Finn was born just a week early – so was considered full term. After a short labour he arrived and scored 10 on the APGAR score – he seemed to be a healthy boy.
Shortly afterwards however he started to struggle to breathe and within a few hours of being born he was in the Neonatal Unit. He was initially put on a CPAP (breathing support) machine and had chest x-rays. For a reason we still do not know his lungs were not fully developed – being more like a preterm baby’s. The first 24 hours were a blur as I was still reeling from giving birth and having to deal with the fact that my child was now in intensive care and my daughter was at home, wanting to meet her new brother. He worsened over night and was put on a ventilator.
The first 5 or so days were incredibly emotionally draining as we just had to wait for his lungs to develop sufficiently for him to breathe on his own. During this dark time the nurses, doctors and support staff were amazing. They remained calm and positive, ensuring that we knew all that was happening and that we were a part of our son’s life. Knowing that we could call the Unit at any time was reassuring and we did this at 6am every morning.
Thankfully Finn started to improve and once he was off all breathing support he was moved to the Special Care room and made a swift recovery. It was an intense 12 days and I remember feeling cocooned and disconnected from normal life in the Neonatal Unit which was always warm, dark and quiet. When we left with Finn the sun was shining brightly and life was carrying on as normal – it was the oddest feeling realising that life had not stopped.
It’s hard to describe all that I felt during this time – desperate, sad, hopeful, exhausted and suspended in time. When we were at home with our daughter something was missing and when I was at the hospital with Finn I admit I sometimes did not want to be there as I found it so very scary and difficult. I remember looking around our house thinking that no one had sent congratulation cards; no one spoke of when Finn would come home – it is hard for families and friends too.
Finn is a happy, healthy boy now. By the time he turned one we felt we had begun to put our time in the Neonatal Unit behind us, but we became involved in the Neonatal Unit Families Group as a way of saying thank you for the care Finn received, to help others who are going through similar experiences.
Shortly afterwards however he started to struggle to breathe and within a few hours of being born he was in the Neonatal Unit. He was initially put on a CPAP (breathing support) machine and had chest x-rays. For a reason we still do not know his lungs were not fully developed – being more like a preterm baby’s. The first 24 hours were a blur as I was still reeling from giving birth and having to deal with the fact that my child was now in intensive care and my daughter was at home, wanting to meet her new brother. He worsened over night and was put on a ventilator.
The first 5 or so days were incredibly emotionally draining as we just had to wait for his lungs to develop sufficiently for him to breathe on his own. During this dark time the nurses, doctors and support staff were amazing. They remained calm and positive, ensuring that we knew all that was happening and that we were a part of our son’s life. Knowing that we could call the Unit at any time was reassuring and we did this at 6am every morning.
Thankfully Finn started to improve and once he was off all breathing support he was moved to the Special Care room and made a swift recovery. It was an intense 12 days and I remember feeling cocooned and disconnected from normal life in the Neonatal Unit which was always warm, dark and quiet. When we left with Finn the sun was shining brightly and life was carrying on as normal – it was the oddest feeling realising that life had not stopped.
It’s hard to describe all that I felt during this time – desperate, sad, hopeful, exhausted and suspended in time. When we were at home with our daughter something was missing and when I was at the hospital with Finn I admit I sometimes did not want to be there as I found it so very scary and difficult. I remember looking around our house thinking that no one had sent congratulation cards; no one spoke of when Finn would come home – it is hard for families and friends too.
Finn is a happy, healthy boy now. By the time he turned one we felt we had begun to put our time in the Neonatal Unit behind us, but we became involved in the Neonatal Unit Families Group as a way of saying thank you for the care Finn received, to help others who are going through similar experiences.