NICU Mama printable Log and Journal

NICU Mama Printable Log and Journal

November 10, 2023

Disclaimer

When Aryi was in the NICU, I was scribbling journal entries and logging stats by scribbling in the sides of my planner. That was all I had and I was doing the best I could. I wished that I had a more concise way to journal/log this difficult time in our lives. This is in no way meant to capitalize on NICU mothers. I am not making any money off of this. This is simply what I wished I had. You can comment below if you think there is something I am missing or something you wish I would add.

Information Page

This page is meant for general information about the Hospital your child is staying in. You might not need the address, and probably have the phone number in your phone so this page seems pointless. My Idea with this page was to send a quick picture when a visitor is coming. Also, just in case something happens to your phone, you have numbers and such backed up.

Daily Log and Journal Page

This page is what sparked the Idea for me to make a Journal/Log for other NICU moms. This is what I was scribbling in my planner.

It is important to know who is taking care of your child. It is hard for me to remember names. I remembered the face of the person that was there that day. I began writing down their names so I could put a name to a face. I want to say this nicely, but I do not believe that is possible. Some nurses come to work to clock in and get their paycheck, they work in the NICU so they can make more money, they do not care about your baby. Some nurses LOVE the babies they take care of, they became a nurse to serve and care for people, to help. It is very easy to tell the difference.

I took lots of notes. It was important for me to listen to what the nurses and doctors said and try to understand or look up what I did not understand later. I do come from the healthcare field, but the NICU is a completely different beast. I understand blood and urine, labs and stats. Oxygen machines and incubators were very new to me.

It was also very important for me to write down my feelings. I was struggling with postpartum depression. I’m not sure if the PPD was brought on by the NICU or the hormones, if I would have had it if Aryi was born normally at 40 weeks. Either way, the PPD was horrible, and I needed to get out my feelings.

Baby Growth Log Pages

I wish I had had this in the NICU. It would have been so nice to see Aryi’s progress written there in a concise little chart. Instead I had to log into the App to see Aryi’s Chart, and you could only see a few days at a time. I am obsessed with charts and logs and I just think this would have been so nice to have.

I made one in pounds and inches for the Americans, and one in kilograms and centimeters for everyone else.

Difficult Moments Journal Page

I feel like it is very important to get the emotions out. It was impossible for me to talk to anyone at this time. I could not even talk to my husband about how I felt. I had to hold everything inside because if I talked about it I was going to explode with pain and grief. Writing it down helped get it out. Having a difficult moments page could be used for when you are having an especially hard day or if there is a setback like going backwards on oxygen.

Surgery/Procedure Journal Page

Surgeries and procedures are a big deal. It is important to have a record of what surgery your child had and the outcome.

Milestone Moment Journal Page

It is important to keep track of the happy things, when your baby smiles for the first time, when they roll over, when they sit up. When you have a long NICU stay, milestone moments happen in the NICU. It is so important to celebrate these moments.

Medical Milestone Journal Page

Speaking of keeping track of the happy things, medical milestones are so important to keep track of. When your baby graduates from one oxygen machine, when they no longer need a specific medication, whatever it is, it is something to celebrate.

Birth Story Journal Page

Not all births are happy, but all births are special. I think it is important to remember your story. It can be a great thing to look back on with your child. It is also good to get the story out. I wouldn’t talk about Aryi’s birth for a long time. It is a trauma filled story. I would sob when thinking about it. It was the hardest day of my life. Writing it down can help.

Meeting My Baby Journal Page

Meeting your baby can sometimes not be at birth. My son was taken immediately upon his birth. I wasn’t able to see him until the next day. This was the best day of my life.

Holding My Baby’s Hand for the First Time Journal Page

This can be a beautiful moment, and is definitely something you will want to remember.

Holding My Baby for the First Time Journal Page

This is a magical time and can be one of the most emotional times of your life.

Breastfeeding for the First Time Journal Page

Breastfeeding can be a long, difficult journey. Sadly, it did not work for us, and I pumped for 11 months. But when it does work, it can be a beautiful bonding experience to breastfeed.

The Day My Baby Is Off Oxygen Journal Page

This can be one of the biggest days in the NICU. The day your baby comes off oxygen is a huge milestone and means you are that much closer to going home.