preemie-l Preemies Sensitive to Human Contact
Todd, Suzanne and Glenn Palmer (tpalmer@indirect.com)
Wed, 12 Jun 1996 20:28:59 -0700
My experience with this may not be a valid one, as my son was only
moderately premature at 34 weeks. He spent one month in the hospital and
was on the vent for 3 days for his RDS. I was not able to hold him until he
was 2 days old, but when I did, his sats went way down and he started
turning blue! I didn't even try to hold him for another 2 weeks, though I
was encouraged to after a week.
Anyway, though I didn't hold him, I spent every day of his hospitalization
at his bedside, with one hand cupped around his feet and rear. When he
would grunt or whine (especially when on the vent) I'd also cup his head or
touch his back. The nurses really emphasized to me that it was essential he
receive as much positive stimulus as he could handle. I sat and read by his
bedside every day, from 8am until 9pm, until he came home. Another Mom with
extremely premature twins (actually surviving triplets) did the same and I
wonder if her babies responded as Glenn did, which is that he did not become
sensitive to touch and to this day is a cuddler. He gets overstimulated
very easily, though, so I have to be extra careful, especially around my
pushy in-laws who call me "overprotective." Sigh.
Of course, I realize that 4 weeks is not as long as many of your children
have stayed in, and also, Glenn received an umbilical catheter at 2 days
old, which I really loved. I was aware of the chance of infection, but it
eased me so to know they could draw their blood for his gases without
pricking his heels anymore. Is this something that just doesn't work for
the earlier babies?
That's all, folks.
Suzanne (Mom to Glenn, 34 weeker, 8 1/2 months)