I introduced a new trader a few weeks ago ( greasycat )
The newest addition to her family ( her 1st grandaughter ) decided to arrive a few months early... so they are anxiously awaiting for her to be discharged from the NICU, but will need a preemie car seat, where can these be found?
Thanks in advance for your help.....also if anyone has any preemie clothing for a girl (she is now weighing in @ 3 pounds 13 oz), plmk
Thanks
Deedra
ptmama525@aol.com
1|1|How early was she? They may not need it depending on how early she was she may have to stay in the hospital until almost the date she was due|teener|teenerzacsneenee@yahoo.com|15:43:39|11/17/2008|
I say a prayer that all goes well 2|2|a little info inside|kthy26|kthy26@yahoo.com|15:53:41|11/17/2008|
When my nephew was born he was only 2 lbs he had to stay in nicu until his due date or 5lbs and they didnt have a special car seat for him they just had one of those carrier type car seats so I dont think she will need a special care seat or atleast my brother didnt have one for his son
Good luck and keeping them in prayers
3|1|Check with public health dept.....I was able to get car seats on loan for free....and I do remember they had all sizes there. No sense buying a special premie seat just to use for a short time, then having to buy another one :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|16:11:29|11/17/2008|
"Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy." 4|2|2 of my grandbabies were preemies......most recent...chloe.....when she came home..she was just a |couponsnsamples|couponsnsamples@hotmail.com|16:25:35|11/17/2008|
lump in the carseat..lol....the lowest setting for the neck strap...was still actually too large...but she grew fast!.....i will ask my daughter if she has any preemie clothing left.... 5|2|they told her that...|ptmama525|ptmama525@aol.com|16:32:00|11/17/2008|
she would need a special car seat for preemie with 5 point harness, the health dept here just has the regular car seat (very small town)...she was 2 months early, weighed 3 lbs 11 oz at birth, Nov 3...and is up to 3 lbs 13 oz now.... seems to be doing ok considering the circumstances, not for sure how long they will keep her in NICU but they told her today about the car seat, so hoping that is a sign that she won't be a resident there much longer ( I sure miss having "granny" around, I am actually having to work!)
Deedra
7|3|Ask the health dept if they could find a preemie seat for her in another town....they are all state agencies :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|17:10:35|11/17/2008|
"Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy." 9|4|dang Joy...you are one smart lady !!|ptmama525|ptmama525@aol.com|17:53:10|11/17/2008|
will try that 15|5|Did they help her find one?? :)|saint6811|waylan@comcast.net|15:46:20|11/18/2008|
"Middle age is when you choose your cereal for the fiber, not the toy." 8|3|How about freecycle or craigslist...|sunriver|lithiasalt@cheerful.com|17:22:37|11/17/2008|
It sounds like you have a little more time. Try to find the freecycle or craigslist board for the closest city near her and post what you need. Or what about any mothers of multiples groups near you? The hospital should have info about them and there would certainly be members of that group who would have those items that are no longer needed.
I think Joys suggestion was excellent too-- the health department should be able to help you locate one. It might take a few phone calls and you might have to just talk to the right person to make it happen.
Wishing you luck. 6|1|"Babies R Us" carries preemie clothing**|marybeth|randall3@aol.com|16:35:15|11/17/2008|
:) 10|2|Free Preemie clothing from march of dimes. I know my carewear group the ladies make and donate preemie clothes to them...|HONEY11|HONEY1@AMERITECH.NET|18:02:22|11/17/2008|
Contact local chapter and if need more help, I can look for the info on the location we donate to, and you can contact them directly. I don't know if these are given only locally, or if their are any qualifications you need to meet to get the clothes free...I just make and donate preemie clothes so I don't know how it all works on their end..
11|3|here u have to take the seat in to hospital before they release the baby so they can see if|couponsnsamples|couponsnsamples@hotmail.com|21:42:31|11/17/2008|
its a 5pt harness and if they fit in it correctly....my daughters dad..got hers at walmart..and it passed inspection.... 12|1|They have a Preemie Car Bed|babyfundsales|babyfundsales@aol.com|23:00:09|11/17/2008|
My Son was born 2 1/2 months early , so we had to look into this. If the baby is too small for a car seat , they have a Preemie Car Bed , Its a flat car seat , that the baby lays in(straps in , ofcorse). By the time Dylan was released he was able to use a regular infant cat seat on the lowest settings with Cloth Dipaers rolled up to hold him in position.
