* Your NICU kid is 14, and you're still talking about his or her "Adjusted Age".
* Your 'breast friend' is the pump.
* Your addicted to acronyms. *NICU, CPAAP, RSV…*
* You get all weepy when you see a normal, picture perfect delivery on TV.
* You refer to NICU procedures with the skill of a NICU nurse.
* You get a little sad when you pass a hospital.
* You just can't truly enjoy yourself no matter what you're doing because your heart is still in the NICU.
* You can't help but tell your NICU story.
* You realize it's possible to get LESS sleep than moms of full term babies because of all the late night worrying.
* You see a picture of a baby with the NICU elephant nose and go, "Awwww!!"
* You actually have to buy doll clothes just so your NICU baby will have clothes that fit!
* You have a special box of NICU souvenirs you keep meaning to scrapbook.
* You know the name of every baby in the NICU & who their nurse is for that day.
* The different personalities of the nurses at the NICU no longer get under your skin...you've learned how to react to each one accordingly.
* You get sentimental & worried when you hear beeping sounds.
* You could check your NICU baby's vital signs faster than any health care professional you've met so far.
* You keep hand sanitizer in every room of your house & you ask people to use it before coming near your NICU baby.
* You still scrub your hands like a surgeon.
* Your only concern every day is when it's time for the "hands on" session with your baby, & you turn into Godzilla when you find out that your baby's hands on procedures were completed before you got there.
* You're an expert on calming your parents down because a NICU nurse couldn't tell them personal information on their own grandbaby. "
* You know that "kangaroo care" isn't a kid's game, in fact-it's your most FAVORITE time of the day, the reason you get out of bed…
* You no longer need an alarm clock to wake you up at midnight every night-that's when you call to check on your NICU baby's weight!
* To everyone else, an ounce is just a measurement, but to you an ounce is more valuable than gold-you praise God for every one your NICU baby gains.
* 'Rooming in' isn't something you do with your friends over the weekend for fun-it's one of the happiest days of your life.
* 1800 is your new favorite number.
* Your heart skips a beat when the nurse puts you on hold before telling you your baby's daily report because you fear that may mean bad news.
*Each time you see an unknown number on your caller ID, you hold your breath praying it's not the NICU.
* The March of Dimes becomes the most important fund raiser to you.
* You get nauseous when you see a black light because it reminds you too much of the bilirubin lights your NICU baby spent the 1st week of her life under.
* You know what Micro-Preemie means & you thank God every day that your NICU baby wasn't one; being a mother to a regular preemie was hard enough.
* Your NICU baby's home coming is THE happiest day of your life *so far*
*The hospital smell that most people hate brings tears to your eyes because it reminds you of your NICU experience.
* You bring your NICU baby home from the hospital with a new found appreciation for her doctors & nurses…God used them to save your baby's life.
I just had to post this.... because this is totally me! Being a preemie parent changes you.... I added a few things.
I love those! Here's a bunch more that I posted on my blog when we were in the NICU. So true!
ReplyDelete• You know you're a preemie parent when...
*You measure everything in cc's
*Luxury = sleeping three hours in a row
*You can change your baby's diaper with one hand
*In the course of the same day, you have wanted to slap and bear hug the same NICU nurse
*You feel a secret pull of jealousy when one of your friends delivers full term
*You have gotten a rash on your hands from washing with hot water and the NICU soap... eight times in one day
*The statement "breastfeeding is simple and natural" makes you laugh -- or cry, depending on the day and the hour.
*Your baby has ever outgrown an outfit... while s/he was wearing it.
*You cry when you're happy, laugh when you're mad, and throw things across the room when you're sad.
*You could drive the route from your house to the hospital in your sleep... and maybe you have.
*You can't remember what you talked about before feeding schedules, diapers, and growth charts.
*You're more interested in your baby's diaper than the State of the Union
*Your idea of a vacation is walking outside to get the mail
*When someone offers you their hand to shake, you think twice, envisioning the germs that you might take home from them
*The sound of your baby crying is beautiful, not annoying.
*While everyone else coos, "He's so tiny!" your six-pound baby looks huge to you.
*Your heart almost bursts with love at least once a day
*You would climb to the top of Mt. Everest, barefoot, if it would help your baby to grow healthier, bigger, or stronger.
*You not only know what "bilirubin" is, you have had several extensive conversations about it.
*You never knew how grateful you could feel that your baby has gained an ounce.
*You know where all the vending machines are on your floor of the hospital... and which ones have the good snacks.
*You literally live your life one hour at a time.
*The security guard at the front door of the hospital just waves you in when he sees you.
*You are grateful for the smallest things now -- a shower, clean socks, a meal that you didn't have to cook, a friend who has a whole conversation with you without offering you any useless advice.
*When someone asks you what scent you're wearing, you say "Germ-X" without batting an eye.
*You had to give up your shower today to make time to read this list.
Yours are pretty awesome! It's so sad when the security guard just waves you through. I totally got jealous every time I heard someone had a full term baby, I've never had one. Oh and I hate when people think you actually sleep through the night when your baby is in the Nicu. It's actually worse between pumping and praying you don't get a bad call.
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