Still Pregnant - Possible New Member

RovingLanypoo

I moved to Germany at 9w, pregnancy has been uneventful, until now.  Mentioned some BHs to my doc, she checked, and sent me to hospital.  I waited for 5 hours to be seen.  In that 5 hours, my cervix went from 2 cm to 4 mm.  I'm a little peeved that they just told me this...  Yesterday, I was 1 cm dialated.

I've lurked a few times but never posted because it hasn't applied to me.  I don't have a preemie yet- so I'm really sorry if I don't belong here.  He's ~ 5lbs now, so "big enough" (my doc's words) but lungs are a concern.  Can anyone help me out with what to expect if he does arrive early?  Thanks in advance for anything!

jennigator3

You are very welcome here! I hope he can "cook" a little while longer but if you have to deliver soon, 33-34 weekers usually do very well and don't spend more than a few weeks in the NICU. When he arrives they will probably take him straight to the NICU for observation and may put him on a Nasal cannula or CPAP to help him breath. They usually can't drink from a bottle yet so they may insert a feeding tube and give him an IV for hydration. He will be kept on a heated bed to regulate temperature.

You will most likely be able to hold him and kangaroo him (skin to skin). Feel free to participate in changing, feeding, and caring for your son. Bring him blankets, clothes, and other personal items from home, I feel that makes a difference to them. 

Congratulations, I hope everything goes well for you guys!

RovingLanypoo

I'm hoping I can hold him in a little longer!  Every day helps at this point.  They gave me a steroid shot for his lungs last night.  If this is too personal, you don't have to answer - but did you stay in hospital with him the whole time?

Thank you so much already!

RRHsMom

I'm glad you got 1 round of the steroid shots. ?Those usually help a lot. ?I delivered mine at 36 and since he was so far along and huge (8lbs) they did not give me the steroids and his lungs were totally underdeveloped and we had a very scary start. ?(which I will not go into because I doubt you will have to go through all of that). ?I am so glad you got the steroids! ?

As for the hospital question DS was there for 17 days and I was there through the day almost every day since I did not have any other kids to be at home with. ?I went to the hospital at 8ish every morning and left for lunch with DH, Mother, or friends. ?Then would come back until dinner and then be back until bed time at 9ish. ?If we'd been in for more than 17 days though I do not think I could have kept that up. ?When he began breastfeeding at 14 days old, I roomed in to feed through the night. ?

RovingLanypoo

That's exactly what I was wondering.  I probably will end up checking out and bringing breastmilk, if that works out.  We'll see.

Mrs Manners

You are of course welcome here - but I hope you can hang on to that little one long enough so that you don't need to be here! I had ds at 33 w 2 d. I had two steriod shots about a week before he was delivered which I think really helped his lung development. He was born at 4 lbs 2 oz and never needed any oxygen or respiratory support. He was in the NICU for 13 days and went home at 4 lbs 12 oz. In the US, they discharge you after your standard two day after delivery waiting period. I would just drive back to the hospital every morning and visit him there during the day and come home at night. They had breast pumps on site so I'd pump at home and take in what I made and then pump with their pump while I was at the NICU. DS spent a day under the lights for jaundice but otherwise had no medical complications other than just being small. Initially they fed him from a tube and then we started working on bottle feedings. He was in an isolette (incubator) in the beginning to help him maintain his body temp but then moved to an open crib a week or so later.

He's doing great now at almost 11 months old and as you can see from my siggy pic, you'd never know he had been a preemie unless I told you. Please feel free to page me if you have any questions. Good luck - hope you can hold out for a few more days!

Mrs Manners

Oh...and going to the NICU and being there with him all day was exhausting. I was fanatical about it and would get there in the morning and stay until very late at night. I wish I'd know that it was ok for me not to be there all the time, that he would still be fine. I wish I'd rested more and finished preparing things at home more for him (and us - like buying groceries and supplies, catching up on sleep, etc).

heme

My DS was born at 33 weeks and 4 days, I had PROM and I was given 2 steriod shots. Right after he was born i was able to hold him for a minute then they took him to the NICU so they can check him out. We were very blessed that he was breathing on his own and was in the NICU for 6 days before coming home. I was dischared from the hospital 2 days after having him, it was hard and we were at the hospital twice a day and called 3-4 times a day. The NICU staff is great and very understanding.

I hope and wish you the best.

RubyRed7

My DD was born at 32 weeks, and suddenly. Everyday you can "hold him in" the better you will be! I just wanted to wish you luck and to tell you that the NICU staff you may deal with are just amazing, so feel free to ask any questions you can think of

I was discharged after 5 days in the hospital and went to visit DD everyday until she came home. I lived close by and was on maternity leave. I pumped like crazy and brought milk as they needed it. I tried breastfeeding, but it never really took.

Good luck!

RovingLanypoo

You ladies are awesome.  And your kids are just gorgeous!  I wasn't planning to go on maternity leave until late January so this has been very sudden.  I'm still saving time to take off and will only be able to take 12 weeks (some of which is without pay).

They have me on an anti-contraction drug, two shots of steroids now, and antibiotics...  And will keep me a week.    Thanks again for sharing your experiences.

Mrs.DMC

I had my ds at 33 weeks. He was in the nicu for 15 days. I also had the steroid shots. DS did get put on a ventilator for a few days and was given 3 doses of servanta. Most of his issues in the beginning were from the magnesium I was on for 24 hours before delivery. When that cleared his system he started to thrive a little better. Once he came home he was completely healthy and the nicu experiance was a distant memory.

The nicu we were in was strict with their visiting hours so I could only stay 30 mins at a time every 3 hours. I was back and fourth after I was released from the hospital. I did allow myself some time to rest and prepare for his early arrival home.

Good luck with your little one....hope he can bake a little longer.