quote:

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Originally posted by Pugmommy7

Sharel, I am laughing about the preemie dipers- I think Bella's were about the size of a panyliner!

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Yeah, isn't that funny? And the hats! wow. I brought one into work recently & realized it would fit on one of those stress balls that I got at a conference.

[8D]
Sharel

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Sharel O'Connell
Local coordinator for Pittsburgh area
'Parents of Preemies' co-moderator
Survivor of Preeclampsia, HELLP Syndome, & preemie parenting
Future adoptive mom

Aaron (28 weeker, 5/2/02)
Kevin - DH

Maid Service, even for one day LOL
but then again, I sorta think the hospital should give every mother maid service for a day before they go home.

Erin

Moderator - First Time Moms, Parents of Preemies
Missouri State Coordinator
Mommy to Alex and Mason

Sharel, I am laughing about the preemie dipers- I think Bella's were about the size of a panyliner!


Mama to Bella,1/02/03, born 33 and 5/7 weeks at 3 lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH,& HELLP.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04

Thanks so much for all the ideas and well wishes! I plan to use several of them. I ordered a little micro premie outfit for the NICU yesterday off of the web. I did not know if Carter will be able to wear it but if not I thought it would be a great keepsake of how little he was.

Thanks again!! It is so great to have a resource like this to go to when times get tough.

Bobbie Jo
Brayden 1/10/02
#2 boy EDD 8/23/04

Hi! I also had a 26 weeker born by emergency c-section. I got some neat gifts. The first gift was someone paid for a week at the Ronald McDonald House for us (it cost $12 a night, but with both my hubby and me out of work after the birth it was hard to pay our other bills, so that was a real treat for us!) Also, my mother gave me a journal to write down the entire experience. But the neatest thing was some co-workers of mine ordered micro-preemie clothes off the internet made for babies that weighed between 1 and 3 pounds. Regular preemie clothes would have never fit, so when she finally was able to wear clothes, she had something to wear! Good luck - you sound like a great friend.

Suzanne
Mommy to Miss Hannah Rose
26.5 weeker born 8/24/01
severe pre-e & IUGR
1 pound, 1 ounce
12 inches
Miracles do happen!

One thing that my mom and sister found for me were little preemie hats made by gerber, they fit better than some of the others and looked and felt better than the hospital one. I know that it sounds superficial, but I just wanted my baby to look better. I didn't have the time to hunt things down myself. My friend also gave me a gift certificate for a manicure/pedicure, which I felt so guilty about using, until I started to relax, and realized that I needed that hour to myself. I read a lot of fluff books (mysteries etc...) nothing sad, because I was emotional enough as it was. Good luck to your friend and her family.[:I]

Anne
DH Richard
Parker 7/6/03(severe pe)33wks

In my experience the super-tiny preemies -- still in the hospital -- really don't need anything. We were only allowed to bring in a couple of toys (to make the isolette look more homey) and some stuff for me to do (books, puzzles, etc). So really stuff to buy during the NICU stay I think should focus on the needs of the parents: books, phone cards, gift certificates, etc.

But when it is time to bring the baby home (4-5 pound range), that was a strange experience.... we had a crib he couldn't use yet, diapers that we could have used as blankets, clothes that looked like they were for a giant! Instead, we needed some little clothes & diapers, a breast pump (expensive!), etc.

Since this family has an 8 yr old, I also wonder (not having experienced this) what she would need: videos and games, a fun day out with mommy's out-of-town friend, etc maybe.

Sharel

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Sharel O'Connell
Local coordinator for Pittsburgh area
'Parents of Preemies' co-moderator
Survivor of Preeclampsia, HELLP Syndome, & preemie parenting
Future adoptive mom

Aaron (28 weeker, 5/2/02)
Kevin - DH

Jeez Sharel, that' just a brilliant idea... what else would you put on the list for super tiny preemies... or would you be thinking in terms of for when they first get home... in the 4- 5 lb range?

Catherine
Mom to Finn, Lucy (preeclampsia and HELLP) and Chloe.
Moderator HELLP Syndrome Survivors

Look in this section (Preemie parents) for a thread called "hints for new parents".... maybe there will be some ideas for you there.

Camera film is always helpful (for nondigitals), a journal would be nice, books or crossword puzzle books for the long NICU hours, a book on preemie parenting (you can never know enough!). Also a gift card for walmart or places like that would be helpful too... expenses add up when you are just living from day-to-day.

Do they live near the hospital? If not, are they in a Ronald McDonald House? You could research info on a local one for them, or help them find reasonably priced accomodations.

You could also organize a mini-shower for them. Even though they probably got the crib and newborn-sized diapers & clothes, bottles, etc... she didn't get a breast pump, preemie clothes, antibacterial soap, etc.

Sharel

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Sharel O'Connell
Local coordinator for Pittsburgh area
'Parents of Preemies' co-moderator
Survivor of Preeclampsia, HELLP Syndome, & preemie parenting
Future adoptive mom

Aaron (28 weeker, 5/2/02)
Kevin - DH

You guys are brilliant!
I would never have thought of that!
I rememeber when my dad was so sick and dying, those pre-paid cards were the best- (esp when they couldn't use cells in the hosp.)

**The support for the Dads is IMPERITIVE! My hub. needed that so much.

Mama to Bella,1/02/03, born 33 and 5/7 weeks at 3 lbs,6oz.Pre-E and PIH,& HELLP.
Babygirl #2,EDD 6/24/04