Or, a very confused mama. I had my kids at the playground this afternoon, and another mom asked me how old they were. I told her, and to be polite asked how old her son was. She told me that he was 4, but "he was a preemie." So of course I said, "Oh, really? Mine too." She asked how early mine had been born and I said they were born at 25 weeks .She replied, "Oh, my son was born at 24 weeks." She then proceeded to tell me that he was over 4 lbs at birth and because he was so big "people compained" about him being in the NICU and she ended up just keeping him in her room until she went home 7 days later.
So at this point I'm like, "Wait? What?!?" So I asked again at what gestation he had been born and she said 24 weeks. I replied, "How is that even possible? Could he breathe? Eat?" She said, "Oh yeah, he could breathe. He was big. You just had to hold the bottle a certain way and stuff. He was big - it all depends, you know?" At which point I kind of ended the conversation, because it was getting awkward since I was all but grilling her at this point. I just really want to know if she was making stuff up, if she was mis-speaking and really meant 34 weeks (which I don't think she was since she said "24 weeks" many times, and in response to the fact that I had 25 weekers), or if she really had no idea how far along she really was. Bizarre.
Re: I met a preemie faker today
Took the words right out of my mouth!
I was thinking that too....
If she only knew how very real and very stressful having a preemie is....
Yeah, but didn't she start the preemie conversation? What a weirdo.....she must have been on some crazy diet to have a 4lb 24 weeker hahaha and home in a week?? My DD was 34 weeks and almost 4lbs and we were still in for longer than that. How odd.
FAQ: My Friend Just Had a Preemie, How Can I Help?
Total faker and one upper (who is clueless cause why else would you claim your 4lb baby was a 24 weeker).
I had a one upper in the NICU! Mom of a baby who was next to Kevin for 2 days tried to tell me how her baby was on life support. Uhm, yeah. I realize Kevito looks like a normal baby now (he was on high flow at the time and around 6lbs) but don't go comparing your baby to mine without knowing the history.
The first time I saw my hairdresser after E was born he told me a similar story - that his son was born at 6m and weighed 6lbs. Wha??
At the end of the appt he also told me that he hoped I'd be in a better mood next time because he missed the "fun" me. Yeah, that was the last time I saw him.
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Yeah, the other woman started the preemie converstaion. She asked how old my kids were and I said "21 months", which is their actual age. I asked how old her son was and she said "He's 4, but he was a preemie." I'm at the point now that I really don't mention the fact that Charlie and Lily were preemies unless it comes up somehow. And I certainly don't plan to be bringing it up to strangers when they're 4!
People are idiots. I get this comment all the time too.
Owen Matthew 11/1/2009 4lbs 10oz 16.5in
Born 5 weeks early by C/S | Severe Pre-Eclampsia
BFP #2 5/1/2011 | M/C @ 7 weeks | D&C 5/25/2011
TTC #2 | HSG Clear | SA 2% Morph otherwise great
3 failed Femara/TI cycles moving on to IUI
I was incredibly blessed to have an overall healthy 32w. I can't imagine what a mom with an even smaller preemie must have gone thru. That being said, I'm furious with people who don't understand what it means to have a preemie and exaggerate to garner attention.
Strangers constantly comment on how small our daughter is (she's 20th percentile for her actual age). When I feel pressured, I mention that she was premature and I'm shocked at how many people mention their children were premature as well. Then in the course of the conversation I hear, "yea, he was born at 39 weeks and ONLY 7 and a 1/2 pounds."
What is wrong with these people!?
1998 Ovarian Cancer Survivor. 7 Miscarriages: 6w, 13w2d, 4w2d, 7w4d (DD's twin), 5w. Failed Tubal after c/s (!!): 5w2d, 6w4d
This is interesting and I have a similar experience. My nanny, who I adore, claims to have had her baby at 27 weeks weighing 6lbs. She said she had pre-e with both her girls and that is why they were preemie, but she also had GD to make them very big. But then she said she only needed to be in the NICU one week. This doesn't add up right?! GD doesn't make the baby's lungs more mature or them know how to eat this early on, correct?! English is her second language so I try not to let this story bother me and pretend some things have gotten lost in translation!