Introduction from the mom of a 26 weeker
Hi ladies! I'm not sure if this board usually does intros, but I feel like I should introduce myself and tell a bit of my story before posting. I've been lurking for awhile, but I finally feel like I'm emotionally ready to become a poster.
My original due date for our little boy was April 30th. On January 25th, while on a business trip 300 miles from home, I went to the ER with what I thought were just Braxton Hicks contractions. I was so sure that I was going to be sent home from the hospital that I drove myself there. I showed up at 10p, and my son was born at 11:38p. I was 26w3d along (confirmed with charing and a dating ultrasound).
My son was born at 2lbs and 8oz, which was huge for his gestational age (97th percentile). He was in the NICU for 10 weeks and was released on April 6th. He's now 7lbs 7oz, and he's doing great! He's still on an apnea monitor, and he's on oxygen only with his feedings. He goes into the doctor on 5/5, and we expect that the monitor and oxygen will be discontinued then.
Other than having to live in a hotel room far from home for 10 weeks (and all of the logistical nightmares associated with that), we actually had an incredibly easy NICU stay. Our little guy was only on the vent for a day or so, and we were fortunate enough to avoid any of the complications usually associated with a micropreemie. He's done great developmentally, and we've always been incredibly grateful for how things have gone.
Emotionally, we're doing okay. My husband wasn't there to see our son born, and he spent the entire 5 hour drive down to the hospital convinced that our son had died. It has taken him awhile to get over that. As for me, I've done pretty well. Dealing with the logistics of living in a strange city kept me busy at the beginning, which helped. The biggest emotions I feel are grieving the sudden end of my pregnancy and jealousy of women who have had healthy, full-term pregnancies.
I look forward to getting to know all of you! And, I hope my experience proves to be helpful for others who post here.
Re: Introduction from the mom of a 26 weeker
Welcome and congratulations on your baby! I'm so sorry for your stressful beginning but glad to hear that your little one is doing so well! My LO was a late-term preemie but it sounds to me that all of your feelings are very common and expected in preemie-moms. I know there are lots of people on this board who can commiserate.
WElcome again!