I guess that's what it reminded me of with Reese living the first 78 days of her life in an isolette. Either that or a baby that lives in a bubble. On March 28, 2013 she officially graduated from an isolette and got moved into an open crib. For a few weeks prior, they had been leaving the top off of her isolette, so it technically was an open-crib, but not officially. Once a baby reaches a certain weight (usually over 1800 grams), they start being able to keep up their own body temperature. It actually takes quite a lot of energy for them to do this, so you don't want to do it before they are ready. It is one of the requirements a baby must meet to get discharged from the NICU.
I really am quite grateful and impressed by isolette's. When Reese was first born, the isolette recreated a womb-like experience for her. They would set the humidity at 80% and would set a temperature just right for her size/age. As she grew, the humidity weaned down and eventually the temperature was turned totally off. The isolettes are quiet for them and they were typically covered up to keep the light out so the babies don't get over-stimulated.
Entrance to the isolette is just 2 little doors on each side to get your hands through. The top also pops off, but that didn't happen too often because it's important to keep the temperature heated inside. She's spent many a days in these isolettes. They do change them out to keep them clean, but all of them are the same. Man those things are toasty inside though. You can feel the heat from the outside.
This picture isn't very flattering with the IV out the top of her head. (Funny how that hardly phases me now.) The yellow mattress thing under her is what she laid on for the first month. It feel squishy- kind of like a glue mixed with water texture. It allows the nurses to "nest" the baby- it can conform to different shapes or to fit around their body like play doh. The usually hollow it out in the middle for her body, then raise the sides like a wall around her.
She is famous for all of her moving around. She preferred sleeping on her belly (which they allow in the NICU at first), but she's had some pretty funny poses. I like to think that most of the time she's been pretty comfortable. The yellow mattress nest is formed around her. They put the blanket over top to help her feel secure.
Sprawled out
Her arms are often up or stretched out.
She seems pretty tired here.
Stretched way out.
Her sweet spot. This little thing over her body is called a Zaky- it's like a rice bag that looks like a hand. They put it in the isolettes with the babies for comfort. Not a bad idea if you have a child that likes to feel like you're there .
Some of her earlier pictures- see how transparent her skin was? She's a hands girl- likes to have them up by her face. They say this is a self-soothing thing that helps them feel secure.
This is Reese at 1 week old. She had wiggled her way all the way to the bottom of the isolette. Kicking against the glass. This happened several times. The nurses have also found her right up along the side as well. I'd always tell them- NEVER leave the door open- she might fall out.
Another look at the zachy.
"Hello World!" Looking out through the isolette.
This is how the top pops off. They'd raise this up to get her out for holdings or if they had to place an IV or sponge bath, etc. Otherwise diaper changes, temp checks, etc. are done through the side doors.
Another funny pose.
At Primary Children's, they put them in these sleep sacks. They are supposed to be "nested" in there, but Reese would kick her legs over the bottom. It always looked like she was floating down a river in an inner tube. This girl likes to feel comfortable, not confined.
Wow! I've spent a lot of days looking at my baby through the glass. At this point she was around 6-7 weeks old and I had only been able to get her out of the isolette about 7 times total. I started crying when I told the nurse at Primary Children's that.
Side Sleep position.
There's a smile. She'll often smile while sleeping- I like to think she's surrounded by angels, helping her forget her reality.
Trying to crawl out. "Get me out of here!" Ha, ha.
Just chillin in my isolette. NBD
This is when they popped the top to start testing if she could keep her own body temperature.
And here she is in her big girl, open- crib. She's doing great. One of our requirements is checked off. This baby can keep her own body temp! One step closer to home.
And a few last poses to remember her isolette days. She's come along way.
2 comments:
Natalie! I love this post. Lots of fun pictures for one day when this is all a distant memory :). She is so beautiful!
Love all these pictures! It is so interesting for us to see how it all works!
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