Need a hand hold and to see if anyone else has had experience with baby in neonatal ward

[MRSDoos]

Has anyone else had a baby in neonatal ward or NICU? How do you or did you cope?

I’m struggling with my emotions at the moment, our son was sent to neonatal ward due to feeding issues the day after he was born. He is a week old tomorrow and still having feeding issues so may need to go back on a feeding tube tomorrow if his weight keeps drastically dropping.

I feel like I’m missing out on newborn life and I’m blaming myself despite knowing deep down there’s nothing I could do or can do differently.

Just need a hand hold really

Yes - DD spent five weeks in NICU after a hideous birth threw up lots of unexpected health issues. I remember it well, and it was so hard - my heart goes out to you (it feels so unfair that everyone else - or so it seems - gets to give birth, put the baby in the carrier and tootle happily off home). However, DD is now seven, full of beans and doesn’t remember a thing about it. It’s awful, but it passes - trite, but true. Make sure you look after yourself, drink water, eat (even if you don’t feel like it) and cuddle your little one. Hang in there.

Just a big hug for you and look after yourself.
DS was in the NICU for about a week and it was very hard. I cried the whole week not helped by hormones.
He is almost 2 now and it really was such a tiny part of his life and my parenting experience. You will get plenty of newborn time with him even if it seems endless at the moment.
One in ten babies are in the NICU at some point. That statistic helped me!

My DC was on neonatal for quite a while. It's nearly 8 years ago now and I can still remember how tough it was being separated and feeling like we'd never get home.

Are there any parent peer supporters on your neonatal unit? They can be amazing at helping you through.

Hopefully you'll be home before you know it, and it'll be a distant memory for both of you.

My youngest is 6 months now. He was born early at 34 weeks and then spent 11 days on the
neonatal ward. 11 days is nothing compared to some babies but it felt like the longest 11 days of my life.
It was really tough, it broke my heart having to leave him every night.
However It's a distant memory now, although I can still vividly hear all the beeps if I close my eyes and think back.
You will get through it, you will get home and then there will be all the time in the world in your newborn bubble.

Is it just feeding that is the issue? My little one had a tube and they were willing to discharge us with it in as long as we were cofident using it. It actually ended up being taken out the day before as he suddenly found his appetite but have they said this could be an option for you?

DD had a life threatening issue going on & was taken from me at a few hours old. We were in for 16 days & it was soul destroying not being able to hold her. She had lumber punctures, EEGs, an MRI.. she was pumped full of different drugs. You're in shock anyway but also grieving for what you should be experiencing, which is going home like everyone else, so it seems at the time. Hopefully the feeding issues resolve themselves soon, big hugs to you both x

DD1 was in NICU for 20 days following a prem birth, and the last week or so of that was all about getting up her stamina for feeding. It was a grim place - constant chorus of babies crying and monitors bleeping, too cold, and the lights always down so that there was this constant twilight. This was during lockdown too, so DH wasn't allowed in and it was so lonely. Add to that the stress of looking after a tiny, fragile baby, exhaustion from getting up in the night to pump, and terror from the occasional health scare and it's among the worst times of my life.

Really hoping you're little one figures out feeding soon. Are you trying breast or bottle? Any improvement day to day? Try and get as much rest as you can, though I know that's easier said than done.