My IUGR Preemie will be here tomorrow

elisbu · April 2011

Just found out today that LO is IUGR. She's in the 5th percentile and has cord restriction. C-section is tomorrow at 12:30.

I am 35 W 2 D and she is estimated at 4 lbs 3 oz.

Any advice on what I can expect? NICU stay? BF? My head is spinning. Thank You.

luvdv8 · April 2011

DD was born at 34w5d- she's doing great today and I'm sure your LO will too. Try not to get too far ahead of yourself, every baby and every situation is different, and until LO is here there's no way to know what challenges they will/won't face. Given her size I'd say you have a NICU stay ahead of you, but what it will entail just depends on your LO. Right now, just focus on the fact that you're doing what's best for LO and that the days ahead will be about figuring out what you need to do for her.

GL mamma- I hope you have a speedy recovery and LO comes out fighting!

hjbarra · April 2011

DD was delivered via emergency section at 36 weeks for IUGR. She was in the 3rd percentile and is doing well now. We were very blessed and had no complications, other than being tiny (for a 36 weeker), surrounding her birth. She has had some developmental delays, but is hitting important milestones in her own time. GL. Enjoy her tiny-ness while it lasts because she'll get too big too soon.

Also, I had concerns about rushing to an early delivery based on an estimated ultrasound measurement, but the doctor's measurements were right on.

Keep us updated!

kck329 · April 2011

Hi May Momma! My May baby decided to become a March baby for IC not IUGR but here are somethings I've learned during my NICU stay:

-- Get to know the nurses who care for your baby, when you find one you particularly like ask them to be your baby's primary nurse so you have consistant care that you trust. You can have several primaries.

--Don't be afraid to speak up. Ask questions, learn about why the doctors are making decisions, give the information about your baby that you think they are missing. If you can be with your baby during daily rounds, you will learn a lot. If you miss rounds, request that the doctor or nurse practitioner talk to you daily about your baby's care.

--Being at the bedside is important as you are the most consistent person on your baby's care team. You also love your baby more than the doctors ever can and will notice things they miss. That said, you need to take care of yourself too. You will be recovering from surgery and NICU stays are exhausting. Its the most horrible feeling in the world, but it is ok to leave the NICU and get some sleep, get a haircut, finish the nursery, etc. Your baby will be in good hands.

--Talk to the other moms around you, no one knows what its like to have a preemie like other preemie moms.

--I know you are worried about when you get to hold your LO. When you are recovered from surgery, you can go to the NICU (my surgery was at 2 pm, I was at her bedside by midnight). Ask about when you can start kangaroo care, it will be sooner than you think.

Good luck! I hope your delivery goes well tomorrow and your NICU stay is short. PM me or page me here or on the May board if you need to vent/talk/etc.

mrsbnlmel · April 2011

DS was born at 35 wks 3 days and was 4lbs 10oz at birth. So about what you are facing. We were never diagnosed IUGR and were surprised when he was over a pound under the estimate from our last ultrasound.

His apgars were very rocky but after that he did so well. We spent a week in the NICU. He never needed assistance with breathing. He took all his feeds from the (breast once a day) or bottle. He really just had to learn to regulate his temp and finish a feed without getting to exhausted.

He had bad jaundice and had to spend almost 3 days under billi lamps, but in the scheme of things it was as good as we could have ask for.

Breastfeeding will likely be complicated. You will probably have to supplement with a milk fortifier to help with weight gain. Your baby will probably tire very quickly at the breast, but don't lose hope. I ended up nursing until 14 months even with a very difficult start.

I know how scary it is, but it really is true that 35 weekers do really, really well. I wish you the best of luck!

elisbu · April 2011

Thank you Girls. Your stories and advice really do help calm my fears a bit.

I will keep y'all posted in the next day or so.
More and more May Mamas moving over this way, aren't there??

wannabealewis · April 2011

I am also having my IUGR baby tomorrow but mine is expected to weight less than 3 lbs. Good luck with everything tomorrow. I will be asking the Dr. all of my questions today.

elisbu · April 2011

wannabealewis:
I am also having my IUGR baby tomorrow but mine is expected to weight less than 3 lbs. Good luck with everything tomorrow. I will be asking the Dr. all of my questions today.

Good Luck, I am sending lots of prayers your way!! We'll have lots in common over the next few weeks I'm sure, I will keep an eye out for your updates.

SWR&MSM · April 2011

I've had 2 IUGR babies. The first was born at 37 weeks weighing 4lbs 12ozs. We had no complications and she came right home with me...just tiny. My second girl was born at 34 weeks weighing 2lbs 12ozs. She spent 23 days in the NICU as a feeder/grower. No problems breathing or anything else. My advice is to just take it one day at a time, listen to your gut and don't be afraid to speak up. If I started thinking too far ahead I would start to freak out. I found the nurses to be very supportive and informative. Good Luck and Enjoy your little one!

jess143hanna · April 2011

I'm a little late to the game,but I just had an IUGR baby. He was born at 34 weeks 5 days and weighed 4.7 lbs. he was estimated at 4.1 lbs. We had an uneventful 5 day NICU stay. If you're going to BF then pump, pump, pump! It's scary and overwhelming, but it all works out for the best. Good luck and lots of T & P!

msalinardi@live.com · April 2011

Sometimes, especially when you are having a later term preemie, whether or not you end up in the NICU depends on the hospitals policies and if your LO really needs it. My DS was born at 35weeks 2days and was 4lb13oz. He was able to come home with me and roomed in as well. Now if he had been born 3 days earlier, at 34 weeks 6days, our hospital would have required him to have NICU time, regardless of how well he was doing. They do send home babies that small, but again it really depends on your hospital's policies on that. Some hospitals want to keep your LO's until they are a little bigger. As for BF, if you get to room in with him, start right away and request a pump and a visit from a lactation specialist. It is a littl emore difficult for our babies to latch, so the lactation specialist can help. Remember, you are your child's advocate, so if you have any concerns that you feel aren't being met or understood, ask to speak to a supervisor. Good luck!

theprincessPAT · April 2011

It always hurts my heart to see my fellow PgAL/PAL bumpies over here. I hope everything goes well with your c-section today. I'll definitely be praying for you and your LO. Please keep us updated.

IncogNeato · April 2011

No advice but GL! BFing can be hard with a sleepy preemie but it can often be done!

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