Having a Preemie!

nvoyles82 · June 2012

Hello ladies! Due to having Vasa Previa, my son will have to be delivered at 35w1d - that's in two weeks.

I consider this a blessing! Just wondering what I can expect, esp with breastfeeding. Any books I should be reading? Steps I should be taking? How careful do I need to be with visitors and germs?

Thank you ahead of time for any and all advice, and I wish all of you and your lil miracle babies a happy, healthy road ahead. You are all so blessed!

makinithappen · June 2012

Ummmm, with BF, expect to pump. My first was born at exactly 36 weeks and my second at exactly 35 weeks. His dad did not get to hold him for about 4 days. Visitors (besides the parents) are not really allowed in the NICU we were at (1 at a time for short periods, no one under 14). Hand sanitizer is a must along with a gown once you can hold your baby. Expect oxygen and feeding tubes. Hopefully it won't be that bad though....IDK this isn't something i'd be exactly happy about.

nvoyles82 · June 2012

Having Vasa Previa, .. which could be fatal to my son, is far worse than him coming at 35 weeks. What VP is, .. is his main blood vessel isnt growing inside the umbilical cord, its outside and laying right over my cervix. If I were to go into labor or my water were to break, so would his blood vessel and he'd bleed out and die before they could get to him. I've been on bed rest since 19 weeks. So, yes, him coming at 35 weeks, alive, is a blessing to me, and I am happy about it! It might seem strange, but that's my reality. Not knowing if your son is going to live or die, not being able to take tags off clothes, or open up items and get the nursery ready is the world Im living in now. I consider each and every baby, Preemie or not, a miracle and we are all so blessed!

Mrs. Alice · June 2012

makinithappen:
Ummmm, with BF, expect to pump. My first was born at exactly 36 weeks and my second at exactly 35 weeks. His dad did not get to hold him for about 4 days. Visitors (besides the parents) are not really allowed in the NICU we were at (1 at a time for short periods, no one under 14). Hand sanitizer is a must along with a gown once you can hold your baby. Expect oxygen and feeding tubes. Hopefully it won't be that bad though....IDK this isn't something i'd be exactly happy about.

Well perhaps given her condition like she said, getting to 35 weeks IS a blessing. As far as preemies go 35 weeks is quite a milestone. My Dr.'s were going to deliver by 34 weeks if we made it that far because the risks outweighed the benefits. I would have been thrilled to have gotten there, but feel blessed to have made it to 28 weeks since we faced delivering from 24 weeks on.

OP, there's really a wide range when it comes to late term preemies. A good resource is to get a consult a neonatologist and visit the NICU at the hospital where you will be delivering. Also the Premature Baby Book by Dr. Sears is a good read. Your baby may need some special preemie care like an IV, feeding tube, or maybe some oxygen in the beginning. You can probably expect to pump for a little while until your baby can efficiently BF. I had to pump for a couple months until my twins were able to BF, but they are 11 months old now and still BFing. Also check out the preemie resource blog (link on the top page). There's lots of good info and other mom's preemie stories on there. Congrats on your upcoming delivery!

jcsntms06 · June 2012

Praying that your LO has a safe delivery.

Both my kids were in the NICU for 12-14 days they were born at 33w 4d and 34w 5d. I believe at the top of the preemie board there is a link to the blog, check that out for books to read up on. If you can request a tour of the NICU, ask question of the neo about what to expect with your son.

As always, please ask any questions you may have.

katie4253 · June 2012

makinithappen:
Ummmm, with BF, expect to pump. My first was born at exactly 36 weeks and my second at exactly 35 weeks. His dad did not get to hold him for about 4 days. Visitors (besides the parents) are not really allowed in the NICU we were at (1 at a time for short periods, no one under 14). Hand sanitizer is a must along with a gown once you can hold your baby. Expect oxygen and feeding tubes. Hopefully it won't be that bad though....IDK this isn't something i'd be exactly happy about.

I hope you woke up on the wrong side of the bed today...because YIKES! She knows in advance she is having a preemie. That means having steroid shots and also a much better outcome for her LO because she knows what is going on.

makinithappen · June 2012

Sorry, OP. Congrats on your baby and I sincerely hope everything works out great for you.

I know someone preg right now that since 32 weeks has been "so excited" because the dr said he could come any day and has people saying "yay! an early baby!" and "I can't wait until he's here; he's taking long enough already". I understand that's not your circumstance so sorry for acting like it was.

nicole0066 · June 2012

Our little one came at 36weeks. She was 5lb2oz and we were very fortunate not to need any special interventions or care. We did have breastfeeding issues early on, and are still not perfected, so I would have the name of a lactation consultant that can help. Like others have said, you might prepare to pump a bit in the beginning.

We had to go for weight checks every other day for awhil, but we just kept her carseat covered. I actually haven't had issues with people wanting to touch her in public. At 6 weeks she is only about 7.5lbs so she appears small to others.

I would also have some preemie clothes on hand. She was in them for 3-4 weeks.

I hope everything goes well with the delivery of your little boy.

nvoyles82 · June 2012

Thanks for all the well wishes and advice ladies! Im so grateful! 2 weeks from today!! Though Im worried that he is coming early, I know its the best case senario for him!!!

JuliaJAG · June 2012

Best wishes to you and your baby! I'm glad you get what a blessing it is to deliver a healthy, living baby, even if too early. I personally would have been THRILLED to make it to 35 weeks -- or even 32 or 34 -- and if we're blessed with another pregnancy, I will be just as thrilled if I can make it that far. No, it's not a cake walk and there are issues that happen with 35-weekers, but the outlook is so good overall for 35-weekers (if I remember correctly, the long-term outlook is statistically the same for 35-weekers as for full-termers), and with your positive attitude, you and baby will be just fine!

(BTW - when we were told at 29 weeks I needed to deliver NOW or risk losing the baby, I bawled my eyes out in the hours leading up to my c-section. I was terrified of having the baby so early. But from the moment I saw him, and in the weeks and months since his birth, I realize more and more what an absolute blessing he is, AND what a blessing it is that I was able to hang on until 29 weeks when his outlook was so much better than if he'd had to come a month or more earlier... and the fact that he is HERE and ALIVE is the best blessing of all. I for one appreciate your positive outlook, and yes, all of us with surviving preemies are beyond blessed!

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