Share your story

Katie - posted on 02/23/2010

To all who submitted a story if you could please email me at lovemysailor02@yahoo.com so that I can send you the permission form to publish your story.

Kristina - posted on 02/11/2010

What a great idea. Well my story started on May 16th 2009. I was barely 34 weeks when my water broke while I was doing last minute baby shopping at Ikea. I thought that maybe my bladder was stressed since I had an ultrasound the day before when I noticed that I was leaking. I went on with my day shopping and then at dinner my husband convinced me to calling my doctor to see what is going on. My doctor told me to go to the hospital to be checked out. Not thinking that anything was happening, we went with not even bringing our hospital bags. After a few tests and a few hours later it was determined that my water did break. They had to admit me to the hospital. With me being 34 weeks they could not stop labor if it were to start. Luckily I was able to hold off labor on complete bed rest in the hospital for 10 days to make it to 35 weeks and 3 days. I went into labor on the morning of May 25th. Enduring labor for 47 hours and 47 minutes(and this was my 3rd child!) my son Logan Kalela Chapman was born on May 27th @ 7:42. Weighing in at 6 pounds, 6 ounces and 19 inches. He didn't need the NICU and roomed in with me the whole time. We got to leave together on Friday, May 29th. After being on bed rest for the first 4 months of my pregnancy due to cramping and bleeding and ending up in the hospital the last 2 weeks of my pregnancy, I am very lucky to have a son that ended up with any complications. I look at him everyday and think of him as my little miracle. I am very thankful for my husband for taking excellent care of me during my pregnancy and taking over the mommy duties when I ended up in the hospital.

Stephanie - posted on 02/10/2010

I really think that this is a great idea! My journey started when I was just shy of 12 weeks when I started bleeding. My husband and I rushed to the er we waited just to find out that they told me that I had lost the baby. So I went to the doctor the week after and come to find out that I was still pregnant. She stated more then likely I was pregnant with twins and one passed. We were just excitied to know that we still were pregnant. It was around week 24 when I started feeling warn down and just feeling like I was back in the 1st trimester. I ended up going into the doctor and she told me just to take it a little easy. Then two weeks went by and I woke with such cramping, I could not keep anything down throwing up constantly. The only thing that felt good to me was laying in the tub. I feel asleep for a little while but woke up and swore i was in labor. Ended up going in for another er visit where they told me that I was just dehydrated. The on call doctor did look at the cervic and took a sample and told me that they didn't find anything wrong with the test they did. She stated that I would have some bleeding from her doing the test. I felt better for a few days and then all of a sudden the same thing happened again only this time there was blood in my urine which I thought it was from the cervic test that the Doctor did a few days earlier. Go into my OB and she started to do some blood work and realized that my blood pressure was elevated. The blood work came back and I had a kidney infection so got admitted to the hospital. I was in hosptial for 3 days and still not feeling good when the doctor took a look at my belly she noticed that I had red spots all over. So they took some blood and found out that I had what they call HELLP syndrome which stands for ,Hemolytic anemia, Elevated Liver enzymes and Low Platelet count. They ended up bringing in a ton of nurses one to check on the baby and a ton to take care of me. The baby was ok according to all the signs they were looking for. They told me that I would have to get transported to another hospital and also stated that the issues that I might have are me losing my life, my son losing his life, having a liver transplant, a blood transfusion or a hysterectomy. I was scared thinking my baby is only 28 weeks whats going to happen with him. They took me into surgery after giving me to bags of blood platetes and delivered my son. I got out of surgery had to go into ICU for awhile in which I still was having some problems with my blood pressure they finally got that under controll with magnesium. My husband came down into the ICU and told me that we had a 2Ib 2oz baby boy who was in the NICU and hanging on. I finally got to see him after 2 days from having him. He had wires all over, lamp on him, in an incubator and breathing machine. He was not in very good shape at about day 3 in which his lungs kept collasping in which even the isolator was not doing what it needed to do. Then we had him baptized and it seemed like he was doing better. Then they came in and told us that he had the gap in his heart the most preemies get and that they could fix that with some medicine in which they worked right away. He was in the NICU for 2 months cause he had such a problem gaining weight finally got released only to have surgery a month after his release. He had a belly button hernia in which he needed taken care of pretty fast due to the pain it was cause him not only did they take care of the belly button but he also had testiclar hernia's. After he healed from that we have been through occupational therapy, physcial therapy and now speech therapy. He is going to be 2 years old and he is a healthy baby boy who is very active and happy.
Thank you so much for letting me tell you my story.

