Unexpected Discoveries From finding out you are pregnant to complications that arise, unexpected discoveries can happen during any part of the pregnancy. The NICU is also a place where you never know exactly what to expect. Throughout my twin pregnancy, I discovered that doctors don't know everything and unexpected discoveries happen more often than we make think. They can … [Read more...]
Sharing is Difficult, Loving is Easy: Jordan’s Story
Sharing is Difficult Nothing about a complicated pregnancy or NICU stay is easy. From the worry and the heartache to the decisions and the waiting, sharing is hard. Not only do people want to know what is going on with your baby, but they are constantly asking how you are doing. Most of the time, you don't know the answers to either of those questions. Plus, explaining … [Read more...]
Intrauterine Growth Restriction: Hope for the Smallest
Intrauterine Growth Restriction IUGR, or intrauterine Growth Restriction, is a very serious complication during pregnancy. A baby does not receive the nutrition it needs to grow at the rate that it should. Intrauterine growth restriction is a condition of the placenta, and it can be caused by many different reasons, some unknown. Unfortunately, there isn't much medically … [Read more...]
Primary Care Nurse: Trust in the NICU
Primary Care Nurse Another term I had never heard used before my twins were in the NICU was Primary Care Nurse. Sure the term sounds self-explanatory, but I had no idea there would be one (or in our case 2) for my babies. Those first few days of the NICU were a bit of a blur. The day I gave birth, I was full of mixed emotions. Joy that my babies were both alive and fear … [Read more...]
A Different NICU: A Different Experience
A Different NICU From layout to policies to staff, every NICU, or Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, is different. What may happen in one hospital, may not happen in another. In each different NICU, each family can have a very unique experience. Some hospitals have private rooms, some are organized in pods of a few beds, while others are entire rooms filled with … [Read more...]