Anybody have a preemie born between 31-34 weeks??

Joddy - posted on 04/18/2009

Andrea, my daughter was born at 26 weeks. She will be 13 in May. She was in the hospital for only 9 weeks and so far no complications. I believe though we are the lucky ones. Hope all is well with yours, how many weeks early, still in the hospital?

Jennifer - posted on 04/18/2009

My daughter was born at 32 weeks. She weighed 2 lbs and 16 oz and was 15" long. I was put on bedrest since week 25 and received shots of celestone once a week for lung growth until she was born. She was in the NICU for 4 weeks and had no breathing or any health complications. She had to be fed through a feeding tube for several days and was 4 lbs when she came home. Now, she is a healthy 9 yrs old...Thanks God!!!!

Amy - posted on 04/18/2009

hi my daughter was born at 34 weeks 7lbs they were going to take her at 36wks but she had other plans no problems so far and she is nine months we where in NICU 11 days but this was my second prem my son was a 28wker and this time i knew how to get out my son had a lot of problems she just seems to have server reflux she wasnt breathing to start with but has done ok so far

Nicole - posted on 04/18/2009

My son was born at 33wks5d. He weighed 3 lbs 14 oz and was 16.5 inches long....I know, quite the little peanut! He had no problems during his 15-day stay in the NICU, just the typical jaundice and working towards geting off the feeding tube. He went home on a cardiorespiratory monitor and taking caffeine. The pediatrician identified reflux in him on his 2-day appt, so we've been battling that ever since! He's now almost 4 months old - adjusted age 11 weeks, and doing great! We are totally smitten with him!

Evelyn - posted on 04/18/2009

I gave birth to my son,Akuila (Aquila) on 10 March who was a 32 weeker (8 weeks early). It was decided that I would deliver via emergency c-section at 32 weeks. Akuila weighted 1470 grams and was 40 cms long.



Akuila was immediately taken to NICU where he stayed for 4.5weeks. We got discharged from hospital on Easter Sunday with Akuila weighing in at 2350 grams and 47.5 cms long.



The problems I am experiencing are that Akuila doesn't want to be breastfed so I am expressing my breast milk and bottle feeding him that. He still experiences some respiratory problems - heavy breathing especially at night. He is also used to noise, I can vaccum the house and he wil not wake up but at night when al is quiet, he wakes up and won't go to sleep til the radio is switched on.



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Erin - posted on 04/18/2009

My little boy Mac (Now 9 weeks) was born at 33 weeks, tried to come a few days earlier than that.! he weighed 2.03kg (im australian.) I was given steriods before he was born and it worked, he didnt have any breathing problems when he was born. Was in NICU for 2 weeks (was on caffiene due to a cpl of apneoas), then local hospital for 2 nights. We let almost everyone we knew know when i was taken to hospital (our local doesnt deliver before 36 weeks). It meant that Mac was being prayed for by loads and loads of people and this is why he did so well. He is doing great now. just over 4 kilos.... not smiling yet but holding head up more and more.

Hadleigh - posted on 04/18/2009

My little boy was born at 34.2 weeks. He was a very healthy 7 pounds 3 ounces (thank goodness he came early!). He had a little trouble breathing in the first hour after birth but we both went home 12 hours later with no further complications. He has low muscle tone but at eight weeks old now is slowely catcing up. He had jaundice at 3 days so ended up on expressed b milk from a bottle as he couldn't stay awake long enough to feed and therefore wasn't gaining enough weight. He is now over ten pounds and has no complications at this point.

Jeannette - posted on 04/17/2009

My daughter was born at 33 weeks and she was 4lbs 11oz and 17 1/2 inches. She stayed in the NICU for 5 days. She never needed any oxygen but she did need a feeding tube for a day or so, she was also jaundice. She is now a healthy and happy 32lb 2 year old.

Goldie - posted on 04/17/2009

my DD was 33+5 and weighed 5lb 2oz. She was in SCBU for 3 weeks, no problems with breathing, but she was fed via tube until she was old enough to suckle... Once we were breastfeeding ok she was allowed to come home :-)

She is 6months old today and now weighs around 13lb 7oz :-)

Shayla - posted on 04/16/2009

Both of my last two children were born at 32 weeks.

