- Pregnancy
- Baby & Toddler
- Parents
- Getting Pregnant
- Baby Names
- Product Reviews
-
Registry
- Community
-
More
Want a personalized experience?
Download the free app
Preemies
Maybe a Preemie Mom
Hey.I wanted to pop in and say hi and ask a few questions. I am currently on hospital bedrest dilated at 3-4cms 50% effaced with a breached baby boy whose cord is hanging. Since my baby can come any day and my team just told me he could be here as soon as tomorrow I have some questions for you all. First, has anyone been in my shoes? I have no prior history to PTL and the doctors are confused as to why this happened to me. I have been having BPPs and today he scored 6/8 for not practicing breathing. I am to have a repeat BPP tomorrow. If he fails to breathe again I will have an amniocentesis to rule out infection but if there is one I will be rushed to OR. How are your 25 weekers? Was anyone able to breastfeed eventually? Longest/shortest NICU stay? I requested the NICU doctors come talk to me but they are busy...sorry to sound so jumbled. I'm so scared and I'm starting to feel defeated. TIA for everything
Trenton Elijah born three weeks early due to pre-e on April 14, 2011. Weighing 6lbs 6.3oz, 18 inches long.
Cameron Jacob (CJ) came early @ 25w4d on November 16, 2012 due to placenta abruption and incompetent cervix . Weighing 1lb 15.5oz, 14 inches long.
Expecting a winter baby. Stay put LO!
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Maybe a Preemie Mom
I am sorry you are going through this and hope that you can keep your baby inside a little longer. Every day makes a difference, even every shift is a victory.
I have been exactly where you are right now. After 2.5 weeks on Hospital bedrest I suddenly was 3-4cm and 100% effaced at 24.5 weeks. I did not end up having an amnio so I cant give you any advice there. I did last 4 extra days at 3-4 cm (on magnesium and the strictest of strict bedrest) and made it to 25w 0days.
My 25 weeker is doing really well a year later. She spent 124 days in the nicu, but came home on no meds and no oxygen. She was able to breastfeed. She took to it really well right away when we started around 37 weeks. I never exclusively breastfed her (she had fortified BM bottles and now formula bottles) but I do continue to breastfeed her at 12.5 months.
I would suggest trying to have a consult with a neonatologist very soon. They can give you an idea of what to expect at delivery, in the first few days, statistics for your particular hospital, etc.
www.virginiakkent.blogspot.com
I had spontaneous PTL with DD at 23 weeks, 6 days. It's still unexplained. Unfortunately sometimes that happens. It takes a while, but try not to focus on why it happened. You've done nothing wrong.
DD came home two days before due date on oxygen, which she went off almost 2 months later. Now 5 years later, she's fine. She has a touch of asthma, but as I have it too, that may not be due to the preemie status.
I may have been able to BF, but I suffer from low supply even with my full term baby. If you want to BF, I'd suggest asking to talk to a lactation constultant and getting a hospital pump the day the baby's born.
NICU stays are a roller coaster ride, and for me, the worst part was that there are no answers. No reasons why, no one can tell what's going to happen next. It's very difficult to prepare yourself for what could happen, so my best advice is to take one day at a time.
For us, focusing on the mundane was sometimes the only thing that helped us get through.
I cannot offer advice on a 25 weeker (my son was born at 32 weeks), but he did have steroid shots the week before he was born, and it helped tremendously - he did not need any breathing assistance while in the NICU, so I am sure that will help down the road!
I was put in the hospital the week before he was born for monitoring (I did not have PTL, I had placental issues which caused DS to have IUGR) and was told to prepare myself to be on bed rest until he was born, which could be days or weeks (it turned out to be 6 days, but I was sent home inbetween). I know how scary it is to be told your baby could be born early, and soon, especially not knowing what to expect. I know NICU doctors can be busy but I hope they come talk to you soon...the doctors came and talked to us during my stay to prepare us, and it helped a little by at least painting us a picture of everything they would do, what he would look like, and what to expect going forward.
I hope and pray they are able to keep your LO in for a bit longer! Every day helps!
So sorry to hear this. I just had quads in March at 25 weeks. They are doing really well considering their start!
Your first month is going to be the hardest. Your baby will most likely struggle with breathing and have to have his oxygen constantly messed with. Somedays he might come off the ventilator and then have to be put back on. When you ask your Dr how your baby is doing they will tell you "he is behaving like a 25 weeker". I don't think we were told our babies were doing good for about a month. It may be a few weeks till your able to hold him. Cherish those times that you are able to hold him close to your chest. Pretty soon he will be wiggling around at home when ever you try and hold him.
The first week they will be checking for brain bleeds. Two of my babies had a grade 1 and a grade 3. If they have a brain bleed they will check every week to see what it is doing. They will also check for a PDA. If your baby has a PDA they will try and give him medicine to close the defect in the heart. If the defect does not close they will do surgery to close it. Our NICU did the surgery right at the bedside. Out of four babies we had three that had the surgery. Your baby will probably have to get a few blood transfusions the first couple of weeks since they do a lot of blood tests. The first week your baby will not get any milk. He will get a special blend of the nutrients he needs that goes directly into his blood.
When your baby is around 32/33 weeks they may try breastfeeding if he is rooting around. An eye Dr will be checking his eyes every other week to watch for ROP. One of my babies had to have laser eye surgery to prevent ROP. The Drs round twice a day so be sure to find out when they will be coming around and try to be there so you can ask them questions. Your nurses will be a great source of information. Don't be afraid to ask to be shown how to help out. We were changing diapers the day the babies were born. Eventually I was putting in feeding tubes, giving medicine, and flipping the babies around if I was there. I also highly recommend keeping a journal so when you have a bad day you can look back a few days and read his accomplishments.
My babies were in the NICU for 120-137 days. They were due June 20th and came home starting July 11. The babies weighed between 1lb5oz and 1lb15oz.
PM me if you ever have any questions about 26 weeks!
I just wanted to add - don't feel defeated and don't allow yourself to dwell on the worst case scenario stuff. Especially after you talk to the neonatologist - their job is to tell you all of the doom and gloom stuff that can happen. It doesn't mean it WILL happen, it just means it could. Stay positive - these babies are fighters and most of them end up doing better than expected.
My DS was 1 pound 3 oz at 28 weeks due to IUGR caused by placental insufficiency. We were given a pretty grim prognosis when I was first admitted, and none of it ended up being true in the end. As I type this, he's sitting in the swing right now snoozing away, happy and healthy.
The NICU is no joke, but you will get through it. Good luck!