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I shared in a previous article helpful tool I learned during my NICU experience. For those who may be in the circumstance currently, I feel it would also be uplifting to hear humorous anecdotes about our NICU visit as well. So I, with a sincere desire to create at least a grin, contribute this piece.
I quickly discovered during my time in the NICU that some babies are there on account of scandalous and intriguing matters. To help ease the monotony and sorrow of my own situation, I became very astute to try my best to overhear the juicy situations of those around me. By doing so, it became quite an entertaining venture for me day to day.
For example, the baby that had no visitors, it was overheard, was in the middle of a custody battle due to the mothers lack of knowledge as to the actual father. When the father arrived to retrieve the child, my mouth gaped at the results of the hearing. Quite literally as well, because my husband had to shake me out of my blatant staring, as my eaves dropping at times became quite apparent. It was as good as a television drama.
On another note, to my closest acquaintances, I am not admired for my coordination in comparison with most people. It created quite a nervous response to understand that I would be holding, caring for, or even being in the same room with a baby attached to so many wires necessary for his continued survival. I am thankful, and surprised, that no serious circumstance transpired, however, there were several comical ones.
The incubator in which my son was living had little arm holes that were opened by pushing open a latch to a door. You could then reach in and hold his hand, etc, without getting him too cold. Well, it was not common knowledge to me that these door were spring loaded. I pushed the latch, not minding the door itself, which whipped open very abruptly, creating a loud bang against the nearby monitors.
I quickly turned to my son's reaction at this calamity, and he had formed a death grip with all the effort of his three pound body around the tubes giving him oxygen and had even lifted them over his head. It caused a great stir in his poor little heart. After a few moments of calming his fear, I pried his fingers off the cords and explained that I was his mother, and these sorts of experiences needed getting used to if he were to be my son.
I must say, before making my next anecdote, that in the category of human beings, NICU nurses rank far and away compared to the rest of us. However, when I received advice from different nurses about the different methods of caring for my baby, they gave contradicting advice on occasion. This only pertained to their personal likes and observations, not the crucial medical details.
For example, in burping the baby, one nurse cautioned me to lightly pat his back without moving him around and then put him down in his crib immediately so he wouldn't throw up or get an upset stomach. When the next nurse was burping him, she said to throw him up in the air, bounce him up and down, while spinning in circles, and rubbing his head. I shouldn't have to tell you that I have acquired my own method in this matter.
I have forty-five days worth of witty tales that I could continue in sharing. Firstly, all foreign doctors that sputter the extensive medical terms in thick accents, ensuring my misunderstanding. Plus the cleaning lady who seemed to invade me everytime I was in the breast pumping room, aside from the ocupado sign. Anyway, whether you are still going daily to the NICU or only see it as a vague remembrance like me, I will leave it to you to create your own humor out of the idiosyncrasies of the NICU.
I quickly discovered during my time in the NICU that some babies are there on account of scandalous and intriguing matters. To help ease the monotony and sorrow of my own situation, I became very astute to try my best to overhear the juicy situations of those around me. By doing so, it became quite an entertaining venture for me day to day.
For example, the baby that had no visitors, it was overheard, was in the middle of a custody battle due to the mothers lack of knowledge as to the actual father. When the father arrived to retrieve the child, my mouth gaped at the results of the hearing. Quite literally as well, because my husband had to shake me out of my blatant staring, as my eaves dropping at times became quite apparent. It was as good as a television drama.
On another note, to my closest acquaintances, I am not admired for my coordination in comparison with most people. It created quite a nervous response to understand that I would be holding, caring for, or even being in the same room with a baby attached to so many wires necessary for his continued survival. I am thankful, and surprised, that no serious circumstance transpired, however, there were several comical ones.
The incubator in which my son was living had little arm holes that were opened by pushing open a latch to a door. You could then reach in and hold his hand, etc, without getting him too cold. Well, it was not common knowledge to me that these door were spring loaded. I pushed the latch, not minding the door itself, which whipped open very abruptly, creating a loud bang against the nearby monitors.
I quickly turned to my son's reaction at this calamity, and he had formed a death grip with all the effort of his three pound body around the tubes giving him oxygen and had even lifted them over his head. It caused a great stir in his poor little heart. After a few moments of calming his fear, I pried his fingers off the cords and explained that I was his mother, and these sorts of experiences needed getting used to if he were to be my son.
I must say, before making my next anecdote, that in the category of human beings, NICU nurses rank far and away compared to the rest of us. However, when I received advice from different nurses about the different methods of caring for my baby, they gave contradicting advice on occasion. This only pertained to their personal likes and observations, not the crucial medical details.
For example, in burping the baby, one nurse cautioned me to lightly pat his back without moving him around and then put him down in his crib immediately so he wouldn't throw up or get an upset stomach. When the next nurse was burping him, she said to throw him up in the air, bounce him up and down, while spinning in circles, and rubbing his head. I shouldn't have to tell you that I have acquired my own method in this matter.
I have forty-five days worth of witty tales that I could continue in sharing. Firstly, all foreign doctors that sputter the extensive medical terms in thick accents, ensuring my misunderstanding. Plus the cleaning lady who seemed to invade me everytime I was in the breast pumping room, aside from the ocupado sign. Anyway, whether you are still going daily to the NICU or only see it as a vague remembrance like me, I will leave it to you to create your own humor out of the idiosyncrasies of the NICU.
About the Author:
Haylee Landford is the mother of a premature baby, that is currently six months old. She travels with her family to write articles for Land For Sale with which she is a guest author.
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