Ethan - 3lbs, 4oz, we were very blessed no complications, He had to sit under UV lights,he was in the NICU for 4 1/2 weeks. three days later he had to return to the hospital b/c his formual was burning his stomach lining and he was pooping blood, he stayed for like a week. so they changed him to pregestermil, Thank god we haven't had to go back. he had to do breathing treaments for a while.

Taylor - 3lbs, 10 oz, she had to get the RSV shots, she doesnt really have any complications, she will be 8mos on the 21st, i pray she stays that way. She was in the NICU for 4 weeks as well. She was on special milk and she has really bad reflux but its getting better

Pam - posted on 04/16/2009

I had a girl preemie born at 32 weeks. She weighed 3 lbs. She was in NICU for about 5 weeks. Her last week there she was in the regular nursery on a monitor. She came home at 6 weeks with no monitor, weighing 4.4 lbs. She was so tiny but so strong willed. The first year she was 2 months behind on everything which was understandable since she was 2 months early. It didn't take her long to catch up with the rest of the babies her age. She is now 9 years old and you cannot even tell she was a preemie. No signs at all and just as healthy as any other child born full term. Good luck with your preemie. They really are God's blessing. Keep in touch on your status.

Susan - posted on 04/16/2009

My first son was born at 32 weeks when my water broke, he weighed 4 lb 6 oz and was in the hospital for 3 weeks. He had a vent for 24 hours. My second son was born at 32 weeks after my water broke at 29 weeks (they kept him in with me in the hospital on bedrest for 3 weeks), he weighed 4 lb 5 oz. He also was in the hospital for 3 weeks but did not need a vent.

Michelle - posted on 04/16/2009

My daughter was born at 32 weeks. She was 3lbs 2 oz when she was born and by the end of the first week she was 2lbs 11oz. She was in the Special Care nursery for 4 weeks and went home on an apnea monitor. She had Bradycardias and Apnea until she was over 6 months and was kept on the monitor until 8 months. She had pretty severe reflux and was on three different meds each day until she could walk. She is now 3 years old, she is bright, funny, and has a great disposition. She still startles easy. Loud, bright or strong smells bother her and stresses her. She still chokes easy on funny textured foods and she won't touch bread, pudding, jello, juices, or eggs.

Falyn - posted on 04/16/2009

My son was born at 34 weeks after my water broke at 32 weeks and I was put on bed rest. He weighed 4 lbs. 6 oz. and was 18 inches long. He was hooked up to an IV and heart/oxygen/etc monitors for 3 days and on the 4 day was taken off the IV because he was breastfeeding like a champ. He was discharged from the NICU at 5 days and was sent to the hospital closest to our house where he stayed until he was 14 days old. He had an apnea on the 3 day so he had to remain hooked up to the heart/etc monitor until he went 10 days without an apnea. He also had to be 2 kg to be discharged from the hospital which also came on day 14.

Sarah - posted on 04/16/2009

Hi my daughter was born at 33 1/2 weeks in 2004 due to my womb rupturing. I had suffered 4 consecutive miscarriages before we concieved with her. Thanks to the steroid injections given in the twelve hours before delivery she hasn't seemed to have any problems. She was in NNICU for 12 days due to a high level of jaundice and had to go under the lights and have multiple bilirubin tests, she left hospital weighing 4lb 14oz. Since she came home she has rarely been ill, although we are now waiting for her to be assessed for ?Aspergers Syndrome. But we wouldn't change what happened cos she is wonderful. Top of her class for literacy and numeracy, and nothing seems to faze her!!

