Hellobee

I have been thinking of you all weekend and will continue to do so. Hang in there jacks family. By the way I LOVE his name.

Sending positive thoughts your way. Also LOVE his name!

Beautiful name! My thoughts and prayers go out to you all.

Sending lots of positive thoughts to you and your family. And he is beautiful

Welcome little one! He is beautiful! I don’t have a story to share but I am sending warm wishes and positive thoughts to you and your (bigger!) family!

Oh you chose Theodore! LOVE it! And he is gorgeous – best wishes for a speedy recovery so he can come home!

@wrkbrk: yes, it was the one name that we were both really excited about. Added bonus is that birth family loved it too. There is one bee who successfully picked the names of both of our last two babies!

Aww he’s so sweet, and I love the name! I think he looks like M already Hope he’s able to come home soon!

@Shutterbug: you were the one who named both! Nice work!!!

@Mrs. Jacks: haha give them both a smooch for me!

@Shutterbug: you deserve more than a smooch. You deserve a prize!

Love the name Theodore!!! My thoughts and prayers are with your family. The NICU can be a trying place, I hope your stay is short.

I am so excited to see your update, although I’m sorry you’re dealing with health issues. The best laid plans, right? He is just beautiful and I’m hoping the health issues will one day be a very distant memory that you can all look back on as the last glitch in the road in the journey to join your family. Between you and the NICU staff I am sure he is in the very best hands. Sending you all so much love and good thoughts for a quick NICU stay!

Congrats. I hope his health issue’s get sorted out soon.

I’m sorry that you guys are having a tough start!

My elective c-section with plans for skin to skin was eclipsed by meconium, respiratory distress, hypoxia and the discovery of a moderate sized VSD. We ultimately ended up with a short stay, but things definitely did but go how I hoped soon enough you guys will have him home with your family and all else will be a distant memory!

Our children are adopted and our second born was delivered with some shocking health news while in the hospital. It was very hard for me to digest and made the whole process much harder as we waited holding our breath, trying to trust God with the news yet fearful what the future could bring. This wonderful, healthy, delightful toddler is now almost 3 and all my fears were not realized despite our rocky start. My prayers & encouragement are with you during this challenging time.

Thinking of you and your family. What a beautiful baby boy & I love his name.

Our son was in the NICU for 7 weeks and it was so hard. I know your son will get the very best care and I hope he will be home soon.

Glad he’s going to be alright and that it’s been working out! Congratulations Jacks family! I’ll admit, I’ve been stalking HB for an update

Oh yeah, the birth of my oldest went far from what I had in my mind. My dad got a hip replacement yesterday, so multiple hospital visits bring it to the forefront of my mind. C’s birth involved long hours of pushing, but otherwise uneventful. At 24 hours old he had pretty high bilirubin and had to go under the bili lights for several days- fairly insignificant when you look at the big picture, but I spent most of the following days in tears and very stressed out.

The put me upstairs in the c-section recovery area just out of the need for more space since I wouldn’t be able to room in. So I made the trek to the other side of the hospital religiously every 3 hours to try to nurse. I think I missed two feedings over the next several days and was exhausted. I brought with me 0.25cc of pumped milk since my milk hadn’t come in yet. I’d feel ok when my husband was there, but very depressed and upset when he had to go take care of things elsewhere. The nurses were some of the best people I have ever met and did a great job helping us.

Of course it all turned out fine in the end and I still had a great breastfeeding relationship for 18 months with my oldest, but I still tear up about how everything started out. It was a blessing for me when I returned to work that he had used supplemental bottles pretty much on a daily basis and I could catch a break having my husband or the grandparents give a bottle so I could sleep. I definitely appreciated being able to room in with my second that much more too!

Love the name! I had a complete previa, was supposed to have an early c-section, but hemorrhaged at 34 weeks and my guy was in the NICU for a week. Not at all what we had planned, and was so emotionally hard. But now we have a happy 4.5 month old! Be keeping you in my thoughts.

Go Theo go! You know D’s deal, and look at the little bugger now

Congrats! I too am in the “love the name” camp. Hang in there – I sometimes feel like it is harder to be on the parent/patient side when we have been in the provider role so often! Make sure to take time for yourself and be the mom

and hugs for you and everyone invoked during this time. I love the name Theodore. One of my boys holds that name!

Congratulations! Love his name, too. So happy for you and hope he gets better quickly.

Congratulations! I wish you and your loved ones a great deal of strength to get through this time.

Expecations can be so tricky, so much excitement and yet they set you up for dissapointed if something different happens. Know that you are in good hands, and yet know you have a right to stick up for your baby. I’ve found it best to simply acknowledge I am dissapointed and know that is ok, you have a right to be dissapointed. Giving myself that space helps me take the next steps forward

Congratulations! Best wishes he is on the road to recovery soon. I love his name!

