3 week old preemie :)

I had my DD at 28 weeks c-section.
she will be 3 weeks on Sunday.
I get to 'kangaroo care her' well i dont know if its me or if its just the hospital but she has a really distinct smell to her NOT BAD BAD but its not a baby smell it's almost where i have to turn my head. I feel SOOO terrible for thinking or asking about this but you think its from the bed and the hospital?

She does still have her C-PAP on which does have a funky smell specially the tape well she'll be moving to level 2 next week on a cannula god is good  

Congratulations !

I had my son @ 34 weeks & he was in the nicu for 10 days.

It's sooo hard, I know! But just keep your head up!
As for the smell, Brayden didnt have a smell at all lol

No baby smell no weird smell.. Haha it was strange!

Good luck (:

So level 2 is good? Idk anything about preemies..

I don't think it would hurt to ask. Do you know where on her body the smell is comming from? I would just ask. Maybe its some type of special soap? How often is she bathed and sheets changed?

My preemie was 33 weeks no cpap or anything...no smell...id ask the nurses

Congrats on your little one! My DD was 27 weeks and 4 days, it was rough but it does get better, in fact she will have made it to a whole year in just 2 days! It goes by fast, so enjoy the kangaroo care as much as you can!!

As for the smell, how often do they change the tape? What about her bedding inside her isolette (I'm assuming she's still in one). What does it smell like? Your hormones are still all messed up so you could also just be affected by her smell more. When they are itty bitty they also don't get bathed as often usually since it's stressing on them.
And speak up if something like that is concerning you and don't feel bad if something in there bothers you whether it's smells sights or anything. If it makes you feel better I had a hard time looking at DD for the first couple of weeks because as a micropreemie she looked very alien-ish and it freaked me out a lot. ONce I realized it was normal to feel like things weren't normal I was able to be open about the anxiety those kinds of things can cause. Good luck OP!!

Quoting BrandyJ#3:" So level 2 is good? Idk anything about preemies.. I don't think it would hurt to ask. Do you know where ... [snip!] ... the smell is comming from? I would just ask. Maybe its some type of special soap? How often is she bathed and sheets changed?"

her sheets are changed 2 times a day each shirt unless she spits up or has a blow out but its the 3rd time i got to hold her and ive smelled it each time so i'll ask when i go in. Right now i'm just keeping an eye on my stupid c section that is still open a little bit and might be getting a small infection nothing bad almost like if you would scrape your knee and it gets red around it and has a little smell to it i just want it to close and be done with it.

Quoting TamaraL:" Congrats on your little one! My DD was 27 weeks and 4 days, it was rough but it does get better, in fact ... [snip!] ... to feel like things weren't normal I was able to be open about the anxiety those kinds of things can cause. Good luck OP!!"

OMG okay so you know exactly what I thought the first like week i dont look at her like that anymore but the first week was rough she reminded me of E.T kinda with her rib cage and i kept getting so mad at myself id cry b/c i didnt mean it in a bad way but shes doing really well shes almost to level 2 just waiting for her to grow now she is 2 lbs and 4 oz so as soon as she is 1100 grams we can move up that will be so exciting alone and i can't even believe how much she has changed in almost 3 weeks she actually is looking like a baby her arms and legs are still super scranny specially when she is on her back BUT its okay

they changed her bedding every shift change unless she spits up or you know its dirty but honesty i have NO idea how to describe it.... almost like a dirty body smell NOT disgusting but like you need a bath maybe its just my hormones wacked out haha like you said or the laundry soap they use. and the tape IDK i am writing this down so i can ask b/c i get scared to ask a lot i dont want to piss them off or make them mad but then again i want to say something b/c i can't care for her 24-7 so AHH talk about a roller coaster. Happy Birthday to your DD thats really exciting does she have any learning issues or anything you have had to deal with as far as development ?

<blockquote><b>Quoting * CoLe *:</b>" her sheets are changed 2 times a day each shirt unless she spits up or has a blow out but its the 3rd ... [snip!] ... you would scrape your knee and it gets red around it and has a little smell to it i just want it to close and be done with it."</blockquote>



Sorry hun but it sounds infected. I would have them take another look. I get infections all the time. My mom had a hole in hers and it got infected. She had to go get it drained.

Quoting BrandyJ#3:" <blockquote><b>Quoting * CoLe *:</b>" her sheets are changed 2 times a day each shirt ... [snip!] ... take another look. I get infections all the time. My mom had a hole in hers and it got infected. She had to go get it drained."

I got it looked at by the ER dr. and he said it was fine and didnt look infected it inst like green pussing its just some drainage that smells have you ever taken an earring our and it smelled funky it smells like that ?! SOO I will keep some like neosporin on it and if it gets REAL bad i'll go back other wise i'll wait until Monday when i can have my Dr. look at it. Its small so hopefully its nothing where it will take for ever to heel

Quoting * CoLe *:

Thanks for the birthday wishes. We don't know of any learning issues yet, so far everything has been right on track with adjusted age, a few behind and a few milestones ahead. She waves back now which is super sweet.
How much did she weigh when born? Just wondering. DD was 1lb 7 oz

