Our Miracle: A glimpse at life in the NICU

Many might think that having a baby in the NICU for over 2 weeks would be difficult. But, when you don't know any better, it just seems normal. When Quinn first arrived in the NICU, he was in an open crib. He was unable to stay warm enough, though, and was placed in an isolette (basically an incubator). He had an IV and was receiving fluids through it. He had a monitor to make sure he was getting enough oxygen. He had a heart rate and breathing monitor as well. The nurse checked his blood pressure (with the cutest little blood pressure cuff) several times a day. Every three hours, his temperature was taken, diaper changed, and he was fed during his "care time." He was able to come out of the isolette only during care time.

After the first day, he was able to come off the oxygen monitor because he was breathing so well. After three days, he was able to shed his IV. He had a bit of trouble gaining weight at first, and he was close to having a tube inserted in his nose to feed him, but he quickly improved his eating ability, and we avoided the tube. He did so well after the first few days, we thought he might get to come home after a week in the NICU. However, he had two bouts of jaundice that first week which required phototherapy to treat.

While on the phototherapy, he was unable to be weaned from the isolette. Because he had to be stripped down to the diaper for phototherapy (in the isolette he wore regular clothes and was swaddled in a blanket) he had a temperature probe on him, and the isolette would automatically adjust to his temperature. So, if he was too warm, the isolette would automatically decrease in temperature, and if he was too cold, the isolette would increase in temperature.

When not on phototherapy, the isolette was set at a specific temperature. When Quinn's temperature was taken every three hours, if it was greater than 98.5 degrees Farenheit, he was able to decrease the temperature on the isolette by 0.3 to 0.5 degrees Celsius. The goal was to get down to 27 degrees on the isolette (81 degrees F) in order for him to come out to an open crib. After each bout of phototherapy, it was back to square one for the temperature weaning process.

The nurses encouraged hubby and I to participate in Quinn's care. At first, this was a bit of a daunting task, because he seemed so small and fragile, and it was difficult to care for him through the portals of the isolette. But with practice, we became comfortable. I generally arrived at the hospital between 8 and 9, and stayed until 10 or 11 at night. I would pump breastmilk for Quinn to have while I was away at night. His care time took anywhere between an hour to an hour and a half, and then I would either rest or go to the cafeteria to eat (food was not allowed in the NICU). Hubby went back to work so that he could be home when Quinn came home, and he would come visit us after work. I cherished those visits, and visits from friends and other family, as being in the hospital all day was rather lonely.

The NICU was behind a locked door, accessible by ringing a doorbell. Quinn also wore a "Hugs tag," which would have sounded all kinds of alarms if we-or anyone else--had tried to smuggle him out of the NICU. We had to sign in and wear a visitor's tag, then "scrub up" by first washing our hands, then applying hand sanitizer prior to entering the NICU. Each day between 1 and 2:30 AM and PM, they had "developmental time," where they dimmed the lights, and asked everyone to speak in soft voices so the babies could have a quiet time in order to help them grow. We did transfer to the step down unit after about a week, which was much the same procedure, except we didn't have to sign in and out.

The hardest day was Thanksgiving, because I left the hospital during the day to have a wonderful dinner prepared by my awesome brother. Eating this delicious meal was of course not the hard part--it was leaving Quinn at the hospital while the rest of our family was together. I know Quinn didn't know better, but I felt bad that he was all alone.

Everyone at the hospital was so kind and compassionate: from the nurses, to the custodians, to those who delivered meals to patients. It was so helpful to have that support during a stressful and lonely time.

Quinn finally came home after 15 days in the NICU. It is so good to have him home!