fbpx
Twin Cities Mom Collective

A New Normal in the NICU

A New Normal in the NICU | Twin Cities Mom Collective

With my third pregnancy, I thought I knew what to expect when it came to having my 2nd c-section and fourth child. However, going in for my weekly ultrasound and blood pressure check at 36 weeks changed all of that. My blood pressure had been stable throughout the pregnancy up until that week. I was confirmed to have preeclampsia and found out that I would need to deliver on that Thursday. I walked from my clinic over to the attached Maple Grove Hospital and headed to the Family Birth Center to get checked in.

Everything went as expected until Baby Jones was born. He had taken in too much air when he first entered the world and would need time in the NICU. When I had previously given birth to my twins, one had spent some time in the NICU so – again – I thought I knew what to expect. I expected that I’d get stitched up, rolled to my room to allow my epidural to wear off and then I’d be able to check in on Jones, starting skin-to-skin contact and nursing so that my milk would come in.

A New Normal in the NICU | Twin Cities Mom Collective

Except this time, that was not the case. Unfortunately, my blood pressure was not going back to normal post-op, requiring me to be put on magnesium to help regulate it. This would also mean I would not be able to see Baby Jones until I was approved to get off of it, which could have been up to another 24 hours after birth. After hearing this, I was distraught that I might have to wait that long to see my newborn. The staff and my team of nurses understood how important it was to get me to him as soon as possible. With their attentive care, I was able to see him closer to the 12-hour mark, for which I will be forever grateful.

Thinking back, I cannot imagine how I would feel if he had been born today, in the middle of a pandemic, potentially not being able to see him in the NICU as easily as I did last year. Recently I learned about something that Maple Grove Hospital has implemented to help parents and family navigate having a baby in the NICU during this unprecedented time. NICView is a solution that allows parents and family to continue to see and monitor their baby through 24/7 secure video streaming.

A New Normal in the NICU | Twin Cities Mom Collective

Even without a global pandemic, if this had been an option last year I would have been so much more at ease to be able to at least see Baby Jones from the start as my own body worked to begin recovery from the c-section. Allowing me to begin the mother-baby bonding process earlier. Not only that, but since he unexpectedly came so early, my husband had to work that Saturday while our sweet little baby was still in the NICU. It was hard for him to be away, but had we had access to NICView, he could have stayed connected to Baby Jones even while he was away.

Currently with visitor restrictions siblings, grandparents, and other family and friends are not able to visit. It simply is not an option. However with NICView, you are able to have peace of mind knowing you can still share this time with family and friends from afar. They are able to see baby, and even receive updates from the NICU staff on baby’s routine if you provide them access.

A New Normal in the NICU | Twin Cities Mom CollectiveGiving birth is a journey unto itself, and adding the additional layer of this pandemic would have had me more worried than ever about the entire experience. No matter if it was my first child or fourth, as a mom, I would have had concerns and anxiety. But I must say, my best birthing experience by far has been with Maple Grove Hospital. The teams who took care of Baby Jones in the NICU as well as those who took care of my recovery absolutely understood my concerns. They made it a point to ensure that both my health and my son’s health were the highest priority.

I believe the fact that Maple Grove Hospital continues to prioritize necessary enhancements while they pivot towards this new “normal” – including adding NICView – proves they put parents, babies, families, and their staff at the forefront of what they do; which makes me even more appreciative of my experience last year. I know they will continue to provide current expecting moms and families the best care and experience, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Related posts

Happy Teeth, Happy Kids: The Parent’s Guide to Sealants for Children

Twin Cities Mom Collective

A Quick Guide to Handling Knocked-Out Teeth and Seeking Immediate Dental Care

Twin Cities Mom Collective

8 Common Questions New Parents Have About Their Baby’s Teeth

Twin Cities Mom Collective

1 comment

Megan Johnson August 20, 2020 at 5:26 PM

Do you know if this a permanent addition to the NICU or just a solution during rhe pandemic? Having a child in the NICU is really hard and so isolating. Family doesn’t really understand unless they’ve gone through it. I can’t imagine having the additional restrictions of the pandemic to deal with as well. I’m glad there is something like this to help. My heart goes out to all of the 2020 NICU parents.

Reply

Leave a Comment