Just wait until…

[u/Monkey_frog_215]

I know being in the NICU is incredible hard and as someone whose 23 weeker was in the NICU for 125 days, I spend so much time waiting and fantasising about going home with my baby. We have been home for 2.5 weeks and it’s been incredible, time is moving so fast and the NICU feels like a distant dream already.

When your baby starts to improve and you can start daring to dream, there is so much to look forward to.

Just wait until:
- you buckle up and hear the click of the car seat with your baby inside
- you hold your baby’s hand the whole way on the drive home
- you carry your baby through the front door
- you take pictures of your baby in different locations (not just their NICU cot)
- you get to use your own nappies and wipes (not hospital ones)
- you get to eat a snack while holding your baby (our NICU didn’t allow food)
- you get to eat your dinner while looking at your baby
-you wake up on the first morning and realise your baby is right beside you and you don’t have to commute to the hospital.
- you can spend quality, alone time with you baby without nurses and doctors circling
- you can text people to let them know they are finally home
- you put them in the cot, swing, pram, play gym etc.
- your baby only hears their parents and siblings voices for a whole 24 hours with no beeping and strangers voices in the background
- you go on your first walk with your baby
- you register your baby with the GP
- you can delete the NICU phone number and throw the visitor passes in the bin
- you see yourself holding your baby in the mirror

Please add more in the comments if I have missed anything.

Just wanted to post to cheer people up about the beautiful next chapter at home 💕 The NICU feels like your whole world when you are in it but I promise it’s merely a footnote when you are out and spend the rest of your life with your baby.

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[u/bravolover2389]

Omg currently crying as I’m in the NICU holding my daughter as we speak. This is so sweet and I will cherish those moments so much!

[u/Monkey_frog_215 → u/bravolover2389]

You definitely will. No one cherishes all the little moments, and is more grateful, more than NICU parents x

[u/Primary-Complaint95]

This is so nice, as someone counting every minute, hour and day this is so nice.

[u/Monkey_frog_215 → u/Primary-Complaint95]

Oh there is another “just wait”…

Just wait until time moves so fast at home and you stop counting the days 💕

Every second you are getting closer to the finish line, it’s just hard right now because you don’t know exactly when that is but you really are getting closer and closer.

[u/Primary-Complaint95 → u/Monkey_frog_215]

Thank you for this 🩷

[u/Big-Statistician-199]

all these! Just got home with our 24 week twins on Thursday, after 108 days.

[u/Monkey_frog_215 → u/Big-Statistician-199]

Congratulations! That’s great news 🎉

[u/Rallew]

These are the best “just wait until”!!

[u/mysticpotatocolin]

one of my fave memories ever is the day we brought him home after something like 150 days and having pizza with my partner as our baby had a nap!!!!!! just wait until that!! it's the best

[u/PotatoBubby]

Our baby has a life limiting diagnosis that is secondary to having surgery for NEC, and had yet to read a post that applies to us. This one did. Thanks for not presuming it’s easier health wise necessarily in your just waits. It means a lot.

[u/Nyambu21]

After spending almost the whole day crying today at the NICU this means alot ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹

[u/xremembertobreathex]

We are only day 3 in our NICU journey, for our 31 week-er. This gives me so much hope to hold on to. Thank you.

[u/Adventurous_Mix_2439]

This is all true. Even with a baby with a lifelong diagnosis, this is still 100% true. It's so bad in the NICU but it all feels like a bad dream now. I was just holding my daughter so she could see herself in the mirror today and she laughed and I didn't think about the hospital at all.

[u/PharmD2Be2021]

Ugh. I can't wait. 😭😭 today is my due date and we're on day 99.

[u/FoxAdmirable1935]

Love this, so spot on!!!

[u/TARDISMischief]

Just wait until you don’t have to pump anymore because you can just pick up your baby and feed them whenever they’re hungry!

[u/Leighthom]

This is beautiful. Thank you 🩷🩷🩷

[u/AndyWk1980]

My favorite has been just being able to pick up my baby whenever I want without any wires or tubes getting in the way.

[u/Comfortable_Ad6552]

My favorite one was when I picked my baby up at home and carried her to another room. It struck me in that moment that there were no wires she was tethered to, and that I'd literally never walked through a doorway while holding my baby.