[KCMomma]

I have a friend from work that delievered her baby girl 12 weeks early. Mom is out of the hospital and recovering, but as you can expect baby girl, Abigail is at NCIU and they expect her to be there at least until her due date which was Nov 5! She is breathing on her own, but they have a very long road ahead of them. I don't know them all that well, just from work, but I feel absolutely horrible for them and what they have to go through. I really want to do something for them, but am at a loss as to what they would need. I thought about making them food, but figure they aren't home to eat it as they are always at the hospital. The Care Team (at work) is mowing their lawn. She had her shower already so that's good and their nursery is complete. Any suggestions????

[courtneytcu98]

Good question. I had the same experience with a friend of mine and I felt at a total loss. I think that giftcards for restaurants close to the hospital might be a good thing--they will be spending so much time there and eating out gets expensive so quickly! Hmm. Other than that, I would just say cards and maybe eventually some preemie clothing. Most people don't get that at showers and once the baby is stable enough to tolerate clothing/off enough monitors, then she will need clothes. I know BRU sells some preemie-sized clothing. HTH--you are a good friend, Gwen.

[Lauren S]

I agree with the restaurant gift cards. I know my friend with preemies ate out all the time near the hospital so they didn't have to go all the way home.

I'm sure she will appreciate anything you do as long as she knows you were thinking of her.

[~Andrea~]

Maybe put together a basket of thing she could use at the hospital. Chapstick, Tylenol, trash magazines, Word Search book, candy bars, lotion, etc. You could put it in a cute diaper bag or something similar. That way she has some comforts of home along with some mindless things to do while hanging out with her baby. The resturant gift cards are a great idea too.

I wish your co-worker and her baby all the best!

[Em2528]

I definatly agree with the restaraunt gift cards for the parents, thats a great idea, and I like the preemie outfit idea also for the baby. Keep us posted on her progress. Does the family have a blog or anything?

[KCMomma]

Andrea, that's a wonderful idea about making a basket full of good stuff and maybe I'll include the resturant gift cards in there too. Thanks ladies. Yes, they have a blog that I've been following the updates. I just couldn't even imagine what they are going through. I just bawled like a baby when I read their story. Poor things!

[SassyMama]

Originally Posted by Shorty011783

Maybe put together a basket of thing she could use at the hospital. Chapstick, Tylenol, trash magazines, Word Search book, candy bars, lotion, etc. You could put it in a cute diaper bag or something similar. That way she has some comforts of home along with some mindless things to do while hanging out with her baby. The resturant gift cards are a great idea too.

I wish your co-worker and her baby all the best!

As a mother who had a child in the NICU, a little goodie basket would've came in handy. Maybe throw a disposable camera in there as well as hand sanitizer.

I hope your co-worker recovers quickly and that little Abigail is OK!

[KCMomma]

Originally Posted by dibroci

As a mother who had a child in the NICU, a little goodie basket would've came in handy. Maybe throw a disposable camera in there as well as hand sanitizer.

I hope your co-worker recovers quickly and that little Abigail is OK!

Thank you so much! Since you've had experience, what items would you have appreciated? I was thinking some lotion (since I"m sure you wash your hands a ton) hand santizer, magazines, box of kleenex, restuarant gift cards...what else?

[LuvMyToriBug]

I was going to suggest a goodie basket as well. Snack items like chips, crackers, candy bars. Also, some pens and paper, stamps maybe (if they need to mail some items from there). I totally agree about the restaurant cards. Just find out what is close by. If they are staying night and day, maybe some hygeine products would be helpful like travel size toothpaste, maybe extra toothbrushes, shampoo, etc. I realize that people have certain stuff they use, but I do know, at this point, they would probably be happy with anything. I would have used any shampoo and stuff that I received while staying with my mother. Also, I do agree with the word search and crossword books. Maybe a deck or two of cards, or any games that may pass some time. We loved playing a game called Phase 10!! It was fun and passed the time pretty well.

Thankfully, I did not have a baby in NICU, but my mother was in SICU for about 2 months and we were too far away from home to drive back and forth every day. We spent tons of money staying there.

I hope that baby Abigail grows stronger each and every day!!

[SassyMama]

Originally Posted by KCMomma

Thank you so much! Since you've had experience, what items would you have appreciated? I was thinking some lotion (since I"m sure you wash your hands a ton) hand santizer, magazines, box of kleenex, restuarant gift cards...what else?

Hmm...

Hand lotion
Hand sanitizer
Puzzle books
A pen
Kleenex
Chapstick
A disposable camera (just because we didn't think to bring ours half the time and no one took pictures of her in the NICU)
Magazines
Snacks
A bottle of water or two

I can't think of anything else that wasn't already mentioned but if I do, I'll pop back in here and let you know. It's really sweet of you to want to help her out. I'm sure she's going to be grateful for the support.

[KCMomma]

Thank you all so much for the ideas. I'm going to put it together this weekend. Now I just gotta figure out how to get it to them. The aren't taking visitors (understandably so ) and I'm not sure how long or when they are home?!?! Who knows. I'll figure it out.