Tips for bringing your preemie home?

Question

If all continues as it has been, we will be bringing our daughter home next week. Any tips??

She was born at 29+2 weeks at 2lbs. Now she is 36+1 weeks gestational and 4lb 3.78oz. She has her car seat test tonight!

Answer

Try to keep the baby on the same schedule the hospital had them on. I had mine at 27+2 weighing 1lb 14oz and she just came home Monday at 41+6 6lb 7oz. I set an alarm for about every 3.5hours to feed and change her. I try not to take her temperature all the time like they did in the hospital because it's not necessary and only stresses me out. Try to decide to eat your meals at least a half hour before it's time for them to eat because sometimes my LO refuses to go to sleep after a feed unless she can lay on my chest. Try to keep visitors, trips, and other stimulation to a minimum. Talk, read, and sing to them when they are awake or won't sleep. I pump and bottle feed so I usually change her first then give her tummy time while the milk is warming up so that she's awake enough to benefit from it and also so it doesn't make her spit up like it would if I fed her. Don't feel bad about it if you have to leave them in their crib/bassinet crying sometimes line if you just need a break or if you're starving. While they are in the hospital you can just leave for lunch or go to the bathroom or take a break because the nurses will watch them and soothe them but not at home.. so if you need to just leave them in a safe place and take care of yourself. Also nap when they do or you will never get any decent amount of sleep. It's okay to sleep most of the day in 2-4 hour naps if that's what you need. If you don't you might get frustrated or feel too tired to get up and feed them.

Answer

Enjoy having your baby home! 
I'm a single mum of 9month old twins who were born at 31 weeks.. Our NICU stay was almost 7 weeks... When we came home I was strict about my visitors.. Only my parents came around and I told everyone else not to for the first 2 weeks so babies and I could adapt to the big change.. 
After that I was very picky with visitors.. If they'd been sick, been in contact with anyone that was sick they couldn't come around... Some people got cranky and I lost a couple of friends over it.. I even sent a friend home after she got here and started coughing.. 
Good luck

Answer

Just try to relax for a few days and get used to each other. It's scary at first! But it's so amazing! My baby girl is a preemie and stayed in the nicu for a short time. 
Try to establish a routine so that you can still have you time too. After a few days, try to get out for short periods of time. Go for a walk, a drive, or visit friends. But most of all just enjoy it! I hope the car seat test goes well! Congrats to you and I hope baby gets to go home soon!

Answer

Be patient with yourself! Our first couple days at home after 10 days in the NICU were great but a little stressful--we got so used to being able to ask the fabulous nurses all our questions that being solely responsible for our little nugget was a little...scary I guess. It took us 2-3 days to get the hang of being a new family at home.

Answer

My twin girls were preemies and stayed in the hospital for 11 days I was honestly just so relieved and happy to have them home it really was so much better than being at the hospital. Just keep telling yourself you will be perfectly fine!

Tips for bringing your preemie home?

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