We are adopting a little girl who was born at 34 weeks

cole'swishes · April 2011

Here is what were given by the social worker...

* Girl

* Breathing on her own

* Has an NG tube

* Has low blood sugar today but tonight it was fine

Any advice on how long she will be in the NICU? I know it can vary. Any suggestions? What should we expect?

Thank you!

threadless · April 2011

First of all - congratulations! So exciting! My baby girl was born at 34 weeks and is now an adorable almost 4 month old.

Do you happen to know why she was born early? That sometimes has an impact on NICU stay. An IUGR baby will probably be in longer to deal with possible feeding problems and low birth weight. The fact that she is breathing on her own is great! My girl was never in the NICU, but was in the special care nursery for 5 days and then my hospital room for 2. We were both out of the hospital a week later. You are right, it really does vary. But my guess would be that at the most she will be there until she would have been full term (about 37-38 weeks). Rough to tell. BUT, you are getting an awesome baby girl! Again, congratulations!

chickaboo1974 · April 2011

My guys were born at 34w 3d- breathing on their own and had a NG tube (they had to learn the suck/swallow/breathe reflex) They were in the NICU for 17 days- they started taking all their feedings by mouth at 13 days- so at day 15 they took out the NG tube. It sounds like she is doing well. My guys are healthy and meeting their actual age milestones.

Congrats on your baby girl!

urbanflowerpot · April 2011

Congratulations!! That's very exciting!

They told me to think in terms of his due date - and that's what I've put my mind on...if he comes home earlier that will be a nice surprise - and if he has to stay later for some reason I know he's receiving excellent care and NICU is the best place for him. Tristan turned 34 weeks yesterday (but 3 weeks old in the great, big world!).

Keep us posted!

ShannonSky · April 2011

Congrats! DD was born at 33w6d due to pPROM. She was also in distress and IUGR. She came out crying, never needed breathing support, and spent most of her time as a feeder/grower. She did have to overcome jaundice, maintain her temp in an open air crib, and work up enough energy to take all her feeds by mouth, and then we went home. It took 16 days.

Leigh71 · April 2011

ShannonSky:
Congrats! DD was born at 33w6d due to pPROM. She was also in distress and IUGR. She came out crying, never needed breathing support, and spent most of her time as a feeder/grower. She did have to overcome jaundice, maintain her temp in an open air crib, and work up enough energy to take all her feeds by mouth, and then we went home. It took 16 days.

Congraulations! I am an adoptive mom as well. My girls were born at 32 weeks on the dot. The girls were also "feeder/growers'...needing to just grow and suck/swallow. But, our stay was longer.... 5 weeks. (37 days to be exact)

GL to you!

lemen99 · April 2011

Congrats! She will probably be home before her due date, my guess is 2-3 weeks!

lax15bsu · April 2011

My 35.5 weeker was in the special care nursery for one full week, mostly because he had an infection and fever when he was born. He was treated with IV antibiotics and was under the bili lights for two days to treat jaundice.

My SIL had a 34 weeker who was in the NICU for two full weeks. He was on the CPAP for about 12 hours and then breathing fine on his own ever since. He was just a feeder/grower, had to learn to take a bottle and keep his oxygen saturation up at the same time.

erikaja6 · April 2011

Congratulations! My son was born at 33 weeks and 3 days. He weighed 5 pounds and 4 ounces. He had jaundice and was under the bili lights for a couple of days. That was really his most serious issue. He went home after staying in the NICU for 11 days. Good luck!

schenkertobe · April 2011

Congratulations!!! My LO was earlier, born at 31weeks. But by the time he was 34 weeks, his only issue was feeding. From what you are saying, it sounds like she just needs to work on the suck/swallow/breathe coordination. Every baby is different. Some pick it up quickly, others are slower. Once she is able to eat all her feeds on her own they may just watch her for a few days to make sure she is still gaining weight, and then she may be able to go home. Hang in there!

cole'swishes · April 2011

Thank you, ladies. I appreciate all your help! I fly out tomorrow am to go meet her and am so nervous but oh so excited.

Thanks again!

Nicole

CBJmommy · April 2011

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! How very exciting!

From what i've seen being in the NICU (and from the other mommy friends I made while there) most of our preemies came home by 36/37 weeks (these were mostly feeder/growers). It sounds like you'll have a quick stay!

One of the mommies I met was also adopting her little girl who was born at 31 weeks! She was released 5 weeks later at just over 4lbs and is doing great!

Mamaof3Jade · April 2011

My Iris was a 34 weeker! She was in the NICU for 2 weeks. She was 5lbs 6 oz at birth, and was very healthy for her age. She needed a little bit of oxygen for the first few hours. She also needed an IV for about a week and a half. She was jaundiced and needed phototherapy for a couple days as well. Now she is 8 weeks (adjusted) and is thriving! She smiles, coos, and almost rolls over! Congrats on your baby girl! Im sure shell be just fine!

Kelly1109 · April 2011

Our LO was induced at 34w1d and she was in the NICU for 15 days - she just needed to grow and learn to eat on her own. Good luck!

kikijbunny · April 2011

I am eavesdropping because I'm wondering the same thing with my own preemie. He was born at 34w1d last Sunday and I have no idea how long he'll stay. The first estimate we were given, before he was born, was one week, but now it looks like he'll be there at least a second week, or until he reaches full term (three weeks).

Congrats on your little girl!

Baileysmommy2007 · April 2011

I was induced at 34 weeks on the dot. My daughter only had to stay 1 day longer than me (she was born Sunday came home Wednesday). She weighed 5lbs 15.3oz, breathing on her own, and eating on her own. The only reason she had to stay a day longer than i did was bc she had slight jaundice and had to spend a day under the light.

miesl · May 2011

I had mine at 33w4d. Both were great birth weights - 4lb15oz for her, 5lb4oz for him.

She was home at 36w1d adjusted, he didn't come home until 37w6d adjusted. He had problems with the suck/swallow/breathe coordination and having bradies while eating. That's why he ended up with a longer stay than she had.

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