Gave birth last night

beyoga · October 2010

I went into labor and gave birth at 24 weeks last night. A few minutes before midnight. I had a 1 lb 8 oz baby boy. His name is Reid and he is in he nicu and stable. Fortunately I am able to pump and have already begun pumping colostrum. Any stories you can share would be appreciated.

*BlackSheep* · October 2010

T&P to you and your lo Reid. I'm glad he's stable right now. Hope everything turns out good.

alli&pat · October 2010

many thoughts and prayers for you and reid! i hope he continues to be stable and strong so that he can come home ASAP!

laura&dan05 · October 2010

Oh my goodness! I'm so glad to hear Reid is stable and I hope you are doing as well as can be expected. I'm sure you have a little fighter and I hope he continues to do well in the NICU. I will keep your family and sweet boy in my thoughts! Please keep us updated on his progress when you have time.

zarmalar · October 2010

im so glad he is stable and you are doing well, my friend gave birth very early as wlel and i now how stressful it can be. i hope all goes well for you and reid.

PonyMaid · October 2010

I don't have a story for you but I will be thinking of you both and praying for your family and little Reid!

Lucky_Dragonfly · October 2010

Congrats on the baby boy, and that he is doing so well. I am sure that he is getting the best care possible and before you know it he will be coming home with you. Try to stay positive on everything and enjoy being with your baby. Sending good thoughts to you.

rosesandpeonies · October 2010

I am so happy that he is doing well, and he is stable. He sounds like quite the fighter! Thoughts and prayers for you for his continued good health! Congratulations on your baby boy, and I love the name. There are many positive stories on the preemie board and the women over there seem very, very comforting and helpful.

adriasf · October 2010

I have a friend who gave birth around the same time as you. Her LO had to stay in the NICU for a while, but she is now a happy and healthy one year old. Stay strong! I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.

ramzgurl · October 2010

My thoughts and prayers to you and baby Reid! I'm sorry I have no advise or stories to share only well wishes that you both are able to stay strong and recover easily.

On a lighter note, congratulations on being a Mommy!

gwenypher7 · October 2010

Congratulations on the birth of your son, although I know this wasn't the timing you'd hoped for or expected. There are several women who have had very early preemies over on the preemie board. They have so many awesome success stories! It really is a supportive community over there. The biggest things I would mention right now is to not feel guilty when you have to leave baby Reid in the hopital after you're discharged. It is the best place for him and those nicu nurses work there because they ADORE tiny babies. They let you call anytime, day or night, so take advantage of that when you feel sad. Also, when people would ask us what we needed, I was always too shy to ask for anything. Your relatives and friends want to help you, but don't know how. One of the best things we received were local gift cards to restaurants so we could eat near the hospital while we were visiting DD. Lots of prayers going out to your family. Grow, baby Reid, grow!

citychicks · October 2010

I don't have any stories, but you and your family will be in my toughts and prayers. Best wishes for you and Reid.

IncogNeato · October 2010

I'm so glad he's stable! You'll be in my thoughts! Grow strong, little one!

DR&RN04 · October 2010

first of all, congrats on being a Mom!

I'll tell you what I told all the new moms I saw when I was a neonatal RN: Ask questions. Lots of them. Even if you've asked it before, do not hesitate to ask again. Medical and nursing staff speak their own language, and sometimes forget that parents don't necessarily understand what any of it means.

There will be good days, and not so good days. It is an emotional rollercoaster, and I encourage you to use the staff as support. They also may have a parenting group for parents w/ kids on the unit (as well as babies who have "graduated" from the NICU, and are at home and healthy) for support.

The NICU can be an intimidating place. Wires, monitors, machines, alarms, all connected to your precious little one. You'll become familiar with them in time, but don't hesitate to ask about them. That said, it is not uncommon for parents to fixate on them (I did it too when I was in labor, and actually had them silence the heartrate monitor in my L&D room). When you're on the unit, visit with your baby, not the monitors. On a similar note, as soon as they give the ok, hold your baby. Kangaroo with him, and encourage his dad to do so as well. It is amazing to see how settled preemies are when they are doing skin to skin with their mom and dad.

