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My partner and I have both agreed that once he's born we want him with us at all times and if he needs to be taken for any shots/procedures than one of us wants to be there with him. Do most hospitals normally allow this and what have your experiences with such request been like?
Answer
Our hospital allowed this and they were WONDERFUL! We could go anywhere that they took the baby and we also had matching bracelets. The baby, myself,and my husband had the bracelets and they had a matching number on them. Before we left the nurse even had to check and make sure our numbers matched even though our baby had been with us the whole time. If our baby was in the hallway we had to have it in a hospital bassinet so they knew it was a patient. Our nurses also had a daily password that they told you if they came to take the baby for anything such as baths, monitoring, or shots. The labor and delivery unit at our hospital was amazing and we had a wonderful experience. I don't think that any hospital could deny you being able to go where your baby goes, but if this is something you feel strongly about go and visit the labor and delivery unit prior to giving birth. They will give you all of their information up front there. I hope you have as good of an experience as we did.
Our hospital allowed this and they were WONDERFUL! We could go anywhere that they took the baby and we also had matching bracelets. The baby, myself,and my husband had the bracelets and they had a matching number on them. Before we left the nurse even had to check and make sure our numbers matched even though our baby had been with us the whole time. If our baby was in the hallway we had to have it in a hospital bassinet so they knew it was a patient. Our nurses also had a daily password that they told you if they came to take the baby for anything such as baths, monitoring, or shots. The labor and delivery unit at our hospital was amazing and we had a wonderful experience. I don't think that any hospital could deny you being able to go where your baby goes, but if this is something you feel strongly about go and visit the labor and delivery unit prior to giving birth. They will give you all of their information up front there. I hope you have as good of an experience as we did.
What could a NICU do to make the babies sibling feel special too?
Heather
I'm looking to help our NICU put some things together to help siblings feel special and involved with the baby. The period of time that the baby is in the NICU is stressful for the entire family, and at times it's the siblings that get left out or don't get to participate with the baby and it can be traumatic for them. I would like to know what ideas you have for simple gifts, resources, or activities that could be provided to the siblings of NICU babies.
I do have a few ideas such as video taping the baby so the older sibling can watch them at home, or having live streaming of the baby to a family room at the hospital.
The children can design and color their own greeting cards which can then be sold by the hospital and the proceeds would go back to the NICU.
Setting up childcare with volunteers for parents (background check) who live an hour or longer away from the hospital.
I'd like to give them a special gift also, so what are some ideas for inexpensive gifts?
Answer
Do you work in the NICU?
Some NICUs have sibling classes or sibling nights. We did this for a while- ours was led by a child life specialist, but some are led by a nurse or a social worker. Our pediatric unit is next door to our NICU, so the CLS would take the siblings to the pediatric playroom (evenings, playroom closed to peds patients) and do a support group of sorts. We have NICU-sized baby dolls they could see, everything would be explained to them (the EKG monitors, IVs, etc.) by showing them on the doll. We also had a book that was read (I can't remember the name of it now) and coloring sheets. The kids would do an art project, typically making a picture frame. The nurses would take pictures of the babies and those pictures would go into the frames.
Some hospitals are now using Skype so that the siblings can come into the hospital, to a different room apart from the NICU, and see the baby.
Childcare is a nice thought, but it is hard to depend on volunteers. You'll also need a space for this childcare to take place. I know that would be an issue in my hospital, as there's no extra space. You'll need a room big enough for the kids to move around, somewhere not terribly far from the NICU. If you can work it out, that's fantastic, and a great idea. I'd make sure that there are special activities. Keep in mind that this may also be traumatic for young kids who don't do well with strangers, so it should be done gently with lots of warm up time with the parent still there.
As far as gifts, what's your budget? You can get by with a sticker for younger kids. We don't really have money for more than that, but the frame was also something they could take home. Ideally, every child would be given a copy of the children's book about a NICU sibling, but that would be really, really expensive. You could do little trinket type things from Oriental Trading (bracelets, pencils, little animals, etc. in a treasure chest), but watch for choking hazards.
Now, on the other side of things, I can speak as a former NICU sibling. Back then, we were actually allowed to visit. I was six, and my sister was five when our little sister was born. We were really confused as to why she couldn't come home like other new babies. Explanations are key. Visiting helped. I think Skype-type situations would be best now, so that the sibs can see the baby and get an idea about what exactly the NICU is. I don't know any NICU now that will let sibs under 12 visit, but live video is the next best thing.
Do you work in the NICU?
Some NICUs have sibling classes or sibling nights. We did this for a while- ours was led by a child life specialist, but some are led by a nurse or a social worker. Our pediatric unit is next door to our NICU, so the CLS would take the siblings to the pediatric playroom (evenings, playroom closed to peds patients) and do a support group of sorts. We have NICU-sized baby dolls they could see, everything would be explained to them (the EKG monitors, IVs, etc.) by showing them on the doll. We also had a book that was read (I can't remember the name of it now) and coloring sheets. The kids would do an art project, typically making a picture frame. The nurses would take pictures of the babies and those pictures would go into the frames.
Some hospitals are now using Skype so that the siblings can come into the hospital, to a different room apart from the NICU, and see the baby.
Childcare is a nice thought, but it is hard to depend on volunteers. You'll also need a space for this childcare to take place. I know that would be an issue in my hospital, as there's no extra space. You'll need a room big enough for the kids to move around, somewhere not terribly far from the NICU. If you can work it out, that's fantastic, and a great idea. I'd make sure that there are special activities. Keep in mind that this may also be traumatic for young kids who don't do well with strangers, so it should be done gently with lots of warm up time with the parent still there.
As far as gifts, what's your budget? You can get by with a sticker for younger kids. We don't really have money for more than that, but the frame was also something they could take home. Ideally, every child would be given a copy of the children's book about a NICU sibling, but that would be really, really expensive. You could do little trinket type things from Oriental Trading (bracelets, pencils, little animals, etc. in a treasure chest), but watch for choking hazards.
Now, on the other side of things, I can speak as a former NICU sibling. Back then, we were actually allowed to visit. I was six, and my sister was five when our little sister was born. We were really confused as to why she couldn't come home like other new babies. Explanations are key. Visiting helped. I think Skype-type situations would be best now, so that the sibs can see the baby and get an idea about what exactly the NICU is. I don't know any NICU now that will let sibs under 12 visit, but live video is the next best thing.
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