Cousin having a section today at 36 weeks - what to get her (am too far away to help practically)

[crokky]

My cousin is having a section today because her baby is not growing (think hospital said there was no food in the baby's tummy on the scan and the baby is showing to be about 4 pounds on the scan). She is 36 weeks and it does sound like the baby will have to go into SCBU (?). I had to have both mine induced at 37wks and they were just over 6 pounds and did not have to go into SCBU so I have no experience of this myself. I want to help her somehow, but I am very far away with a baby and a (snotty nosed with a cough) toddler and realistically the best I can do is to send her something. What can I send her that is useful? She is really hard up for money so I want to get her something useful that will save her buying it herself if I can. Any ideas?

eeek i am late to go out! will check back later!

I am sorry about your cousins situation I hope things work out well for them and lo. I would tell her dp or her how much you want to spend and what can you get that would be of most use. As I have found that what one mum cannot live without another thinks is useless crap. I am hard up for cash and hate it when someone buys something of no use to me as I feel guilty for not using it then after they have been kind enough to buy it for me. However I would wait until baby is home so they can think about what they need as I am sure they are probably to worried at the moment. Also when they get out of hospital everyone else will have already bought them stuff and they will be able to think more clearly about what they dont have. If they have everything by then you can always send a load of nappies.

If baby is very small then the obvious - preemie clothes - would be very helpful as they can be expensive. She may well only have pre-bought "up to one month" things. Having had a child in scbu myself, I really hated him being put into the hospitals own things; I already felt weird about how many nurses and doctors had a say over my child, and having him in things that belonged to us made me feel happier.

Also, kangaroo care is fabulous for preemies, so anything that encourages skin to skin contact and breastfeeding. Perhaps a one shoulder sling or wrap sling? It used to frustrate the hell out of me that parents weren't allowed to walk around SCBU carrying their babies in their arms, I had to push him into a different room in his cot, and then pick him up. So a good sling is packed in my hospital bag for my next DC, just in case in SCBU again, as I'm hoping carrying them in a sling would get around this rule.

Hope baby is born safely and time in SCBU is short....

Baby has been born - she is in good shape considering she is only 3 pounds, but the docs are very pleased with her lungs .

That is good news i am pleased for your cousin.