premmie

Anna - posted on 12/06/2009

Hi Rebekah, my little man was born at 30wks in September 2008. He was on CPAP for his breathing for 4 days and was in SCBU (special care baby unit) for 60 days. The ng tube didn't come out until the last couple of weeks and he needed bottle top-ups after breast feeding until he was about 3 months old. He is now 14 months and a fun active little boy. He's still a bit small for his age, not walking but crawling everywhere and trying to walk along the furniture. We catch up with other SCBU families and although all of the bubs are small, their development is just fine. Enjoy your special little boy, its amazing how fast they do grow! :-)

Crystal - posted on 12/05/2009

Hi I am a mom of two and my last one Kaitlyn was born April 5, 2009, 9 weeks early. My water actually broke at 30 weeks so they kept me in the hospital, but I was told that if everything was alright on the weekend I could go home on the Monday, well I had her early Sunday morning.... She was born at 2lbs 3oz, the placenta wasn't performing as it should so she wasn't growing or getting nourishment.... In all I was in labour since the Friday nite but our NICU didn't have space for her so the gave me a shot to slow my labour as a baby was going home the next day. I kept telling the nurses that I was still in labour but since only the bottom part of my stomache was contracting they kept saying no ur not... Finally they took me back down to Labour and Delivery when I started bleeding, they kept me hooked up to monitors and everytime I had a contraction her heartrate would drop dangerously. Finally at 3 in the morning they decided to do a c-section. She was eventually born naturally, dr's were too slow getting me to the operating room. I couldn't even see how small she was b/c the nurses were in the way, they took her fast to the nicu my bf followed them to see how she was. She was on the ventilator for about 48 hrs and then the put her on the cpap then she was breathing on her own until she developed c-dif then they had to put her back on it for a few days since she was so sick.... she came home May 30, 2009 and is doing great....

Kimberley Found - posted on 12/05/2009

Hi. I'm the mother of a 2 year old boy. When he was born, he was 2 months early. He was in the NICU for 37 days, but luckily didn't need a ventilator. He just needed to grow. I am wanting another baby but am afraid as I was told once you have one preemie, your chances of having another go up.

 

Quoting Rebekah:

premmie

hi im a mother of 5 and my last son was born november 8 ,2009 10 weeks early in our truck on the way to the hospital he was on a breathing tube for 4 days now hes breathing on his own and starting to gain weigh hes up to 3lb 8oz now hes still being feed by a tube just wondering if anyone else could share there stories of preemies

Christine - posted on 12/04/2009

I had triplets in June at 32 1/2 weeks. They were all close to 4 lbs. and breathing on their own within a couple of days. One daughter had to stay on oxygen for about a week. They started bottle feeding around 33 1/2 - 34 weeks, and had some challenges in the beginning. Our son started bottle feeding first and increased the amount daily. Then about a week into bottle feeding, he had something go wrong where his system wasn't moving. So, they stopped feedings all together and put him back on IV fluids. He was fine, so they slowly started feeding again. Like someone else said, things in the NICU go 3 steps forward, 1 step back. Our daughters came home after 2/12 weeks and our son was home about 4 days later. We have an older son, so balancing all the kids and recovering from a C-section was tough. But we are blessed with alot of help and made it through those tough early days. I wish you all the best. Stay positive and I'm sure your son will be home before you know it.

Debbi - posted on 12/04/2009

It sounds like he's doing awesome! My son was born at 28 weeks and was in the NICU for 108 days. He was on a feeding tube too long. He does have reflux, which is very common for preemies, I'm sure from the feeding tube being in. But he's on Prevacid now and as he gets older, it is getting better.

I think the hardest part, for me, was when he was so close to coming home and yet he was so far from meeting their expectations. He wouldn't eat enough from the bottle for them. But in the end they were overfeeding him! So I guess some advice is to remember, that even though it may feel like they will NEVER let him go home, they eventually do.

I'm sure that's hard having your other children at home and having to divide your time in between there and the hospital.

Congratulations on your new son! Praying that he continues to thrive and grow so he can come home soon!

Carie - posted on 12/04/2009

My little girl was bor 14 weeks early. She ws in the hospitall for 5 1/2 months (169 days). She never ate from a bottle while she was in the hospital. We started her on a bottle when she came home. They had her on and off the ng tube the whole time. We have been home for over a year and I have to say that they do better when they come home. I wish you the best of luck in getting that little man home. Remember in most cases there is three steps forward and one step backwards. God bless him:)

Wanda - posted on 12/03/2009

My son was a 25 weeker weighting 1 lb 13 ozs. We had a rough go, a lot of infections and breathing issues. He spent 114 days in the hospital. He's 22 months now and you would never know that he had such a rough start in life. Congrats and best wishes.

Megan - posted on 12/03/2009

My son was a 24 weeker and weighed 1 pound 13 ounces. It was a rough road and had alot of ups and downs but we made it through. we spent 157 days in the NICU and now he is home and a happy healthy 10 month old. Stay strong. Congrats on your little boy.

Candace - posted on 12/03/2009

My son was born at 28 weeks and was in the hosiptal for 65 days. He was breathing on his own from the time he was born but then he had to get a little oxygen for about a week or two. he weighed 1 lb 8oz Now he is nine working on ten and will be five months on the 10. It was hard leaving him but i made it.

Delaney - posted on 12/03/2009

My daughter was born 10 weeks early because of complications. its been a rough road! she was in the hospital for five weeks. Good luck to you. keep in touch.

Christina - posted on 12/03/2009

My twins were 10 weeks early. My 3 pounder spent 6 weeks in the hospital. She began bottle feeding at 32.5 weeks. Her sister 1 lb 10 oz spent 8 weeks in the hospital and began bottle feeding at 34.5 weeks.