mermom

I appreciate your response. I'm actually doing my online research as we speak, and apparently it's not usually a matter of falls from the tramp. Just the forces associated with jumping is the main culprit. Well, at least I'm better informed about tramp safety, but my ds (10) loves to do acrobatics, and of course all the kids want to jump together. I have some tough rule-changing and-enforcing to do today. Wen

Hello all, Please forgive the intrusion, I was reading the NICU nurses forum and in the discussion regarding whether a NICU nurse would choose homebirth, it was mentioned that for the same reasons a NICU nurse would not choose homebirth due to their experiences with homebirth tragedies, that a trauma nurse would not buy a motorcycle, and a PICU nurse would not get her child a trampoline. I was surprised that a trampoline was given as the ultimate example in that instance. I'm very concerned as we own a trampoline. Ours has a safety net. Are the injuries mostly associated with falls from the trampoline? Please be blunt. Wen

I have read that there actually is a Level II Plus (or +), which sounds like what you have, and what my dd stayed in. Because I read everywhere that Level II does not typically accommodate vent/CPAP. I was confused since my dd was on CPAP, and there were vented babies in the other rooms. The Level III was next door at the children's hospital. So I nosed around online and found a reference to a "Level II+" classification, or advanced level II. Wen

In defense of online support groups, they saved my sanity. I'm sure I would've dealt with the experience on my own terms somehow without them, possibly found a few preemie parents in my small community to relate to who understood what I was going through, but it was an invaluable source of comfort and companionship right at my fingertips 24/7 throughout a very unique, isolating, traumatic, misunderstood, and underestimated ordeal and emotional recovery. I've heard how stressful the home monitors can be from my online communities, but on the other hand, I had severe sleep deprivation and stress worrying that my preemie would have an ALTE while we slept. So that can go both ways. Of course *all parents* worry about SIDS, but when your baby is a preemie and you've been through the trauma of seeing them stop breathing and turn gray many times, I think the stress of home monitoring would've been much easier to tolerate, again *for me*. And well, I think my friend who's baby would've died without one, would agree. Wen

ALTE = Apparent Life-Threatening Event Sometimes (in our case) used to describe un-self-resolving A-B episodes Wen

Thank you for the info~ after 4 years I'm still learning. I realize there are no guarantees even with healthy FT babies, but with the increased risk of prematurity and according to history, I think a few months of home monitoring would have been prudent in both of our cases. I know of several 35 and 36-weekers who were sent home on monitors without apneic histories or evident risk, and were referred for Synagis with less risk factors than my 34-weeker (discharge in late October, K-age sibling, history of RDS). It's just frustrating when protocol varies so widely and makes little sense (to me). Wen

Hi all, I have a friend who had a 33-weeker (born IUGR at 3#3oz) who was in NIC for 4 weeks and had a Grade I and Grade II (or III) IVH. While in NIC he had a few apnea episodes. A week after discharge he had a nearly fatal episode at home. If not for an AngelCare monitor her parents had provided and her husband's CPR capabilities, he would not be here. He was re-admitted and is awaiting tests. Should he have been provided a home monitor with his history of IVH despite a lack of a-b episodes? Also~ my 34-weeker had many ALTE episodes while in NIC but was sent home sans monitor. Of course she had to pass her 7-day watch to be discharged. But is the 7-day watch that reliable that it assures no need for home monitoring? In our case that proved to be true, thank goodness...but what if it hadn't? Shouldn't all preemies with any remote potential for life-threatening episodes post-discharge be on a home monitor? Wen *preemie mom*

I was thinking more along the lines of "parent-friendly" terms of endearment. For example: Isolette-- womb with a view Preemie tank top-- nurse-beater step-down unit/feeder-grower room-- fat farm Heat lamp-- french fry warmer/bun warmer Lactation room-- dairy farm

Hi nurses, Would you please share your funny preemie/NICU pet names for things, like some of these for example: first attempt at breast-- "meet and greet" under oxyhood-- in da 'hood c-pap-- elephant impression coming off of monitors-- (baby's name) unplugged etc I hope you don't mind this frivolous request. As a preemie mom I along with other preemie parents found these amusing bits of NICU humor a very welcome comic relief. Thanks Wen

This was very enlightening, thank you. I can always find information here that I can't find elsewhere on the web. I'm very appreciative of you ladies for taking a moment to help me understand from a truly realistic first-hand POV. Preemie/NIC parent support is so crucial, and to have a crumb to throw to someone desperately hungry for answers is invaluable. Thank you so much~

Interestingly we just touched on this subject on my preemie parenting bb while discussing the frustration over the misconception of what preemies actually are. While I enjoy some of her work, we were discussing how this type of "glorification" can propagate and perpetuate the gross misconception that preemies are just cute little babies, and the desire among unsuspecting women to have one.

Hi ladies, Preemie mom here with a quandry. Often times on the preemie parenting forum we'll get a later-term (past 32 weeks) preemie mom who is frustrated by extended time in NIC for Brady-watch. Here's why I'm confused. It seems that they are more inclined to make sure the later term preemies completely outgrow their B's before sending them home, but will send home earlier preemies with occassional A's&B's and monitors and O2, caffiene, etc. Can you tell me the difference? Thanks, Wen Preemie mom and NICU nurse fan :kiss

The reason I ask is that there is a bit of controversy regarding early (pre-38 weeks) self-induction inquiries. We are concerned that these mothers do not truly comprehend the gravity of the possible implications for their babies. Are we over-reacting? My point is that in contradiction to the popular belief that early induction won't work unless and until your body and baby are ready, is that if you are unknowingly at risk for preterm labor, this could provoke a pre"mature" birth.

I was just wondering how many 37,38-weekers do you encounter in the NICU due to organ immaturity (RDS, etc). **I am adding my subsequent question further down in the thread here, so that it will be seen: The reason I ask is that there is a bit of controversy regarding early (pre-38 weeks) self-induction inquiries. We are concerned that these mothers do not truly comprehend the gravity of the possible implications for their babies. Are we over-reacting? My point is that in contradiction to the popular belief that early induction won't work unless and until your body and baby are ready, is that if you are unknowingly at risk for preterm labor, this could provoke a pre"mature" birth. Is this a valid concern? Thanks~ Wen

Have any of you seen a 29 or 30.0 weeker go home in 3 weeks? Is that plausible? Thanks Wendy *preemie mom*