Some of you may have seen that Mrs C gave birth to our first daughter last month at 30 weeks.
After almost five weeks and countless trips to see her in the special care unit, we finally brought her home on Tuesday evening. It would have been earlier, but she picked up a Group B Strep infection, which I have since read up on and see it can be really serious. Fortunately, it was picked up quickly and antibiotics soon cleared it up, though we have to give her penicillin for another two months.
We’re really enjoying not having to leave the house, and just sitting and staring at her. She’s been really good so far - we both got over 8 hours sleep the first night, albeit well broken up (we didn’t properly get up till 11am!). I think it will take her a little while to get used to the quietness and darkness after spending the first month of her life in a noisy, fairly brightly lit environment.
FIRE UP THE BARBIE, CHUCK SOME SNAGS ON AND CRACK A TINNIE ALL…THE KID IS HOME.
Hey Colophon, good news is always celebrated with a sausage-sizzle and a beer in Australia. May your little girl grow up to enjoy many of them in future years.
Congrats! I can imagine the relief at not having to trek to the hospital every day.
It might sound strange, but when my daughter was in there I found the NICU a really pleasant place to be - all so calm and friendly and focussed, with a wall of photos and letters from people whose babies had made it home.
I agree with you. The SCBU (acronym of choice here - Special Care Baby Unit) was great, although at weekends it was pretty manic with visitors. The staff were brilliant and always had time for us, and we always felt like we were leaving her in safe hands.
That said, even though the hospital is only a 15-minute drive away, we’d pretty much had enough of that journey! The furthest I’ve been since Tuesday night is the bottom of the garden to water the tomatoes.
I have joined you, with a toast of good single malt, to the joys of being the father of a precious daughter.
You do know, don’t you, when they take hold of your finger, while they are so quiet, peaceful, and look so beautiful, that they never, ever let go? Right now, you think she is yours. That will change. You are hers now, get used to it.
What a lovely little one. So glad she’s home, Colophon and you’re enjoying a belated but welcome chance to breathe and love and relax. Congratulations!