Also My son was born at Shands in Gainesville and they rented the Preemie beds to parents , Ask maybe there Hospital does as well. They need to talk with the Social Worker. Also most hospital require a Car seat test before a Preemie is released. Basically you bring the car seat in a few days before expected discharge and they put the baby in the car seat hooked up to the monitiors for 30 minutes(or lomger depending in how far they live from the hospital) to make sure that the baby will not have any issues , Drop in Sats, Heart Rate , Breathing , etc.
Also tell them to expect that there could be a delay in coming home , Dylan Discharge day was pushed back a few times , one for failing the car seat test the first time , once for his ROP Exam and the 3rd time was a stupid nurse miss read his monitor and claimed he had issues that he didnt(we were there for the suposid episode - Never happened) Every time there was a delay I cried. After 2 months in the NICU I just wanted him to come home and I be a full time mom , so it can be hard - The last few days espocally.
Heres a link to 1 site that has car beds : http://www.showeryourbaby.com/spneincarbed.html
Hope this Helps
Barbara
Mommy to Dylan Robert
http://dylansden-dan.blogspot.com/
13|1|baby can go home from hosiptal when she weight 6 ;bs or 5lbs either.|Lorey12|Lorey12@yahoo.com|23:13:04|11/17/2008|
katy or kathy is right.
many years ago, my son borned as 3 lbs and 13 oz.
baby grew fast and finally weight over 5 lbs then baby can go home. they never asked me about special car seat?
this is new to me.
:-D 14|1|Its more than being a certain weight to come home|babyfundsales|babyfundsales@aol.com|14:36:19|11/18/2008|
When a preemie can come home has many factors and weight is only 1 of several. I think its important for the parents to know this. Dan and I though the same thing at first , That when Dylan reached a Certain weight we would be able to bring him home and they was so much more to it. Dylan was almost 7 lbs when he was discharged.
They also have to maintain the Body Temperature(most preemies end up in a Isolate - this has a heater to keep the baby warm , so that they can maintain a normal body Temperature) Once out of the Isolate Unit they must be able to keep themselves warm on Just clothes and a blanket.
They also must be able to eat from a bottle(There full meal) Dylan had a Feeding tube for the 1st Month , and even when we started using a bottle it took a while until he got the hang of it and was able to take a full feeding that way.In the Beginning he would take some from the bottle and the rest through his feeding tube.(The nurses explained that a baby in the womb doesn't get the suck swallow reflex until 34 weeks. So a preemie born before 34 weeks is not able to eat from a bottle and they get a feeding tube.
Also they must be able to maintain a steady and strong Heart Rate , Keep the Oxygen Saturation up , Blood Pressure , etc. The Hospital call them the A's and B's (Apnea's and Brady's) Also must be Breathing on there own without assistance.(There were several babies that did go home on Monitors and with Breathing Machines and most likely will be on them for a long time , there parents had to take classes on how to use the equipment , Infant CPR , etc before discharge) Dylan was on Cpap to help his breathing , Thankfully he didn't need it for long , only a day or so and then he was doing fine on his own.
The Car seat test like I mention in my Previous post.
Being a parent of a Preemie in the NICU is an emotional roller coaster , And can be very scary and Stressful .There are Ups and Downs. Good days and Scary days. Dylan was doing great his 1st 2 weeks there and we figured this was great he will come home in a few weeks , we were so happy thinking wow we are so lucky , Our baby has no issues(Especially when you looked around at the other babies , Many who were just clinging to life , It was very hard to see everyday) Then it started with an X-ray for a Distended abdomen , Then a Ultra Sound Because his Fontanels Felt full , Then an MRI , Being told he had a brain Bleed , Then the Ventricular Megalee , Hydrocephalus - Meeting with Neurosurgeon's , Specialists to find out what type and How much Damage may have been done.. The next several weeks we were on Pins and needles with tests and more Tests. His Doctor and Nurse made it a little easier by being there and answering all the questions and giving us support. - They just need to take it day by day. Most Preemies don't come home until the Due Date or Close to it.
We ended up be very lucky and Dylan has No major issues right know , Down the Road he may have some Developmental Disability's and Learning Delays but We can and will handle what ever comes.
There are some Great books on Preemies that were a big Help. We got several from the Social Worker at the Hospital.. Also Shands had Weekly meeting for Parents of Preemies that offered a lot on information and resources. It was sponsored by the March of Dimes , Maybe Her Hospital offers this as well.
Mommy to Dylan Robert
http://dylansden-dan.blogspot.com/