Preemie Gifts

Hi J.-

I second gas cards...and if the nicu stay is going to be lengthy...a parking pass for the hospital?

Best luck!
michele/cat

Gas gift cards! When my son was in the NICU it was a lot of back and forth driving

My sister and her DH really needed support more than anything.

A gas card might be appreciated for all those trips to the NICU. Or simple, prepared food. Or food delivery. I got my sister some preemie clothes (though her preemie was a bit bigger and didn't wear them long). She also appreciated food that didn't need a lot of prep, as she had a c-section and was pumping all hours of the day/night. Ask them.

My SIL had my lovely little niece about a year and a half ago. 2 lbs, 1 oz at 30 weeks gestation. Little Miss Natalie never needed intervention other than an IV for fluids and her feeding thing for a few days. She was amazing and went home a day or 2 shy of 5 weesk old at 4.5 pounds. There was nothing more for them to do for her at the hospital as she did so great!

But the first 2 weeks she was still considered to be in a scary place. CLothes were gigantic on her (still are..shes a peanut), and preemie clothes for a good price were hard to find. I found some great deals on "lots" of them on Craigslist locally. The most useful ones right away were GOWNS! The only thing she could use while still in the hospital once they let her put clothes on her. The only way for them to manage heart rate monitors and the IV and whatever when she had that stuff, and get little diapers changed. Outfits with legs you could not do all that. So my SIL loved the teency gowns I found (a few new and the rest used in great shape...used tho I found a common theme..if they were stained , people usually owned up to it and was due to baby-pukey from nasty formulas)

After that..she loved the support items....Meals were great! I made a big pot of hearty Olive Garden Copy-cat Pasta fazula soup and added a tasty loaf of inexpensive italian bread (easy to microwave a bowl and rip a piece of bread when running home for a shower and to get the mail). She liked meals already cooked vs freezer ones to bake and such. She had stacked tupperware type containers in her refrig with marker written names across the bottom and tape on the top to show the contents.

Best wishes!!

I agree with the other ladies, gas cards, food either prepared and frozen or gift cards to restaurants near the hospital cafeteria food can get old after a while. I would skip the sleep sheep for the hospital. Most likely they won't be able to put anything in the isolette area due to all the medical things needed for the baby. Clothes would be good for when the baby comes home. If you live nearby how about offering to do laundry, quick clean-up at home those kind of things would be truly grateful. I was fortunate to have my mother-in-law here when my last preemie was born and it was wonderful to come home and not have to worry about what's for dinner or if I needed to do laundry.

I would make a few homecook meals and stuff them in the fridge or bring them by the hospital so they can eat some real food. They are going to be to tired to do more than grab something. Then once the baby gets out of ICU have the diapers etc she will need for th ebaby

Give a gift to the parents now of close by coffee, quick foods like owners. When baby comes home a repeatable meal and a baby outfit. Because of my past history there are no showers before birth and no baby gifts before baby Crosses the threshold.

Well, I had a 1lb 11oz preemie in 1994, who will be going off to college in Sept, sigh.

I could've used more preemie clothes. When he came home, 3 months later, on my original due date, he was still only 4 pounds.

I could've used some babysitting for my first son, who was 20 months old.

Frozen food is good, we more or less lived at the hospital for three months. All the regular household things were on hold.

Prayers and happy positive thoughts were the best, of course. At the time, the statistic for a preemie under 2lbs were pretty grim. Stories of success (like mine) were a Godsend!

I used a cloth diaper service, if you think she'll use disposable when the baby comes home, that's an idea too, preemie diaper.

While he was in the hospital, he was in an isolet for most of the three months. We were not allowed to put anything fabric in his isolet, due to the idea that textiles can reek havoc on a preemie respiratory system. so your idea might be good once he's home.

:)

All below are great ideas. A good lightly or unscented hand lotion - my hands were raw from all the hand washing in the NICU. Also, if there are other children, babysitting is essential for mom & dad to get away to spend time with newborn.

I used a nice small 'gift bag size' bag to take stuff back and forth to the hospital that would hold a couple water bottles, chap stick, tissues and a magazine - there was a lot of just sitting there and I couldn't hold my twins much because they needed to be in an 'isolet' - spelled wrong I am sure. I also grabbed a coffee every morning on the way - When my daughters were in the hospital they weren't allowed to have anything in their isolets with them - I bought them a small doll from the gift shop and when I came back later the nurses had removed them and they were sitting on top.

Mine were born 6 weeks early. Support would be awesome. Just someone to talk to, make some meals, etc. If you want to give a gift gift, then maybe a bag filled with stuff they ca ntake to the hospital for themselves. At our hospital, we were allowed to put pictures in the incubator but no animals because they carry dust and germs. With such a little one, it would be even more important. Maybe get a long scarf she could use for kangaroo-ing (holding the baby skin to skin). Something super soft. And I totally agree with the ease of gowns for premies. It makes it so much easier for everything.