Introducing Colton Matthew

supgabs

Hello ladies. I just want to say thank you again to everyone who replied to my last post regarding what to expect when having a preemie. It was extremely helpful to my SO and I.

I'd like to introduce my son Colton! He was delivered via c-section due to being breech on March 26th at 4:08 pm central time. He weighed 2.43 lbs and measured 13 1/2 inches. He was 29 weeks exactly. He started crying as soon as they attempted to insert a breathing tube and as far as I know he is still breathing on his own with a cannula. I haven't seen him in 6 hours but will be hopefully able to hold him for the first time in a few hours when I goto visit him while the staff is doing rounds. He was a feisty little guy when I visited him last. Crying a little and kicking his tiny little legs around.

Unfortunately he had to come a week early because I was admitted after a routine MFM appointment for pre-eclampsia. I am on mobile at the moment because I was not expecting to be admitted so I will attach a couple of pictures. I am hoping and praying we have a uneventful stay in the NICU and that we can bring him home before or around his due date which was June 11th.

I do have a question though. Did anyone else have difficulty sleeping after delivering their baby and if so, how did you handle it? Ive only gotten a couple hours of sleep since delivery... I can't shut my mind off ...

ziggy903

Congrats- he's beautiful!

abwatts

Beautiful! I'm sure we ALL had trouble sleeping! Just try when you can, it will come. Praying for an uneventful stay! What was his gestational age?

KTZ17

Congratulations!! My first night I was on mag sulfate and they were trying to bring my BP down so the cuff checked me every 15 minutes, so sleep was not an option. I hope you're able to rest soon. Wishing your little guy a short & uneventful NICU stay.

supgabs

@abwatts‌ Oh duh I added that to my post. He was 29 weeks on the dot.

Thank you all! Unfortunately I cannot breastfeed because of my chemotherapy (I was diagnosed with leukemia in February). Fortunately the nurse came and gave me benedryl through an IV around 3:45 last night and I was able to get a few hours of sleep. Now I am waiting for them to give the okay to get up and moving and will hopefully be going to visit my son shortly. I spoke to the nurse and it sounds like little Colton is still doing well. I asked the NICU nurse yesterday if it would be possible to get some skin to skin with him when I hold him for the first time and she seemed confident that wouldn't be a problem. Hopeful that hasn't changed .

Pips09

Congrats on your baby! Not sleeping at first is totally understandable. It's a traumatic time, and also exciting and scary to see your baby, so you've probably got a lot of adrenaline pumping through you. Best of luck to you both!

Tylynngrace

Congrats momma! He's so handsome!!
Not sleeping is normal! They had to give me anxiety medicine that put me to sleep because I was freaking out.

direy25

Congratulations!

nblondheim

Congratulations and welcome! I hope you get to hold him soon!

gault530

Congratulations!  If you were on mag, it takes a few days to feel normal again.  I'd ask for a sleeping pill as you need to get good rest to start feeling better.  Take care of yourself too.

deebs620

Congrats! He is beautiful! I had my son 4 months ago and some nights I still have a hard time shutting my brain off and will just keep replaying everything so unfortunately no good advice on that but I hope you get some good sleep soon!

flerlgirl

He's adorable, @supgabs‌! It sounds like he is doing so well. I think asking for Benadryl is a good idea if you need it again. I couldn't sleep for a few nights after DS was born and then it got easier. Hang in there, mama.

MinaE01

Congratulations on Colton! He looks as healthy as can be! I hope your ride is smooth in the NICU. As for sleeping, it might take a few more days on him being stable to ease your mind so you can relax. I'm not sure if the nurses can give you anything or suggest a safe medication to help you sleep, but it's worth a shot to ask. You deserve to get some good shut-eye!

supgabs

Thank you ladies!! Colton is amazing and I am so proud to be his mother. 

Luckily I was able to get some good sleep on my own last night and I am feeling a little better about our situation. Colton is still doing pretty well. He had a chest x-ray today and I am waiting to hear back on that. He had a kidney ultrasound yesterday and his bad kidney might actually be somewhat functional with surgery down the road.

supgabs

Here's a picture from our first kangaroo session last night. We turned the lights down and he opened his eyes and we just stared at each other while my SO read books to us. I can't even describe the feels haha. He is so amazing

hubbs173

@supgabs‌, congrats on your first kangaroo session!! I'm so happy for you and also super jealous!! I'm still waiting for Henry to be ready for our first kangaroo session!!!! So glad Colton is doing so well!!!

supgabs

hubbs173 said:

@supgabs‌, congrats on your first kangaroo session!! I'm so happy for you and also super jealous!! I'm still waiting for Henry to be ready for our first kangaroo session!!!! So glad Colton is doing so well!!!

Thank you!! I am so proud of him. He's been doing so much better than I thought he would. I only got to hold him for about a half hour because they put him on the bili lights but I'll take whatever I can get. Did they give you an idea of when you can start KC with Henry?

hubbs173

Well he just got moved out of the humidity incubator and taken off the bili lights yesterday. They try to not do too much at once, which is fine. I don't want him to have any set backs. I'm hoping within the next couple of days as long as he's still doing so well. They basically told me it's all based on him and how he's doing.

supgabs

That's awesome that they took him off the lights! I hope Colton can come off them soon. It's hard for me to see him with the face mask on and under such a bright light.

hubbs173

I know what you mean!! I love when I can actually see his face!!