Ok so I know it's hard to do but you have to be an advocate for your daughter. The nurses are just doing their jobs, but as a mother your job and rank outweighs theirs and I don't mean that in a nasty way, just that you should try to remember that they are used to the questions and concerns all the time and they expect them. Being concerned is being a mother. A bad smell is disconcerting because usually it means dirty, an infection, etc. Speaking of which, make sure you take time to focus on your own health too otherwise you are of no use to your daughter, so keep an eye on that c-section area.
And yes I actually saw a social worker/shrink type woman at the hospital every week for a few weeks because I was having panic attacks and I had trouble visiting the nicu because it was sooo much anxiety everytime I saw her. She just didn't look very human, but she fattened up and that helped a lot ;) It took a lot of courage to admit I felt this way, but remember we are NEVER supposed to actually see our babies like that. They are supposed to be cute and squishy and no one is prepared to have a baby so skinny they don't even have a butt!!! She helped me realize this was normal. I took a few days off of the nicu because I didn't want to associate panic attacks with seeing my baby, but called every few hours and was open with the nurses about my anxiety attacks. After a few days I felt a lot better.
Here, if you want to see my daughters progress so far go check out my Youtube, I post for family and other preemie moms who might want to see just how well these little fighters can do   http://www.youtube.com/user/tamz057/videos

Quoting TamaraL:" Thanks for the birthday wishes. We don't know of any learning issues yet, so far everything has been ... [snip!] ... preemie moms who might want to see just how well these little fighters can do   http://www.youtube.com/user/tamz057/videos"

Thanks   i'm def. brining up my anxiety in a few when im done pumping and bring her food to her lol   glad to hear she is doing well.

i went back to the er but a different one and they said its a small infection cuz i have no pain and it isnt like pussing just a small amount of seepage so they cleaned it up and perscribied an antibiot and told me wash it real good and cover it with clean gaz 3 times a day so good thing i went back i knew i had to !! that is a good idea though to see one i think i should its always at night when i get the really bad anxiety   like now of course and now this c section crap and i hate reading peopels stories they scare the crap out of me   i dont want a blood infection OMG !!! anyways im not a mess but i feel like one i guess just stressing a lot i guess stinks. she was 1 lb 13 oz

Quoting * CoLe *:"

Aww she was an itty bitty just like DD!
I'm glad to hear it's not a big infection. I don't always suggest reading other peoples stories but sometimes it's good to stay on your toes about stuff. A friend told me about her blood clots after her c-section and that's what made me finally pay attention to the pain I was having. The clot dislodged and ended up in my lungs, and I was lucky I was at least aware it was a possibility otherwise I would've thought it was just bronchitis or something and I could've died. Just don't read every story!!
I used to think I got morning sickness at night with my pregnancy but now it seems it was a early symptom of panic attacks. I would spend all day worried cause things were not going well with my pregnancy and by the end of the day I had worried myself into a panic attack!! Give yourself a break every day to sit and do something completely mind numbing like playing a game online or watch a show filled with crappy drama filled show, something to suck you in and get your mind off of life and give it a chance to catch up. Even if it's for like 30 minutes a day, it will help! Maybe do it before or after coming home from the nicu.

Quoting TamaraL:" Thanks for the birthday wishes. We don't know of any learning issues yet, so far everything has been ... [snip!] ... we are NEVER supposed to actually see our babies like that."

that is absolutely right.
not only that, but there is even research lately that suggests preemies are best left as much alone as possible during their early NICU days.

as in, they shouldn't be touched, it should be as dark and as quiet as possible.
in other words, you might consider not spending your whole days at the NICU. there will be plenty of time to bond and cuddle later.
when my girls were in NICU, one of the neonatologists told me something that stuck with me: babies need 9 months in the womb, and the NICU simply fills in those missing months using artificial wombs.
your baby is in good hands.
try to relax, and if the anxiety gets really bad, there are very effective medications.
i used small dosages of xanax when I needed to, which was late at night. it helped me relax and sleep.
your baby is in good hands. take care of yourself, get ready at home, cause she'll be home before you know it!

and tamara, your girlie is super cute, i watched the youtube videos: wonderful!

Quoting TamaraL:" Aww she was an itty bitty just like DD! I'm glad to hear it's not a big infection. I don't always suggest ... [snip!] ... to catch up. Even if it's for like 30 minutes a day, it will help! Maybe do it before or after coming home from the nicu. "

ya' after the c section ive been a wreck as far as worrying about my health now that was the 4th visit i went back to a different one wait its just so stressful it's self i tell ya i can't get a break and want one so bad. Just to relax and heel up ughhhh !! But ya she is a tiny and so sweet i tell ya' just never thought id have to deal with his. did you get a c section too why did you have her so early? it was rough but glad its over with and just want to make sure I'm okay. i guess i'll clearly know if its infected to where i need some serious attention so they didn't seem freaked out but def. took precaution which makes me happy.

Quoting regina_margot:" that is absolutely right. not only that, but there is even research lately that suggests preemies ... [snip!] ... home, cause she'll be home before you know it! and tamara, your girlie is super cute, i watched the youtube videos: wonderful!"

Thanks   I hav a 2 and 7mth old baby and i wish she would let me hang out with her in the NICU but today she saw me kangaroo her for the first time and i tell ya she got SOOOOO upset it made me cry b/c i saw the look on her face wanting to hold her so bad so i was thinking a night i cant sleep or just a night i'm up ill do it later at night before her late night feeding LOL i said late night 2348723 times but anyways .... thanks for the INFO i think i'll try a support group they have to ease my mind i was going to let the nurse know tomorrow that i'm having a hard time and its so weird b/c its mostly at night well really only then and during the days im fine and active like nothing is wrong but come dinner time and when it starts to get dark i'm like the complete opposite its so weird ! My internet seaching has gotten so bad my husband took it off my phone and locked it and set a pass word :/ hes so tired of it and doenst know what to do since that c section i swear it all came down on me like a ton of bricks and really hoping it goes away sooner than later. Def. not depression but just blahhhh worried specially about me i have 2 kids i need to take care of them   oh well i should sleep now its 1 30 and im wide awake i just need to chill thanks for the posts i'm glad you ladies took the time it really helps out a lot !!