And even though he's here really early, and you can't be with him 24/7, YOU know your baby best. Not the nurses, not the doctors, YOU. If something seems off, he seems uncomfortable, speak up. There is something to be said for a mother's intuition.

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your little guy.

6fsn · October 2010

Many prayers for Reid, you and your family.

RileyGrace · October 2010

T&P to you and Reid.

DHs friend gave birth at 25 weeks for unknown reasons and her daughter is now a healthy 7yr old. She did spend many months in the NICU, but is perfectly healthy now.

Jenniferk08 · October 2010

Congrats on your little boy and I will keep him in my thoughts and prayers that he continues to get strong.

musicteacher84 · October 2010

Congrats on your new baby

Also many thoughts & prayers to you & your family during this time. Be strong & I hope the best for your little one! Keep the faith

JReeds9 · October 2010

T&P's for you and your LO. Glad to hear he is stable & doing well

kensbride08 · October 2010

Oh wow! T&P are with you and your family today!

jenbowman · October 2010

Glad he is stable and you are doing well! Thoughts and prayers are with you all!

LadyXaverian · October 2010

Just sending thoughts and prayers for you, Reid, and your whole family.

spursgirl10 · October 2010

Stay strong and my thoughts and prayers are going your way. Sounds like you have a little fighter.

kiley&matt · October 2010

Congrats on the baby! I know it's stressful, a friend of mine delivered right around 24 weeks, also, and her baby girl was in NICU for about a month and then she got to take her home. She's now almost a year and she's perfectly healthy. All you can do right now is pray. I'm sure a year from now you'll be looking back on this thrilled by how happy and wonderful your baby boy turns out to be.

nursemarie925 · October 2010

My sister delivered her son when she was 24 weeks. He was 486 grams. He spent the next five months in the NICU. It was a very difficult time for her, but she found some very good books that allowed her to understand what was going on and to be very active in his care. He was finally able to go home, but he did go home on oxygen. This was a year and a half ago. He is now completely healthy, he is still smaller than a typical baby. He is 18 months old, and just grauated to wearing 9 month clothes. This is the only noticable difference in him.

I definitely will send prayers up for the hard road ahead. Just wanted to share a story of "success" for a baby that wouldn't even be considered a micro-preemie.

SunDrop11 · October 2010

Praying for you, Reid, and your family.

Know and be comforted in the fact that he is getting the best care in the NICU. I have a friend who is a NICU nurse and she is so passionate about her job. Those doctors and nurses work there for a reason, and they will be doing all they can for your son!

had720 · October 2010

You and Reid will be in my prayers.

JessiRaye · October 2010

Love the name Reid. I am so happy to hear he is stable. Hang in there. My cousin's baby was born at 25 weeks. She is now 6 years old!!!! T&Ps for you and baby!

Hyfagal · October 2010

Congrats on the new baby. Sorry that you have to struggle with the unknown before bringing him home.

~adamwife~ · October 2010

Congratulations! Prayers for you and your little angel.

stahlop · October 2010

T & P to you. My cousin was born at 25 weeks and was 1lb 12oz and now she is a healthy 10-year-old girl. She struggled at first, but she was a fighter. I'm sure your Reid will be too.

ang.ela23 · October 2010

my thoughts and prayers are with you and your sweet baby Reid. i hope everything turns out good.

genaruthp · October 2010

I am glad he is stable and you are doing as well as you can. I send some T&P to both of you. Take care!

bikernun · October 2010

You and your little one will be in my prayers.

Tcarrol12 · October 2010

Im so excited for you that you get to hold you LO. This is not the situation im sure you expected it to be in but all happens for a reason. Im sure your not in a great state of mind but you do sound very good for what its worth. Staying pos. for you and your LO is the best thing you can do! GL to your LO I have a feeling everything will be fine though!!

percylover22 · October 2010

Thoughts and prayers to your family and your precious baby boy.

KeyRyn320 · October 2010

A good friend of mine had her son around 25 weeks and another had her daughter around 30 weeks and both children are now thriving toddlers, so please know there are plenty of success stories. Sounds like little Reid is a fighter and he's in good hands. I pray for everyone's continued strength during this difficult time.