Caring for your LO whilst in Neonatal Unit

[Jacey]

Ladies

I hope you dont mind me posting here as strictly I dont belong here. My LO is going to be placed in the specia care neonatal unit once she is born for a few days whilst her heart defect is monitored in order to make a decision re heart surgery.

She will be placed on a drip via her hand during this time but so far thats all I have been told, as its a wait and see situation.

Whilst she is on this drip what will I be expected / allowed to do in order to look after her? I presume I will need to be there for feeding and nappy changes etc, there is no guarantee of a bed for me to stay with her so im wondering do we arrange 24 hour care between us as parents, are we expected to be there 24 hours? Not sure what to pack for her as not sure what to expect at all.

Any advice would be great - thank you x

 

[Laura2919]

Hiya. I think you will be allowed to do all the things as normal just not take her home. I would imagine so anyway!
I could change Chloe and Jaycee and also bathe them, get them out for cuddles and feed them too!
I think its something you may have to ask your neonatal unit hun!

I used to go in at 12pm 4pm and 8pm and all the other feeds and nappy changes were done by the nurses, I couldnt be there all the time as I had a very bad birth and I had lots of appointments and seeing Health Visitors and others in the mornings.

The girls were born at one hospital and then transferred almost immediately to another hospital 70 miles away! Then when I placement came up they were brought back to a hospital nearer me and we set a routine and the nurses and I both agreed I needed time to recover and I had had a section too so I wasnt able to drive there..

Do you know whether she will be in an incubator, hot cot or normal cot??
I would phone because if she is in a normal cot then you have to be prepared with clothes and stuff
x

 

[Aidedhoney]

My son has a heart defect and spent a wk in NICU before been transfered to a specialist hospital for surgery.

1st day he was in an incubator, he had an NG tube for feeding, a drip and obviously the cardiac leads. He wore just a nappy.
After the 1st day he was transfered to an open cot where he still had the same tubes and leads but he was dressed.

I was encouraged to spend as much time with him in the NICU but i was still a patient, some days contact was limited as it caused him to tire and his heart to race.

The NICU staff will encourage you to be hands on and of course they will keep you right.

You should try and arrange a tour of NICU before birth if possible then you can ask your questions and you will know what to expect.

Good Luck xx

 

[ninab]

When Alice was in the incubator I couldn't have much contact at all but once she was transfered to a cot I did most of the day time care. I was there from approx 9am untill 8pm, the nurses did the night care though x

 

[Bec L]

We were allowed to do Poppy's 'cares' ie washing her with cotton wool and water, changing her nappy etc. If she was awake and alert enough I could also breastfeed her but otherwise she was tube fed.

Our SCBU provided clothes, nappies, feeding equipment and stuff but it is probably best you check before hand to get a better idea of what you'll need.

I used to be at the hospital from about 8am till 9pm but that is personal choice and the nurses will just expect you to be there as often as you can be.
Good luck xx

 

[AP]

Although we could go in from 8.30 to 10.30 I didnt stay the whole day. I spent a few hours, went home, sorted out things at home and went back after teatime. You dont NEED to be there 24/7, and certainly not through the night. Its a personal choice though!

 

[Jacey]

Thank you soo much ladies for sharing your experiences etc. I think i will contact the neonatal unit as I havent a clue what type of care she will need other than a drip in the back of her hand for a few days and heart scans and traces I presume.

MASSIVE thank you to u all x