::katie4253::

lilstar2009

I noticed that your LO was born around the same gestational age as mine (mine was 30 weeks and 4 days) and with placental insufficiency as well...how long did it take him to get home from the NICU?  Just wondering..mine is going on week 6 and mama's getting antsy...

katie4253

He was in for 5 weeks and 6 days.  He had a couple of good things going for him though.  He was IUGR and that stresses them a lot and forces their lungs to develop.  Also, I had my steroid shots and he had plenty of time to get them in his system to mature his lungs.  He never had to have respiratory support.  He also always gained weight (there were only 3 days in the entire stay that he lost weight). 

Not sure what the circumstances were of your delivery.  Is your LO bottle or breast feeding?  I know that if I would have breast fed, he would have been in the hospital about 2 weeks longer because we would have had to master that. 

lilstar2009

My LO also has had no resp support since his birth and I had three doses of steroids that helped him as well.  He is having trouble gaining weight and regulating his temp.  Basically, he was early because of placental insufficiency and IUGR and preterm labor.  LO is taking a bottle with my breastmilk + HMF.  Thanks for responding so quickly! 

katie4253

lilstar2009:

My LO also has had no resp support since his birth and I had three doses of steroids that helped him as well.  He is having trouble gaining weight and regulating his temp.  Basically, he was early because of placental insufficiency and IUGR and preterm labor.  LO is taking a bottle with my breastmilk + HMF.  Thanks for responding so quickly! 

What HMF calorie are you on?  22 or 24?  If you are only on 22cal then I'd ask for 24.  That might help.  Also, maybe page Damabo on the preemie board.  They had her doing 26 cal with neosure fortification.  Her LO really gained well on that.  

lilstar2009

We are on HMF 24 calorie, he seemed to have hit 3 lbs and 8 ounces and got stuck for 3 days which scared us a bit but then the next day he went up to 3 lbs 11 ounces.  The doctors said soon he will be able to come outta the isolette, maybe this week!  Yay!  I keep saying when he comes outta the darn isolette, the nurses are gonna get so tired of seeing me because I will be in the NICU all the time holding LO (right now we try to limit his outta isolette time to an hour ...)  Thank you so much for your help and advice!