interesting nicu stuff

so i went to nicu/special care today for my first official day of the next 7 weeks there! i was able to treat, eval, and do notes in the computer! we saw all sorts of babies! some interesting things:
- a baby with a genetic disorder where neither one of his radii form (one of two forearm bones). this made his precious little arms and hands fold to look like wings! his dad and grandad have a similar malformation.
- premies & really most newborns are easily overstimulated. some of the ways they react to overstimulation include crying (duh), putting their hand to their face as if to say "i'm done!," flailing arms & legs, and the most interesting tidbit of the day: hiccuping. Yes-hiccuping is a sign of overstimulation (at least in babies). i wonder if this holds true for adults as well.
- and this heartbreaker: the realization that some of these babies are born, and left at the hospital in the nicu b/c momma just can't handle it or is too overwhelmed or never wanted baby in the first place - much less one with special needs. how terrible is that?
- a miracle baby who's mom had 3 previous pregnancies all of which were stillborn or spontaneously aborted. most of the issues are secondary to the mom having difficulty keeping fluid in her uterus (i can't remember the medical term for this-i should look it up!). the baby grew in limited fluid from 17 wks on & was born at like 27 wks. she's awesome!
- a baby who's been in the hospital for her whole 3 month life with liver issues. her tummy was extremely distended from her enlarged liver. but man she was a cute kid.
- a yummy donut (every friday for nicu!!!)

in closing, my new supervisor is great and i'm looking forward to learning a lot! i plan to contact my family friend who is a nicu ot in chicago to get some more inside info to perhaps help me do the best possible treatments for these precious babies!!!!!! any one know any good nicu / ot resources? i plan to read the chapter on nicu in case-smith this week. any other ideas?

xoxo

ps - happy birthday granny margie! (today is brent's grandmother's b'day!)