5 Things That Made Transitioning From the NICU Easier
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you click a link and purchase something that I have recommended. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I only link items that I have indeed used and tried so that you can decide for yourself if you like them. Feel free to email or message me at anytime if you have additional questions about linked items.
Y’all, we could not break out of that NICU fast enough! I was so tired of visiting the hospital daily that I told one of the women at the temperature checkpoint that I couldn’t wait to never see her again. She felt the same way! Day in and day out it was the same thing. With Janai, I worked at the hospital so it was easy for me and my mom to visit every day. With Jodi, it was a hike and I was sick of it! Plus, leaving my baby alone without someone to show her TLC every day just made me tremendously sad. As a matter of fact, I was tremendously sad for all of the babies for that reason. When we graduated to the Special Care Nursery, I was like FINALLY! It still took a minute for us to get discharged though because Jodi was struggling to get off of oxygen and learning how to suck-swallow-breathe. It felt like everyday someone around us was going home and we were stuck there.
But the day finally came…we finally got approved to go home! Unlike 15 years earlier, we actually had time to prepare. With Janai, I was scrambling to get everything that we needed, so I took my broke ass to Burlington Coat Factory and got what I could!
Ok..lets get into it! One of the things that I feel like we as moms tend to neglect is ourselves. I learned early on that self care is nothing to feel guilty about. In fact, it’s absolutely essential. One of the best ways for me to relax is by lighting candles and taking a warm bath. Since Jodi has Chronic Lung Disease from the ventilator, I couldn’t use just any candle for fear of Jodi getting soot in her lungs. It had to be soy candles. Palmetto Candle Company is by far my favorite company to order candles from and that Shea Butter scent smells sooo good. I didn’t have to give up my me time because the candles are made from soy and don’t have crazy amount of fragrance.
Next up is a Boppy. Technically, we had our poppy while in the NICU because even holding a 1 lb baby tires your arms. The hospital had some in the unit, but we didn’t always want to wait for someone to finish using it or for it to be cleaned. The removable minky slip cover also made this easy to clean at home. This was also dope when we started nursing. At home, Jodi loves to sleep propped up on this thing during the day! It also helps during tummy time when she’s learning to lift her head. There are so many uses!
So #3 on my list, the 4Moms Mamaroo, was a splurge for me! I knew that I would be going back to work early, so I needed something to keep my baby entertained while working, cooking, and doing school work with Janai. This was supposed to be nearly hands off. I really really love the fact that it moves on it’s own and plays music. It’s also possible for me to change the motion from my phone, so while I’m in the kitchen looking at a recipe, I can peek at her to make sure she’s ok and switch between apps on my phone. The reason that this isn’t the #2 thing on my list…and the thing that I think 4Moms missed with this is making the toy carousel movable. Like, this high tech, expensive (comparatively speaking) device makes the second, if not the first, most important part super rudimentary.
I’m going to admit, I was not at all happy with this purchase initially. I like to feel really satisfied after a purchase and I spent the majority of Jodi’s time in the NICU mulling over the right stroller and car seat. I had already had my mind set on another super splurge, but after visiting Buy Buy Baby, I learned that the Chicco KeyFit 30 Zip Air actually had an insert that made it able to accommodate babies as small as 4 lbs. Still, I wanted my fancy one. But let me tell you, after using the KeyFit and the Bravo, I’m SUPER satisfied. I literally can’t rave enough about this travel system. As if the insert wasn’t enough, the carseat has a breathable cushion and it goes in and out of the base and the stroller sooo easily. Regarding the stroller…I literally pull one handle and can collapse it into the trunk. One. Handle. One. This is immensely helpful as we travel to and from all of Jodi’s doctor’s appointments. I can go on and on about this system, but the other piece that I absolutely love about this system is that it covers the hell out of my baby! With COVID, it’s super scary to have a baby with Chronic Lung Disease out and about, but I just pull up the cover on the carseat and pull down the cover on the stroller, and my baby is completely covered. Ya’ll…what! I love this thing so much!
Jodi sporting her owlet and some rib knit pants that I made in 15 minutes!
The #1 thing that helped make our transition easier is the Owlet. I think most preemie parents are obsessed with looking at their little one’s oxygen saturation rates when visiting the NICU. It was the first place my eyes went and is the last thing I’d check prior to leaving. Every call to the NICU would include the question “where’s she at on her oxygen?”. The hospital provided us with a monitor, but it only alarms if it goes out of range, but it doesn’t specify the actual rate. In fact, there aren’t any numbers on it. The Owlet has given me the best of peace of mind. I can check her rate anytime she’s wearing the device by simply picking up my phone and looking. They provide everything you need to help with placement and their site has a plethora of info! I almost wish that I could buy one for Janai!