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AMA
Original poster

I'm a Neonatal Nurse AMA

188 replies

CasualDress · 27/07/2018 10:03

Hi just thought this might be of interest to some people.
I've name changed to keep this separate from my other threads.
I'm going to work shortly but promise I will answer any questions when I get home.

OP posts:
Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 07/08/2018 21:10

@CasualDress thank you for your response. Yes it was a very bittersweet time indeed. I don’t think his lung issue was due to getting wet during delivery. The consultant said they were underdeveloped so breathing for him was like trying to blow up a balloon for the first time, basically it was really hard work, but as they matured it was more like when you blow up a balloon the 2nd time when it’s pre stretched and easier. Obviously this is the version for laymen like me! On the first night he kept getting worse and put on progressively more intensive machines to help him breathe. It took 9 days for his lungs to be strong enough for him to come home but then they just signed him off and didn’t see him again. Would just like to know more now I’m in a place to understand better. Thank you again

Original poster
CasualDress · 07/08/2018 21:37

Etothe hmm that's quite puzzling! Was it a Cpap machine he was on? It certainly sounds like he had lungs like a preemie.
How old is he now?

OP posts:
Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 07/08/2018 23:55

Yes it was. First he just had a tube up his nose (plus feeding tube etc), then he had a full on contraption over his face when he deteriorated. He was in an incubator but they weren’t too worried about temp due to him being so big. I remember just constantly watching his oxygen sats and willing them to stay above 94 (? maybe 92?). He is now 4 so the details are a bit sketchy. We are so lucky he’s had no further issues, it just seems strange not knowing what happened and why. It was a very stressful time and I was not dealt with well on labour ward. Sometimes I think I just need that awful word closure on it all....

BabySharkDooDooDooDoo · 07/08/2018 23:58

I thank you and every neonatal nurse and indeed all staff involved. I was a 28wk preemie and needed intensive care when born and my niece and nephew both needed the neonatal unit when born. The staff were and continue to be amazing

Original poster
CasualDress · 08/08/2018 09:10

Etothe I can definately understand that you need to know what happened. I am wondering if you have a 'birth afterthoughts' service in your trust? you can access this in my trust at any time after giving birth. Or maybe writing to the matron on nnu and explain your concerns. There will still be records for your son Flowers

OP posts:
Original poster
CasualDress · 08/08/2018 09:11

babyshark thank you Flowers

OP posts:
Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 08/08/2018 19:33

Thank you casual. I did try birth afterthoughts when he was 1 but they only covered what happened on labour ward, nothing once he was on NNU. They didn’t know anything about what had happened and actually couldn’t even read some of the notes from my CS! I might try contacting NNU, thanks. It’s so nice to hear that you understand why i want to know, everyone i talk to in real life thinks I should just forget it and be happy he’s fine. I am of course, I’d just like to know!

Original poster
CasualDress · 08/08/2018 20:25

Etothe of course you are happy that he is well, but you have a missing link to his care that you want/need to know.
I understand that the Labour ward wouldn't know what went on in nnu. We rarely have anything to do with Labour ward,

I would definately write or email the nnu matron and say you have tried birth afterthoughts with no luck and you would really appreciate some answers. it would help if you put his date of birth And his hospital number if you have it.
I would certainly try to help you if you wrote to us! Let me know how you get on.

OP posts:
Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 08/08/2018 21:00

Thank you. On holiday at the moment but I am going to do that when we get back. I really appreciate the advice Flowers

hendricksy · 08/08/2018 21:11

How common is it for a baby to aspirate ?

Smurf123 · 08/08/2018 21:58

Another one to say thank you for everything you do..
I'm currently sat nursing my 22 week old.. He was born at 37 weeks although had speed growing a few weeks before and i had been in and out with reduced movements from 35 weeks. My son ended up in nicu straight after birth.. It was totally unexpected. They just said he seemed very flat.. He had a pneumothorax, needed a blood transfusion at 2 days old - never seemed to find a reason why.. They thought infection so was on antibiotics but test came back negative in day 3.. He was on tpn. Weighed just 5lba 2 but looked big compared to other babies in nicu.. The day he came home we got told his calcium levels were high.. They still are although they are just outside normal range now..

He spent 5 days in nicu 1 in hdu and 1 in scbu before we got him home.
All the nurses were fantastic. We are still going back for reviews with consultants at baby clinic but he is doing really well..