Jennifer - posted on 04/16/2009

My first was born at 32weeks...She weighed 3.6lbs but the next day or two she dropped down to 3.1lbs...Thankfully she didn't have any complications other then her weight...She did have to be on one of those bilirubin (sp wrong) lights for a bit but not long....She was in the NICU unit for three weeks only because she had to weight 4lbs to leave the hospital...She'll be nine this year, and is a healthy  attitude little girl:-)

Andraya - posted on 04/15/2009

my daughter was born at 33 weeks and weighed 4lb 9oz and was 45cm long. she was in special care nurseries for 4 weeks. she spent 4 days in an incubator and was tube fed for 3 weeks but never required oxugen or breathing help just temp regulation. my son was born at 32 weeks and was 4lb 7 oz and 41cm. he was in special care for 4 weeks as well. he spent 2 weeks in an incubator and had jaundice. he required ozygen in the incubator for a couple of days then was fine. he was tube fed for 4 weeks and had caffeine for bradychardia and apnoea.

Dana - posted on 04/15/2009

My baby was born at 34 weeks + 5 days. She was 6lbs, 5oz and 18 inches. She had some breathing problems for the first 24 hrs and wasn't given food for 3 whole days, just fluids through IV. She was in the NICU for 6 days and slept for what seems like the first month of her life (doesn't sleep too much any more!).  She has always been a good eater, exclusively breastfed but we are just now starting w/solids. She is 5 months and 3 weeks old and weighs over 16lbs. Catching up w/all the developmental milestones too. 

Ann - posted on 04/15/2009

I forgot to say that he has to take laxitives once or twice a day depending on how much pain he is in passing stools if he is in a lot of pain we up his dose to two sachets. We are actually off to see the PC in about ten days time so hopefully he will be happy with him.

Ann - posted on 04/15/2009

My youngest son was born at 31 weeks, he weighed 3lb 13oz. He stayed in the NNU for 8 weeks. He was fine when he was first born but was in the high dependency unit for 5 days then about 3 weeks into his life he stopped breathing he had recurrent acidoss and breathing difficulties, it was new years eve 2005 they phoned to say that he was taken back into the high dependency unit as he had stopped breathing they were not sure what was wrong so we rushed to be with him only to be told that it could be menigitis or something else it was about 8 am in the morning of New Years day that we finally got a diganosis they were treating him for Necrotising Enterocolitis which is dilated thickened loops of abnormal bowel, It turned out that they had caught this bowel problem early. He came home a week before he was due and was sent home with iron and vitamins which he had to have for 6 months. He has problems passing stools and quite often they have blood in them, he is three years old now and no other major problems. He had 1 weeks stay in the hospital in June 2007 and again in Oct 2008, In june 2007 he was treated for Menigitis it was so frightning but thankfully he pulled through and in Oct 2008 he had a very high fever, with diarrheal illness with blood he was treated in the hospital and was sent home all well and good. Hopefully he will grow out of this bowel problem, as the Paediatrician Consultant seems to think he will. We see the Consultant one or twice a year. He is 3 years old now and is a thriving little boy who loves to go to Pre-school and playing with his older brother who is 5.

Sarah - posted on 04/15/2009

My son was born right on the cusp of 33 weeks. He weighed 4 lbs 7 oz and was 17 1/2 inches. They were really surprised how healthy and big he was, he never needed any intervention for breathing or temp or anything. He did however have to be taken off of food for 2 weeks because they thought he might have developed NEC...something I never really thought and was later told by his pediatrician was probably not really the issue...so because of all that he was in for 40 days...but so healthy. I was so blessed.

Shelly - posted on 04/15/2009

My daughter was born at week 32. she tried coming out since week 19 but thankfully the dr's kept her in for a while longer. I had a cerglage at week 22 which helped but I was still on bedrest in the hospital for 10 wks. She was 4 lbs, 15 inches long. At the time of my cerclage, they gave me steroid shots to help her lungs mature quicker and 10 weeks later, she was born with minimal breathing complications. they put her immediately on the respirator but was off that within 4 hrs, then on a cpap for about 8 hrs but the two times we saw her while on that, she wasn't even using it. it was on her forehead or chin so they just took it off. she was in nicu for 6 weeks. she had some minor digestive issues but has grown out of any complications at all. she's a little smaller than most at 6 months but she doesn't have any premature issues, hallelujah! she is 25 inches long and almost 14lbs! i took omega3 vitamins during pregnancy and her brain and eyes were very strong and mature, and she doesn't have to go back to the eye dr til kindergarten!

