Having a really hard time (Preemie)

I gave birth to my youngest on June 26th (31 weeks along) and he's now been in the hospital for 3 weeks and 2 days... It's been very hard   I never would have imagined how hard it would be leaving your little baby that you just carried for a long time, at the hospital.
I feel so disconnected from him even though I get to go see him everyday. I am suffering from PPD so that probably isn't helping the feeling. I miss him so much and I really just want to bring him home.

I know just how you are feeling. I had to leave my LO behind at the hospital too. Everytime I saw a new baby out in public I lost it. You just have to keep telling yourself that it is for the best. If he comes home before he is ready, there is a very good chance he will end up going back. The NICU nurses told me "One way or another, it still takes 9 months to make a baby." And for some reason that helped. I hope your LO gets to come home soon!!

Quoting Brandi Eastman:" I know just how you are feeling. I had to leave my LO behind at the hospital too. Everytime I saw a new ... [snip!] ... or another, it still takes 9 months to make a baby." And for some reason that helped. I hope your LO gets to come home soon!!"

Did your LO have to stay long??

He was born at 28 weeks...stayed in the NICU for 11 weeks. came home Christmas Eve   Babies usually come home on or around their original due date, if that helps having a time frame. My LO came home about a week before. Was Due Jan 2

I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. Just know that you are not alone. My son was born at 32 weeks, & he was in the NICU for 3 weeks. It was so hard to leave there every night, knowing that I couldn't take him home with me. Luckily the hopsital where I had him at, their NICU is really nice & each baby has their own room with a pull out bed for the parents, so I got to stay a few times.

Just know he is there to get better, & he will be coming home soon. <3

Prayers to you & your baby boy.

Chin up, mama. I had my youngest on January 11, 2012. She was born at 33w 5d. It is a very very long, tiring, wait, but in the end, you will be s happy to have your little one back at home, that it will all seem like something far in the past. Best advice I can give is, spend as much time holding baby as you can. Practice kangaroo care, it's a life saver! If you want to nurse, ask to latch baby on (even if baby has a g tube) so that you can get that bonding experience. I know that it's hard, but you'll get through! take lots of pictures and hold him as much as possible. If you need someone to talk to, feel free to pm me.

Quoting S + K = A❤:" I'm so sorry you are feeling this way. Just know that you are not alone. My son was born at 32 weeks, ... [snip!] ... few times. Just know he is there to get better, & he will be coming home soon. <3 Prayers to you & your baby boy."

Wow! That is awesome!! (the own room, pull out bed thing) I wish it had been like that where my LO was....It was just a long-ish room with isolets linning the walls. There was harldy room for a chair in between them.

Quoting Brandi Eastman:" Wow! That is awesome!! (the own room, pull out bed thing) I wish it had been like that where my LO was....It ... [snip!] ... my LO was....It was just a long-ish room with isolets linning the walls. There was harldy room for a chair in between them."

Same with our nicu. That would have been so nice!

My son was born at 33 weeks. he spent three weeks in nicu. the longest three weeks of my life. we could only see him once a day. we have three school aged daughters i run a daycare and the nicu was an hour away. even when we brought him home i felt like he wasnt ours. it is not a natural feeling to leave the hospital without your baby. after we were home about a week i was getting Dominick dressed and he looked those big blue eyes up into mine...and I melted at once...of course he knows who I am...I am his Mommy. The bond is not always instant....but it will come....and it will last a lifetime . god bless you and your sweet baby

Quoting B♥E♥A♥R:" I gave birth to my youngest on June 26th (31 weeks along) and he's now been in the hospital for 3 weeks ... [snip!] ... am suffering from PPD so that probably isn't helping the feeling. I miss him so much and I really just want to bring him home."

congratulations on your baby boy!
mine were born at 32 weeks, and stayed for four weeks exactly.

The last week of their NICU stay was somehow the hardest. I was fully recovered from my c section, things were *back to normal* everywhere except my babies were still not home.
not only that, but it felt like they would NEVER come home. They weren't taking any food by mouth at all still. Everything by tube only. It was so frustrating, trying again and again to get them to suck, and they just wouldn't. at all.
and I knew that they would have to take ALL their feeds by mouth before they let us go home, and I thought that wouldn't / couldn't happen, FOR MONTHS, at that rate.
but it did, suddenly. just like the nurses said it would. first, one girl decided she liked food. immediately, she really liked her food. she wanted all her food by mouth, THAT DAY.
and then, two days later, just when I was sure that I'd have to leave the other baby at the hospital, she, too, decided she LIKED FOOD. and then she wanted her food a lot, all of it.
we were all home two days later.
point is trust the nurses, try and be patient, and the NICU will begin to fade to a memory before you know it.
and don't buy too many preemie clothes! they grow out of them SO FAST!

best of luck, OP. hope you feel better and your little boy is home with you soon!

Both my babies were preemie. The first one was born at 26weeks and was in the NICU for 3 months. He is 8 now and is going great. My 2nd was born at 32 weeks and stayed in the NICU for about a month. He is 2 almost 3 and is also doing great. It's very hard at first but it does get easier!!! Just take it easy and know that the drs and nurses are doing everything to help your baby. Try talking to someone about your feelings and don't keep it all to yourself. Good luck!!

Just a positive note my youngest was born at 32 weeks and was in special care nursery for only 1 week ! Hang in their mama it will be over with before you know it!!

my last LO was born at 38wks and 3 days, full term, but since his cord had been in a knot and around his neck AND he was born sunny side up, he managed to have to stay at the NICU for 4 grueling wks. These were the longest weeks of my life since I was so proud to have made it to term with this one and wasn't expecting this outcome. We were able to visit anytime, but like oyu I felt so disconecceted with him. He is now a little over 2 and adores me like no other, (and I have to admit secretly he is my favorite baby) a lot goes to the NICU nurse for helping me through and even sitting and listening to me at times. Good luck and speedy stay!