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05.22.08, 18:55 PM General Topics
38 replies
27wks pg, and we already know that db will be in the NICU for at least 4 days, maybe as long as a week. (Will be monitored for a heart condition.) Anyone go through this? How did bfing work out? (Would prefer non-preemie stories, since db will be monitored, but not likely intubated, etc.) [ Reply | Watch | Flag ]
General Topics 05.22.08, 06:55 PM Flag
 

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My 37 week twin was in the NICU for a week. There were plenty of moms in there breastfeeding. I wasn't one of them, but the hospital knows how to facilitate it for you [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 06:57 PM Flag
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I'll probably be discharged before the db, so I'm wondering how hard it is to establish bfing when I'm not w/the db 24/7. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 06:59 PM Flag
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I was discharged ahead of time. You do what you have to do. The nurses will give bottles for when you're not there. Kids are resilient and will go to EBF after that if you are patient [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:07 PM Flag
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My full-term ds was in NICU for 24 hours (problem breathing at birth) and the nurses and staff there were amazing. They always helped me bf and were sooo encouraging. Much much more than the post-partum staff. I was at St Lukes Roosevelt. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 06:58 PM Flag
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np: Ditto, and I was at Beth Israel. I was surprised how smoothly bfing went after discharge, but maybe I shouldn't be since I had 5 lactation consultations in his week-long stay. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:03 PM Flag
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ds was in nicu for 4 days because he was, believe it or not, too big. I would advise you get a pump in your room the moment you get to recovery. NICU has very strict schedule, with rounds, etc. so breastfeeding "on demand" is virtually impossible. Stay in the NICU room as much as they'll let you, then pump back in your room. I had a c-section, and I was literally dragging my morphine pump down the hall next to the wheelchair for the first 36 hours. Nurses thought I was insane but I found I really had to fight to get my baby the colostrum. (DH would run down the hall with like 7 ccs, rushing to get scrubbed in before "rounds") [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 06:58 PM Flag
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really depends on hospital. most allow parents 24/7 [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:00 PM Flag
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This is really helpful. Which hospital was this? They wouldn't let you hang out and bf? Or come get you if db cried (like the regular nursery)? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:02 PM Flag
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So different than my experience at Beth Israel - they would call my room when he would wake so I could run down from maternity. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:04 PM Flag
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what sort of heart condition? which hospital (my answer will depend)? and yes, btdt. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 06:59 PM Flag
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coarctation of the aorta. we'll be delivering at St. Vincent's, but if the condition needs surgery, we'll transfer to Columbia Presbyterian. (Ped cardio at St. V has privileges at CP.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:01 PM Flag
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ok. first of all, i hope you dont mind my asking why arent you delivering at columbia in the first place? second, i assume dr stark you are using? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:04 PM Flag
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i am the one who wrote above about 24/7 visiting. my experience here is based on columbia, so i'll just comment based on my experiences. i was allowed to see my sons 24/7. they had breast pumps in a pumping room just outside the nicu hallway, so you could pump whenever you want. they were very accommodating and encouraging of breastfeeding. i dont know anybdoy who had a problem, and they will support you if you need help. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:06 PM Flag
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also, i would suggest if you think he will be at st vincents, go for a tour of the nicu now. then, i'd also go for a tour at columbia. in all honesty, this might make the decision for you about where to deliver. it's a different world. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:07 PM Flag
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this is great, thank you. I was wondering about the breast pumps. you can use the hospital's -- you don't have to bring your own? (although I guess you'd want one at home for when you're discharged and the db is still in the NICU.) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:12 PM Flag
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they give you a disposable kit so the parts that actually touch you are all new. you will see if you need one when you get home. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:16 PM Flag
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Funny. Everyone we've spoken to has said "Heart condition? You HAVE to use CP!" But we got an EKG at CP, and even the cardiologist there said, "You don't need to deliver at CP. Deliver at St. V and transfer here if the condition looks worse." St. V is way, way, way more convenient for us (we're in Brooklyn, and don't have a car, and no family nearby -- and we have a 2yo). And we have gotten to know the entire ped cardio dept, the perinatologist, the genetic counselors (there's a minor genetic issue). it just seems like the right fit. And our ped cardio works at CP one day a week, so he is in constant communication with their team there. The cardio is Dr. Brick. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:10 PM Flag