Laurel - posted on 02/06/2010

Coming home from the doctor's office on Wednesday, after being told that I had traces of protein in my urine and had to go for an ultra sound at the U of IA Hospital the following Tuesday because baby B was smaller than it should have been, I called work to let them know I wouldn't be back to work, I was put on bed rest. That Friday night, I was very short of breathe and called my husband home from his 2nd shift job to take me to a nearby hospital. They tested my urine again and did a quick ultra sound. My protein count was up, and being unequipped for care of 26 week preemie twins, the local hospital transferred me to U of IA Hospitals, 2 1/2 hours from my home, after the first steroid shot for the twins’ lungs. Initial testing at U of IA lead the doctors to the decision that I was to be on hospital bed rest for the next 14 wks. My husband and I have been blessed with the talent of bright side, ridiculous humor to lessen the worry during the time of the "unknown". It was Saturday afternoon, and my husband left my room, stating he would return in a few minutes. When he returned he said, "I figured since your birthday is tomorrow, you might want some company." In walked my 4 sisters from Chicago, 4 1/2 hours away. (Yes, I am lucky to have him.) I had 3 to 4 ultra sounds that Saturday and would get thumbs up from the tech every time. On Sunday, it was the same, I had two of the ultra sounds and kept asking the sex of baby B as it was more modest than baby A that I knew would be my son. He would tell me that was not a concern right now and to leave him alone, jokingly. The next ultrasound was at around 5:30pm. My sisters were about to head home and I asked if they could stay for the ultrasound and they were able to do so. They kept asking the same tech about the sex of baby B. I just turned to them and repeated what he had told me the day before and the tech and I chuckled. When the tech left the room and my sisters' attention was elsewhere, the tech turned in the doorway and shook his head no instead of the thumbs up I was expecting. I then asked my sisters to go get my husband and that I needed to talk to him, and not to leave until I had a chance to say goodbye. I told Bill I was going in and to make sure he promised to have the children baptized as soon as they were stable. I was in the OR for an emergency C and prepped by 6:30 pm. When Billy was delivered, I heard a squeal and felt as much relief as I could knowing that baby B still needed to be delivered. Allison was very high up in by my lungs. I heard the doctor state, "This cord is pliable too." and knew she at least would be able to be "hooked up". Billy weighed 1lb 10oz and was 14 inches long. Ally was only 15 oz and 9 inches long. I was not able to see them until the following evening, late into the night. The doctors gave us an 80% chance of taking Billy home, but would not give us the odds on Allison. Seeing them for the first time, I cried, but was told they were progressing normally. The nurses and doctors of the NICU at U of IA Hospitals are wonderful and answered our questions completely and thoroughly. I was able to hold Billy at 28 weeks, however, Ally could not maintain her body temp, even during kangaroo care with my husband Bill. (He's a hottie. Meaning he is always warm, lol.) I got to hold Ally approximately 3 weeks after she was born. I sat and sang to them, read to them, prayed for them every day. My sister came to visit, as my wound had opened and she was helping me clean and dress it. She returned home on a Friday night and told my father she would be over the next day to show him the first videos of the twins. (Mom had passed 5 years earlier.) He passed away that next night after seeing me holding each of the babies. When Billy moved on to Intermediate Care I had my schedule. Ronald McDonald bus to the hospital at 8:00, check with nurse on Billy, then sitting with Ally in the NICU until morning rounds, which was my queue that they had been through Intermediate and that was my time with Billy until lunch. Then, I took the bus back to the Ronald McDonald house for lunch and chores. Then bus back for spending the afternoon first with Ally, then with Billy. Dinner I would have at the hospital, attend the parent group and then again spend time with them both before retiring to the Ronald McDonald house. In April was the first time the twins' beds were next to each other and got to hold them both at once. Oh the love and blessings I felt. During the duration, Billy was progressing awesomely for a "wimpy white boy" as the nurses stated. (White premature males, they explained, had a history of progressing slowest.) With Ally, we went through infections, respiratory setbacks, blood transfusions, then a diagnosis of Congenital CMV. Of course, Billy was then tested and diagnosed with it as well. They let us know the possible complications this could cause. Retardation, blindness, deafness, seizures, we were devastated but hopeful that the outcome would be ok. We longed to be parents so badly and since being successful with IVF, had decided that what was meant to be, will be, and although you can never be truly prepared, helped us come to terms with the possibilities. For the 3.5 months the twins were in the NICU helped me prepare for the monitors, the oxygen, the medications etc prior to taking them home. I think I had less butterflies than taking a baby home 24 hours after giving birth as a first time mom. The parent group was helpful; this was where I was told by other parents to ask about palate plates during ventilation and to make sure they were put in as soon as possible without delay. The Ronald McDonald House, a God send. The NICU nurses and doctors were wonderful. We had our hurdles and made it over each one. The twins are to turn 10 in a few weeks and are perfect in our eyes. I remember everyone stating how hard the experience of having preemies must be. My husband and I look back and actually realize only now, yeah, it was hard. However, during that time, you just do what you need to do, pray, take one day at a time; do not worry until you have something to worry about. Reading other stories posted here reminded me of the hardest thing to deal with during our stay in the NICU. That is survivor guilt. Having two, progressing fairly well, we were very excited. To watch others go through hopeless prognosis and sometimes death was very difficult and caused me to go back to my room shut the drapes and cry for them and let guilt overwhelm me. I even met a Grandfather that was not there very long on the elevator after the death of his Grandson. Our eyes met and instead of a nod or silence I chose to speak. "I don't know you, but please can I give you a hug." We wept all the way down and we parted when the doors opened and I have never seen him again. I know this is long and you can slim down if you decide to use this. Thanks for the unloading, even after 10 years.

