Bringing your baby home is one of the happiest day of your life. When you've spent over 100 days in the NICU, it's a very special day. No more "visiting" your child, no more limited snuggling, no more middle of the night phone calls to the NICU.
One of my guys finally came home after 140 days in the NICU. His brother had been home for over 2 months. Having everyone at home, sleeping under one roof, together was the best feeling. I never thought it would be so short-lived. After being home for 20 days, we ended up back in the ER which resulted in a 3 night stay at our local Children's Hospital.
With my extensive "NICU mom" training, I knew how things worked. I knew that I had to be my child's advocate. Things to remember:
- You know your child the best. You know his/her norms. If you feel like something is not right, take them in.
- Bring a list of medications and dosages. Be sure to include the strength of the medicine.
- With young preemies, heading to the ER almost always results in an overnight stay. Take a change of clothes and toothbrush for yourself. If your child has a blanket, lovie or toy that is his/her favorite be sure to pack it as well.
While no one ever wants their child to be re-admitted to the hospital, sometimes it has to be done. Since coming home in July, my little guy has been re-admitted twice for respiratory issues and once for surgery. It's never fun, but you do what is best for your child.
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