The NICU Expeirience

The problems began early in my wifes pregnancy with our second child,this was a high risk pregnancy with pregnancy induced hypertension,placenta previa,spotting and then severe pre-eclampsia resulting in my wife being hospitalized and then being transported by ambulance to the Marshfield birthing center intensive care.Pre-eclampsia or Toxemia is a condition that some pregnant women show up with and is extremly dangerous or even fatal to both mom and baby!!

We had gone out to eat on the 29th of June,after we had eaten my wife said she didn't feel right,being that it was warm that day I figured it was the heat.That evening though she was gettin worse and swelling so we called the doctors office and they said to get into the birthing unit at the hospital.

Once we had gotten there she was examined right away and then admitted.The doctor injected her with drugs to help speed up the babies lung development in case of early birth,and the plan was to keep him in as long as possible.That following Monday the doctor came back in and gave us the news we had been dreading,she had to be transported to a special care facility for an emergency c-section.

July 2,2001,Jaedin was taken by emergency c-section weighing 2 pounds 1 1/2 ounces,not even as big as a cabbage patch doll!

Right after he was born there was a team from the NICU waiting for him,he was taken fron the room beore we even got to see him but managed one little squeak before the breating tube was inserted to help him breath and then it was off to the NICU.

What is the NICU? It is the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,when you enter into the NICU it is like entering into another world full of beeps,buzzes and the sound of resirators and IV pumps.A place where everything is measured in cc's and ml's,a place where you hear terms like RSV,ROP,and all kinds of other medical terms.

Seeing all the wires and tubes coming from your child and knowing he is fighting for his life,knowing that all those tubes are keepig him alive.Looking at your childs monitor every time an alarm sounds and feeling your heart jump into your throat when it is your child,the relief when it was just a false alarm.

Knowing that that TPN solution will be the only nutrition for your child because his digestive system is not developed enough,then when he can have breastmilk the feeding tube in his nose or down his throat because he is not strong enough yet to eat from a bottle.When he is big enough to eat from a bottle it the throwing up of everything that just went down,all normal for a preemie.

Praying to god and hoping that your child will live long enough for you to hold or see.The excitement of any progress and the dissapointment and frustration of a step back.Jumping each time the phone rings hoping that it is not that phone call saying something is wrong.

What is the first feeling? Powerlessness,this feeling was especially strong for me being a father knowing this was something I could not fix or kiss it and make it go away.When you are in the NICU with your child though,just your touch and the sound of your voice can do wonders and once your child gets bigger helping with his cares does wonders.Not only does it help you feel like you got some control,but it starts the bonding process between parent and child.

There is also the frustration of seeing other children and parents going home and wondering when it will be your turn,feeling fortunate and realizng how lucky you are when there is another child worse off than your own.It is a learning experience of how to care for this tiny little person and the challenges yet to come.

The NICU is a place where miracles happen,a place where these tiny people are givin a chance at life! Our oddesey ended with 6 weeks in the NICU but more challenges awaited us after going home,the challenge of being a 'NICU Parent"does not end once you go home.

Even after you take your child home you will face challenges like finding clothes,the right size diapers and the health problems common to preemies.But there are resources to help.