things I learned at the NICU meeting

1. Pacifiers get old and hard and new ones come in different sizes (available at Target).
2. Breastmilk matches the demand of the child, when Sean grows and needs 8 ounces I will not shrivel up from the demand but will make enough for him.
3. Babies know when there parents are stressed and become stressed themselves, so I need more bubble baths and maybe wine.
4.Cluster feeding is a real phenomenon and is the reason I need the wine..ouch
5.Linda Meridian cares a lot about breastfeeding and the moms and babies who are struggling through it, and has never heard a dumb question, thank goodness cuz mine are doozies.
6.It is ok to hold babies off about 15 minutes when they are demanding to eat, but not much longer or they might eat your face off.
7.There are milk banks that take donor breastmilk to keep other preemie babies alive, I am told I could keep a nursery full drinking so I got the info.
8.All NICU parents agree more communication is the key to surviving our experience, and is best served with a kind word or two.
9.Kangarooing is the act of remembering the time we shared with our infants before they were born and reminding them that we will always be close by, crying during kangarooing is a release of love drops and stress.
10. NICU nurses love our babies and get almost as attached as we do, they need to see how there babies are thriving, so visit often... and bring food
11. NICU families need each other..feed us with humor,patience and love and we will grow and prosper.

NEVER GIVE UP OR IN !!!!!!!!