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From: Sherri
Date: 01-23-2007, 02:39 PM (1 of 17)
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OK so friends of ours that live some distance away. Just had a new baby girl and she is quite a bit premature. So she will be in the hospital for around 2 months. My usual baby gift is a flannel one side cotton other receiving blanket. Because that is what I loved when my kids were babes. I am dying to try a little baby sleep sack and that is what I had planned to send before she was born early. What I am wondering is is there a better gift for a premie? Should I send the gift now while babe still in Hospital or should I wait until she gets home? Opinions? Sher My website
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User: Sherri
Member since: 02-07-2001 Total posts: 357 |
From: lendube
Date: 01-23-2007, 02:50 PM (2 of 17)
Poor little thing. Hope she's healthy.  My dd was premature by 1 month and weighed only 4#14oz. This was almost 26 years ago and preemie clothes and diapers just weren't around. The hospital had diapers but when you went home you were on your own. Anyhow, I think your usual gifts would be wonderful. Warm, cuddly blankets and a sling would be great and no size required. The sling would be wonderfully comforting for mom/dad and baby. You could make the sling to match the blankets with the flannel inside. I'd give the gifts to the mom and dad now and then they can use them as soon as they're ready to. Good luck to her, Lennie |
User: lendube
Member since: 08-06-2006 Total posts: 1548 |
From: Pudge99
Date: 01-23-2007, 02:55 PM (3 of 17)
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The blanket definately. Most NICU's have a receiving blanket thrown over the top of the incubator to block some of the harsh light. Make sure that you put the baby's name on it permanently so that if it needs to be washed it gets back to the right baby. A Boppy type pillow might be nice also. I carried one to and from the hospital with me for months. I would hold off on any clothing items right now. Wait until the baby comes home for that. Most of all what your friend needs right now is YOU! Even if you are far away you can listen to her complaints and worries. This is a long hard road she has ahead of her and don't be shocked if she calls you one day and says the baby is coming home then the next day she calls and says maybe next week. I went through that several times, and I was ready to kill a few doctors too. I just had a thought. How about a scarf made from baby fleece for mom? Something she can put on everytime she goes to see the baby. Gina
Pictures of my successes and failures Pfaff 2040 Janome Mylock 134D Singer Futura CE-100 w/ Autopunch Husqvarna Viking 3D Sketch |
User: Pudge99
Member since: 10-30-2001 Total posts: 1375 |
From: mommydionne
Date: 01-23-2007, 03:07 PM (4 of 17)
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my 1st was a premmie too, but only ended up in hosp for a week (he was 4-15) fine but really thin, I would have liked a nice cover up for nursing him in the NICU (fleece maybe?) and some little sleepers would be good, I loved the sleep bags by Carters, if you could make something like that she would love it. Those would obviously be for home, and for mum too maybe a nice bag with small essentials needed for those hosp trips (slippers, lip balm, notebook and pen, tissue packs, phone card etc)
Jeanette
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User: mommydionne
Member since: 01-08-2004 Total posts: 838 
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From: AndreaSews
Date: 01-23-2007, 05:03 PM (5 of 17)
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A friend of mine delivered prematurely near the holidays one year, and when I told her I was making her a little Christmas stocking, she said, "Alright, but not too big." It impressed me to think about that--The mother's need to have suitably small things for her tiny baby, even though she'd surely grow into the newborn size quite soon. So that's one thought. Another friend came home with a delightful baby who had some very slight developmental differences. The mom was feeling sad, having just returned from the doctor's visit where they talked about the baby's needs. I happened to come by with a present for the mom instead of the baby--don't know why--and to this day I still hear about how much it meant to her to be thought of and pampered a little bit (it was a pair of PJ's) when she was working so hard and in a bit of a slump about her new baby's differences, and possibly some postpartum depression, which is quite common. More food for thought. Andrea
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User: AndreaSews
Member since: 02-18-2005 Total posts: 1007 
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From: paroper
Date: 01-23-2007, 05:22 PM (6 of 17)