Rita - posted on 02/05/2010

Hello, My name is Rita and I had my baby Nike at 28 weeks and six days. She is my fourth child. I began bleeding early in my pregnancy and twice thought I was going to miscarry her. I had blood clots on the placenta. The bleeding did stop and everything was good until I reached 24 weeks when my docter began getting concerned that my placenta was not providing enough for my baby. Her weigt and size appeared very small. I also began having higher than normal blood pressure. Well one day before I was to have a stress test, my water broke. I had to remain calm. I have my own in home daycare and did not want the children to see me bleed. I called a back-up to come to care for my kids and the ambulance. I was rushed to the local hospital. Then once they found my little girls heart beat, I was rushed downtown to Abbout Northwestern Hospital. I delivered my Little girl by c-section only two hours later. She weighed one pound seven ounces and was only 12 1/2 inches long. She was rushed down the tunnel to Children's Hospital, the two are connected. It was so scary. I did not get to really see her. My husband had to go with her and she was so very small. She was born Feb. 22, 2007. By the grace of god she was only vented for 17 hours and then only had a nasel canula for air. She was truly amazing. She did so well and only needed time to grow. The only thing they really had to do for her is give her a bit of blood. She remained in Children's until April 2. She then was transfered to the hospital nearby our home. It made life much easier since she is our fourth child. The transfer was very stressful for me but we made it through it. She continued to do well. Finally, we brought her home on May 2, 2007. The most horrible thing I had to go through with her were the eye exams. I could have screamed when they clapped her eyes open. Now my Niki is a bright energetic little girl. She is small but her development is right on track. There is so much to the whole experience and everything that I watched at the hospital. I wish I had more time to write more for you. Please let me know if you want more info, like how I balanced my home life while going to see Niki everyday.

