preemie-l Re: Hello and New Mom Questions
Gary & Tammy Bangs (gtbangs@worldnet.att.net)
Tue, 04 Jun 1996 22:38:06 -0700
Welcome Leslie,
Taylor came home at 4 lbs 5 oz. I bought two preemie outfits- one for
coming home and one for his baptism. Other than that I used newborn
sizes and taped the extra material in the back (a trick learned from
Leslie, my fav NICU nurse). It worked great. Taylor wore newborn sizes
FOREVER, until he was about 10 mo old (but then he had a weight gain
problem). I found that the preemie clothes still did not fit well. It
seemed to me that all the manufacturers did was to make the clothes
shorter, they didn't pay much attention to the fact that preemies are
also much thinner than full terms, so the clothes were still baggy.
The same for the preemie hats, don't waste your money because they
won't fit that special preemie shaped head. Just tape the extra
material in the back of the hat also.
I used the newborn huggies because they were thinner than the pampers,
and then just folded the top down as someone else mentioned.
As for holding, I can relate. We didn't hold Taylor until he was three
weeks old, then after only a week of cuddles, his lung collapsed and he
had to be reintubated. We again couldn't hold for almost 3 wks. I did
a lot of hand holding and cupping his head in my hand. I just had to
touch some part of him whenever I was there. The strange thing is that
to this day, Taylor has to have his head touching something while he
goes to sleep. And if his squirming in bed, all I have to do is put my
hand on his head or move him so his head is touching the headboard, and
he settles right down.
I know how much you ache to hold Julie, try to remember that she needs
this time to get stronger. Make a "mommy-cloth". Get a piece of
flannel <about 4 in square> and wear it next to your skin, preferably
next to your heart, for a day. Then put it in her isolette. And then
when you visit you can place it on her back or stomach (whichever way
she is allowed to lay). It will have your smell on it and help her to
remember you. I really don't know if they can really smell yet. But it
does make you feel better to think they can.
I also wanted to share my sympathies in your loss of Melanie. Taylor's
identical twin- Alexander, died in-utero three weeks prior to birth. I
am on another mail list called lostangels, it is for those who have lost
one or more of a multiple birth. It has been wonderful therapy for me
to be able to share the bittersweet happenings associated with losing a
twin. If you are interested, I can give you information on how to
subscribe,(that is if Andee hasn't done so already.).
Tammy,
Mom to Taylor(28 wks-now 3), angel Alex, and Travis (37 wks-now 19 mo)
wife to Gary (who is going out to sea again on Monday)