Siobhan - posted on 04/15/2009

My daughter was born at 32 weeks I was in the hospital for a week before her birth because of preeclampsia. They enduced me once my liver and kidneys started to go into failure. I gave birth naturaly and she weight 3lbs 5ozs and was 17inches long. She was on CPAP for the first 12 hours. After that the only problems she had was with digestion they would tube feed her but the food would sit in her stomach and ferment and not pass so they would suction it back out so she was on IV fluids for the first week and then doner breast milk for the next 2 weeks (my body wouldn't produce breast milk because of the fact that my body was shutting down non esantial functions to keep me alive my blood presure the week before birth while in the hosptial on drugs to control it was 210/190 and even after birth and still on drugs for 6 weeks it would run 170/110 I'm fine now just so you know) and the last week she was there she went on formula. She has been fine other then the fact she has milk allergies

Siobhan - posted on 04/15/2009

My daughter was born at 32 weeks I was in the hospital for a week before her birth because of preeclampsia. They enduced me once my liver and kidneys started to go into failure. I gave birth naturaly and she weight 3lbs 5ozs and was 17inches long. She was on CPAP for the first 12 hours. After that the only problems she had was with digestion they would tube feed her but the food would sit in her stomach and ferment and not pass so they would suction it back out so she was on IV fluids for the first week and then doner breast milk for the next 2 weeks (my body wouldn't produce breast milk because of the fact that my body was shutting down non esantial functions to keep me alive my blood presure the week before birth while in the hosptial on drugs to control it was 210/190 and even after birth and still on drugs for 6 weeks it would run 170/110 I'm fine now just so you know) and the last week she was there she went on formula. She has been fine other then the fact she has milk allergies

Lacy - posted on 04/15/2009

My son was born at 32 weeks. He was 3 lbs 9 oz and 16 inches long and was in the NICU for two months. He did really well the first month or so. He was tube feed for about three weeks and then was able to use a bottle. He was diagnosed with Acid Reflux. It caused bradycardias and some apnea. If he had not had Acid Reflux he would have left the NICU alot earlier. He is doing well now. He is five months old and growing each day.

Ann - posted on 04/14/2009

My son was born at 31 weeks although he tried to come at 23 weeks stayed in my local hospital until the day he was born, he didn't need any respiration at all to start with then 3 weeks into his life he stopped breathing they then put him on a respirator. He pulled through thankfully to he quick thinking of the staff and finding out what the problem was so quick. He has a bowel problem bless him but other than that he is fine. He is 3 years old now was 3lb 13oz born. Other wise hes a normal toddler, who loves preschool .

Melissa - posted on 04/14/2009

my son was a 30 weeker he weighted 3lbs 5.7oz 17 inches long he was in nicu for 9 days compllications he had reflus,he had a grade 3 bleed on the brain and fluid in the vintrcals, he stay on 02 for 5 1/2 weeks he came home after 7 weeks in hosptial he over came all hes medical prombles and is 7 now and is healthly he is a big boy and very smart

Kay - posted on 04/13/2009

i had two that were 6 weeks prem and two that were 8 weeks prem the heavest was 3lb 4oz the smallest was 3lb 2oz only had trouble with the youngest she was a bit yellow

Stacey - posted on 04/13/2009

All my children were born at least 4 to 5 weeks early, one was badly jauniced and stayed in hospital for 2 weeks under lights and in a crip to stabalize his temp he was 5lbs 3 oz . My earliest daughter was 35 weeks and she was released after 1 week no complications4 lbs 11oz. My last daughter was 36 weeks and she was 5 lbs 9oz and was in hospital for 2 weeks due to low suger level and was placed on a drip and was slow to feed. I find having 6 early children they all were differant as my second son was born at 36 weeks at 5lbs neat and was released 2 days later. All the best for you and your baby :)

Jessica - posted on 04/13/2009

My son was born at 34 weeks and was 5lbs. 1.7 oz and was 19.5 in long. He was able to breath and regulate his temperature on his own right away. He spent the first day in the NICU but was able to go home with us! He did have some Jaundice and had to spend a few days on a biliblanket. Overall we were very blessed.

