inducing in the first place is size-related (hoping to avoid a c/s and baby is very large), plus with the BP increasing they feel that after 37-38 weeks this baby is more safe OUTSIDE than IN.

So I'm freaking out now that it's almost here! My mom thinks I'm going to go into labor at any time now. My 36-week belly meaured 38 weeks on Wednesday and today I suddenly started to have a lot of tenderness in my lower abdomen, right over my pelvis. She said she felt the exact same thing a few days before she had me...

I just hope it's after Tuesday. Monday night is our second to last childbirth class, but it's the one where we learn Lamaze breathing so I really want to be there! Plus this whole weekend is devoted to getting the baby's room totally ready and putting all our stuff that WAS in there in storage (aka my parents' basement). So after Monday night's class, I should be good to go.

After my appointment today I went up to the unit to turn in my FMLA papers and talk to my bosses. Then I went to see which fellow would be on call on the 20th, because the attendings leave around 4pm so if I deliver after that it'd be the fellow and on-call resident coming to the delivery. Luckily, the one scheduled is a favorite of mine and my mother-in-law's (y'all know she's also a nurse in my NICU, right?). She asked if they could please come to the delivery even if it's a non-complicated lady partsl one - she said even if they have to stand outside the door to protect my privacy, she'd just feel a whole lot better to be seconds away from helping the baby if necessary, rather than having L&D page her and lose precious minutes if there's a problem. I feel very well cared for and hope to have the lady partsl delivery I've always wanted.

This is craziness!

Thanks again to all for their support, interest, and advice! :)

Specializes in Telemetry/Med Surg.

Thanks for the update Gompers. Will be thinking about you!

Specializes in NICU.

Wow, less then 2 weeks away!! And you should be home just in time for Christmas huh ....... awwwww, that's just PERFECT!! :)

Specializes in NICU.
Wow, less then 2 weeks away!! And you should be home just in time for Christmas huh ....... awwwww, that's just PERFECT!! :)

Yeah, if everything goes well, I should be discharged on the 23rd if I end up with a c-section, the 21st or 22nd if it's lady partsl without complications. If I end up preeclamptic, who knows? I just hope that the baby is okay and can come home with me! I just packed my suitcase tonight. I'm such a freak, I even packed ready-to-feed bottles of formula because I want to use Carnation Good Starts and our hospital doesn't always have it available - usually just Similac and Enfamil. (Breast feeding most likely won't happen due to an extensive breast reduction 11 years ago.)

Such a nurse!

Hey, that makes me think...to all of you who have had babies, anything special I should pack? I've read up a bit and so far, besides the formula, I have...

Nightshirts and a robe

Socks and underwear

Tight sports bras

Flip flops to wear in the yucky shower

Post partum belly binder

My own pack of decent maxi pads

Toiletries for both DH and I

Change of clothes for DH (sweats, t-shirt, socks, boxers)

Snacks for DH and I (gotta have my snacks!)

Hair scrunchies and headbands for labor

One of those funky-shaped plastic back massagers

Altoids and lip balm (for all the heavy breathing)

Car seat with warm Bundle-Me cover is in the car

Going home outfits for baby (one pink, one green - who knows??? ;))

Digital camera with extra batteries

Suggestions???

Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Suggestions???

Got a laptop? Just kidding, we can wait until you're home to hear the good news!

You might want to bring a few decent pillows from home, just put brightly colored pillow cases on them so they don't get mixed up with the hospital's ever-so-comfy plastic pillows!

Specializes in NICU.
Got a laptop? Just kidding, we can wait until you're home to hear the good news!

You might want to bring a few decent pillows from home, just put brightly colored pillow cases on them so they don't get mixed up with the hospital's ever-so-comfy plastic pillows!

I thought about that, but I don't want to bring GOOD pillows - I don't want hospital germs on them. I might take an old pillow or two and then just chuck them when we leave...

Specializes in ICU, PICC Nurse, Nursing Supervisor.

Two things I make sure I have is a focal point and my CD player with my favorite music... For my focal point I always have found that a family Pic is good. Something i can really zero in on. This is one thing that helps me tremendously with contractions.

The list

* focal point

* CD player

* extra change for hubby snacks out of machine

* cell phone charger

*I always bring my own linen from home ... I am about to bring life in the world and it's hard work so I'm making myself at home....

Yeah, if everything goes well, I should be discharged on the 23rd if I end up with a c-section, the 21st or 22nd if it's lady partsl without complications. If I end up preeclamptic, who knows? I just hope that the baby is okay and can come home with me! I just packed my suitcase tonight. I'm such a freak, I even packed ready-to-feed bottles of formula because I want to use Carnation Good Starts and our hospital doesn't always have it available - usually just Similac and Enfamil. (Breast feeding most likely won't happen due to an extensive breast reduction 11 years ago.)

Such a nurse!

Hey, that makes me think...to all of you who have had babies, anything special I should pack? I've read up a bit and so far, besides the formula, I have...

Nightshirts and a robe

Socks and underwear

Tight sports bras

Flip flops to wear in the yucky shower

Post partum belly binder

My own pack of decent maxi pads

Toiletries for both DH and I

Change of clothes for DH (sweats, t-shirt, socks, boxers)

Snacks for DH and I (gotta have my snacks!)

Hair scrunchies and headbands for labor

One of those funky-shaped plastic back massagers

Altoids and lip balm (for all the heavy breathing)

Car seat with warm Bundle-Me cover is in the car

Going home outfits for baby (one pink, one green - who knows??? ;))

Digital camera with extra batteries

Suggestions???

+ Add a Comment