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Preemies
Shayna0182
member
Preemie mom to a 33 weeker
Shayna0182
member
in Preemies
Hello all,
I am a new preemie mom to a beautiful son born at 33 weeks. ?He has been in the Nicu for 4 weeks, due to issues with feeding. ?He was born at 4 lbs 1 oz, and was 18 inches long. ?Now he is 5lbs 8oz, ?and is 19 inches long. ?A full feed for him is 45 ml, although he fluctuates every day and never consistently takes a full feed. ? He usually takes about half that, sometimes more, sometimes less. ?He does surprise us a few times a day and takes the whole thing. ? Now the doctors think that he may be still having reflux issues, even though he stopped spitting up, a few weeks ago, and have started him on prilosec. ? Whatever he doesn't take by bottle, he gets through his ng tube.
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My question to all of you preemie moms is, does it ever get better? ?My husband and I are so hopeful that he will get to come home soon, but it seems like there's always another bump in the road. ?I feel so isolated sometimes, and it feels like no one understands. ?I delivered early due to pre-eclampsia, and sometimes I still mourn the fact that we didn't get to have a normal delivery and then get to take him home. ? I didn't even get to see him until the second day he was alive, no thanks to being drugged up on Mag. ?It's so hard to come home and see that decorated room, and his empty carseat. ?
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His doctors have recently done a routine blood test, and have determined that his himadacrit levels are a little low, and are considering a transfusion on him. ?That scares us so much! ?Has anyone else with a preemie had this done? ?I guess I just need a little reassurance. ?:)
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Anyway, sorry this was so wordy. ?This is my first time joining a preemie board, and I wanted to tell our story.
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Re: Preemie mom to a 33 weeker
I completely understand where you are coming from. I too delievered early due to pre-e/hellp syndrome. I will tell you that you just have to keep plugging on. It will get better!! It is OK to mourn the delivery and after experience. There are several of us on this board that struggle with this. And it is 100% normal!
The feeding thing will (hopefully) work itself out. I hope they are able to make the correct determination and get him all fixed up!
We are definitely here for support. If you just need to vent, cry, celebrate, etc. we are here for you!
Oh, and congrats on your LO!! :-)
My little one came at 28 weeks due to my pre-e. I know how it feels to not have that normal delivery experience amd to have to wait so long to even see yout little one after the birth. I was doped up on mag for days and days. They wouldn't let me go to the NICU even in a wheelchair for almost 2 days. It was HORRIBLE!
I wanted to reassure you about the blood transfusions. Our DD had to have a couple of them while in the NICU. They helped her out so much and she never had a problem with them at all. I'll never forget the phone call at 1:54 am one morning when they wanted permission to transfuse her ... I sat bolt upright in bed when the phone rang and was sure she was in trouble, and my mind even dared for a second to think that she was crashing or gone. When they asked for permission to give her blood I was SOOOOO relieved I didn't even give myself a second to question it or worry about it. I was so thrilled that she was ok I probably would have agreed to anything. But please know that thee little ones can benefit so much from the transfusions, and the doctors wouldn't do them unless they really felt they were necessary and would help.
Good luck!!!
DS was born at 32w6d (4 hours short of 33 weeks!) and also had feeding issues. we were in the NICU for 26 days, and he didn't figure out the eating until about day 23 (christmas day!). your LO should get it soon, it will all of a sudden click!
as for mourning the loss of a regular birth - that's perfectly normal! you have an idea in your head about how having kids should be and it sucks when it doesn't work out that way. the worst part for me was after he came home. before that it was survival mode and once he was home, i finally had some time to process. but it's been gradually better since then.
i don't have any advice on the transfusions, but i hope it all works out well!!! congrats on your LO and i hope he's home soon!
I'm sorry
I could have written this. I'm sorry. It's really hard and to be quite honest, most people don't understand what you're going through and that probably won't change, even after your baby comes home. The board is great for that though. The girls are very supportive and know where you are coming from and we often have similar feelings that nobody else can relate to!
Our son's homecoming was also delayed by feeding issues, which turned out to be due to reflux - - it just took a while to figure that out. Once they got him on Prilosec he was home in a couple of weeks. I hope you have the same success!
Our son was also anemic. He had to have 2 blood transfusions in the NICU early on. His entire stay he was borderline anemic and even on the very very low end of normal when he was about to go home. They want to avoid blood transfusions unless necessary because giving your body extra hematocrit (red blood cells) sends the signal that it doensn't need to produce as much on it's own. (ie: it makes the problem worse, in a sense). That being said, if the doctors are recommending a transfusion, it's probably necessary and there isn't much you can do. Hopefully in time, they will grow out of anemia.
The anemia could be (?) contributing to eating problems if your LO is getting too tired to finish a bottle?
It's all stressful and scary...hang in there...our LO is home now and doing great!
I had 33 week twins, they were in the NICU for 4 weeks for feeding issues as well, and I tell you what, one day they just got it! The day before they were de-sating, and having a bunch of spells, the next day they bottle or breastfed all their meals like little champs. So yes it does get easier. I know how hard it is to walk into your home after being at the hospital all day and see the empty nursery all set up. It made me cry every time. But just know that your baby is where he needs to be right now getting the best care. You don't want him to come home until he is ready that's for sure!
Hang in there. I bet he will be home within a week or 2 at the most.
Mommy to Elizabeth (6/18/09), preemie at 34 weeks
Team Blue!
this is my story almost exactly...little boy (nicknamed "wimpy white boy" at our NICU) but my delivery at 33 weeks (he is 38 weeks tomorrow) was due to pPROM.
He is making progress, but is soooo lazy, sleepy and hardle wants to wake to feed. He is getting close to taking all feeds orally, but it is only with a lot of patience and persevernce.
I wish you luck, I can tell you it does get better, I have notice HUGE improvements, but he is still not there...[[HUGS]] I get it!
My DS was born at 33 weeks and spent about 4 weeks in the NICU as well. We had a rough time as well, and it's so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when you're spending all day, every day, in the NICU. It does get better, ever so slowly, and before you know it he'll be one of the "boring" babies in there.
Know that you may always be sad for not having that "normal" delivery and getting to take your LO home right away. It still makes me sad, and angry, and jealous, when I see new moms with their itty bitties all happy and naive. It's a feeling that most preemie moms have, and only those who have gone through it can understand. We're always here for you when you need to vent or cry, and on that special day that you will remember for the rest of your life--when you finally get to bring your LO home!
Congratulations on your ds! I promise it does get better! Those first few weeks are so scary....but you'll be shocked how quickly that fades once your little guy is home with you. Ds was born at 33 w and weighed 4 lbs 2 oz. He's now almost 18 months and is so happy and healthy and strong....you would NEVER know he's been premature unless I told you. In the hospital there always seemed to be setbacks, but once we got home he really thrived because of our love for him and our constant attention. He also had reflux (silent reflux where he didn't spit up much) and took Prevacid for it until he was 10 months old.
Congratulations again! Hope you get to bring him home soon.