[kydz_7]

First, let me say I am blessed to have gotten the offer of our new preemie FD. I went to the NICU today to meet her and set up a daily schedule of holding, bathing, feeds, ect of her - for 2 months before she is able to come home with us. She has already been there for 2 months, being born at 1lb 2 ozs...yikes. She is doing well but will be there 2 more months & the nurses wanted HS to find foster parents because nobody is there for her. My hubby is scared stiff (probably not thrilled) but does allow me to make the final decision of taking placement. I am so excited because she will come home after our FS who we had since birth will return home at 1 year old in sept. In the meantime It will be alot of work to do cuddle care daily..love it but has anyone ever had a situation like this? I feel so lucky but boy, busy...busy.

[psu4ever]

Wow, that's a big challenge, but sounds great. Congratulations on your new FD! I've heard about the kangaroo care ideas. If you do a search on the internet for "kangaroo care" you can get lots of information. They say that it really makes a big difference in the outcomes for preemies. Sounds like a wonderful gift for you to give to this baby, and so wonderful that they got you involved now. Best of luck!

[teacher2mommy]

I think you are doing a wonderful thing. These babies need the contact so much! Just think of the possibilities here, you have a chance to make such a difference in this little one's entire life from the start. Good for you, we need more people that care like you.

[Mummy_Big_Bird]

1 pound 2 ounces, yikes!

My last FD was born about 6 weeks early (hospital had to guess because bmom didn't know how far along she was). She was in the NICU for 4 weeks. I got her case 5 days before she got to come home to me. I spent every night in the NICU with her. Her birth parents were showing up at the hospital most days, but only stayed a maximum of 45 minutes. I would slip in at night, because I knew it was safe that they would not be there. They had to report back to the homeless shelter by a certain time, if they wanted to get a bed. I would stay at the hospital AT LEAST 3 hours every night.

When she came home, the best thing for her was a baby sling. It is the only kangaroo-care carrier that will take a tiny baby. (Y was 4 pounds, 7 ounces when she left the hospital) The sling became a big joke with everyone who knew me. Everyone said it was my way of finishing off the pregnancy for the bmom. My FD practiacally lived in that thing! It gives the baby the closeness of the womb.

I am actually a big advocate of Kangaroo care, especially for Foster Babies. They had to develop in a not so nice enviorment that they sould have had. All my kids have thrived on all the close contact I have given them. (just ask baby G, who is lying accross my lap asleep, as I type this! )

Please feel free to PM me if you need any tips!

[psu4ever]

I agree with Mummy-Big-Bird about the sling idea. While not a preemie, our adopted son needed a lot of contact during the early months. He practically lived in a sling too. I had one with no snaps, ties, or rings -- just a single piece of fabric like a pocket that the baby rests in. It is very much like a Kangaroo pouch, and does give them the feeling of a womb. As they get older and can hold up their heads, they can sit upright on your hip in the sling, facing forward and out, facing in towards you, or on your back all in the same simple sling. It really helps in bonding with any infant, and is a wonderful suggestion. I bought mine on ebay and the person that made mine made it to fit me specifically. I plan to use the sling with our future foster child. And, they come in so many beautiful fabrics now. Sorry if I sound like a commercial for baby slings -- i don't sell them! :-)

[Neener]

We have a preemie FS who was six weeks early, born 4lbs. 2oz. and was in NICU for two weeks before we got the call at noon and he was in our house by 5:30. It was so scary, he was only 4lbs. 9oz. when he arrived and it was like changing a diaper on a chicken. Now almost 6 weeks later, he is over 7lbs. and growing out of his clothes, I laugh to think of how tiny he was and now he is thriving. Don't blink, they grow to fast.

Good luck,
Neener

[HappyTwinsMom]

Not a foster parent, but our daughters were born at 31 weeks (just over 3 lbs each) and we did kangaroo care while they were in the NICU for their first 29 days. It was an awesome, amazing experience...cuddling those precious little babies against our skin. It does wonders for the babies, but moms and dads definitely benefit, too!

[Gentin]

Hey I just wanted to say that my first bio son was born at 29 weeks - so he was 11 weeks early!! He spent the first 49 days of his life in NICU but is now a healthy 5 year old. I had alot of ups and downs - some days we would go in and we couldn't even hold him - those days were very tough for me! Other days we would go in and when we could hold him - we would do the kangaroo care which is a great way for them to feel closer to you and grow. G came home weighing 5lbs 10ozs - so he was small and we were very nervous - we were so used to the monitors that we were a wreck without them!! My second preg was a little better my second bio son was born at 36 weeks and was home in 3 days. We are now a foster/adopt family waiting for our first placement.

[PAmomof1]

Congratulations on the new baby!

I think cuddle care is a great idea

I got my first placement as a preemie (I actually adopted her a few weeks ago)

She was born at 1 pound 8 ounces. She's 2 1/2 now and is still VERY small.. but you can't tell her that!! LOL.

She does still receive a lot of early intervention services, but for the most part she's fine!

You will probably be busy for a while with doctor appointments and just giving her love, but it will be wonderful!

[athikers]

I was a premie... back when they didn't let the parents hold the little ones. I was huge by your baby's standards, but extremely small and extremely early (more than 3 months) for being born in 1976. I weighed in at 2 lbs 6 oz. and I didn't catch up in weight/height until I was 3. I would tell you to take every opportunity to do kangaroo care, the one time my mom was allowed to hold me (before open heart surgery that I wasn't expected to live through) my heart spontaneously healed on its own - right as she was holding me - so there is a lot of power in that contact and the more you can have the better chance you are giving this little one as far as attachment and bonding later in life.