My Life in the Newborn
Intensive Care Unit
Information supplied by Waukesha Memorial Hospital
Look through the window of the newborn intensive care unit with us. We see plexiglass incubators serving as wombs for tiny babies born earlier than mom and dad dreamed. Yet amidst the high-tech machines temporarily serving as infant lungs and the myriad of specially trained doctors, nurses and other staff constantly on watch and tending to these children, there is a baby working hard to overcome the obstacles of life.
What is life like for these NICU featherweight fighters? Ponthenkandath Sasidharan, MD, neonatologist at Waukesha Memorial Hospital's Newborn Intensive Care Unit, helps us ponder just that in My Life in the NICU, a diary he wrote of the life of a typical preemie.
MY BIRTHDAY
I was born 3 ½ months premature and weighed about as much as three bananas——1 lb. 14 ox. Since my lungs were so underdeveloped, and could stick together upon my first breath, they immediately intubated me and poured milky stuff (they called it "surfactant") into my lungs.
I was transported to the NICU and the tube was connected to a respirator. Next, they inserted catheters through my belly button into my umbilical vein and artery. For now, this is how I'll get my nourishment and medications.
This was all painless. They sedated me (thank heavens) because life outside the womb is nothing like the quiet, in-utero life I knew. The sedation also decreases my risk of bleeding into my brain.
I felt good and slept a lot. Occasionally I felt someone touch me. Perhaps my Mom or Dad?
DAY 7
A painless ultrasound of my brain (through my soft spot) revealed no brain hemorrhage. My lungs are working! They gave me caffeine and said this will help me remember to breathe because I'm liable to forget. The umbilical catheters were removed but instead an IV (they called it a PICC line) was inserted in my arm.
DAY 8
A wonderful day on account of receiving a few drops of Mom's milk.
DAY 9
Whew! Breathing tube is out, sedation discontinued. Although I breathe all by myself, tiny tubes in my nose constantly flow in air mixed with extra oxygen. I don't like it but these people mean business.
I got to nestle on my Mom's and Dad's chests. What a wonderful, warm feeling. I felt their hearts beat. They call it "kangaroo care."
DAY 15
Going up! I weigh 2 lbs. today.
DAY 30
My one-month birthday! I'm a strapping 2 lbs. 5 ox. And IV-free. I feed every three hours on 2/3 ounce of Mom's milk. They add calcium-fortified powder to it (Yuck!) but I guess it's important to growing big and strong. Had I been a full-term baby, I would have received tons of calcium in those last in-utero few weeks. How do they know all this stuff?
DAY 45
My eye exam showed that my eyes are premature but OK (I knew that!). I'm beginning to like these nurses.
DAY 50
Mom nursed me for a few minutes. Ahhh, great...just great.
DAY 60
Give me those wide, open spaces...I'm in an open crib!
DAY 70
I've beefed up to 4 lbs. 8 oz. I overheard a doctor say I'm heading home. Where's that?
DAY 75
The big day arrived. I aced my hearing and car seat tests and now I'm going home. I'm a little sad because I won't see my nurses there. But I know the people here taught Mom and Dad all they need to know and that they would do anything in the world for me.
Bye everyone and thanks. I may forget you...but Mom and Dad never will!!!
Information supplied by Waukesha
Memorial Hospital.
Back to Experts' Advice
Legal Stuff You Should Know | 