After an uneventful pregnancy, I hoped for a normall vaginal delivery. However, I had a leak in my amniotic fluid that led to a 30 hours long labor, in which I never dilated past a 4. My son’s head wasn’t going to fit no matter what I did. Then, because my fluid had leaked so long, I developed a 104 degree fever as the result of an in-uterine infection.. My son’s HR also kept dropping, so we did an emergent c-section. It was also discovered his cord had prolapsed as they were doing the operation. His first APGAR was 2, which scared us immensely. We luckily only had to be in the NICU for 4 days. However, it definitely wasn’t what I thought it would be, and it felt pretty traumatic at the time.

I’m sorry you are going through the scariness of a NICU baby. He looks gorgeous. If it’s any consolation (though a slightly different scenario), I was a NICU baby — due to being very preemie, but just as scary to have the newborn whisked away, intubated and filled with tubes. I hope that everything with yourselves, the birth family and Theodore will be okay and that you all manage your expectations.

So sorry that you are coping with unexpected health issues. Wishing your little guy a speedy recovery and lots of snuggles very soon!

Congrats on the handsome boy! I hope your NICU stay is short and that things go smoothly from here on out.

Oh hugs mama! No stories to share here, but wanted to send congratulations and prayers your way!

Sending lots of love and luck your way!!!

What a beautiful little boy, congrats! Lots of prayers and good thoughts for all of you.

Congrats. Love, love his name. I hope you will be able to bring this beautiful boy home soon. My thoughts are with you and your family.

Tears eyed and goosebumps all over. So happy, thrilled, nervous and exhausted for you.

sending lots of love and healing thoughts to you & your new little man! congrats, he’s beautiful

So glad Theodore is here! Sending positive vibes during his (hopefully short) stay in NICU.

Congrats! I hope your sweet baby is out of the NICU soon.
You certain aren’t alone in the expectation vs reality portion.
For my second: expectation, scheduled C-section for when my mom would be in town to watch DD
Reality: water broke three weeks early and my mom made it to us after I got home from the hospital
For my third:
Expectation: scheduled C-section, no bells and whistles
Reality: Husband broke his leg and required surgery 13 days before my C-section, he wasn’t able to hang out in the hospital with me, carry the baby, help around the house, or even allow me to be the one to recover. (the nurses were more concerned about DH than me, right after my surgery!!)

My son was born 2 months early after I was on bed rest for the majority of my pregnancy. I spent a large portion of bed rest in the hospital. Nothing about my pregnancy went according to plan. He spent several weeks in the NICU hooked up to tubes, monitors, etc. I was so terrified of him and felt like I would never bond with him because we were apart. The NICU can be so traumatic because everyone has a different opinion about what you should/should not be doing. My parents were the only relatives allowed to see him. I felt like my entire pregnancy was spent waiting for the worst to happen and when I finally had him I couldn’t experience any real joy because he was so fragile and sick. I couldn’t take him home and I felt really robbed of the amazing birth experiences many mothers have. It was devastating to watch the other families take their babies home. We spent months in follow up appointments and I always felt really judged by the doctors about what I should/should not be doing. However, there is a happy ending to my story. Eventually I started following my own instincts. Although, it took awhile for the bonding to happen…it did! My son is now 2 years old and thriving. He graduated 6 months early from the preemie program and is a happy, healthy, and full of life little boy. I wish I could attach a before/after photo to show you. Hang in there, take care of yourself the best you can, and know there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Also, give yourself time to grieve the loss of a “perfect” birth. Sending you and your family lots of positive energy and keeping you in my prayers.

Big hugs! You were a huge support to me while we were in te NICU and if there is anything I can possibly do to support you, please let me know! You know that we have a scary scary birth experience (although not the shock that comes along with a sudden emergency, we had time to prepare), but we have an amazing outcome. No clear issues whatsoever. I’m not sure if it’s easier or harder to know as much as you do, but I hope you know that you have support here.

Hugs to you and your little guy! He’s so precious!

@Mrs. Jacks: My thoughts are very much with you and your family. I was so excited to see your update and so bummed to hear that your little guy is sick. I’m a pediatric nurse and am so wishing I worked at that hospital so I could come give you a quick hug and drop off some dinner!

A co-worker/friend and I were due two months apart and a little while after my LO was born, she went in to early labor. They had a NICU stay and were on the surgical unit for some time but now that sweet tiny girl is a big chubby toddler. She is doing amazing! I hope the road ahead for your family is a smooth one. Love his name too!

Congratulations! You got your Valentine

My DD was born full term (40 +3, actually), and although I’d had a normal pregnancy and labor, she was born completely gray. I don’t even know what her Apgar was. The staff kept telling my husband that she would pink up, but she never did and she was taken to the NICU, and was on a vent for three days. She ended up spending 10 days total in the NICU. We were told to keep her out of daycare because she would be prone to all kinds of respiratory problems, but she is about to turn 4 and (knock on wood), the worst she’s had is a cold with a lingering cough.

