Having a baby in the NICU is hard on any parent, regardless of their baby’s condition.
Carter was in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit for 68 days, before being transferred to a special care nursery in our home town.
Carter’s nurses were our backbone.
They reassured me that he was improving, even if we didn’t see it.
They comforted us when we were falling apart and told us we could do this, even if we felt that we couldn’t.
They educated us and encouraged us to ask questions, ensuring that we felt confident in Carter’s care.
They helped to mould our experience into the positive one that it was, even though every day was trying.
They prepared us for the road ahead, even though we couldn’t see past the moment we were in.
..there are many things I wish they knew.
I wish they knew how grateful we were when they used Carter’s name
I used to hate it when Carter was referred to as “Baby Thomson”.
I’d sit next to his crib with my arm through one of the portholes and listen to the nurse give handover, “So, this is Baby Thomson”.
Agh! It would drive me insane!
Then, one day, he had a sign on his crib that read ‘Carter’ and all his ID stickers had ‘Carter Thomson’ on them. I cried.
I wish they knew how happy it made us that they’d gotten to know Carter
As I got ready for bed each night, I’d always wonder how Carter was doing. I used to think about calling in the middle of the night, just to see if he was sleeping. Although they always encouraged us to call if we needed, I trusted his nurses whole heartedly and knew they’d call me if he wasn’t doing well.
When we’d arrive to see him in the morning, we’d be greeted by a friendly face,
..“Carter did really well last night. The little trouble maker pulled three tubes out on Lorena and another three on Tracie.. he really hates having it there, doesn’t he?!”
..”Carter is so much more settled on his belly so I’ve turned him over and he’s been fast asleep ever since”.
..”He bloody hates those nasal prongs! He’s decided he doesn’t need CPAP anymore!”
..”I’ve been wrapping Carter up nice and tight and laying the Zaky hand across his bottom. He just loves being swaddled!”
It meant the world to John and I, as parents who couldn’t be there for Carter the way we wanted to, to have nurses who knew what Carter liked and didn’t like. We loved that he was loved.
I wish theY knew how much easier they made it for us to leave Carter EACH night
It’s like leaving your child alone for the first time.. only you know absolutely nothing about the baby sitter. Usually, it’s a new sitter every night.
If you’re as lucky as we were, you’ll have nurses who share their lives with you as well.
You get to learn about their children, their grandchildren, their pets. They tell you about their plans for the weekend and how much they’re looking forward to finally finishing that D.I.Y on their house.
Eventually, you begin to build a list of ‘preferred’ nurses. Not intentionally. You just find yourself feeling so relieved when you see a nurse who knows your baby well. They know how to swaddle him the way he likes, and to push his feeds nice and slow.
When they start to talk to you and build that connection with you, it just makes it so much easier to go home each night.
I wish they knew how thankful WE were for the profession they’d chosen
Every day, I was thankful that Carter’s nurses chose this career.
John and I would chat about the nurses while we ate our crappy microwave dinners, “I’m so glad she has Carter tonight! It just makes going to sleep so much easier”.. “You can tell they love what they do!”.. “I’m going to miss them when Carter gets transferred”.
Every day, we were surrounded by nurses who left their families at the start of each shift and looked after ours like we were their own. Every day, we were thankful that they chose this profession and that they continue to care for, not only the babies who need them, but the families who need them too.
#Not Just A Nurse
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