Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

Just curious and I know a few mommies have already been helpful with experiences. My baby will be born with a serious heart defect and I am already stressing about the experience. I am very curious if any others have any experiences to share regarding NICU (in Columbia or not).My baby will be in NICU for at least 3 weeks.
How was visiting dealt with, any issues...? According to my doc, I will most likely be able to spend as much time as I want with my child after my recuperation, feed when necessary, etc... We will be going on a NICU tour soon hopefully.

Would love any feedback!!! TIA

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

I don't know anything about high risk labors but I do know one of the labor and delivery nurses. She is my former boss' wife. She is very nice

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

I delivered at Columbia Pres but I didn't have a high risk delivery so I don't know if my experience can help you... I did LOVE my l&d nurse though. She was wonderful

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

Posted by eroxgirl

I delivered at Columbia Pres but I didn't have a high risk delivery so I don't know if my experience can help you... I did LOVE my l&d nurse though. She was wonderful

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

I delivered at columbia b/c they have the best NICU in the country and i am a type 1 diabetic and there would be a good chance that my DS would have to go there for evaluation. the funny thing is that i went into a high risk wing after i delivered him b/c of high blood pressure and he went to the regular nursery b/c there were no issues with him. i went to columbia for the NICU, but never ended up needing it! Better safe than sorry. Did you get the pre-registration folder? It has a bunch of numbers if you wanted to ask questions. I called a couple of times and they were so helpful. The labor rooms at Colubia are BEAUTIFUL. they are huge with gorgeous wood floors and flat screen tvs and great views of the city. good luck!

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

My ds was in Winthrops NICU for 73 days. It was a roller coaster ride bc it was probably the most vulnerable time of my life. Does that make sense. You feel very helpless so you need to make yourself helpful. I was in the NICU for feeding s and spending time with ds for at least 2 or 3 feedings a day. Afternoon to night. Also see when you can do kangaroo care...skin to skin contact. This way your dc will be comforted by you and they say it helps with the healing process. I had a calendar book with me to write down daily notes. This helped a great deal when speaking with the neonatologists and also for followup visit with specialists. Good Luck! FM for anything!

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

We went to LIJ because of a heart defect. One of my boys was in the NICU for a week, he had the heart issue. They did a procedure on him and he was sent home the next day. My other guy was tiny when he was born so he had to stay a month. While I was in the hospital I could be with my boys at any time of the day, feeding them, sitting with them etc. The only visitors they could have were paretns and grandparents. They were given bracelets and noone else was allowed in. They had a huge time frame for visiting, but if they were doing a procedure in the room or admitting a new patient the room was closed and you would just have to wait it out.

There were different rooms for different issues, some needed one on one care, others 4 on 1 care.

I will tell you that is it very hard to deal with. It had to be the hardest thing in the world, but you will get thru it, you will be amazed by the strength you don't even know you had. Not only was it hard leaving them, but not being able to take care of your child's need was hard to deal with. Talk with the social workers there, they really can help. Also talk to other mom's while there, becuase they are in the smae boat, it helps to talk to people that understand what it is like.

Also - while there, try to do as much as you can for them, change thier diaper, change thier clothes, even if you can't feed them at first. It helps to be doing something for them.

((((((((((((HUGS))))))))))))))))
Fm me if you need to talk.

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

FM

Message edited 7/24/2008 5:05:03 PM.

Re: Did anyone deliver at Columbia Pres and/or have a high risk newborn??

I can't speak to labor and delivery per se bc I didn't deliver there but I can speak to their pediatric cardiology unit ... which is outstanding.

FM me if you want further info.