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Preemies
silliestbunny
member
Best friends and sisters... 24 months and 16 months
Need some info on preemies
silliestbunny
member
in Preemies
Hi.... I didn't realize there was a preemie board!
We are adopting, and we just were presented a situation that involves a preemie. I don't know what questions to ask. Overall, it scares me a bit but I need more information.
Here's what I know.... baby was born at 33 weeks. 3 lbs 4 oz. Was intubated at birth but now on O2. Was born on Wednesday. Apgar was 1 at birth, 4 at 5 minutes, and 8 at 10 minutes. Cause of premature birth was placenta previa.
What questions should I ask so we can better assess the medical situation. I know it's very different in the adoption world... so I apologize if I seem insensitive as I try and get information.
Our pediatrician is on vacation so I am stuck trying to get my own information.
Thanks!
Best friends and sisters... 24 months and 16 monthsThis discussion has been closed.
Re: Need some info on preemies
Hi again.... just wanted to add... if all goes well with the adoption process, and you are spending time in the NICU with your little one, I highly recommend Kangaroo care. It's so great for the babies and great and rewarding for you too.
GL to you!
the NICU learning curve is pretty quick. basically, the NICU is there to get the baby to "term". usually they tell you that you're baby will go home around his or her due date, but in some cases it's less, in some cases it's more. my son was born at 32w6d (due to a previa as well) and came home 26 days later at about 36 weeks.
there are a ton of possibilities for what problems might come up in the NICU, but the big ones for that gestational age are going to be breathing, maintaining body temperature, and eating.
it sounds like the breathing is going well. the body temp will come with more weight.
the suck/swallow reflex should develop sometime within the next couple of weeks (although it took my son until about 35 weeks to get it figured out). this was our main problem. he was fed via a tube they inserted straight into his stomach (sometimes they go through the nose and just leave it in). he would try bottle or breast feeding a couple of times a day and we basically just waited till it clicked. which it did. all of a sudden, one day he just got it.
the baby will likely have a weakened immune system when they come home. most preemies have lung problems and colds tend to cause more extreme issues than it would for term babies. my son has an inhaler that we use at the first sign of coughing and it's been a huge help. RSV (a really bad baby cold) is especially dangerous for preemies and some are eligible for a monthly shot called synagis. it's expensive and insurance companies generally have strict rules about who gets it. a lot of preemie moms keep their little ones home during RSV season (fall to spring). our doctor didn't bring up that we keep him home and he went to daycare at 12 weeks.
we go to a NICU follow-up clinic to check for delays every 9 months or so, although at our hospital, 33 weeks is the cut off for that. he was delayed to his adjusted age until about a year and is caught up now.
i hope that helps, i know it's a lot of information. please feel free to ask if you have any questions!!!
You know, the thing about preemies is they're so different, even two born at the same gestation can be fighting completely different complications, and have a totally different road through NICU.
I think once you start asking questions more will come to you. There's a book I love to recommend to people, it's Preemies: The essential guide for parents of premature infants.
It's an awesome book. The only problem with the book is that some parts can scare people. If you do decide to read it, just remember that not every thing in there pertains to YOUR potential preemie.
The thing that seems to take the longest for all of the preemies I know of to get the hang of is eating. It's just a tough thing for them to do that suck, swallow, breathe bit. It was unbelievably hard to be patient with Evan as he learned it. It's usually the last thing they have to do before coming home, so you just want them to get it so bad so you can bring them home.
We talk about adjusted age on this board a lot, and it can be quite confusing at first. Basically, baby should have been in mom cooking another 2 months. Their gestational age right now is roughly 33 weeks, actual age 2 days. Adjusted age is basically continuing to consider their gestational age. Their age they should be had they stayed in till 40 weeks. It's mainly important for considering milestones and development. When my son was 4 months old he was 7lbs. Adjusted age was a newborn. He was doing newborn stuff, not 4 month old stuff.
I don't know of what questions to ask....I wish I could see this from your perspective, but I'm having a really hard time putting myself in your shoes and trying to think of what things you may want to know, but not realize.
As things come up, come on back here....this board is really supportive, and will help with the questions you have as best we can.
The only other thing that I would add - if you are wanting to assess the medical situation I would ask for results of a head ultrasound when it is done. It is normal for preemies to have a slight brain bleed (level 1), but as the brain bleed level goes up the risk of problems goes up. I wouldn't expect much of a bleed on a baby that gestational age though.
The NICU is mostly a world of watching and waiting . Things can change so much from day to day. Good luck and we are here if you need us.
Thanks so much!! I love that there's such a wealth of information "close by".
We are waiting to hear if the agency picks us to parent or chooses someone else. If we are chosen, I'll be back