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Preemies
marrymemylove
member
Can I ask a Q even though I don't like the term preemies?
marrymemylove
member
in Preemies
We're facing likely premmie twins, they say unless they find a membrane (which is possible) they'll want to deliver around 32-34 weeks, sooner if they have cord compression.
How bad is that? What kinds of problems are likely for bubs born around 32-34 weeks? Are twins different as they could be smaller than a singleton?
Oh and the preemie thing. Its just that I do not say PREmature I say PREMature, I think PREmature must be American :-) So I say PREMmies, not PREEmies. Preemies sounds very weird to me, like a caricature with a Tennessee accent or something, but I'll try to get used to it for the purposes of t he board :-) Please try not to be offended that I don't like the term.
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Re: Can I ask a Q even though I don't like the term preemies?
Where are you? Is there a slang term for preemies where you live?
I really hope they find a membrane. Have you visited the multiples board? There are several mo-mo twin moms there, and there are many, many more whose doctors didn't find a membrane until later in the pregnancy. You're still pretty early on. At 7 weeks my doctors didn't even see my 2nd baby!
My guys were 30 weekers. They were monochorionic diamniotic (monodi), and there was a large growth discordance between them. The larger of the 2 was ventilated for about a day and completely off oxygen within a week. The smaller baby was on a ventilator for 3 or 4 days, and on oxygen in a nasal cannula for 6 weeks. Other than their oxygen needs, they had uneventful stays in the NICU, where we were just waiting for them to get big and strong enough to eat from bottles. The bigger guy was in the hospital 6 weeks, the smaller guy 9 weeks. They're almost 18 months now, totally healthy, walking and talking.
My son was born at 32 weeks and spent 27 days in the NICU. His health issues were quite minimal. He was ventilated for less than 24 hours and spent most of his NICU time learning how to feed from a bottle. They considered him a "feeder/grower". At 32 weeks, their organs are essentially fully developed and from 32-40 weeks is just their fattening up period. Alot of preemies have issues with reflux, but it can be controlled with meds.
Simon just turned 4 months (2 months adjusted) and he has caught up to normal 4 month-olds. Some of his developmental milestones are appropriate for a 4 monther and some are still more like a 2 monther. But for all intensive purposes, he is a normal baby.
I don't know if things are different for twins. I hope all goes well for you and your little ones.
I think it depends on a lot of factors. We'd been told repeatedly that girls do much better than boys, and that twins do better than singletons. Obviously that's such a general, sweeping statement that doesn't necessarily hold true for everyone.
When I first faced preterm labor, we were sure to meet with our hospital's neonatologist. She was extremely helpful in explaining what to expect at the time (26 weeks) and how things would change as more weeks passed. Every additional day is truly a milestone to celebrate.
28 weeks was the first HUGE milestone to hit, then 32, then 34. I imagine that if you know you will be having them early, then you will likely get the steroid shot for lung development.
Please know that week of arrival and/or size of your babies doesn't necessarily put them into a category of how well they will do. Our littler one was around 3 1/2 lbs (had cord blood flow issues), and all they could find "wrong" with her was her size. She spent one night only in the NICU for monitoring. Both babies came home with me when I was released from the hospital!
Best wishes for a healthy pregnancy!
I had my twins at 32w4days. They spent 18 days in the NICU, 3 on CPAP, 2-3 under billi lights, about a week on IV's for antibiotics and for nutrition and then they needed to coordinate the suck, swallow, breathe thing.
It is very common to not find a dividing membrane at the stage that you are at right now. Many people don't find it until much later on. Good luck! Why don't you join us on the multiples board?
Katie was born at 34 weeks. She was in the hospital for 10 days, but she didn't have any major issues. She had to resuscitated at birth, but was fine afterwards (I think that the magnesium I was on caused the problem). Learning to eat took a few days, and we did have major latch issues with BF. She was late on some early milestones but was caught up by her first birthday.
I was diagnosed Momo, like yourself, and they found a membrane at 17 weeks. It is very likely that they will find one for you too- I truly hope they do.
That said, you should check out www.monoamniotic.org- the people there are very helpful as they've been through the range of emotions that you must be feeling.
My guys were born at 32w6d and are doing great. Very minimal complications at birth and the only lingering issues are some reflux & a slight heart murmur.
Good luck to you.
Thanks so much!I have checked in on multiples board as well - and Mrs Mezzy I sent you a PM!
You've all given me a lot more hope than I was getting from the evil google. Bleeeech at google.
Thanks for the link to monoamniotic.org I will check that out too.
I am hopeful they'll find a membrane, but still want to be a bit prepared.
BTW in answer to the first reply - yes the slang here is Premmie (1x e, 2x m). It was just a joke on my part, doesn't matter what the term is, I just can't get used to the sound of preemie with 2x e.
Thanks so much! Hopefully they are mo-di in the end, and hopefully we can get to 34 weeks plus.