Preemie baby

[lisajl]

A friend of our family had a baby on Feb 2. He was 2 months early and weighs only 2 lb 6 oz right now.
We went to see him yesterday and he is so cute! He looks perfect, just small.
He has a feeding tube, and monitors but that is it.

Now, here's a question for all of you that have had preemies.
What can we do to help them? My DH has been friends of their family since he was young. The dads family lives in Michigan and the moms family in Indiana and Illinois (mom and dad divorced). We are the closest family (in town) they have. We are only about 45 min from them.

We took a baby gift and a gift cert. to Pizza hut, thought they may need a break from hospital food.
What else can we do without interfering?

Thanks everyone!
Lisa

 

[kbkids]

I've had two preemies, both born two months early. The restaurant gift certificates are great, but the thing that helped me the most was a group of friends who came in and straightened up the house some, did the laundry. We were at the hospital ALL the time. We only came home to sleep and change clothes, consequently things started piling up quick. They didn't do any major cleaning, just simple stuff to keep the house picked up.

Depending on the baby, it could be in the hospital anywhere from 2 weeks to 8 weeks. My first one was there for 6 weeks, simply waiting to be the right weight to come home (4 pounds), and my second was only there for 10 days (the doctor fudged for me and let him come home at 3 1/2 pounds since I had been through it before, and he felt comfortable with my experience.)

You know, and just ask them. There may be some shopping that the mom never got a chance to get finished. Does she have all her baby stuff? We realized two days before my 1st one was coming home that we had never got the crib set up, so my dad ran to the house and set it up for us.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

A friend of our family had a baby on Feb 2. He was 2 months early and weighs only 2 lb 6 oz right now.
We went to see him yesterday and he is so cute! He looks perfect, just small.
He has a feeding tube, and monitors but that is it.

Now, here's a question for all of you that have had preemies.
What can we do to help them? My DH has been friends of their family since he was young. The dads family lives in Michigan and the moms family in Indiana and Illinois (mom and dad divorced). We are the closest family (in town) they have. We are only about 45 min from them.

We took a baby gift and a gift cert. to Pizza hut, thought they may need a break from hospital food.
What else can we do without interfering?

Thanks everyone!
Lisa

My sister had a premmie, He was 2.2 pounds.

The only advice I can give, is they will be at the hospital for a long time. My nephew was born in May and came home in September. This little guy may be luckier, but they are looking at at least 6 weeks, I am sure.

Do they have other kids you can offer to babysit? How about offering to clean the house? Taking care of any pets they have. Pretty much anything that allows them to be at the hospital without worrying about what's at home.

What a great friend you are!

 

[golfgal]

How far away from the hospital do they live? If they have to drive a distance, gas cards might be nice. I think all new parents would love help around the house so cleaning for them once/week or so is a great suggestion. Depending on the rules of the hospital you may or may not be able to go to the hospital with them but sometimes having someone there to talk with while you do baby stuff is nice. Send over some books, etc. too because there is a lot of sitting around time at the hospital too.

 

[lisajl]

This is their first and he will be in the hospital for at least another month.
Depends on when he makes his weight.

We are not really close to the mom and dad, but I think we may be now! LOL!
I told mom if she needed anything just let me know. She said I could babysit! I just about fell over! I told her once he is doing well and a bit bigger I would LOVE to babysit!
I am so happy they are willing to let us into their family.

They only live about 30 minutes from the hospital. Since she had him early she said her house is a mess and she has so much to do.
I don't know that she would want me at her home, but I can ask.

These are all great ideas. Thanks everyone, I knew I could count on you!

BTW, the mom is so sweet she said, "I think I like this mom thing." She is ready to have another one, too!!

 

[CF'er]

Having twins born at 31 weeks I can attest to all of the above suggestions. Also a good idea about them maybe not being ready for baby to come home ie: crib etc....

Has she had her showers yet? I think the offer of house cleaning and maybe having meals at home ready for them would be nice too. Something they could just heat up.

Prayers go out to her and the baby.

 

[Stitchfans]

Youngest DD (Stitchfansjr) was a preemie. 8 weeks early. 2 pounds 5 ozs. For me personally, I needed and wanted prayers. Also an occasional shoulder to cry on. We didn't get to bring her home until 3 months later.

 

[jbmom]

My sisters middle son was born at 27 weeks and weighed 2.2 He was and still is the most miraculous little guy he's 9 now. She really appreciated home cooked meals, she and her DH were so tired after spending the day in the hospital that they couldn't really think about going out to eat. House cleaning was also appreciated as well as a shoulder to cry on. I sat with her at the hospital for hours on end while my Dh watched their oldest son. He was there for 3 months and it seemed a lot of people were concerned at first but then faded away as time went on.

 

[Sonya]

I really wanted someone to come sit with me. DH would drop me of at the hosp. and I would be there all day, alone, with my hormones raging. I would cry all the time. I wish someone would have come and sat with me.

Also, she probably can't drive yet. Maybe you could take her someplace she might need/want to go? Take her out to lunch and back to the hosp. Take her home for a nap.

