I will start off by explaining that there are three types of NICU experience:The good, the bad and the ugly. We had the good. I can't relate to the other two because we had a premature yet otherwise healthy baby. I am not going to try to imagine what it would be like to be one of those parents in one of the other two categories.
The Ninja started off in the main receiving area. She was stabilized and all of the tubes were added to assist with her breathing via a CPAP, IV hydration and feeding tube. She was measured and tested to check her blood glucose and blood chemistry. They also did a chest x-ray to check on the condition of her lungs. At the same time she was connected to the monitor which would measure and record her respirations, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygenation of the blood. This happened before my high as a kite carcass was rolled in. Wade was with her through most of this process. He came back to me in recovery after the nurse mentioned that maybe he should check on me. I was busy being enthralled by the random ability to move my feet again and the perceived size of my legs. Not to mention the baggy of placenta next to my bed. It was just out of poking range.
When I was finally rolled into the NICU, I noticed the paw prints on the ceiling. I thought this was a nice touch and that they must have a Spider Bear (the distant cousin to Spider Pig) tucked away somewhere. I was brought alongside her Isolette on the stretcher. The nurse offered me hand sanitizer and opened the access port. I reached in and put my enormous finger in the palm of her tiny hand. She gripped it hard, letting me know that she is as strong as her round house kicks. This was the first time I got a bit weepy. I blame the sudden shift in hormones. And happiness.
I was taken to my room after an all too brief visit. Both of us needed rest. I'll spare the details of my 48 hours in postpartum, but I will say that I was walking within 12 hours. I had all tubes and hoses out within 24 hours and was able to walk to the NICU and then discharged within 48 hours.
Going home was bitter sweet for me. On one hand I was still in a daze from how fast things moved and missed my little world on Antepartum. On the other, I was looking forward to the simple things. Seeing my dog, sleeping in my own bed and having home cooked food. Leaving the Ninja in the hospital was neither bitter nor sweet but a necessity for her eventual release.
This began the two week journey from level three care to our ill prepared house. Our routine was intense. We aimed to be at the hospital three times a day. Initially, I was still recovering from major surgery and lacked the energy to spend a lot of time. That gradually changed.
Every day held new hope that our little Ninja would be coming home sooner rather than later. When we asked about the CPAP duration on day two and the nurse told us nine days. The next day, it had been replaced with a nasal cannula. A day later her IV was removed. Then her oxygen was turned down to room air. By day four she was moved from bed 31 to bed 1. Still in the Isolette, but moving on up in the world.
On day eight, she was transferred to the Peter Lougheed NICU. This was a lower level NICU. As evidenced by the 20 second hand washing requirement instead of a full minute. The atmosphere is also much more laid back. The babies are less ill and on their way home. But best of all, no more Isolette.
Both sets of parents came in to visit at the Foothills. I have never seen my dad so happy. He was apprehensive at first and then when given the chance to touch her, he had the energy of a much younger man. (He was giddy even. If you have ever met my dad, go ahead and try to picture that.) She was under the UV lights for some proactive jaundice treatment which was probably a bit intimidating. Wade's mom works across the hall from the NICU at PLC and would visit on her breaks and after her shift ended for a cuddle or two. This was much appreciated since we weren't always there.
On the Ninja's final night in the hospital, I was asked to stay over and feed her on demand. She chose this night to feed every four hours. This gave me [false] hope that I was bringing home a baby who didn't need to eat a lot at night. Well played Ninja. Well played. I barely slept anticipating the phone calls to come to the unit to feed her. This was a lot like being on call early on in my EMS career. I was less sleeping than levitating,in anticipation of the call, above the bed. Only two calls came.
She achieved so much in the span of two weeks. She lost and regained four ounces. She went from navy blue at birth to yellow to pink. She had her breathing assisted for just over a week. We (she and I) learned the nuances of breast feeding. Wade and I learned how to bath her and changed countless diapers (although I missed out on the first ones). I learned the importance of hand washing and lost a lot of skin doing so. Then there were the challenges of milk production and the long list of things that I had never imagined coming out of my mouth.
The best day (after her birthday) was September 13. The day we walked out of the hospital and into our own little family.
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