NICU Experience & Alice's First Week - part 2

I absolutely hate everything she had to go through during her earliest days, but we are so very grateful that our baby is now strong and healthy. She is just amazing!! I try to offer a few bits of advice for other parents who might find themselves in a similar situation.
Sorry for the two-parter, but I could talk about this experience for hours...
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTAK5Arx6-c

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[jonasnjennlove]

I am really shocked that you had such a ridiculous experience in the NICU! 60cc every feeding at 2 days old is way too much! (I am a postpartum nurse) and I would never force a baby to eat that much.. 30ml at most! But I am really glad you were able to work with an LC and stuck to your guns with those NICU nurses. I am glad that everything turned out well! Thanks for sharing!

[katulka2]

@jonasnjennlove The docs explained that many of the NICU nurses are "old school" about formula feeding & the amounts that were considered best when they were in nursing school. Generally people in this area are slow to adapt to new ideas. The unit has been trying to transition to more BF-friendly practices, introducing new research, etc., but many of the nurses are resistant. We did have a few GREAT nurses but the bad ones shadowed the whole experience... Keep up your own good work! :)

[Angelalalynn]

Thank you for sharing your experience, Kaity. It must have been difficult to share but, it has made a difference on my own future expecftations. Thank you for the perspective.

[katulka2]

@Angelalalynn I really hope you never have anything similar!

[TheLifeInTheNorth]

Thank you for sharing your story. It will be invaluable to parents with a baby in the NICU. I am sorry that you lacked so much support at the hospital and were not kept in the loop. So were the doctors ultimately unable to explain specifically what kind of infection baby Alice had? Thankfully whatever kind of infection it was, it went away quickly. Great job for sticking to your guns throughout the experience and trusting your momma instincts. xoxo

[katulka2]

@TheLifeInTheNorth I didn't explain that part well, but they never found the specific strain of bacteria or determined exactly how she contracted it. Once she really responded to the antibiotics, they stopped looking. So her Dx was something like "sepsis, undefined."

Thank you for your kind words!

[duckduckgander]

Did the nurses even offer/talk about donor milk?? That NICU needs its own LC on staff at all times... !! good for you for sticking to your guns - you are such a great mama :)

[juliet1178]

Wow, thanks so much for the iv fluids tip, a great way to avoid formula in the nicu! I will pass that onto any friends I have that might have to experience this (hopefully done of them do). So excited that Alice is doing well now, thank God for modern medicine:)

[ericanicole11111]

Thanks for sharing! You are a great mom!!

[NaturallyThriftyMom]

Again, thanks for sharing your experience! It is great that you and Mike were able to lean on eachother and grow through such a tough experience. Your a tough mama and have a wonderful, strong little girl!

[WithGodsGrace]

I'm so sorry for all you, Mike and Alice had to go through during that first week. So happy that Alice is such a happy healthy little girl! Thank you for sharing!

[cruisegirl0805]

Thank you for sharing your story!! Alice is so precious:)

[katulka2]

@eberjay00 Thank you so much. We have a lot to be thankful for! :)