How do I sleep?!?

Question

My preemie daughter just came home today after 3 weeks in the NICU, and I don't know how to do this, how do I not check on her every ten minutes? At least in the hospital she had monitors to tell me if something was wrong, now I don't have that. I'm exaihsted and would love to get sleep but I'd never forgive myself If something happen while I was asleep.

Answer

(Sorry long reply)I'm still the same two years on but I have insomnia so it doesn't help. Is she in your bedroom? My daughter was born at 26weeks 1lb 2oz so I completely understand how you feel. You can been always set alarms if you want every half hour- an hour or so but not every ten minutes. If she has oxygen then she would be monitored anyway, but if she hasn't been send home with out any breathing support the NICU think she is ready. I had my daughter in her Moses basket till she out grew it, I had her by my bed like so close and every time I wanted to check her I put my hand on her chest. But trust me as a mum you feel it when something is wrong I don't know how but you do. My daughter has disabilities and even if I sleep I wake up with the slightest noise like  creaking in the house. You will never fully sleep always on edge or for me anyway, you will constantly be worried at every cold, you will need lots of antibacterial gel for people visiting again if you are like me(but that could be my OCD). Best thing to do is keep her in your room until you are ready, I did my daughter came out of hospital at 4 and a half months old and didn't leave my room until over a year, and now I have a camera monitor in her bedroom pointing straight at her and I sleep with my bedroom door open, it helps me anyway. You have a long road to go so just enjoy it :) . People kept telling me "oh when she's over a year everything will be fine" but they didn't think she would have these disabilities after her surgeries, but it just makes me love and cherish her more. And cherish every day with your precious one. Always here to chat with if you need more support x

Answer

My son was in the nicu for a month. I just had his bassinet directly beside my bed and he cried every 2 hours so I felt okay about sleeping, because he woke up so often. You sleep pretty light lol. You'll get used to it within a week!

Answer

My son also spent 3 weeks in NICU. We didn't sleep much when we first took him home because we were use to all the noises of NICU life. After a few weeks you'll get use to it, but it's tiring at first. Once he started sleeping in his basinet we could use our Anglecare monitor and I felt much better. Hang in there!!

Answer

My son spent 3 weeks in the NICU. He had an episode where for days he just stopped breathing on his own and they could not figure out why! As soon he started breathing again they sent him home 2 days later! I was so worried it would happen again and I would not know.

I just told myself that the docs would never have sent him home if he was not 100% ok and ready. They do not want to get sued and have workers with lots of preemies for years. I also remember that lots of infant deaths, including suffocation are as a result of sleep-deprived parents! So the best thing you can do for baby is get as much rest as possible.

How do I sleep?!?

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