Solid Color Baby Booties, Dark Pink (micro-preemie to 3-6 months)

NICU Friendly Clothing for Infants of All Sizes

OK, I admit it; I am a little freaked out about having another preemie in the next few months and with good reason.  Our daughter was a preemie and I’ve been through a late miscarriage.  When thyroid issues crept up early in this pregnancy (stress-related – yeah!), I told my doctor that whatever I could do to prevent this new baby from being premature, I would do it.  No flights after the middle of my second trimester? Done.  The potential of bed rest in my third trimester?  Ugh, if needed, done.  Stress relieving meditation?  Done.  I won’t claim to know what it is like to have a micro-preemie, but having a preemie and doing the NICU experience was hard enough and if it happens again, it happens.  However, I did learn about the positives of the NICU and some positives even after the experience (Hello?  Newborn clothing being used for almost half a year after Brooke was born?  AWESOME on savings).  I put together a list of the Momma’s Bacon Survival Guide to the NICU for Preemie parents that I’ve shared with several friends who have had to go through the experience after us as soon as I know their babies went to the NICU.  I have always gotten positive feedback, so I’ll share with you at the end of this review.  For now, let’s talk preemie clothing!

As a mom to a preemie I remember how difficult it was to find clothing that was small enough for my daughter and was also CUTE.  Enter Jacquis Preemie Pride that has a huge range of clothing perfect for micro-preemies (0-3 lbs) and up to 3-6 months (16 lbs).  I am happy to see additional off the rack preemie clothing in stores since we were not able to buy off the rack and I didn’t want our girl to look like she was in giant sacks of cloth!  Stores like Jacquis that cater to these special early babies are so fantastic because they *gasp* fit.  These booties are darling and for those with kids still in the NICU, be sure to check out the NICU Snuggler Wraps on their website.  Awesome idea for those parents waiting for their babies to get into some regular clothes!

Surviving the NICU from the Momma’s Bacon Experience (Preemie Parents)

Document the Experience – Our NICU gave us a NICU journal that had pages for pictures, milestones, etc.  Bob and I looked at ours yesterday and it was really great to see how far she has come and I can’t wait for her to see it when she is older.  We took videos, pictures and I wrote things down about the experience.  The NICU nurses were awesome and one told us that kids think it is really awesome that they were NICU kids when they are older.  We call her our little tough baby.  I took pictures of everything (even one of Bob scrubbing in….fun!).  I still remember how exciting it was to see her in CLOTHES for the first time instead of just a diaper!  Or even just seeing her without a cannula was the best.

Don’t get caught up in timelines – This was hard for me because I like to know everything!  The NICU was not like that for us and at first I kept trying to figure out when she would be able to leave and that will really just drive you mad.  I vowed to not think about timelines until we were asked to bring the car seat in for a car seat test and that helped me relax.  When things started to progress with Brooke – they progressed very quickly….but it was the initial waiting that seemed like forever.

Engage in conversation with other NICU parents – they are going through a tough time and just reaching out – NICU parents who have been there for months always seem to want to know at how many weeks your baby was born.  Don’t take it personally if they seem indifferent when you tell them your preemie was born at 34.5 weeks.  To them that is barely a preemie and they know you will probably be out of there soon.  I tried to hold in my excitement a little when we knew Brooke would be discharged.  I knew that bitter-sweet feeling when you saw other babies get to leave the NICU when your child was still there.

Don’t wear yourself out or feel guilty if you happen to miss a changing, etc – After I was discharged and Brooke was still in the NICU, I was exhausted.  At first, Bob and I were there at the NICU driving back and forth to see her for each feeding (when she started drinking from bottle)/diaper change/taking temperature rotation.  I was pumping all the time and taking milk in even if it was just an oz.  I finally realize I need rest and that the nurses were there to do what they needed to do and if I got a few hours extra of sleep – that is a good thing!  We were actually both well rested and up for the challenge when she was released because of it!

Take advantage of the SWAG – Don’t be afraid to ask for additional breast milk storage bottles, nipples, wipes, diapers, etc….. I even took the gumdrop pacifier that Brooke had grown accustomed to while there.  The nurses were really accommodating!   Our hospital also had a Ronald McDonald House room for NICU families that had couches and TV’s, etc., to hang out in – you just had to check in at the NICU front desk.

P.S. To support micro and preemie children and their parents, remember to donate to the March of Dimes and the Ronald McDonald House, both of which were huge support systems to us in the NICU.  Also, our local groups that donate gift bags to locate NICUs, that include things like homemade journals, are so thoughtful for parents going through the experience.  Thank you!

Solid Color Baby Booties, Dark Pink (micro-preemie to 3-6 months)

www.jacquispreemiepride.com

$7.99 + Shipping