Afton - posted on 02/05/2010

I am certainly interested! Send me an email at afton@preemiebabies101.com and I will get started on my story. I also have a few questions for you about your book.

www.preemiebabies101.com

Katie - posted on 02/05/2010

Jamie that is totally fine. My personal story is long.

Jamie - posted on 02/05/2010

Wow...that ended p being very, very long. Sorry! But you said long or short. I can edit it down if you need me to, just let me know.

Jamie - posted on 02/05/2010

I also think this is a great idea. It has been a long, hard road for my little family. I would love to add a story so that other mom's of preemies can see that it is possible to make it through, and even retain your sanity, well mostly anyways!!! If you have any questions about my story or want more/less info, let me know; miraria@gmail.com

Although my husband and I had been together since we were 15, we were 24 when we began trying to get pregnant. It had recently become clear that my 46 year old father in law’s colon cancer was not being treated by chemotherapy, and that we should prepare for the worst. My husband desperately wanted his father to meet his first grandchild before he passed, so we began trying immediately. Sadly, it was not meant to be, and my father in law passed a mere 4 months later, far quicker than any of us expected. After months of no cycle, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with PCOS, and began the early stages of the infertility game. During the next two years of failed attempts, I was actually diagnosed with a rare form of cervical cancer. At this point I was told by my oncologist to have my eggs harvested, and begin chemotherapy immediately. I declined because the cancer was only located on my cervix, and I opted for removal surgically. Once the pathology was returned clear of cancer, we then attempted IVF to get pregnant. Luckily our second cycle worked! At this point I was 28 and had already been through an emotional roller coaster! From the moment I was told I was pregnant, I was so scared to be excited, because I just knew something could go wrong at any time. After one terrifying incident of bleeding at 6 weeks, I was even more paranoid. I was also told I would have to have a cerclage at 12 weeks, followed by bed rest to prevent an incompetent cervix due to the surgery to remove the cancer. However, when the time came, they found that the cancer had returned and refused to perform the cerclage because they were afraid of complications. I was put on bed rest at home, and at 21 1/2 weeks was put on hospital bed rest because my cervix was funneling (opening slightly). During my 9 days of hospitalized bedrest, I managed to contract a bladder infection, and on the morning of November 20th, I felt some leaking. The nurses tried to convince me that it was most likely incontinence due to pregnancy and the infection, nothing to worry about. When my doctor came to see me later that morning, I told him and he had the nurses check me. I thank the heavens above that he did, because things could have gone very differently had he not done so. The nurse said I was 3-5 centimeters dilated with a bulging amniotic sac. I was told then that I would be taken to the OR immediately for a cesarean delivery. As a worried (and very bored) soon to be mom in the hospital who had access to a laptop, I had done extensive research on what my son’s chances would be if he were to be born early, and I knew they were dismal. At this point, my world crashed in around me. I hadn’t received the steroid shots because they only gave them at 23 weeks and I had barely made it that far. I tried to call my husband to tell him what was happening, and the nurse had to finish the phone conversation for me, because I collapsed into tears. Within 30 minutes I was in the OR, my husband was there (thankfully he didn’t get pulled over while breaking every speed limit) and I had an epidural. Within that 30 minutes I had also dilated to 10 centimeters. I’m convinced that any woman who has ever had a cesarean knows how a turkey feels being trussed up for Thanksgiving dinner! I was so terrified that I didn’t really care, however. Within a few minutes our son had been born. He was shown to us briefly, so that my husband could get one quick picture, and then whisked from the room, where I knew a whole team of NICU doctors and nurses were waiting to help him. While the sight of him was terrifying, so small and absolutely covered in blood, it was beautiful to us as well. Jack Isaiah was born measuring in at 1 pound 6 ounces, and 12 ½ long. His initial Apgar scores were 7 and then 8. He cried immediately after being born and fought being intubated, so much so the nurses had to sedate him. He was immediately put on medications to stabilize his blood pressure, caffeine to stimulate his breathing and to prevent apnea, diuretics to keep his kidneys functioning, and antibiotics as preventative. He was also kept on morphine in the beginning to sedate him and to keep him pain free; for the first 48 