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Since it is a little girl, if you can find the pattern for the baby bonnet that makes into a hankerchef for her wedding day it would really be cool. I'd make the blanket and keep in mind that there are all kinds of things to make for premies online...just google. There are a lot of freebies. You might also want to consider a little hat to match the blanket since it'll wear a hat for a while. You might want to embroider the name on the hat and blanket too (either by hand or machine). pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: esrun3
Date: 01-23-2007, 08:49 PM (7 of 17)
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Blanket or quilt to throw over the warmer the baby is undoubtedly in. receiving blankets are always good, preemie shirt...most babies won't be dressed initially in the NICU but occasionally as they progress a little top will make its way onto the baby-depends on what all is going on with the little one. Other things Mom might need for the new baby if she is breastfeeding would be the little bags to save her milk in and freeze. Eventually they will start feeding the baby and we often used frozen breast milk for those feeds if mom was planning to breastfeed-that was something a lot of mom's seemed to need when their babies were in the NICU. I don't how many pkgs of those I'd bring in for the moms who didn't have a clue about them or couldn't afford them. Hope the baby grows quickly and well and goes home soon! Lyn
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User: esrun3
Member since: 12-02-2004 Total posts: 2345 |
From: SummersEchos
Date: 01-23-2007, 10:21 PM (8 of 17)
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When my granddaughter was born premature (1 pound 14 ounces) I used doll clothes to make her things. In the hospital she only had a diaper on, but when she came home I used the doll clothes pattern for her sleeper and bunting. Now that she is 3 she uses her baby clothes for her dolls. My daughter went through lots of receiving blankets. You can also make the neck holders for the car seat that cuddle the smaller babies head so they don't flop around. As someone else said support for mom and dad. Even if it is just hearing your voice on their voice mail, that means alot.
Summer
FREE FALLIN |
User: SummersEchos
Member since: 09-29-2004 Total posts: 884 |
From: pretnichols
Date: 01-23-2007, 10:44 PM (9 of 17)
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Definitely blankets. I didn't sew when my niece was born 11 years ago, weighing 1 lb. 12 oz. At the time, I had been attending baby showers galore, so stockpiled on these thermal weave blankets in a variety of colors. I gave them to my SIL, who used them when my niece came home from the hospital. Needless to say, my niece ended up with one of them as a favorite, which eventually became tattered. I then took the remnants and made them, into a crazy quilt, as the appliques on it last summer. Those sleep sacks were (and are) wonderful. I would agree though, to hold off on clothing. My niece had an oxygen tank, a "sids" monitor, and other aparatus when she came home. She needed front openings to accommodate tubes, wires, etc. that wouldn't work in a normal sleeper. We found them at JC Penney back then, and they were like gold! Plus, she was so tiny, but did grow fairly quickly. The bonnet be good too, as it is feminine, but again would need to be in variuos sizes. Lastly, nursing t's might be a good idea for Mom, if she is going to breastfeed/pump. If you do make a nursing blanket/cape, use flannel, not fleece. The baby ends up sweating underneath, or perhaps some other "breathable" fabric. Sending good thoughts to bring the baby home soon! Peggy
So little time, sew much to do........... |
User: pretnichols
Member since: 10-16-2005 Total posts: 342 |
From: queenymi
Date: 01-23-2007, 11:05 PM (10 of 17)
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my 1st was a premmie too, but only ended up in hosp for a week (he was 4-15) fine but really thin, I would have liked a nice cover up for nursing him in the NICU (fleece maybe?) and some little sleepers would be good, I loved the sleep bags by Carters, if you could make something like that she would love it. Those would obviously be for home, and for mum too maybe a nice bag with small essentials needed for those hosp trips (slippers, lip balm, notebook and pen, tissue packs, phone card etc) Sorry I have not posted in a while. I just am finally getting back to normal. I too would have appreciated a nice nursing cover as a gift. I had to deliver my son Jonas 3 weeks early because I developed preenclampsia. He was considered preemie but did weight 8lbs 3oz at birth. He was admitted to the NICU because of low blood sugar and needing a little oxygen. I remember trying to nurse in the NICU and them constantly looking for nursing covers. Which gives me an idea of what I would like to do for the NICU. Either way the nursing cover is a great gift. |
User: queenymi
Member since: 08-05-2006 Total posts: 38 |
From: IsabelleB
Date: 01-24-2007, 09:52 AM (11 of 17)