Someone at tiny life told me preemies sometimes wean earlier.. Is that true??
Also I had step b although I was treated during labour could this have explained my sons "flatness" after birth even though his infection test came back negative ...

hendricksy · 09/08/2018 07:46

@Smurf123 they don't wean earlier as such , they just wean 6 months since they were born not their adjusted age ( if that makes sense ) .. it may be 4 months now , the advice changes regularly

Smurf123 · 09/08/2018 08:42

@hendricksy thanks, ds is 5 months - I have been trying to wait to 6 months but loads of people keep telling me to start blue - that ds is ready for it and is hungry and then got told that guidance was different for preemies that they wean earlier so wasn't sure

SinkGirl · 09/08/2018 08:53

Thanks so much for everything you do.

My twins were born at 35+1, 2.1 and 1.6kg, the smaller one had undiagnosed IUGR and was then diagnosed with hyperinsulinism. He now has other issues that are being investigated including possible ASD. He spent two months in there but I wasn’t there as much as I wanted to be, because of the other twin at home plus complications from my section.

I’m still haunted by the idea of him crying all night and me not being there - is that realistic? I worry if the separation has caused him issues.

hendricksy · 09/08/2018 09:01

@SinkGirl .. my son was in for 5 weeks and I wasn't there a lot of it due to it being a long way away and having a section so I cousin drive Ans having a dd and dh working etc ... he is absolutely besotted with me still at 7 so I don't think it has affected our bond .try not to beat yourself up over it . It needed to happen for him to survive and that's all that matters x

Original poster
CasualDress · 09/08/2018 11:10

hendricksy aspiration is quite common. we see a few cases a month, but bare In mind we are a big unit with babies from a Wide area.

OP posts:
Original poster
CasualDress · 09/08/2018 11:18

sinkgirl please don't for one minute feel guilty! we would never let babies cry all night! OK some babies have to cry a bit while we change his neighbours nappy, but I never intentionly let a baby cry. We love to cuddle the babies, especially on a night shiftSmile
Your baby being on nnu will not have any effect on the bonding process Flowers

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Original poster
CasualDress · 09/08/2018 11:25

smurf123 StrepB can have serious consequences for a baby if the mum doesn't know she has/had it. This could be why your baby was flat a birth, even tho you were treated during Labour.
I'm glad DS is doing well, it sounds as if the calcium levels are sorting themselves out.
And yes it sounds as if he could be ready for weaning. I agree with what hendricksy said.

OP posts:
KoshaMangsho · 09/08/2018 11:43

Bliss has the latest weaning guidelines. 17 weeks corrected as a minimum. The website has some good details. I weaned closer to adjusted age and it was fine.

QuickGetTheEggplants · 09/08/2018 11:44

Etothe I think my ds had similar problems - the balloon analogy is familiar, as is the treatment you described. He was just full term at 37 weeks and he had Respiratory Distress Syndrome/Hyaline Membrane Disease.

From what I've read it's pretty rare in a full term baby, it's more associated with prematurity. I've seen GD as a risk factor, among many others. For my little one I suspect it was either due to IUGR or sepsis (he had both). He started out on a ventilator, but was home with no issues by 11 days.

The nurses were amazing! They went above and beyond. They didn't just keep babies alive, they really cared about the babies and parents. The NICU was such a supportive place. And they kept me so well informed I don't think I have any questions for you, Casual. Thank you for your work!

SinkGirl · 09/08/2018 12:03

Thank you :) I see newborn babies now (albeit much bigger than mine) and forget how fragile and helpless they were and I hate the thought of him having been alone so much. The staff were amazing though so I’m sure they took excellent care of him when we weren’t there, I just know how busy they were!

hendricksy · 09/08/2018 13:33

@CasualDress .. are there usually after affects from it ?

Original poster
CasualDress · 09/08/2018 15:07

hendricksy not usually, if it leads to aspiration pneumonia then it's treated with antibiotics and breathing support. I guess severe cases could lead to a weakness in the lungs, making the person more susceptible to chest problems for e.g. in the winter catching coughs,colds etc
Hope that helpsFlowers

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Etotheipiplus1equals0 · 09/08/2018 22:54

Thank you Quick. I will look that up. I’m sorry you had to go through that too but It’s good to hear my son’s not the only one as it’s obviously not common full term, no medical Professional (gp/ mw/ hv) we saw after had come across it. I’m glad your son has also had no issues since. This thread has made me realise how much that time is still with me. 9 days is no time really but it really makes you realise how fragile life is. And how important people like casual are!

Anotherdayanotherdollar · 12/08/2018 23:18

I'm also a nn nurse. I've come across quite a few babies born prem at home (or en route to the hospital!). Maintaining temp is a big issue usually. Some have arrived to the unit wrapped in tin foil/cling film which is great.

I'm delighted to see so many posters appreciative of the job we do, my actual job title is that if a midwife so I'm used to being slated on MN!

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