hours he was on minimal stimulation; essentially he had ear and eye muffs on and we had to be very quiet around him. The blood vessels in micro-preemie's brains are so weak that any reaction (increased heart rate, pain) can cause a brain bleed. Because of the surgery, I did not get to see him until the day after he was born, and even now I am ashamed to say that I was terrified to see him. I needed to see my baby, but was also so scared of what he would look like, or that he would die while I was in the NICU. When I first saw him, I just sat, stared, and cried. I couldn’t believe that this tiny creature with angry red skin, attached to all those monitor and IV’s, was my son. For the five days I was in the hospital I was terrified when my room phone would ring, because I was convinced it was the NICU calling to tell me he was gone. Even after I was discharged, I lived in fear of my cell phone ringing, but refused to even walk outside without it fully charged. Leaving the hospital was excruciating, but we were lucky to live only 5 miles away, and so I was able to go daily (sometimes at 3 AM!) to see him. There were a few days when I was sick, and couldn't go, and those were very hard days, because I had a desperate need to see my baby. Even though we had been warned that there would be good days and bad days for him, it was still so very hard to watch that tiny baby struggle. At 4 weeks, he had heart surgery to close his PDA, another terrifying day. He also had several blood transfusions, because, because they took blood for labs faster than his body could reproduce it. Gradually, he had more good days than bad, and began to get stronger, and was taken off more and more of his medications. Because of a large inguinal hernia that seemed to block his urine flow, he did get a few infections that set him back, but he always recovered. Because his lungs were so weak, he was on the ventilator for 3 ½ months, and struggled daily with his oxygen levels. Finally, the doctors decided to try dexamethazone, and within days he was down the cpap. A month before coming home, he was placed back on the vent for surgery to repair the inguinal hernia. At this point he was almost 8 pounds, and strong, so he kept trying to pull out his ventilator tubes because they were causing him pain. Eventually, the nurses had to strap his arms down to stop him, and it was obvious that he was miserable, and so I was too. He was weaned off the vent once again, and back to the cpap, and then down to nasal cannula only. On April 22 we stayed overnight in the hospital (they had a room like a hotel), so that we could learn how to give him the few medicines he was still on and how to work the oxygen tanks and monitors. On April 23, we brought Jack home! I was terrified that I wouldn’t be able to take care of him because I was used to all the monitors and a whole team of nurses to help! But I gradually settled in and became more confident. It was such a long road, and it was a very rough one, but for all that, we are so very fortunate. Jack only had a grade 1 brain bleed that reabsorbed, mild ROP that his ophthalmologist says should cause no problems, and so far only very slight developmental delays. He sat up a little late, but is making strides to walking, and eats everything in sight!! He seems a bit small to me, but other than needing breathing treatments when he gets a cold, he is a very healthy, normal baby boy! Jack does have several scars from his surgeries and from the IV and PIC line placements when his skin was so fragile. He has no bellybutton, just a starburst scar that I am hoping we can teach him to be proud of, rather than be self conscious about. He’s been a fighter from the very beginning (he’s the only embryo out of four that attached!) and I think he has a very strong nature. I thank the wonderful staff who fought so hard to keep my son alive and every friend and family member who thought of him, or prayed for him. He was put on several prayer lists, and I also believe that my father-in-law’s spirit did everything in heaven that he could to keep my son safe. I second guessed my decision to go ahead with the IVF for the longest time. I also wondered if I didn't say in bed enough, had I done this or not done that would my son have been born later. There is so much about my pregnancy that wasn't the way I had planned, and while I hate, hate, hate that my son had such a difficult start (I still hate to think back on all the wires and blood draws and monitors) the truth is that my son is here. Despite everything, what I did or did not do wrong, he is a happy growing child with very mild developmental delays, and had I not made the decisions I did, he might not be here at all. You can what if yourself into madness. I have since had a hysterectomy and am undergoing chemo, and had I listened to my original oncologist its possible I would still have the ability to have other children, or its possible I wouldn't have been able to even have my son. Either way, I wouldn't have my one and only, very special Jack.

