Preemie-proofing

Sometimes Kiera and I joke about bubble-wrapping Arabella, or putting her in a room behind glass 😂

It's a silly thought, but wouldn't it solve a lot of problems? It would make things so much simpler for everyone. No rules! No hand washing necessary! Anyone can come over at anytime!

I like the glass room idea. I can just picture it now...

It would turn into a zoo pretty quickly, huh? 😄

"Come see the former micro-preemie in her natural habitat! She's a modern-day miracle! Born at merely one pound!"

"She growls! She's smiles! She poops and she pees!"

We could post a few signs on the glass. "Do not feed the Bella" and "No flash photography!"

We could open up a little kiosk, and make some extra income while we're at it. "Bella t-shirts! I have Bella t-shirts here! Five dollars!"

So I guess we won't put her in a bubble. Fine. 😛 But we can do the next best thing. We can preemie-proof our home and our habits. 

There are only a few arrangements and precautions, and most are aimed at helping avoid colds and other infections.  

Here's what the preemie book says:

"Do take your preemie outside, but don't expose her for too long to strong drafts or direct sunlight. When she's out and the sun is shining, protect her with a wide-brimmed hat or parasol. Don't apply sunscreen unless your pediatrician advises you differently; sunscreen isn't safe until a baby is around six months old when she'll have thicker skin.

Avoid bringing her into crowded indoor places like churches, movie theaters, and shopping malls, where there's a higher risk of catching a cold or other infection.

When you schedule visits with the pediatrician, ask for the earliest appointment of the day. If you're the first patient, you're less likely to be kept waiting in a crowded room with sick kids.

Ask relatives and friends to make sure their small children keep some distance from your preemie. Do not visit if you have a cold, the flu, or any other contagious illness. If you or someone else in the family has a respiratory infection, avoid face-to-face contact with your preemie or wear a disposable paper mask when you're spending time close to her, like during feedings.

Wash your hands as soon as you arrive, after blowing your nose/sneezing, diapering siblings, handling raw food, etc.

All preemies, but especially those with chronic lung disease, shouldn't be exposed to smoke, aerosol sprays, strong perfumes, or paint fumes. These irritants can cause wheezing, coughing, and difficulty breathing. Steer clear of smelly floor waxes or cleaning products, too.

Here's a positive note: You do not need to find your beloved pets another home. Allergies aren't likely to cause problems, because babies under about a year of age can't mount a strong allergic response. If your baby has symptoms after that, her doctor will try to determine whether your pet or something else is to blame.

Babies who have chronic lung disease are more susceptible to respiratory infections, which can be severe enough to cause them to be hospitalized. For them, the above precautions about should be continued through the first year or longer (ask your pediatrician)."

I heard that once Arabella makes it through her first winter it should get a lot easier on all of us. And by April of next year we'll be able to relax a lot more.

Until then we'll be a little more isolated and guarded, and we'll keep those tips and precautions in mind. 

It's nothing crazy, right?