Bored Panda works better on our iPhone app
Continue in app Continue in browser

The Bored Panda iOS app is live! Fight boredom with iPhones and iPads here.

“I Finally Snapped”: Karen Chooses The Wrong Person To Bully At The NICU And Gets Schooled
New mom holding newborn baby wrapped in blanket, showing tender moment in hospital setting inside NICU unit.
41

“I Finally Snapped”: Karen Chooses The Wrong Person To Bully At The NICU And Gets Schooled

ADVERTISEMENT

Giving birth is an emotional roller coaster: joy, exhaustion, and everything in between. Moms go through so much, physically and emotionally, and once their little one arrives, they’ll do anything to give them the best start. But what happens when someone disrupts those tender bonding moments?

A woman shared her NICU experience, where her efforts to provide crucial skin-to-skin contact with her premature baby were repeatedly interrupted by a pushy neighbor. Instead of backing down, she handled the situation with a touch of humor and boldness, turning an uncomfortable encounter into a memorable moment of triumph. Keep reading to see how she stood her ground!

RELATED:

    New moms face countless challenges, and dealing with a Karen during such a stressful time can be overwhelming

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    A woman shared how she sacrificed her privacy in response to her NICU neighbor’s unnecessary complaints

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Curated Lifestyle (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    Image source: apprehensive_lurker3

    Parenting is full of unique challenges that test patience and resilience 

    Image credits: Solen Feyissa (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    No matter how many parenting books you read or how much advice you get, nothing truly prepares you for the moment your baby arrives. Parents often rely on their instincts and intuition, finding their own unique way to care for their little one as they navigate this new chapter of life.   

    ADVERTISEMENT

    One thing many parents find incredibly special is skin-to-skin contact, often referred to as kangaroo care. This practice involves holding your baby close, with their bare skin touching yours. It’s not just a bonding moment; it’s also packed with amazing benefits for both the baby and the parent.  

    The term “kangaroo care” is inspired by kangaroos, who carry their joeys in their pouches. Similarly, during skin-to-skin time, parents become their baby’s safe space, providing warmth, comfort, and security in those early days of life.

    One of the most immediate benefits of skin-to-skin contact is its ability to regulate a newborn’s body temperature. Since newborns have an immature thermoregulatory system, they can struggle to maintain their body temperature. This close contact with a parent’s warm skin helps stabilize their temperature and reduces the risk of hypothermia.

    Skin-to-skin contact is a beautiful way to create a special bonding moment with your baby

    Image credits: Getty Images (not the actual photo)

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Skin-to-skin also works wonders for a newborn’s heart rate and breathing patterns. The gentle rhythm of a parent’s heartbeat and the soothing rise and fall of their chest can help regulate the baby’s vitals, creating a sense of calm and stability.  

    Did you know that skin-to-skin contact can boost a baby’s immune system too? By being exposed to their parent’s skin microbiome, the baby’s immune defenses are strengthened. It’s like nature’s way of giving the little one a head start in building their immunity.    

    Babies who experience regular skin-to-skin contact tend to sleep better and establish healthy sleep patterns. It also supports successful breastfeeding, helping the baby latch more effectively and promoting overall growth and development.  

    One of the most heartwarming benefits of skin-to-skin time is its ability to reduce stress and crying. This close contact lowers stress hormones in the baby, helping them feel safe and secure. As a result, they cry less and are better able to regulate their emotions.  

    Beyond the physical benefits, skin-to-skin contact strengthens the emotional bond between parent and child. This closeness fosters a deep sense of connection, creating a secure attachment that is crucial for the baby’s emotional development as they grow.  

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Unfortunately, in the author’s story, their precious skin-to-skin time was disrupted by an overly concerned NICU neighbor. This interruption led to a creative act of defiance and some much-needed levity during a stressful time. What are your thoughts on this incident? Do you have your own stories about navigating parenting challenges? 