LAURA - posted on 02/05/2010

I have just joined Circle of Moms on facebook and found the link about premature babies which caught my eye as my youngest son was born prematurely and I would like to share my story with anyone who is interested or who is maybe struggling with the fact that their baby is soooo tiny - hang in there I have been there.



My son Matthew is now nearly 9 years old and is one of the tallest boys in his class. He never struggled with the work in school and is actually one of the top readers in his class. He was born on 28 March 2001 at 31 weeks (9 weeks premature). I was taken into hospital at 29 weeks with a low placenta (placenta previa) and had to lie in bed - bleeding stopped when I lay but started again when I got up and walked about. These two weeks were a chance though for the medical staff to give me injections which was to strengthen the lungs of my unborn baby. Eventually I could hold on no longer and my waters broke at about 10.30 on 27 March and I was rushed to the theatre where Matthew was delivered by Ces Section. There must have been 9 or 10 medical staff round the bed that night and I am so thankful for their expertiese and care they showed myself and the new little bundle of joy. This was our third son (the other two being born at full term). Matthew was in an incubator for the first few weeks just to have warmth and security. Thankfully he never had any breathing difficulties. He was 3lb 5 oz when he was born and soon started to put on weight with the feeding from my breast milk. At first it was given to him through a tube and then when his sucking instinct kicked in he fed directly from me - small amounts at first as he was very weak, but after much determination and a lot of patience we got there and I breastfed him until he was 10 months old. He was in Special Care Baby Unit for 6 weeks. Looking back it was hard at the time but the reason I wanted to share this with you all is because you do get through and it's great to see them growing even though at the start it is a little behind the other children of the same age. By about 4 or 5 years old I would say Matthew had caught up and as I said now he is a big strong healthy boy.

Courtney - posted on 02/04/2010

I think this is a great idea. When I was 24 and 6 I started bleeding and had some blood clots. I was admitted to the hospital due to possible placenta abruption and blood clots. After being in the hospital one day I was transferred to a nearby hospital that could care for a 25 week baby. When I got to the other hospital I was placed on monitors was giving magnesium to stop the labor and giving steroids for my babies lungs. The labor stopped that evening and I was transferred to the high risk wing. After having the bleeding stop for 3 days and being told I was able to go home and continue my day to day life the bleeding started, I was transferred back to L&D, the next day my water broke and was being rushed in the OR for and emgerncey c-section, it was the scariest thing I have ever been through. My son Liam was born Aug 5th 2009 at 3:05pm. He was 13in and weighed 2lb1oz. He was born at 25 and 5. Liam's father was able to cut his umbilcal cord and I was able to see him for a quick second. The following day my bf wheeled me down to see him. I was so scared he was so tiny and had so many things attached to him. After a couple days he was put under the blue light and needed to get a pic line put in. It was about 3 weeks before he was able to get breast milk. For the most part our 68 day journey in the NICU was pretty typical for his gestional age. He had a heart murrer which with medication closed. However it did reopen when we discovered he had MRSA in his blood stream. Because of the MRSA he was in isolation for about a month. He also had to have 3 blood transfusion. It was extremely hard to be in my son's room touching him with gloves on and not skin to skin though he was finally able to wear clothes the 2nd week in Sept which was an amazing feeling. Finally we got the good news that he was able to come out of isolation, after that soon to follow he was on the high flow nasal canula to jsut room air, he was then able to take food from a bottle, and about the week before we left the NICU he moved to an open crib. Finally on Oct 11, 2009 Liam was allowed to leave the NICU. After we left the NICU he still had to have surgery on his hernia's on both sides of his groin. During his surgery we had a scare his lungs were senstive and reacted to being put to sleep. He recovered just fine though and today he is 6 months and 12 1/2 lbs and is just growing like a weed. Liam as made me such a proud mom I couldnt ask for a better son. Having my son was an experience that has made me a stronger women. I never thought that I could love some one as much as I love him, and seeing everything that he went through has made me appreciate him so much.