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brick is wonderful. an extremely caring man. hes one of our favorite people there. i'm not criticizing your decision, just realize that nicu's are very different in terms of how accommodating they are. we were originally shceduled to deliver at cornell, and they said the same thing--we can transfer if needed-- but we toured columbia and realized the setup there offered us such advantages it was worth it. having 24/7 access to ds, with a pullout chair next to his crib that we could sleep in was worth it in and of itself. but then there's just the fact that theyve dealt with more cardiac issues than any nyc hospital. sometimes these things are hard calls, and you want a team with experience. it's not just about your actual PC, it's about the nicu fellows, the card attendings, the nurses, etc. you wont find the level of experience at stvincents that youlll find at columbia. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:15 PM Flag
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I hear you. There's a lot to recommend about CP. Another concern I have is actually getting there in time to deliver. Had fast 1st labor, so worried about delivering in the car! Dr. Brick said St.V NICU has cots so I can sleep over. Not true? Also, I have no doubt that we will txfr to CP at the first sign of anything going downhill. And also, Dr. Brick is being way more conservative than even the cardio we saw at CP, so I feel we're in good hands and he'll send us up there at the first sign. But I'll look more into the NICU issue. What heart issue did your dc have? How did it resolve? [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:22 PM Flag
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thats great if they have cots!! i didnt know that! havent been there in ages (worked there 10 yrs ago actually). who did you see at cp? i would just recommend you tour both places, then make a decision. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:27 PM Flag
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that's good advice, thank you. we saw dr. glickstein. she was great too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:29 PM Flag
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yes, she did my fetal echo with my last baby. very very nice. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:30 PM Flag
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and my ds had a totally different issue. he had aortic stenosis, whcih also couldve gone either way. they were monitoring him, then did a cath and thought that would be all he needed, but after a few days of monitoring he proved them wrong, and he needed surgery. it was a rough time BUT 3 yrs later he's doing great. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:28 PM Flag
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very interesting. stenosis has been thrown around with our db, but it looks more like a coarct. who did the surgery? so glad it's ended up well! the good news seems to be that (1) we're in NYC, and (2) these are "simpler" heart problems to fix. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:33 PM Flag
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dr q. he's not the nicest guy around by far. but thought to be the best one there. though lately i've been hearing amazing things about mosca too. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:36 PM Flag
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we've heard great things about Dr. Q. if it comes to surgery, we will request him. thank you for sharing your experience. it is really appreciated! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:37 PM Flag
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btw, dh just reminded me dr brick save my son's life. the day he "crashed" when they realized he needed surgery, he went downhill fast. brick saved his life, and dealth with us so sensitively and compassionately. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:45 PM Flag
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that is great. he told us today about a 6wo who was essentially dying (severe, severe coarct) and w/i 5 minutes of a prostaglandin shot, the db was 100% (although needed surgery obviously). it's really amazing what they can do. thanks for your kind words! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:47 PM Flag
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and you are right, your child will be fine. even if surgery were needed, the success rates are near perfect. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:37 PM Flag
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St. vincents is so amazingly pro mom/baby bonding that I would be really amazed if you had trouble being with your nicu baby at your request. (I delivered there 3x). [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:28 PM Flag
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i agree with that fully! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:31 PM Flag
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that's the sense I'm getting. friend just delivered there and had a wonderful experience. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:31 PM Flag
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yeah. it's not the poshest hospital by far but they are so supportive of whatever way you want to labor and let you keep the baby with you even after a c/s, in the recovery room. (not my experience at another hospital) [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:34 PM Flag
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my last db was born at a shitty hospital that also wasn't supportive -- so a non-posh but supportive hospital sounds good to me! [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:38 PM Flag
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will they know closer to delivery if surgery is more or less likely? with my son, we went back every 2-4 wks for them to get a better idea of whats going on [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:17 PM Flag
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Yes, I'm being monitored every 2-4 wks. At 34 wks I'll get one more EKG, and if it looks a lot worse, we might transfer delivery to CP at that point. But not if it stay as it is. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:19 PM Flag
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do you mean echo? i cant imagine an ekg would help. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:21 PM Flag
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sorry, yes, I meant echo. I keep getting those confused. [ Reply | More
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General Topics 05.22.08, 07:24 PM Flag
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