Alina - posted on 04/13/2009

My daughter was born at 32 weeks, 3.3 lbs and 15" long. She was in the NICU for 6 weeks, lots of complications: chest tube (due to bilateral pleural effusions-- fluid in her chest cavity), intubated x 1.5 weeks, feeding issues. However, she came home at 4.5 lbs and, although the first year was tough with feeding q2 hrs and very slow growth and development, she is now almost 3 and except for size (still not on the growth charts at 22 lbs) she is perfectly on target with her same age peers.

Vicki - posted on 04/13/2009

My Daughter was born at 31 weeks by emergency c-section, she weighing in at 2lb 12oz. She was in ICU for 5 weeks, then transported to our local hospital at 5 weeks and she came out of her humidity-crib at the same time. We were able to take her home at 7 weeks when she weighed 5lb 6oz.
The hospital performed an ultrasound on her brain when she was born, there was a shadow on her brain, they said she had brain damage, possibly from lack of oxygen at the time of birth. The doctors told us she would be epileptic and have symptoms of autism, being unable to show emotions. We had another ultrasound done when she was 6 months old to see what the shadow would look like and it had completely disappeared without a trace. She is now 15 years old and she has never had a fit and she is one of the most emotional teenagers I know! lol
She has an angel watching over her, she was meant to be here, I am convinced.
Hope your experience has a happy outcome like mine did..
V
X

Tia - posted on 04/12/2009

I have three born is this time frame.  one was 4lbs 15 ounces born at 33 weeks,  another one born at 33 weeks also 4lbs 15 oz.  and the last onw was born at 34 weeks weighing 5lbs 2oz.  The only one of the Three that spent time in the NICU was the 34 weeker and he spent 11 days in the NICU.  and is now a happy healthy 16 month old with no lasting complications.

Annette - posted on 04/12/2009

Oh, and he had jaundice, but with the "billy lights" it cleared up after 1 month!

Annette - posted on 04/12/2009

Mine was 34 weeks, 5 lbs 18 inches and in the NICU for 8 days only! We were blessed, he didn't need steroids or Oxygen.. just had to learn how to suck,swallow and breath all at the same time..but got it by the 4th day without the Gavage!

Carita - posted on 04/12/2009

my son was born 34 weeks he was 5 pounds and he spent a week and half in the hospital and then again when he was 6 months he spent 2 weeks he has and still has at the age of 4 diffficulties due to him being born premature

Diana - posted on 04/12/2009

My son was born April 4, and is now 1 week old-so we're just starting our journey.  He was 32 weeks, and had to be delivered because I developed severe preeclampsia that progressed very quickly.  Luckily, we were able to wait the full 48 hours for optimum lung development from the steroids.  He was delivered by C-section.  The doctors gave me the option to have an iduction if I wanted, but didn't seem keen to do it because my blood pressure was already so high and I wasn't dilated at all, which made the chances of me having to have a section pretty high even with induction-and that is why I chose the section.  Colin never had to have help breathing.  He did need to be fed from a tube though, and will keep it for another week or two probably.  He also had jaundice, but the phototherapy only lasted 2 days and there have been no other problems with that.  So far his only problems really seems to be that he needs to get bigger before he comes home, and that he needs to get his sucking, swallowing, and breathing together so he can breast/bottle feed.  We've been told he will be in the NICU for 5 to 7 weeks, so we're in it for the long haul.  =)

Krysti - posted on 04/11/2009

My son was born at 34 weeks, he weighed 5lbs 3 oz, 16 inches long. He spent 2 weeks in the NICU, now he is almost 2. He has static encephalopathy, he is having surgery on his eyes because they cross in from the brain damage because he had bilateral bleeds in his brain from the birth. He has hypertonia which has made it so he needs braces on his legs to walk. He has asthma. But despite all of this he is a miracle because when he was 3 months old the Dr's told us they thought he was blind, he would never walk or even crawl, and would never talk. So he is overcoming those obsticals every day.