It was a really hard time, especially because it was such a shock that she wasn’t completely healthy at birth. Hugs to all of you as you get through this time!

Congrats, he’s beautiful! So sorry he’s had a rough start, hope he gets to go home to lots of big sisters kisses and cuddles soon. Best wishes to you and your family as you get to know your little man. Also love the name!

My daughter was born at 25 weeks gestation. My pregnancy had been uneventful until I had a placental abruption. She spent 134 days (19 weeks, or 4.5 months) in the NICU before coming home with oxygen and monitors and home nursing care.

Good luck with your cute little bundle!

Hugs to you mama. My twins spent 52 days in the NICu which was about 50 min away from my house. The time was brutal but as I sit I can see my healthy ten month olds sleeping soundly. Try to be gentle with yourself and take it one day at a time.

it’s really a boy! congrats and love his name (of course!). i’m sorry that he’s sick and hope he’s strong and well soon.

I want to go through and comment to each and every one of you tomorrow! Thank you for sharing all the stories and encouragement. I’m humbled by knowing our situation really won’t be so bad in the long term. Some of you have pulled through much worse. I’m so sorry for those experiences!

Sending you lots of love!

DS was born with a collapsed lung and I had complications after delivery due to pre-e. None of all the wonderful things I read about on HB. I don’t even have one photo of the three of us in the hospital. Visitors were disappointed to see only a very sick version of me and a baby through many panes of glass.
he’s beautiful. hope he’s home & well soon

He’s beautiful and what a perfect name! Sending prayers and thoughts of comfort during this time, and I hope you get to take your precious boy home soon.

Congratulations, I LOVE his name!

Hoping for the best for him, you and the whole family!

Welcome to your little guy! He is just gorgeous, and as usual, you folks picked a fabulous name.

I don’t have any personal story of a birth taking an unexpected turn, I am hoping for you all that his visit in the NICU is short-lived, and that one day this will seem like a tiny blip in the road… so much to you all!

Sending you so much love! I hope you have your baby home with you super soon. I just love his name!

Thinking good thoughts for all of you. He’s really adorable!

Congratulations on your new baby boy! He is adorable and I love the name. I’m thinking good thoughts for your family and hope the NICU stay is short.

Sending you guys lots of love and hopes for a short hospital stay! My kiddo was born 4 weeks early because she wasn’t growing and gaining weight in utero. She showed up weighing 4 lbs 6 oz after an unsuccessful induction and a subsequent c-section (which went just fine), and we were in the NICU for 10 days while they monitored her weight gain and temperature control, and everything worked out just fine. She’s now 20 months old, happy, healthy, chatty and full of amazing. Sending you guys all the best wishes!

I hope he is home with you soon. Sending love and light.

what a beautiful baby! thinking of you all during this time and praying for a short nicu stay

after being on bedrest since 18 weeks with short cervix, lo was born at 1 day shy of 30 weeks weighing 3lbs 5oz and we spent 34 days in the nicu. it was very hard not to have the time to be with her right after she was born and see her taken away by the neonatologists but she is now a healthy and happy 9 months (7 corrected) and after a rough time with feedings and allergy issues she is doing much better and already wanting so badly to walk.

Congrats on the addition to your family! Sending lots of love and prayers for all of you!!

Congratulations and sending y’all positive happy thoughts. Hoping y’all get to go home soon! *hugs*

Sending healing thoughts your way!!

Welcome baby Theodore! Sending best wishes and of course, congrats!

Just wanted to wish you and your family all the best! Congratulations on your handsome new son and I know that you can handle whatever is thrown your way.

Welcome, little man! And sending lots of love for a speedy, healthy exit from the NICU.

Welcome Teddy! I’m sure in no time you will be joining your new family at home!

Are the girls allowed to meet him?

Congratulations! He is gorgeous and I love the name.

My unexpected delivery was that it happened at 34 weeks after a very easy, uncomplicated pregnancy. We did 12 days in the NICU and now he’s a big, healthy, joyful 6 month old. Hang in there, sending you lots of love and good thoughts!

I have tears in my eyes, both from joy & concern, for your beautiful boy. Congratulations and tons of best wishes that he improves quickly!

I LOVE his name! He is beautiful and I hope he will be home with you and in perfect health very soon.

@Mrs. Jacks: Awww, congratulations! He is just absolutely adorable and I hope whatever is going on quickly resolves and you can be home sooner than later. Big hugs and Theodore Francis fits his cute little face just perfectly.

Congratulations! He is such a handsome little guy and I will be thinking of you all, hoping he is home with you soon!

Looking forward to an update. Hope lil’ boy jacks is well and on his way home.