NICU Grad Check in January

[motownthrowdown]

Happy 2016! 

Birth weight/current weight:

Gestation at birth/current age:

New skills, milestones, etc:

Ongoing issues:

How are YOU doing?

GTKY: what is your favorite part of having a NICU grad?

[motownthrowdown]

Birth weight: 1 lb 14 oz. Current weight: probably around 13 pounds

Gestational age: 28w0d. Current age: 5 months adjusted on the 6th, 8 months actual on the 14th.

New skills/milestones/etc: she's getting much better at rolling. She's eating solids three times a day now. She likes to "help" feed herself with the spoon, but she always grabs the food instead of the spoon. Getting good at assisted sitting and kneeling, she can stand assisted and holds herself very briefly without assistance.

Ongoing issues: constant worry about her shunt for hydrocephalus, working with physical therapy to make sure she keeps up.

How are YOU doing? I'm in therapy for PTSD from our NICU stay and PPD/PPA. I need to take more time for myself to recharge.

GTKY: knowing that we all came through it stronger and tougher than I ever thought possible.

[runningmommy519]

@loonylove it's easy to get stressed about weight gain. Just take a deep breath. It'll be ok.

Something to keep in mind, yes he gained more in the NICU. He didn't burn calories trying to eat when they were feeding him with the tube and he does by both breast and bottle but there's something about being home and just going with the flow that helps too. You are more relaxed and less worried. Go with your instinct mama

[runningmommy519]

Birthweight:
DS1: 3lbs 4.5oz/probably about 40 lbs
DS2: 4lbs 5.8 lbs/probably 13-14 lbs

Gestation age
DS1: 35+1/ 4 in March
DS2: 35/ 6 months next week.

New skills
DS1:very smar. Advanced for his age academically. Very high vocabulary.
DS2: rolling to side. He rolled belly to back once. Very smiley.

Ongoing issues
DS1: SPD and likely ADHD
DS2: breastfeeding. He doesn't like it. I also worry about weight gain even though we do mostly bottles.

I'm doing pretty good. Pregnant belly past 35 weeks trigger me. Complaints about pregnancy trigger me.

I feel like I gave an appreciation for the little things. Like crying or just waking up to eat. Or just eating. I both love and hate that I had to go through this twice

[mandie]

I haven't posted here, but I hope you don't mind if I join.

Birthweight: 4lbs
Current weight: about 9.5 lbs

33 wks, 14 weeks old, 7 adjusted (I think. I'm bad at keeping track).

Skills: she's grabbing things more and she is really getting good head control. She's rolled belly to back a number of times, but she hasn't done back to belly

Ongoing issues: none. But she is in PT, because I had concerns of torticollis. And she doesn't ever look midline. But my son had torticollis and plagiocephaly, so I was probably hyper aware of her side preference.

I just went to the OB about PPD/PPA/something. I have a lot of resentment towards my daughter and how quickly she came and how I wasn't ready to share my son. And then I feel guilty, because I know 33 weeks is a great GA. And she only spent 3 weeks in the NICU. And so many people have it so much worse, so I end up in a cycle of guilt and resentment. So that isn't healthy for anybody.

Best thing about the NICU is that it was incredible to see the amount of people who care for us and who are willing to help. Sometimes I feel isolated, and it was a good reminder that I just need to reach out and ask for help.

[motownthrowdown]

mandie, don't feel guilty because "someone has it worse". You are entitled to feel however you want to about your experiences. Any NICU time is too much. It would be weird if your weren't at least a little pissed about the whole thing.

[jense927]

Birth weight/current weight: 4lb 1 ounce / 28 lbs!

Gestation at birth/current age: 31 weeks / 2 years

New skills, milestones, etc: He is talking so much more now. Some two word phrases popping up. Such a fun stage.

Ongoing issues: He has asthma that pops up whenever he gets a cold. Lots of nebulizer treatments. He does pretty good with it though. We let him watch Thomas while we do it. Sometimes he'll walk over to it and say medicine!

How are YOU doing? This time of year its kind of emotional. He was born Dec 8th and in until Jan 17 and then last year at 1 year old he was hospitalized for RSV for a week.

GTKY: what is your favorite part of having a NICU grad? Honestly just how precious each milestone and accomplishment is. I don't put any pressure on when he accomplishes things because he has been behind all along its an accepted fact at this point. And he always gets there and when he does we are over the moon.

[alygohome]

Hey guys, just checking in for the first time. It's coming up to my preemies 1 st bday and I have been thinking about our NICU time a lot so hope it's ok I participate a bit, 

Birth weight/current weight:
5 lbs/ probably around 18 lbs

Gestation at birth/current age:
35+2 / 1 year on January 11th 

New skills, milestones, etc:

Learning to walk/talk
Ongoing issues:
Her weight is still low, was 17.6 on her last monthly weigh in and I think she hasn't gained since. Was hoping to move her up on the charts a bit since she has dropped almost 2 whole points in the past 4 months. 

How are YOU doing?

Trigger maybe...

I am currently pregnant again plus coming up on her birthday brings back all the feels. This time last year I was in and out of the hospital, I was induced on Jan 9th and we left the NICU on Jan 22. The smell of hand sanitizer still brings me back. All the emotions still seem...fresh. And I am terrified of doing it all again. 
GTKY: what is your favorite part of having a NICU grad?

[meladorie]

My likes were for support. Hugs to those of you struggling right now.

---

Birth weight/current weight: 3 lb 10 oz at birth. Not sure exactly but I think currently around 20 pounds.

Gestation at birth/current age: 31.3 weeks at birth. Currently 10 days away from turning 1!

New skills, milestones, etc: he's crawling, pulling up, shrieking and babbling. The current milestone we are working towards is standing unsupported. He lets go and balances just for a second.

Ongoing issues: none. We are so lucky to have such s healthy guy.

How are YOU doing? Good. Stressed because we are thinking of ttc again. But with my loss history and having a preemie, it's a scary idea. On the plus side we have decided to buy a house so that process is just getting underway.

GTKY: what is your favorite part of having a NICU grad? When strangers tell me how big he is and I tell them he was 2 months early. They're always shocked. I'm so proud of how far he has come.