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It does sound a great idea, Sher. A baby bunting could be nice too. I'm only mentioning this because I sewed a couple of preemie buntings for a hospital last year. The nurses explained it makes the babies feel like they were held even when they are in the incubator. But that's in France and I'm not sure how that would be received in a Canadian hospital. They were exactly like the bunting you see at the bottom of this page (http://www.patchworks.com/patterns.htm). I could give more explanations if you're interested. It's like making a quilt with ties and with the bottom gathered. Isabelle
Sewing blog: Kitty Couture |
User: IsabelleB
Member since: 10-25-2006 Total posts: 265 |
From: ccsmommie
Date: 01-26-2007, 11:03 AM (12 of 17)
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I had a preemie in the NICU for 62 days. I think a personalized blanket to go over her incubator would be great. Emphasizing personalized. Also blankets that the baby can be swaddled in. Preemies need lots of swaddling. Maybe even the ones that are shaped for swaddling. They don't wear anyhting but a daiper most of the time so I agree with the no clothes idea. Becasue they have so many wires and breathing tubes, if your were to make clothes...later on my daughter was put in a thing that looked like a hospital gown but really tiny and you really didn't have to manuver the cords.
~Allison
SAHM to Caroline and Charlie |
User: ccsmommie
Member since: 01-15-2007 Total posts: 9 |
From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 01-26-2007, 11:40 PM (13 of 17)
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This site is good. It will give you patterns for a bunch of diffrent preemie items. http://www.angelfire.com/planet/mcshelpsite/sewingstuff/freepatterns.html/#charity Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: lizzybugsmommy
Date: 01-26-2007, 11:45 PM (14 of 17)
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Also I would give her somthing now because she more than likely expected a full term baby and everyone else did too. She may not be prepared to have one this small and could use every thing. I remember picking out Elizabeths going home outfit and she did not get to wear it until she was 9 months old. She was preemie and failure to thrive. Cant tell it now LOL. Anyway just a thought.
Catherine
http://www.photoworks.com/share/shareSignin.jsp?shareCode=A0E42A2C202&cp=ems_shr_a lb_pml&cb=PW Husbands gone fishing..... I've gone fabric shopping |
User: lizzybugsmommy
Member since: 05-20-2006 Total posts: 207 |
From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-26-2007, 11:58 PM (15 of 17)
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When my baby Emily (my newest grandbaby) was in the hospital after she was born the thing her Mom kept in her crib was a blanket I made her sister when she was born. It was a memory quilt of all the grandparents that had died before the baby was born. We all felt like they saw her first before she got here and we wanted her to know who they were when she grew up. By putting their pics on the quilt it made the Mother, my DIL feel like they were with her in spirt. The quilt stayed in the isolet with her the whole time she was in PICU. I made that quilt for her sisters shower by taking pics of the grandparents and printing them out on fabric sheets in my printer. They have them so you can print them out on a color copy machine also. If you like you can make them sepia to make them look antique. Then I took the pics and made them in a circle and embroideried an angel in the middle. From there I made 4 inch blocks to make up the rest of the quilt. The center of the quilt was all one color, one peice of fabric. The rest was the 4 inch blocks. It came out cute and I'm sure she will have it a long time. Just a thought.
I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118 
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From: MotherInLaw
Date: 01-27-2007, 12:21 AM (16 of 17)
Pic of the quilt I cut out the pics after I printed them out and appliqued them on the pink background. I'm regressing back into my youth, I just have to figure out how I'm going to convience my body to come along with me.
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User: MotherInLaw
Member since: 06-25-2005 Total posts: 1118
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From: SSain
Date: 01-31-2007, 02:12 AM (17 of 17)
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I sew for Threads of Love and have made a cuddler similar to this one. It's easy to sew and cuddles the baby while in the incubator. Just make sure any items for nicu are washed in a mild baby washing detergent and rinsed several times before sending. I have even added white vinegar to the rinse and then rinsed again. http://www.p2designs.com/pdfs/ptn-Cuddler.pdf Sandy |
User: SSain
Member since: 02-23-2006 Total posts: 4 |
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