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Original poster

Gifts for preemie and mum?

22 replies

Merename · 17/09/2019 20:58

Does anyone have much experience of a preemie baby? Good friend’s baby was born suddenly at 32 weeks recently and am going to visit tomorrow. Was planning to go and buy a few tiny baby bits, I see online though they are often up to 7lb and she is 3lb. She’s also likely to be in scbu for several weeks more so maybe she doesn’t need clothes? Is this a bit pointless and will everyone be buying that size? I know I found all the 0-3 clothes people bought me pointless as my babies were massive and only wore babygros at that stage, but I imagine it’ll be a while before she’s in that size, bless her.

Also planning to get mum the usual things I wanted and give other new mums, breast pads, nice snacks, etc, but do you have any other insights into things that may be useful for her in this situation?

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eurochick · 17/09/2019 21:06

I had a premmie of similar weight. She didn't wear clothes at first but mothercare used to do two pre-newborn sizes so you could always pick up some of those for her to wear when she is moved to an open cot. At our hospital they were allowed a small soft toy in their crib. We had a couple on rotation as they sometimes got milk on. I slept with them for a night so they smelled of me when I wasn't there.

For the mother, cake would probably be appreciated! Someone sent me a basket of brownies and muffins and I inhaled them! I was expressing and I think my body knew I needed to produce gold top to bulk up my tiny baby- I wanted all the calories!

HariboHippo · 17/09/2019 21:12

I second PP, my 33 week preemie wasn’t allowed clothes for quite a while due to tubes and wires etc. What we did use though were a couple of super soft blankets/Muslins to cover us during skin to skin time, to preserve a bit of modesty in the open scbu ward. It’s tricky to cuddle skin to skin with wires and tubes etc.

Food was defo also welcome, a change from canteen sandwiches or nothing due to not wanting to leave baby for long.

Sirzy · 17/09/2019 21:16

A nice hand cream for mum.

Even if clothes won’t fit now they will down the line so don’t discount them. A nice teddy for now? Maybe one of the ones with a little blanket attached?

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Original poster

Merename · 17/09/2019 21:18

Thanks both. Yeah maybe a lovely soft blanket is a good idea, as that would come in handy later anyway if she can’t use now. Or I thought about a cloth wipes kit - I swear by them and would recommend them for any mum, but it’s an expensive buy if that’s not her thing. Cake is pretty universal new mum kit innit!

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Marmite27 · 17/09/2019 21:18

M&S have a nice preemie range too. Nice and colourful, rather than pale pink/blue or grey that Mothercare do.

Windydaysuponus · 17/09/2019 21:19

Nice pilllow and fleecy blanket for the dm! Hospital bedding is awful!

Original poster

Merename · 17/09/2019 21:22

Yeah you’re right @Sirzy, clothes will fit later, I just always found it a bit hard when folk gave me clothes that wouldnt fit for many months, to remember to get them out at the right stage! And they were often the wrong season by then. I also don’t have any idea how quickly or not a baby that wee is likely to put on wait - do they grow at the same rate as full termers?

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Robs20 · 17/09/2019 21:22

We spent 4 months in nicu. I agree lots of nice snacks for mum. Could you also take some ready meals for the evening? The best gift we got was a huge bag of m&s snacks and meals!
I wouldn’t bother with clothes. I felt weirdly protective over buying the first few bits my dd would wear after so long in a nappy/ covered in wires. We were encouraged to read to our babies so maybe a couple of little books or a small soft toy.

katycb · 17/09/2019 21:23

Yeah I maybe wouldn't do clothes she probably won't need them for a bit ands it's hard to gauge size..my hands were wrecked from the hand washing regime on our scbu so hand cream is a good idea. Also, someone got us vouchers for the Costa in the hospital which was very helpful. For baby a blanket or a little toy is a good idea..my twins still have their incubator toys in there bedroom and they are 6 now!!!

