Preemie

My niece had a baby girl at 23-1/2 weeks and she was 1lb 4oz
in August and may be coming home this week. They ended up buying her some clothes at Build-a-Bear because the preemie ones were too big.
For Mom, books (if she likes to read),meal gift cards.
Don't know where the baby was born, but if that hospital provides rooms where parents can stay a night or so is a great idea too. Spectrum has the Renucci House.
http://www.spectrum-health.org/cs/Satellite?c=eHA_Content...

I had a 26 weeker and there were a number of things that were appreciated. Gift cards for places to eat around the hospital are one! The baby may not need clothes yet but will eventually and hats - as the baby starts to try and maintain its own temperature and come out of the temp controlled incubator he will wear hats. Receiving blankets - we were allowed to use our own blankets for lining his bed and swaddling him and took them home a couple times a week and washed them all. A button down shirt for mom for discreet skin to skin holding. Books for her to read to the baby - they tell you it's very good for them and some times when you're sitting there for hours at a time you run out of stuff to talk about with your baby! Magazines and sudoku books for mom and dad are nice. A hand-held mirror to keep at the hospital so you can see your baby's face while you're holding him. Developmental learning toys are wonderful but it may be early for that. An ornament - we hung a couple in the baby's room during the holidays. A nice box for mom to keep his "firsts" in (blood pressure cuff, sample diaper to remember how small they were, etc.). Prayers are the best and most important!

My nephew was a 26 week preemie. To be honest the baby may not need any preemie clothes. The hospital will want the baby to use thier things until he is off most of the tubes and such. My sister-in-law really needed gas cards. She and her husband were making daily trips to the hospital...30 min each way. Resterant GC are also a great help. I also gave my SIL a journal that she said was very helpful.
I will say a prayer for them.
BLessins, K.

Hi L. -

My daughter was born at 28 weeks and was 3lb, 3oz. We did need preemie clothes, but were limited in what she could wear while she was in the hospital due to the monitors, IV's, etc. The layette type bag sleepers (open at the end) were usually OK to wear, or you can find special NICU 'approved' clothes from shops online. We needed a few when she came home (4lb 9 oz), and newborn clothes. Most of what we had received as gifts were 0-3 and larger and were WAY too big.

As far as needing 'different' things, as long as they don't go home on oxygen, monitors, or other special equipment they don't really need anything different than normal babies. The best thing that I had that was a big help was the baby bath tub that I had - it was from The First Years called Sure Comfort Infant to Toddler tub. It had a sling that attaches to the tub that cradles babies so they don't slip and tip over like they would reclined in the tub itself. It was great!

Other than that, just normal baby stuff. Toys, books, etc. If you want to do something for mom, I agree with some of the other gals - gift cards for places to eat near the hospital - esp. if she is staying nearby and they don't live close enough to go home at night. Gift certificates for places that deliver or have take out. Places like Main Dish Kitchen (http://maindishkitchen.com/locationhome.asp) allow you to pick up 'home made' food for dinner that night or to put in the freezer to have when they want it. I know you said that you weren't close enough to deliver meals, but what about doing some up ahead and freezing and taking to her. Would she have freezer room for them? I had some people do that for me for #2 and it was nice. Days that I was just too tired to cook I could pull one out and dinner was done.

Sorry this is so long, but I hope it helps. Feel free to contact me off list if you would like.
J.

Hi L.~

I had a 24 wkr (1 lb 10 oz) and I needed preemie clothes when he came home for the first time (and they did allow him to wear some the last couple of weeks in NICU). I also really appreciated the Angel Care Monitor my dad bought for us when he did come home. I was so nervous about him sleeping in that big crib all by himself in his own room...the Angel Care Monitor has a sensor on it for breathing. Just a thought, I know they can be pricey but I know it was a big relief for me. I also received gift cards for groceries (Kroger was awesome), restaurant gift cards and gas cards so I could get what we needed. I hope the baby is doing well and gets to come home in a little while. My prayers for the little one and your friend.

Coupons for pizza, a restaurant food delivery service, a house cleaner, etc. You could also do frozen meals that she could pull out of the freezer and bake. Anything that will make her life easier or provide a service that she won't have to do herself.

Hi L..
I had a preemie, but she was almost 6 lbs (not 2lbs, so not quite the same). She was in the NICU for 8 days. And what I appreciated was that people were just treating her like a normal full term baby (made me start thinking she was "normal" too). Just get her what you would get her even if her baby was not born premature. Yeah, she may need preemie clothes, but that's the extent of special things. She just wants to get back to normal and move forward and probably not dwell on the fact her baby was premature. Just wash your hands really well when you visit and ask her before you touch the baby, she may be nervous about others touching her baby. Hope I helped.

Perhaps put together some food for her... not meals, but snacks, magazines, things to do.. and they sell premie sized closed at Babies R Us.. our little one was small. We usually just had him swaddled in a blanket though until he was big enough for clothes. Perhaps some diapers for the baby.

Blanket sleepers are always good. The ones that do not have legs on the bottom, instead it just looks like a bag and zips up. I had 3 preemies. My triplets were born at 33w5d and came home from the hospital (all 3) at 9 days old.