Access to N.I.C.U.
Compustat Staff (nhorizon@iafrica.com)
Mon, 4 Mar 1996 17:52:36 +0200 (GMT+0200)
Gosh, I cannot believe that some N.I.C.U's only allow access at visiting
time. We were allowed in for 24 hours a day - no matter what was
happening, I sat outside and watched through the glass (sat in the main
nursery) the doctors performing an op on Devin, he originally had tubes
inserted into his lungs, when they removed them he started battling and
they had to re-insert. They did not ask me to leave but for my own
sanity I got out of there - we had very sick little ones in N.I.C.U. but
the parents were treated as part of the team and we were never asked to
leave. At times I felt guilty that I was not spending enough time
there. I went back to work a week after my caesar - I do computer
training. I worked mornings, went to N.I.C.U in the afternoon - stayed
until 6.00pm went and picked up my older child from chreche - got him
settled with a baby sitter and then hubby and I went back to N.I.C.U.
until about 11.00pm. We could phone anytime and they would give
answers. N.I.C.U. staff should realise that bonding is difficult enough
as it is without not being able to "do things" for the little one, I
always prepared his nasal feed, changed his nappy, did cord and mouth
care and when he started bathing I was always there to bath him.
I bonded so closely with fellow parents and N.I.C.U. staff that I held
his first birthday at the hospital and still to this day 2 years later
keep in touch with the staff there. My closest friend is a fellow
preemie and Foetal Hydrop mom. We spent so many hours together that we
went through each others ups and downs.
Speak to you all soon.
The South African - Ina