24-26 week preemie mamas

Denesdia · March 2011

I've noticed a recent arrival of lots of very early little babies lately. I just wanted to start a little post to share our stories of hope. I went into labor with DD, Zoey, at 24 weeks and 5 days, and we made it on the Mag until 25 weeks and 2 days when she arrived. We survived her journey with a PDA with surgical ligation, PVL, NEC, ostomy/ostomy reversal, ROP, and multiple bouts with every therapy known to man. The 96 days in the NICU were the longest of my whole life and I really believe made me a new person. My little wonder turned 2 in January. We are only dealing with her being a little person not gaining much weight, and some speech delays. Have faith, ladies! Please share happy stories here...

JakesBride07 · March 2011

Thank you for sharing this. It is such a comfort to know that there is hope. And I know in my heart that one day I will have a happy ending to share too.

beyoga · March 2011

Thanks for sharing. I gave birth at 24 weeks in October to my ds. He spent 4 1/2 months in the nicu. He had Grade 3 IVH that stabilized, ROP, pyloric stenosis, a malrotation of the intestines, and had to get a g tube as he wasn't really taking a bottle. We've been home for 2 weeks. I am so glad to have my little man home but hope that he can take solid foods eventually.

Cara03 · March 2011

Great idea, Denesdia!

I was admitted to the hospital at 23w3d with incompetant cervix and lasted on strict hospital bedrest until my water broke at 24w5d which prompted an emergency c-section. LO was 1 pound, 14 ounces and had a 98 day NICU stay with PDA with surgical ligation, 8 weeks on the ventilator, & several suspected infections & antibiotic treatments. Amazingly he avoided the hurdles of NEC, ROP, & brain bleeds. He was on home oxygen for another 4 months. Our little miracle man, as we've come to call him, is 15 months now and our lasting effects of prematurity are very minor compared to what could have been: gross motor delays, speech delays, reflux, and a minor VSD. I am learning that our teeny, tiny preemies really can grow into amazing little people and fill our lives up with so much joy.

To current NICU families: Hang in there. This is so, so tough, but I've finally realized how much better of a person I've become by going through this journey, and the happiness that my LO brings to our family is indescribable. We pray for NICU & preemie families every day.

irishdo · March 2011

I had my twins at 24.6 weeks in July. Unfortunately, my daughter's lungs were just too immature and she passed at 3 days. My son, however is doing well. He spent 111 days in the NICU and came home without O2 or monitors! His main issues were A grade IV IVH on his right side and Stage III ROP which was sucessfully lasered. He is now almost 8 mo (next Mon) and 4 adjusted. He is eating pretty well and 15-16 pounds. He has some weakness on his left side that we are working with OT/PT on, but he started rolling over this weekend and has found his voice very loudly. HE started daycare last week and so far so good!

Kate621 · March 2011

Great idea Denesdia!

I was admitted to the hospital at 24 weeks 5 days for a suspected placental abruption. I made it to 25 weeks 6 days on strict hospital bedrest before Jack was born weighing 1lb 13.9oz. He had a bowel perforation that required emergency surgery at a week old, a staph infection, an aquired CMV infection, hydronephrosis, cholestatic jaundice, an inguinal hernia and spent 121 days in the NICU. He was discharged without oxygen and now weighs 14 lbs at 7 months old. So far is is developing right on track for us adjusted age.

witt0198 · March 2011

I unexpectedly went into PTL, now believed to be caused by an incompetent cervix at 24 weeks. I made it 4 1/2 days on bedrest with mag, and niphedipine, and he was born at 1lb 10oz. Evan had a pulmonary hemorrhage, PDA, dilated renal pelvis with stage 2-3 urinary reflux (unrelated to prematurity), an inguinal hernia, and CLD. He came home on oxygen, caffiene, and a montior at 5lbs 10oz. Later he battled severe reflux/vomiting that lead to FTT, refusal to eat by mouth and a g-tube. We found out corn syrup products and too much pasteurized dairy fats were the main culprit for upsetting his stomach. We pulled his feeding tube march 10,2010, he was officially discharged from early intervention services last month as he no longer qualifies because he's average to advanced in everything for his actual age. He had been recieving services for gross motor delays, feeding problems, and he had some trouble "feeling comfortable in space".

mrsmurano · March 2011

Thanks for this post, reading all these positive outcomes really gives me hope. I had our DD on the 21st of Feb at 26w1d, after 21 days bedrest due to PPROM. She's doing well in the NICU but I know we need to stay strong and faithful as it'll be a long road.