Jada - posted on 04/10/2009

I have had 4 premies it's a gene that runs in my family. 4lbs 11oz, 4lbs 14oz, 5lbs 13oz and 3lbs 11oz my smallest spent 1 month in nicu and my largest spent 3 days and the other two two weeks. although i had to stay in the hospital for 3 months with my son who was 4lbs 11oz.

Sarah - posted on 04/10/2009

My eldest was born at 33 weeks wieghing 4lbs 1oz. He stayed in hospital for 3 weeks. Had oxygen for about 12 hours then had to stay in an incubator or 2 weeks. He had trouble in the first few days feeding so had to be tube feed every 3 hours. He was just under 5lbs when he was let home. He had asthma for almost 3 years but thankfully it cleared up. He's 7 now and right as rain being premature never caused him any major set backs.

Jennifer - posted on 04/10/2009

my oldest was 6 weeks preemie, she weighed 4 lbs 11 ounces. had to have her in an incubator and she didn't take well to breast feeding so she had to b tube feed through her nose... then when I finally did get her home, a few months after she was home, she got asthma...she got over the asthma for a few years, has it back now and physically she doing great.she's 11yrs old now...unfortunately, her and her sister are both in foster care now

Heather - posted on 04/10/2009

my preemie was born some time ago, as she is now 10 years old, but there were cmplications with her birth.my water started to leak 2 weeks before she was born, i was 32 weeks along!!! so we were rushed to New West Minster where i was in labour for about 2 weeks on and off, fimally on the 3rd of june they made the decision to induce because the water surrounding her was at a dangerous low, and they were afraid that if she turned she would die, so i was on bed rest during the rest of my labour to make sure she didn't turn. My labour prgressed but she didn't come down until after the broke the final bag of water under her head because she was too small to do it.i wasn't fully dilated when she was born at 34 weeks(6 weeks preemie). she also had rsvp when she was born and had to be recessated 2 times in the nicu!!! that is where she was for 9 days. she was 4lbs 12 ozs at birth and was in a icolet for 4-5 days!!!!! when we were in visiting her which we did every other day, would have been more but i live in chilliwack which was an hour and a half away from the hospital, our hospital isn't equipped to take babies born that early, so it was agonizing to leave her and see her only every other day.... however on the 12th we were told that she was healthy enough to be released so we came to get her and bring her home on the 13th of june!!!! she weighed a total of 4lbs 8 ozs but was breathing fine and nursing just fine as well!!!! Now she is a healthy 10 year old who loves to be told the story of her birth over and over again and we still have her coming home outfit!!! it was a doll's outfit!!!!!

Cathy - posted on 04/09/2009

hi my water broke at 29 weeks and had my baby at 31 weeks hes was 3lb 4 oz but drop to 2 lb 9 oz over night he was 15 inches long he styed in nicu for 2 weeks the docs let me bring him home at 3lb 9oz he was on a little ozgen for the first couple of days he was just under wieght and didnt know how to suck the first 5 days i pumped milk for his feedn tube that realy put on weight we forced a pacifer all the time it realy help he is now22 months now and was 28lbs and do n great all 3 of my kids were preemies and all do n great my oldest is now 12 and was way advance grow n up so keep ure spirits up doctors r so great now a days and can do many things

Katie - posted on 04/09/2009

My son was born at 31 weeks, 3 days and was 3lbs, 4oz. He was in the NICU for 24 days and came home at 4 lbs. I was lucky that I was able to kangaroo him everyday for 6+ hours and his dad would hold him at night. I think that was why he came home much faster then expected (gestationally 34 wks, 6 days) since he didn't have any steroid shots.

