hospital Archives – Emma Reed

How Can You Support A Family With A Baby In NICU?

Posted on January 3, 2018July 5, 2020 by Emma Reed

It can be difficult for people to know what the right things to say or do when a family welcome a baby prematurely. I must admit that before we had William I was pretty clueless about the ins and outs of NICU life and even though I have known of couples who have had a baby pre-term it felt as though if I asked lots of questions I may have seemed as though I was prying and I didn’t want to offend by asking the wrong thing. Now I have been in those shoes I know what a scary, lonely time it can be and for me, I found talking helped. I think we can all be a little too polite at times and perhaps if we spoke about situations a little more we could all offer and receive more help and support.

So, what does a family with a baby in NICU need and how can you provide that support? Continue reading “How Can You Support A Family With A Baby In NICU?” →

Our NICU Journey- Week Three (part two)

Posted on December 18, 2017July 5, 2020 by Emma Reed

Our NICU journey continues:

That night in NICU…

I was told about prem baby’s and their little noises but wow, I wasn’t prepared for quite so many groans, grunts, snuffles and squeaks! I wasn’t sure if I was going to get any sleep but you settle after a 2am feed and you go through until 4:30am then wake again at 6:30am. You show me that you can breastfeed on demand and wake for it ok. Your temperature seemed ok throughout the night– I checked the back of your neck, your chest and your back just to be on the safe side… I may have also checked your breathing a little too much!! I can see how I am going to be once you are home. Continue reading “Our NICU Journey- Week Three (part two)” →

Our NICU Journey- Week Three (part one)

Posted on December 13, 2017July 5, 2020 by Emma Reed

Another week, more hospital NICU visits to come and I begin to notice the toll it’s having on all of us. The tiredness, the worry, the stress, the juggling of normal life with hospital life. You can only fully understand all of this if you have been in the same position, it’s a whole other world. Having Jake around is a lovely distraction from the seriousness of it all but trying to balance his needs with yours is a skill I am only just about managing. Continue reading “Our NICU Journey- Week Three (part one)” →

Packing Your Hospital Bag

Posted on November 17, 2017July 5, 2020 by Emma Reed

*Gifted TENS machine

Packing your hospital bag is usually something you can end up leaving until the last month or so but in my case, I have just chosen to frantically pack mine now (with what I have to hand) as I have now been told twice this week that my baby seems to be getting himself into position, which with all my issues recently I am not overly surprised. If he doesn’t come naturally I will more than likely be induced a little earlier anyway so now is the time to plan, prepare and get my head around the fact I will probably have a baby this year and not next year! Continue reading “Packing Your Hospital Bag” →

What To Expect If Your Waters Break Early

Posted on November 11, 2017July 5, 2020 by Emma Reed

At 30 weeks pregnant, the last thing I expected to happen was to have my waters breaking this early. The pregnancy has been a little up and down due to the presence of Group B Strep but as this was known about and I was monitoring myself for any changes I just assumed everything would be ok up until my due date.

I first felt something at around 7pm but as I hadn’t experienced my waters breaking during my first labour I just assumed that I’d had a little urine leakage… just an oops moment! However, ten minutes later and I felt the same thing. Continue reading “What To Expect If Your Waters Break Early” →

Making a Difference with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic

Posted on April 11, 2017July 14, 2020 by Emma Reed

″If you go down to the woods today you’re sure of a big surprise…″

The surprise being that you can help towards raising funds to build a new Children’s Emergency & Trauma Department at Southampton University Hospital which will be a ground-breaking major trauma unit supplying state of the art, life-saving equipment. The Ginormous Teddy Bear’s picnic is taking place between Continue reading “Making a Difference with a Teddy Bear’s Picnic” →

My Emergency C-Section

Posted on April 27, 2016July 24, 2020 by Emma Reed

April is c-section awareness month and many people are sharing their stories of their experiences of their births. Many of these I have read and seen were elective c-sections and photos were taken and the experience was all very calm, prepared and straight forward.

I really don’t want to write my story and upset, worry or concern those who are pregnant now, but I wish I had known more Continue reading “My Emergency C-Section” →