Kiki11 · March 2011

This is a great idea. I was always looking for success stories while our little guy was struggling in the nicu. I went into labor at 25 w2d due to a massive subchorionic hematoma that had really irritated the placenta. I arrived at the hospital around 11am and he was born by emergency c sec at 1:23pm. Scariest day of my life. He spent 118 days in the NICU which included 8 weeks on a ventilator, 2 surgeries (laser treatment for ROP and hernia repair). We had several suspected infections due to episodes where he would drop his blood pressure extremely low. We almost lost him because of this. He had pneumonia at 6 weeks old, but fortunately recovered quickly. He came home in December on oxygen and he is a peanut (just over 10 lbs at 3.5 mo adjusted) but otherwise he is doing amazing. We never take anything for granted. We are grateful for him every minute of every day. Hang in there, current nicu moms!

njkaren · March 2011

Brandon was born at 26 weeks, 1 day after I had Pprom with his twin sister at 19 1/2 weeks and delivered her at 20 1/2 weeks. He had several infections in the NICU, blood transfusions, a PDA that closed with medicine, reflux, and ROP which resolved on its own. Brandon came home from the NICU after 12 weeks, 2 weeks before his due date. He will be 3 in July and is doing great. He has been receiving early intervention for speech and has really had a language explosion over the past few months.

lemen99 · March 2011

I went into the hospital at 24w2d with IC, was told I would deliver in 1-2 days at most and I didn't until 26w2d. Andrew had a difficult start to his NICU stay (no surgery but did have other challenges, most notably a pneumothorax and collapsed lung, and level 2 and level 4 brain IVH. He also had 2 blood transfusions). Andrew spent 17 weeks (117 days) in the NICU and turned 2 yrs in December. He came home without oxygen or a heart monitor, he only needed reflux medication.

He is doing great. His concerns to date have been speech related and some delays in gross/fine motor, but he is running around have fun. He has been in speech therapy for 4 months and has started to talk this month and has gone from 2 words to 7 words. He started OT for feeding 4 months ago (coinciding with ear tubes & an adenoidectomy) and now eats almost anything. His immune system is slightly below average still but they still expect that it'll catch up. His only other ongoings are reflux and delayed gastric emptying, which are treated with meds and he doesn't have an issue gaining weight. He also has an umbilical hernia still, but I don't know that it's preemie-related (?) and doesn't hurt anything.

2BWEDN2007 · March 2011

I was hospitalized on bed rest at 23w6d with a cervix measuring 1.8 cm and a fingertip dilated. Since I was past 20 weeks I could not have a cerclage. I went into labor at 24w5d and they were unable to stop my labor with mag because I was already 5 cm dilated and my bag of water was poking through by the time they checked me (I had only had 3 contractions in 1 hr and 45 min and was already that far along)!!!

Jacob was born at 24w5d weighing 1 lb 7 oz and 11.5 inches long. He spent 116 days in the NICU (came home on day 117) weighing 7 lb 9 oz. He came home with NO medications, NO monitors and NO oxygen! My little miracle boy.

We had to deal with a PDA, jaundice, ROP with laser eye surgery, one bout of Pneumonia, BPD/CLD, anemia, multiple blood transfusions, Rickets, a VSD and Hydronephrosis to name a few. Those were the most serious conditions we faced. We were VERY fortunate to have his PDA close with meds and avoid the NEC and IVH's that so many 24 weekers have to deal with. I believe the fact that he was born via emergency c-section helped with the brain bleeds.

Jacob will be three on the 23rd of this month and is being discharged from the EI program next Friday! He is starting preschool at the end of the month and will receive therapy from a speech language pathologist. Other than his speech delay and the fact that he is a peanut size-wise he is perfect!

Good luck to all the current preemie Mamas! If someone had told my blubbering, incoherent self three years ago how unbelievable my son would be doing I would have never believed them. They told me at his gestation we had a 39-50% chance of survival and we were probably looking at severe physical and mental disabilities and a CP diagnosis. He beat all the odds!

ETA: I had the steroid shots!!! They saved his life and I highly recommend that all Moms in danger of delivering prematurely DEMAND them immediately! Better to be safe than sorry.

msalinardi@live.com · March 2011

I developed severe and very sudden Pre-e at week 24 with DD. I managed to keep her in for exactly 2 weeks with the help of mag and I was able to get the steroid shots. Angelina was born weighing 1lb 4ozs and she was a fighter from the start. She had multiple suspected infections, a PDA that was closed with ibuprofen, BPD/CDL, 6 weeks on the vent, numerous blood transfusions, ROP that resolved on its own, and pneumonia that almost took her from us. After spending 16 weeks in the NICU she was able to come home without O2 or monitors. She is almost 2 now and she is doing great. Her doctor usually forgets that she was a preemie. Her only issues are her small size and a speech delay.

I wish you luck, whoever is riding the NICU roller coaster right now. I hope your LO will be home and in your arms ASAP!

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