Andrea - posted on 02/04/2010

My twins were born at 30 weeks because one of twins' water broke. We knew one of our twins had medical problems as well and that could have contributed to their early arrival. My labour was moving along slowly and the OB wanted to deliver the boys when the pediatric surgeon was there and our neonatologist as well as our genetics counsellor. She decided to do an emergency C-section because of the safety of our son with the medical issues. I was unable to have an epidural so they decided to put me to sleep. My husband was unable to come into the OR. My boys were delivered 3 minutes apart and they were wisked away to the NICU while I was in recovery. One weighed 3lbs. 11oz. and the other 2lbs. 10oz. I was able to see them the next day and as soon as I saw them in their incubators I cried. I hated seeing them with tubes everywhere.



Aaron (our son with the medical issues) was supposed to have surgery the night he was born because his intestines and some organs had grown outside of his body and they had to be put back in. He was in critical condition that night so they didn't operate. He stabalized the next morning so they were just monitoring him. Ethan (our other twin) was doing well on his CPAP and medications. During the day Aaron's condition once again became critical and we were told he had Limb Body Wall Complex which I knew was fatal. We had a wonderful blessing service performed in the NICU and the staff were very respectful and were in attendance. That night I was awaken by my nurse saying I had to go to the NICU and I knew it wasn't good. Our little boy's oxygen levels were very low even at the maximum dose they could give him. We were told we had to decide to turn off his ventilator. Knowing he couldn't survive we had no other choice but to turn off his machines. He died that night and I will never be the same after that horrible experience. Ethan continued to thrive which was a concern now that his twin wasn't with him. He stayed in the NICU for a week and then was transferred to another hospital for 4 weeks closer to our home. We went everyday to do his baths, feedings, and talk with his nurses and doctors. He was fed through a tube in his nose and gradually we weened him into a bottle. We were so greatful the day were told he could come home! Ethan is now 10 months old and continues to grow with leaps and bounds!

Mikalia - posted on 02/04/2010

my name is Mikalia and i am 18, i have my daughter Mariah who is 8 months old, I had my preemie twin sons December 3,2009, a month early. their names are Landon and Mathew! Landon passed away January 23rd, almost two months old:( He had a heart condition that caused a hole in his right atrium, and he passed away at 6 pounds 7 onces, and was born at 2 pounds 4 ounces. Mathew! is my baby boy:) he is strong and healthy and is now 2 month old officially! He is a big boy weighing 11 pounds now and is very healthy!! God has blessed me with 3 children and has left me with two! I praise him everyday for the two he has allowed me to keep!