    ADVERTISEMENT

    People online, including fellow NICU moms, praised the new mom for how she handled the situation

    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    ADVERTISEMENT
    Ic_polls

    Poll Question

    Thanks! Check out the results:

    Share on Facebook
    Nikita Manot

    Nikita Manot

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    Nikita's knack for storytelling and creativity has led her into the world of writing. With a robust foundation in business studies, she crafts compelling narratives by seamlessly blending analytical insight with imaginative expression. At Bored Panda, she embarks on an exhilarating quest to explore diverse topics, fueled by curiosity and passion. During her leisure time, she savors life's simple pleasures, such as gardening, cooking homemade meals and hosting gatherings for loved ones.

    Read less »
    Nikita Manot

    Nikita Manot

    Writer, BoredPanda staff

    Nikita's knack for storytelling and creativity has led her into the world of writing. With a robust foundation in business studies, she crafts compelling narratives by seamlessly blending analytical insight with imaginative expression. At Bored Panda, she embarks on an exhilarating quest to explore diverse topics, fueled by curiosity and passion. During her leisure time, she savors life's simple pleasures, such as gardening, cooking homemade meals and hosting gatherings for loved ones.

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    Read more »

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    Read less »

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Ieva Pečiulytė

    Author, BoredPanda staff

    I'm a Visual Editor for Bored Panda. I’m also an analog collage artist. My love for images and experience in layering goes well with both creating collages by hand and working with digital images as an Editor. When I’m not using my kitchen area as an art studio I also do various experiments making my own cosmetics or brewing kombucha. When I’m not at home you would most definitely find me attending a concert or walking my dog.

    What do you think ?
    User avatar
    Add photo comments
    POST
    Ipetmykitteh
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She said Karen mom kept doing it. I would have stripped an extra piece of clothing each time she pulled her shenanigans til o was cuddling baby nekkid.

    Littlemiss
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's always one Karen in the birthing unit. Mine was a nurse who insisted that at 9pm every single night she had to wake me and my newborn up, even if we'd just got to finally sleep. She would stomp into the room loudly, turn on the light as bright as it could go and scare the hell out of me and my baby. Then she'd demand to take my blood pressure and claim she couldn't work out why it was so high! I was isolated and a first time Mum, both baby and almost died at the birth and I got put in a room alone from HDU where I'd spent my first days unconscious. Funny thing was is this Karen was all over my husband like white on rice.

    Bookworm
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's when you request she not be assigned to you again because she's actively harming your health and your baby's health.

    Load More Replies...
    Bookworm
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they were both over the top. Given their babies were in the NiCU it's understandable that their emotions were high and they weren't thinking clearly. The people I blame are the nurses and doctors. Poorly run hospitals have staff that don't take action when they should. In this case talking to the other mother and giving her a warning. And insisting OP have a privacy screen.

    Load More Comments
    Ipetmykitteh
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    She said Karen mom kept doing it. I would have stripped an extra piece of clothing each time she pulled her shenanigans til o was cuddling baby nekkid.

    Littlemiss
    Community Member
    2 days ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    There's always one Karen in the birthing unit. Mine was a nurse who insisted that at 9pm every single night she had to wake me and my newborn up, even if we'd just got to finally sleep. She would stomp into the room loudly, turn on the light as bright as it could go and scare the hell out of me and my baby. Then she'd demand to take my blood pressure and claim she couldn't work out why it was so high! I was isolated and a first time Mum, both baby and almost died at the birth and I got put in a room alone from HDU where I'd spent my first days unconscious. Funny thing was is this Karen was all over my husband like white on rice.

    Bookworm
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's when you request she not be assigned to you again because she's actively harming your health and your baby's health.

    Load More Replies...
    Bookworm
    Community Member
    1 day ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I think they were both over the top. Given their babies were in the NiCU it's understandable that their emotions were high and they weren't thinking clearly. The people I blame are the nurses and doctors. Poorly run hospitals have staff that don't take action when they should. In this case talking to the other mother and giving her a warning. And insisting OP have a privacy screen.

    Load More Comments
    You May Like
    Related on Bored Panda
    Popular on Bored Panda
    Trending on Bored Panda
    Also on Bored Panda
    ADVERTISEMENT