After 3 months in the NICU we finally made it home under the stipulation that we bring a little of the NICU with us. The twins still required oxygen but more notably they required an oxygen monitor. The oxygen monitor is an 8”X 4” box of noise. It connects to the infant’s foot by way of ONE cord (anyone who has ever seen a preemie in the NICU will understand the significance of having only one cord connected to the child- awesome!) that is secured by an adhesive strap which holds the monitoring device in place. In the NICU, the continual beeping of many monitors can be alarming but it is also reassures you that your baby is active and that if something is wrong everyone will know. There are plenty of well trained nurses in the NICU to deal with the consequences that cause the monitor to alarm. In my home, I am the nurse. Leaving me with two major problems:
1) Fear that I will not be able to save my babies if something goes wrong.
2) Lack of sleep and consequently patience
Given these two problems, that fact that I am about to complain about the beeping of the monitor seems ridiculous, even to me and I lived through it. But, let me tell you, cohabitation with an oxygen monitor attached to an infant- or two, is a cruel way to end a long stay in the NICU. But mostly, I am going to complain because out of all the things that could have gone wrong- I got stuck with two stupid oxygen monitors.
Beeping Rant:
The beep when you put them on, they beep the baby moves-every time the baby moves, they beep when they loosen, they beep when they fall off, they beep when you pick the baby up, the beep when you put the baby down, they beep when you are in the bathroom, they beep when you are sleeping, they beep when you are awake, they beep when you are at the doctor’s office, they beep when you are at the grocery store, they beep when you are visiting family, they beep when you are alone- they beep all the time.
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