Kara - posted on 02/04/2010

I think this is a great idea! I have found it very therapuetic to talk about our story over the last year. Kayleigh was born at 34 weeks 6 days. Labor for me started at the beginning of the 34 week and I made several trips to the hospital to stop labor through the shots and was on bed rest. Then on that Friday it couldn't be stopped. I had something funky happen with my epidural which plummetted my blood pressure. The lowest my husband saw it go was 70/15. I don't remember much of this since I was basically in and out of consciousness. Thankfully, Kayleigh was a trooper through this all and never showed a single sign of distress. When she was finally born, she came out literally screaming. She was 6lbs 9oz! And at first they thought everything would be fine. We spent a half hour with her before she went off to the Special Care Nursery for observation. When we went to say good night 45 minutes later, everything had changed. Turns out her lungs were severely underdeveloped. They had her on CPAP and she wasn't responding. They started talking to us about having to transfer to another hospital with a higher level NICU and to put her on the vent. My head was literally spinning. After consulting with several of the MDs we agreed to the transfer. Only I was left at the hospital where I delivered and I couldn't be transfered with her. I can not even put into words how excurtiating that separation was for me and I know that it still profoundly affects me. I feel like I missed out on some cruical bonding time and need to make up for it still. Thankfully, Kayleigh responded really well to treatment and only needed 12 days in the hospital before she could go home. She's 14 months now and a totally delight. We've have some challenges in her first year plus with her gross motor being very delayed, congential torticollis, reflux, a hydrocehpalus scare and continued lung issues, but I treasure every moment with her.

Kelly - posted on 02/04/2010

excellent idea...please email me if you would like :) figzchic@yahoo.com...i have written a 'journal' to my daughter and could copy and paste some of it to add if you want

Amanda - posted on 02/04/2010

hello my name is mandi i think this a brilliant idea! i was pregenant with my identical twin girls in 2008 december 4th just i layed down for bed my water broke ( i had no idea thats what it was i was really just kinda hopping it was lack of control!) i was only 26 weeks along! so we get to the hospital and the doctors confirm it on eof them had indeed broke their water bag! me and my boyfriend both freaked out! they gave me magnesium to stop the labor and steriod shots to help their lungs develope then of course i was put on a million monetors and strict bed rest! i made it 2 weeks before labor started and wouldnt stop! the day i turned 28 weeks i was wheeled into the or for a emergency c-section. my first daughter came out and iwas able to see her and hear her cry my second daughter on the other hand was rushed straight out of the room i had no idea what was going on nobody could really tell me anything! i was petrified that i was going to lose my daughter before i had a chance to meet her! while in the recovery room the nurse got a call from the nicu to let me know how they were doing it was such a relief to know both of my girls were alive and doing ok. that night their dad spent all his time down in the nicu with them and would perioticly bring me pictures of them and give me updates! the next day i was able to be wheeled to the nicu and see them for myself thats when i got to talk to the nurse she told me my girls were 2lbs 6 oz and 2lbs 8oz! they were so tiny i wanted to cry they were covered in tubes and wires it was the scariest thing i had ever seen. they were under the blue lights for gaundous for like a weeks or 2! i wanted to cry when i had to leave the hospitals without my little girls! everytime the phone rang my heart would drop wondering if it was the hospital calling because something had went wrong. days went by i went to see them everyday wondering when they were going to be well enough for me to hold. finally one day ( i think it was about 3 weeks into their stay) the nurse informed me i would finally be able to hold them thats was the happiest day of my life at the time. i sat there for 30 minutes doing kangaroo care (skin to skin ) i could only 30 minutes with them because if they were brought out for too long their temp would drop and we couldnt afford for them to get sick! about 2 weeks later they finally reach 3 pounds and were able to finally get dressed then the grandparents were able to hold them! finally we lost the incubators and they were put into bassenettes! then before i knew it we were working on bottle feeding ( that took forever it seems) them one day i was told twin a was ready to come home in the next day or two but twin b was still about a week behind her! but thank god for their nurse she pushed twin b hard so she could come home with her sister! that was the best day ever packing all their stuff up put them in their carseats after everyone said goodbye to everyone got our discharge orders said our goodbye cried a little and went home! for as little as they were and for as early as they were they had no real serious problems! they spent 2 1/2 months in the nicu. they are doing wonderfully now they have a huge appitite they are very active and have no big medical issues thank god! they are now 13 months old and are thriving! if you find this story interesting enough to publish go for it!