Nervous to bring my preemie home....help!

[Xmmommy]

Okay so I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia when my baby was 26 weeks and I stayed in the hospital 3 weeks before having her. One night my blood pressure went up soo high they gave me a emergency c-section. So my daughter was born at 29 weeks and 5 days and she weighed 2.5 pounds. She has been in the nicu 3weeks today, she is doing very well but I'm still nervous to bring her home. I breastfed her Friday and she did great started sucking fine. She is even being moved to a open crib sometime this week because she is holding her own temp. I have a 3 year old son, I'm 22 and I'm just nervous to bring her home I am comfortable now because there are nurses and doctors around her all day and night. They are thinking she will be able to come home in two weeks, I really want my baby home with me but I am going to be a nervous wreck at first. Has anyone ever felt like me?

[Iskkra]

Yes... My youngest was born at 34 weeks - not in too bad of shape but had bad jaundice and low blood sugars so he was in the nicu for a week. I was anxious to bring him home but terrified - it was flu season, RSV and whooping cough were rampant in our area, and I had a three year old too... It was scary, but you just have to remember that you were given this challenge because you ARE strong enough to deal with it. You are the mom, your instincts will prevail and you will know what's best for your baby. Keep your head up! You can do this!

[Xmmommy]

How was your three year old with your baby? And don't mean to get off topic but did you use a crib or bassinet more?

[Iskkra]

My three year old was great (still is, now that he's four). He adores his brother, is helpful and careful and sweet to him... Of course things were confusing to him at first - he had a hard time understanding why he had to wash his hands before touching the baby and why he had to be quiet, etc, but we eventually settled into a routine (sort of - baby turned out to be ultra high needs so there's been very little napping and a lot of crying, for the last eleven months). As far as sleeping situations, we used a bassinet for the first three months sometimes (especially when we were using the billi blanket for that first two weeks home) but mostly baby bedshared to get as much nursing time in as possible. It has worked for us, except now that he is crawling it's been hard to keep him on the bed...

[Smama123]

i was a nanny for a little boy that was a little over a pound when he was born and let me tell you that it was scary at first.  i was lucky to deliver a nine pound baby but the experience with the preemie really helped me.  just remember that you are the mother, you love your baby and you will be GREAT!  wash hands, and stay calm and just enjoy your precious baby.

[MrsBoats08]

Dh was more of a wreak than I was! Every time ds (33 weeker) made any noise in the bassinet, he was up, and checking him up and down :).

[avulgamo]

Wow, you must have a very healthy baby for your 29 weeker to be release after 5 weeks! That's awesome!

My son was 35 weeks and was in the nicu for 11 days. I am a first time mom and was soooo nervous to bring him home! I think it is normal to feel that way :-)

[OBImomma]

My dd was born at 30 weeks 1 day. She spent 33 days in the NICU. I was so ready for her to come home, I wasn't nervous, I figured the hospital saw her as healthy so she would be fine. Maybe not the best way to look at it but she was/is fine.

[Amber5151]

I just had my baby boy 6 days ago at about 34.4 weeks and he is still in the NICU. I am so so ready for him to come home but surprisingly not that nervous about it. I know in my heart he will thrive more with MORE human interaction with his mommy and daddy rather than the nurses.

[TXSouthernGrace]

I have felt the exact same way!  I wanted to ask the Doctor are you sure? My baby was born at 28weeks due to help syndrome.  Mine was 1lb 13oz and came home at 5lbs 4 oz.  It is super scarey but you will do fine.  The Doctor wouldnt allow for her to come home if he/she didnt feel the baby or you were ready.  Ask lots of questions to the NICU nurses on how they bathe her etc.  You probably already know, NICU nurses usually get mommys involved.  Is she getting a Synagis shot (RSV)?  My girl is on it and it has kept her very healthy, no RSV. 

First advice get caught up on sleep prior to her coming home.  Second, dont be surprised if you get really sleep deprived when she is home.  I know I couldnt sleep much at all, so make sure you have help.  I did a diary blog on my little girl if it can help, www.growingsydneygrace.blogspot.com 

Your Mommy instincts will kick in and you will do great.  You know your baby girl better than anyone.  Congrats on her homecoming!    

[mommysbaby2011]

OMG I felt the same way, my baby came at 29 weeks I was so scared to bring her home after staying in the hospital for almost 2 months weighing 2 pound 13 oz, because she would breathe really hard and fast when she would eat, so I kept on telling the Dr. that I did not think she was ready to come home so the night that we had to room in at the hospital she did great it was almost like she knew that she was getting ready to come home and be with her family, I was so scared until that night it made it all to real for me and I started motherhood again and it was a wonderful feeling so don't be scared you will do just fine, do think to hard about it God gave you your little miracle and we all know he does not give you anything that you can not handle