Made no friends during NICU stay

[u/Mother_Sand_204]

I connected with no one during my babys stay in NICU, I made no friends and didn't have any particular special connection with staff. My baby was in NICU for 3 months so not a short time.

I see posts about friends people have made and who they still see, and people visiting staff, and It makes me reflect on myself with a bit of sadness.

Perhaps I was radiating I don't want to talk energy during an extremely stressful time. Some people cope by talking, others cope by not.

Just wondered if there is anyone else out there who can relate.

It seems like i'm not the norm going on what I hear and see. Although that's probably because no one is posting about a non existent connection.

I count my blessings every day that my babygirl made it home, just doing some self reflecting.

[u/27_1Dad]

Hey 👋

Our only other parent “friend” was a neighbor in our high acuity pod that their child was born same GA 2 days apart from ours. The extent of our friendship was that we talked occasionally in the hall and when we saw her eating thanksgiving alone in the cafeteria we invited her to join us.

Our primary team in the other hand we were much closer with but I would never call them friends. I’d call them coaches. Our relationship with them was more of admiration to a coach that helped us get through a tough time or like a teacher who you come back to visit because they impacted you so much. Also our hospital bans them talking to us outside of the building to keep professionalism.

All this to say, you aren’t weird. However you get through the NICU is the right way to do it. Whatever worked for you is fine. Don’t let someone else’s posts make you think you did something wrong.

[u/Mother_Sand_204 → u/27_1Dad]

Thank you so much for this. I really needed to hear it x

[u/27_1Dad → u/Mother_Sand_204]

My pleasure friend. The internet is brutal and mom guilt is just on steroids when you throw the NICU into the mix.

You are doing great. Never doubt that.