With the cooling scare on our first night we started brainstorming all the ways we could make our home and their crib exactly like the NICU. We remembered that the NICU always had the heating set to a comfortable 75 degrees. I was always sweating when I went in there. In fact, Charles caught one of the nurses with her head in the surgery room by-pass window one night because she was burning up in there (I guess surgery rooms are always cold...and they have a window where they pass the baby through after a c-section so they can be cleaned off, etc.)
So we decided to turn our heater up to 75 degrees. We left all the windows closed and tried to keep the environment as similar to the NICU as possible. Least to say, when we would visit the NICU we would sweat, but we always had relief. Living in this personal hot box is insane! Trying cooking in a hot box! Try changning diapers and having your hands sweat and not realize that it is your hand sweat making the babies' clothes wet, not the diapers! Ha!
Just when the most beautiful day of the year so far came upon us with the sun shining and the breeze blowing, we are sitting in manufactured hot air. Now, granted the girls are super happy, keeping their temps right where they need to be. So Charles dressed in bermuda shorts and T-shirts, and I dressed in tank tops and skirts with elastic waists (ha!).
The poor dog does not know what to think. I mean Charles had the air conditioning expressly installed for that dog's benefit. He does not handle heat well. But he was a trooper, and just sat in his bed and panted for a few days until we all began to acclimate.
That is, except Charles. He is still miserable.
6 comments:
Goodness. Reminds me of Indio. Daddy always teased me that I'd grow up and move to Alaska because I was always sweltering - inside and out! He kept it at 78 in the winter and I think 78 year round and I was dyin'!
I'm not sure I understand why their body temperatures are so fragile and fluctuating or for how long? Also what causes it? Maybe you can explain.
I wonder if maybe you couldn't get those heat dish/es (I got mine at Costco). They really work. You've probably seen them, I'm sure. Then, maybe you could have one in their room, and another one ready to go somewhere else, then you could turn the heat or ac off or down?
I also have those herbal sachet filled type things that you can microwave and put on a sore neck or shoulder - you know what I mean?
Those are indispensable for microwaving and putting somewhere to heat up something - like the old 'hot water bottle' bags.
Just trying to come up with ideas..
Poor Simon and Charles..
Amy – here’s the item I mentioned on your blog. I highly recommend.
It will make the baby’s room (or any room) VERY TOASTY (especially if you close the door).
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11333681&search=heat%20dish&topnav=&Mo=0&cm_re=1_en-_-Top_Left_Nav-_-Top_search&lang=en-US&Nr=P_CatalogName:BC&N=5000043&whse=BC&Dx=mode%20matchallpartial&Ntk=Text_Search&Dr=P_CatalogName:BC&Ne=4000000&D=heat%20dish&Ntt=heat%20dish&No=0&Nty=1&Ntx=mode%20matchallpartial
Also, is the babies’ mattress warm? Or cool?
If someone has a sheepskin to lay on top of the mattress (or something that is natural wool) whether directly on top or under the fitted mattress sheet, it will retain the warmth.
Oh dear - I get hot just thinking about that. but this too will pass.
P.S. I got your message - we were out of town at my sister Tahni's wedding. So glad that everything made it. Sorry that they were late, but the babies beat me :)
To Gail: good questions about the temp. The reason I think that it was flucutating for three reasons: 1) it was a new environment. Now that they have spent a week with us, they are much more accustomed to our home, 2) they are preemies so they didn't get that extra four weeks in the womb of putting on fat. If you look at the pictures, they don't have the rolls and folds of fat that most babies have so they can't regulate temperature as well, and 3) when the babies were feeding early on, they were only feeding for about 10 minutes and then tire out, which would probably only get the "foremilk" which is watery type milk. Now they have already started, to feed for 20 minutes once a day...I guess the longer the baby feeds, then they start getting the "hindmilk" which is much more rich in fats. This will help them build up their stores.
Oh and gail! you mentioned the lambs wool! We could kick oursevles. they had lambs wool under the blankets in the NICU and Charles actually planned on taking them, but they told us we couldn't have the linens, only the disposable stuff so we left them only later to find out that was considered "disposable!" Still we were able to recreate the NICU bed somewhat:
1) NICU - lambs wool, with swaddle blanket pulled tight over like a sheet, u-shaped pillow surrounding legs and body, then baby in clothes and swaddle blanket, then light cover and knitted blanket on top of U-shaped pillow.
3) Home - crotched blanket (acting like lambs wool), with swaddle blanket pulled tight over like a sheet, blanket with rubber bands into a u-shape around legs and body, then baby in clothes and swaddle blanket and exact same knitted blanket on top of U-shaped pillow.
We are to the point now that we only use the u-shape pillow and extra knitted blanket at night, and during the day they can just lay on top of the crocheted blanket in their clothes and swaddle. All is good!
Forgive me, Amy! I have to admit that I laughed when I read this post. Over this past weekend, I fell asleep with the heater turned on high. I awoke to my own personal sauna, and could relate to every word you wrote . . . Even my cat was pressed against the window in search of cool air. It was hilarious! I can't even imagine trying to care for two newborn babies with sweaty hands and wet bodies. Oh my! I am happy that your daughter are healthy, and that you and Charles brainstormed some excellent solutions. On to the next adventure!
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