On August 20, Connor was released from the hospital. But first, I had to take off work (I had already gone back), and we ran some errands. We cleaned the house, we bought some supplies, and got ready to take him home.
In the NICU, though, it is not just a matter of taking a baby home. First, you watch a baby CPR video, then you watch a video entitled "Don't Shake the Baby". The CPR video is useful, although it would have been nice to have the practice doll they kept showing. The "don't shake the baby" is an 80's videotape, and 30 minutes of viewing pleasure that I can sum up pretty easily Don't shake your baby! I did learn that men are more likely to shake their baby's than women, although when Connor cries I think it is so cute that I don't see how anyone could get angry enough to do that.
We finally took him home, and the feeling is a mix of joy and nervousness. We were excited to have him home, but we realized the safety net was now gone. In the NICU, the nurses are there to help you out. I don't think we slept at all the first day, and I personally went to Baby's R Us, Wal-Mart and Target several times each, buying stuff, returning stuff, and buying stuff again.
Monday, August 31, 2009
ICU (through week 2)
Two and a half weeks passed with Connor in the NICU. During these two weeks, we got very used to the routing of hand washing, feeding every 3 hours, and seeing him attached to all sorts of wires and monitors. Some days were harder than others.
We also learned of stories of babies that were much worse off than Connor and little miracles that had happened, but knew that for some, the miracles probably wouldn't happen. It is heart wrenching to know that some of these babies wont' make it. I can't imagine the pain.
In some ways, it is also hard being the parents of one of the least sick kids in the NICU. You can't help but care more about your baby and worry more about them and their care, but the Doctor's and nurses obviously pay more attention to the sicker ones. But, you also can't be in the ICU 24 hours a day, so you have to trust your baby to their care. The hospital that we were at was great, don't get me wrong, but some nurses seemed to pay more attention to Connor than others.
On August 19, after having been in the NICU for over 2 weeks, the Doctors and nurses had weened Connor off of both the oxygen and the heat of the incubator, and the Doctor told Ann that he could go home that day. Ann wanted to be extra careful, so asked them to keep Connor for another day and do a 24 hours sleep study, and they agreed to do so. We knew that he would probably be going home the next day.
We also learned of stories of babies that were much worse off than Connor and little miracles that had happened, but knew that for some, the miracles probably wouldn't happen. It is heart wrenching to know that some of these babies wont' make it. I can't imagine the pain.
In some ways, it is also hard being the parents of one of the least sick kids in the NICU. You can't help but care more about your baby and worry more about them and their care, but the Doctor's and nurses obviously pay more attention to the sicker ones. But, you also can't be in the ICU 24 hours a day, so you have to trust your baby to their care. The hospital that we were at was great, don't get me wrong, but some nurses seemed to pay more attention to Connor than others.
On August 19, after having been in the NICU for over 2 weeks, the Doctors and nurses had weened Connor off of both the oxygen and the heat of the incubator, and the Doctor told Ann that he could go home that day. Ann wanted to be extra careful, so asked them to keep Connor for another day and do a 24 hours sleep study, and they agreed to do so. We knew that he would probably be going home the next day.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
NICU
For the next portion of Connor's young life....
Connor was with us for 4 days in the room with us at the hospital. During this time, we prepared to take him home, as we were told that what what we needed to do. We had the car seat study done, we filled out the birth certificate. I called around and found out how to get the car seat base in my car. We called the pediatrician for a Thursday vist. We bought some clothes and diapers for home. We borrowed a crib mattress. None of that mattered, because we were so
happy to have a wonderful little baby boy coming home with us.
But, 2 days turned into 3 and they told us to stay a little longer. 3 days turned into 4 and they told us to stay a little longer "just in case".
After 4 days of being in the room with us, Connor's temperature dropped below 74 degrees in 24 hours. The pediatrician came in looking very concerned and told us that this meant that Connor had to go to the ICU automatically.
The week went from being the best week of our lives to being one of the scariest.
After being in the room with us for 4 days, in which we all fell deeply in love with him, he was taken to the ICU. Connor was wheeled into his crib and put into an incubator in the ICU. After being in there for a short period of time, they noticed his Oxygen saturation was too low as well.
Connor was then put onto oxygen with a nasal canula within a few hours of being taken into the ICU. Those next few days were some of the most difficult days Ann and I have ever been through.
Connor was with us for 4 days in the room with us at the hospital. During this time, we prepared to take him home, as we were told that what what we needed to do. We had the car seat study done, we filled out the birth certificate. I called around and found out how to get the car seat base in my car. We called the pediatrician for a Thursday vist. We bought some clothes and diapers for home. We borrowed a crib mattress. None of that mattered, because we were so
happy to have a wonderful little baby boy coming home with us.
But, 2 days turned into 3 and they told us to stay a little longer. 3 days turned into 4 and they told us to stay a little longer "just in case".
After 4 days of being in the room with us, Connor's temperature dropped below 74 degrees in 24 hours. The pediatrician came in looking very concerned and told us that this meant that Connor had to go to the ICU automatically.
The week went from being the best week of our lives to being one of the scariest.
After being in the room with us for 4 days, in which we all fell deeply in love with him, he was taken to the ICU. Connor was wheeled into his crib and put into an incubator in the ICU. After being in there for a short period of time, they noticed his Oxygen saturation was too low as well.
Connor was then put onto oxygen with a nasal canula within a few hours of being taken into the ICU. Those next few days were some of the most difficult days Ann and I have ever been through.
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