 

[Ava83]

I did not have a preemie-but I did have my baby in the NICU for 10 days (bless you all for longer time-10 days was hard enough) Ava had meconium aspiration- Miss Trouble thought she could breathe it all in...all was well thankfully.

The cleaning the house is good, (and I don't know if this is feasible) drives to the hospital, maybe some preemie clothes (If they can be arranged around the tubes-only the snap ones-they are easier to modify) I hated seeing little naked babies. And lots of love and support-You all sound like wonderful friends!

 

[Caropooh]

BTW, the mom is so sweet she said, "I think I like this mom thing." She is ready to have another one, too!!

Sounds like Mom could be in denial about how the baby is doing. If he is just over 2 lbs, I'd say they are in for a long haul. It's a roller coaster ride in the NICU, he's going to have his good days and his bad ones. Her's a link for an excellent online group, give this to her! http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preemie-list/ DD7 was born 8 weeks early at 4 lbs 6 oz. She did really well and came home after only 19 days.
Helpwise, I'd say maybe get some meals together that they could just pop in the oven when they get home from the hospital. They will be wonderful for them right now while they are visiting their sone and also after he comes home. Maybe a couple preemie outfits.

 

[kbkids]

Sounds like Mom could be in denial about how the baby is doing. If he is just over 2 lbs, I'd say they are in for a long haul.

Not necessarily. My first was born at 32 weeks, weighed 1 lb 13 oz. The only thing wrong was that she had a bad case of reflux and couldn't gain the weight because of it. Consequently, she was in the hospital for 6 weeks, literally trying to just gain weight. She had no other issues, just like the OP said about this one. My daughter did have a feeding tube until she could learn to suck, but was never on a respirator, no issues whatsoever. I know we got lucky, but if this baby is just on a feeding tube and nothing else, chances are good that he's fine and can go home really soon.

DS was born at 32 weeks also and weighed 3 lbs. He stayed for 10 days only, was on a feeding tube only for a couple of days.

Every child is different, and I know we were blessed to have no problems with them being born so early, especially with the first one, as she was extremely underweight for her gestational age.

 

[lisajl]

Like I said earlier...he looks just perfect. I am hoping and praying for them that he can come home in a month. She is just soooo ready to be the mom.
You know, all the stuff we moms do for our little ones. She was a bit hesitant about moving him yesterday, but the nurse showed her how to do it.

I think I will make an extra pan of ziti this week and take it to them.
That is a great idea! Thanks!

My DH and I bought a 0-3 month outfit for the baby...we laughed so hard when we looked at it and then at the baby!!
He is just so tiny.

BTW, yes, I think she does need someone else to talk to. I am going to try to arrange some time off this week and maybe next to spend at the hospital with her, while my kids are in school.
She was really ready to talk yesterday.

Lisa

 

[kbkids]

My DH and I bought a 0-3 month outfit for the baby...we laughed so hard when we looked at it and then at the baby!!
He is just so tiny.


Lisa

My DD wore doll clothes for quite some time. It's probably going to hard to find doll clothes for a boy though. The Little Me brand does make some preemie clothes, and that's what both my kids wore for several months. DD couldn't fit in a 0-3 month outfit until she was 6 months old!

 

[hpygrll]

My second son was born at 32 weeks and spent 3 1/2 weeks in the NICU. I agree with getting someone to clean the house!!!! That would be huge - also food to re-heat.

My big thing was books - you spend so much time in the NICU - it's nice to have something to read.

You are very nice to want to help!!! A baby in the NICU sucks.

Jenny

 

[lisajl]

My second son was born at 32 weeks and spent 3 1/2 weeks in the NICU. I agree with getting someone to clean the house!!!! That would be huge - also food to re-heat.

My big thing was books - you spend so much time in the NICU - it's nice to have something to read.

You are very nice to want to help!!! A baby in the NICU sucks.

Jenny

Hi Jenny! We are in Delaware!

 

[hpygrll]

Hi Jenny! We are in Delaware!

Hi Lisa!!!!!!!!!

I love the OSU Banners - OSU alumni here

Jenny

 

[TheOtherVillainess]

Offer to do laundry. I know what a chore that is and it certainely would help.

TOV

 

[Boston Tea Party]

My son was in NICU for 5 weeks.

I second the laundry/cleaning suggestion.

 

[Kimberle]

Sounds like Mom could be in denial about how the baby is doing. If he is just over 2 lbs, I'd say they are in for a long haul. It's a roller coaster ride in the NICU, he's going to have his good days and his bad ones.

I agree, Mom may know exactly how baby is doing! My preemie was 1#15.5 oz, 11 weeks early. She's celebrating her 8th b-day in a couple of weeks and has absolutly no lasting effects. I would have been offended if someone said that about me.

Now, my suggestion is home cooked meals in single serve containers. They can pop them in the freezer, then microwave. I was back and forth to the hospital 2-3x per day, home pumping inbetween. I was so SICK of fast food!!! It was really hard to shop and cook, even simple dishes.

I also wouldn't recomend many preemie outfits. They can't wear them in NICU until they are almost ready to come home. Then, when they are home, they grow so fast. I really liked the layett gowns. It mad diaper changing so easy.