The First 24 Hours
NICU 1
Our tiny baby
Day 1
Gestation “23+2 weeks”
Actually 22 + 1
Into the NICU part of our journey aka our second home
When Sylvie was born there was study happening in hospital about feeding. We were just so overwhelmed by having her early and they needed us to sign for the study within 24 hours, it was too much for us.
This time with all the warning of bed rest and threats to come early we had more time to consider and research the study. We were given the information about 2 days before he was born.
So we signed up. They usually give babies surfactant for their lungs and the study is researching if steroids along side of the surfactant has significant effects at reducing lung disease.
It’s here if ya wanna read it -
Anyways, day one and he has a cocktail of surfactant, steroids, caffeine, saline and antibiotics.
The incubator is covered in steam, it looks like a little baby rainforest, I called it the frog box. This is for his fragile skin and temperature, it’s a balmy 36 degrees.
We get a bunch of forms to read and sign, one for a blood transfusion and one for the metabolic screening programme.
The blood transfusion forms you only have to sign once but it is likely at his gestation he will receive multiple transfusions. The screening program is a blood sample and tests for 20 rare but serious conditions.
There is a lot going on for such a tiny person. The first 24 hours were very scary, I wasn’t entirely confident he would make it. I never felt this before, with Sylvie I knew she’d be coming home when she was ready. This time I was really scared.
It was really hard to leave him, like each step out the room was in slow motion. I kept looking back like should I be leaving, should I just sleep in that chair all night. I barely slept for those first few days.
No matter where I go, the same thing will happen, it is all out of my control. We have no choice but to put all our trust into the doctors and nurses.