We've had to deal with reflux (it's much better now, at 8 months old, but he still spits up a few times a day). They sent us home supplementing him with preemie formula (adding powder to breastmilk instead of water to double the calories) and the vitamins and that constipated him horribly, so I ended up throwing it away after a couple of weeks.

I did babywearing and on demand breastfeeding to make him grow without the supplements and it worked. I've also been drinking kefir and taking probiotics for months to develop his digestive system and immune system through my breastmilk.

Breastfeeding was a journey all its own... He took 3 months to develop a good latch and he could never get enough the first month we got home, which meant he was attached to me all day and all night during that time, plus I had a rented pump to keep my supply up. Luckily we stuck with it even though it was really hard and it's just second nature now. It calmed him in those first few months with the underdeveloped nervous system makes them cry, cry, cry. Plus, we had to swaddle him in my maya wrap all the time so he could get that womb experience.

He is now a beautiful curious little boy who is starting to get into everything. He is sitting up now, still small for his age (except for his head which is oddly in the 75th percentile), but alert and attentive to everyone who talks to him. We were very lucky that everything turned out as well as it did.

Jamie - posted on 04/09/2009

My son was born at 33 weeks, he was 3 lbs 11 oz, 16 inches long. He was in NICU for month and a week, then was back in hospital for about 3 months. He had Chronic lungdisease, he had 2 heart defects which at 3 months of age he had heart surgrey. He was anemic, he god sick really easily. my son doesn't put weight on very well at all so he is on 30 calories neosure still.. But.. overall he is now heathly since his surgrey, hasn't had oxygen since he was 6 months old, and is very special and loving and out going!

Lisa - posted on 04/09/2009

yes, my son was born at 31 weeks gestation. He weighed 3lbs, 7.4 ounces, and he was 16 inches. he stayed in the NICU for about 6 weeks. I was able to be given a shot to increase the maturity of his lungs, and the hospital held off the delivery for 2 days. he was on c-pap, for about 2 days, (he mostly had the oxygen tube in his mouth) so they took it off. his breathing was strong, he had trouble getting adjusted to bottle feeds. infants in the NICU must be able to sustain their own temp. outside the incubator, cry for feeds, and wet a reasonable amount of diapers. I was there from morning until night daily, and one day I just wanted to sleep! then i got a phone call, they told me he had bleeding on the brain!! I wanted to die! turns out it was stage 1- which is very normal for preemies. The bleeding eventually stopped, then i was told that after bottle feeds he had blood in his stools, and may have necrotizing-colitis, and they had to run and IV and feed him intravenously! eventually he went home and I was a nervous wreck, he took his time doing everything, from rolling over, to standing to walking, and now he is three, talking up a storm! potty trained, and one of the brightest kids in his daycare! Im not telling you not to worry, but always be there to hold them against your chest, i believe my scent and him knowing my presence and hearing my voice helped him through.

Laura - posted on 04/09/2009

My daughter was born at 33 weeks and 5 days. She weighed 3 pounds 11 ounces. She was in the NICU for a total of 24 days. They told me not to be discouraged if she had a set back because most babies in the NICU do at least once in their stay. I was very excited when she did not have a single set back. She improved each day and had quite the personality established from the day she was born.

Lisa - posted on 04/09/2009

all my 3 boys were prem 1st was 32 weeks and weighed 4lb 8oz was home within 10 days and only weighed 4lb 3oz when he got home, the second was 34 weeks and weighed 4lb 13 home within 48 hours the third was 34 weeks aswell and  4lb 7  had to be resuscitated but he was still home within 48 hours aswell all fed straight away (breast) xx

Kelsee - posted on 04/09/2009

A Son.

34 weeks.

5lbs 0oz.

18inches.

2.5 weeks in hospital.

Had trouble feeding & Jaundice.

Perfectly healthy 1 1/2 year old now!

Heather - posted on 04/08/2009

I had twins born 31weeks and 5 days they weighed 3#11 oz and 2#5 oz The bigger girl stayed 3 1/2 weeks and 7 1/2 weeks for the small one no major complications just growth feeding and one bladder infection for the smaller twin They are 3 now and no comlications