Preemie to come home-help!
6 April 2010 - 2:08pm — vsby
Hi all, our 35wk preemie was just trached on April 2, 2010. Martin is 2 wks old and should be discharged within the next 10 days is not on the vent anymore and my husband and I are just learning whats involved with having a trach and trach collar.
We were wondering what everyone else has done at night to tend to their baby's needs if you do not hear them crying? During the day we can obviously stare at him or be nearby checking, but at night how do you manage?
Also, have you found that it is necessary to keep the baby away from large groups of people or crowds so as not to encourage colds and other respiratory illnesses?
Any other practical, day to day advice would also be appreciated. Thanks!
- by vsby
- vsby's blog
- Login or register to post comments
Comments
Video Monitors
We have the Summer brand of video monitors. You can only use 2 because of the frequencies. You can not use any other monitors because of the frequencies. Anyway... We have one camera directed at the pulse ox machine and we have one camera mounted on the wall looking over the crib. We can actually see our daughter BETTER with the cameras than if we were sitting in a lazy boy chair in the room with her. My husband and I have a video monitor on each side of our beds and we can flip back and forth on our video monitor to watch the pulse ox and watch our daughter. It has excellent night vision, so I recommend getting 2 video systems. We don't have night nursing, but that's because it's my choice. Our daughter spent such a long long time in the hospital that I'm sick sick sick of nurses, and don't want them bugging me in my own house. But that's just me.
My daughter is on the vent at night and we haven't been able to use the compressor and trach collar just yet. Hang out at the hospital as much as you can right now and learn learn learn as much as you can.
Lorraine
you should be getting night
you should be getting night nursing!! Especially first coming home. I had day and night nursing at first, although camden was ona vent for a while. He has been off vent for 5 mths now, but still has night nursing. trach babies need to be watched. Especially new trachs. Sorry u have to go through this, but you will be ok!! ((hugs)) Yes, keep from crowds! I finally am going out a bit because flu season is over, but Camden is now 15 mths. take care!! Look into home health care....
Hi, My son, Clinton, is 2
Hi,
My son, Clinton, is 2 years old now and the first few months are the most difficult. It broke my heart not to hear my baby cry. It wasn’t until we had one of his checkups at the Dr. office that I heard him cry for the first time in 2 months...that’s another story. If you don’t have a baby monitor - get one! There were times when we were standing over the crib and weren’t able to hear the baby breathe because he was breathing so quietly, but the monitor picked it up. The microphones on the monitors are very sensitive. I would also suggest that the monitor you get has a video as well. I have a Summer brand which comes with a handheld monitor and enables you to have freedom to walk around with it. Will you have the baby monitored with a PulsOx? If so – his heart rate will increase which will also cause the alarm to sound and you will know that the baby needs attention – movement and crying will both set off the alarm as long as you have its parameters set right. It’s really trial and error and it will change as he gets older. In the beginning we had nurses at night and on the nights we didn’t have a nurse – either my husband or I slept in the rocking chair in his room so that we would be close by and can hear him. Good Luck - it will be a big adjustment – and you need to find what works for you. Email me if you have any questions that I might be able to help you with.
Lauri