MrsS92 · 17/09/2019 21:26

Perhaps something from Cuski ? I got one of their giant muslins in tk Maxx years ago and it washed so well I googled the brand to buy more.
They do these Miniboos for prem and poorly babies.
shieldsquickwebdemo.com/cuski/medical-information/

Original poster

Merename · 17/09/2019 21:26

Mum is discharged now and staying with her mum - again normally I would bring over a few home made dinners but not sure if that applies now as she’s at the hospital so much? I was thinking to save that for when they are home with her but maybe that’s wrong idea?

Thanks @Robs20, I think that’s my instinct about the clothes. But a book is a good shout.

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Original poster

Merename · 17/09/2019 21:29

@MrsS92, she is using the miniboos, the hospital provided, I’m so glad they have interventions like that, I’m sure it must help so much for mum and baby.

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Original poster

Merename · 17/09/2019 21:31

And great ideas about the hand cream- never thought about all the handwashing as I’m not a hand cream user generally and wouldn’t find it a helpful gift, but that’s very practical. And costa vouchers! Will need to decide now. Can’t wait to see them! Thanks all of you.

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cheesemumma · 17/09/2019 21:32

I would have loved an m&s bag of snacks and some new PJ's/loungy kind of clothes for our stay.

I second m&s for preemie clothes. They had some lovely bits. And big muslins is a nice idea.

stucknoue · 17/09/2019 21:43

A reusable coffee cup and/or water bottle that stays cold make good gifts along with snacks, home made goodies of course and perhaps food for that day they can heat (check but nicus tend to have some parent facilities like a microwave.

Worlds0kayestmum · 17/09/2019 22:00

I was going to come on and say handcream but see its already been mentioned. My hands were absolutely wrecked, cracked and bleeding from the handwashing in the hospital. I think meals are a good idea, she will be emotionally exhausted even if at home so I'm sure she will appreciate it.

AuditAngel · 17/09/2019 23:09

My nephews (twins) were recently born at 34 weeks and were home by 37 weeks.

My sister needed cardigans for the boys as they struggled to maintain temperature.

SimpleAndPlanned · 17/09/2019 23:14

Hand cream would be my absolute must. The hand washing regime is horrible on your skin. Some cotton or bamboo gloves to help it soak in too.

Lunches and snacks for the hospital as they will add up to £££. Treaty and healthy.

If she's sent you some pics maybe a printed photo of her/partner/baby in frame.

june2007 · 17/09/2019 23:27

I'd say yes to baby clothes, and for mum perhaps breast pads, a nice cream, TBh I didn't really want much for me. How about cooking her a meal she can just heat up in the oven now that I did appreciate.

Graphista · 17/09/2019 23:31

My dd wasn't preemie but was very poorly when first born and was in scbu a good while. The traipsing up n down to the scbu from the ward was knackering! You definitely burn through the calories (especially if you have wounds from the birth yourself) so substantial snacks are a great idea. Also scbus can be ROASTING! So cold/refreshing drinks (maybe a cool bag/small cool box) could be good too.

Various friends and family have had preemies and tiny clothes can be hard to find. I also recently read somewhere of a company that does clothes for preemies that ALSO are designed so that babies can be easily changed without disturbing monitoring wires and Iv lines etc

Think it might be these people?

https://www.preemiestore.com/Yes cc_331.html

The BEST hand cream is neutrogena Swiss formula - I have OCD and at a time where I was washing my hands a LOT and they were cracked, crippled and bleeding THIS stuff rescued them when even prescription stuff wasn't touching the issue.

GrimDamnFanjo · 18/09/2019 14:30

A good place to get preemie clothes is teddyandme.co.uk you can call and get advice from them. The owner had a premature baby herself.

Original poster

Merename · 18/09/2019 20:38

Thank you all so much. I actually had to cancel visiting today, as I felt a bit of a cold coming on. Hopefully won’t last too long and I can go next week. Got her a fancy insulated cup today, and will be able to pick up a few more bits over the week. Thanks for all your suggestions.

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