For those of you who had premie babies

How far along were you when you gave birth? What happened with the baby? How long did the baby have to stay in the NICU? How is your DC now?

I am 29 wks been on bedrest since 25 and dr says his goal is to get me to 33 right now and take it from there. really wants to come out already....just want to know what I am in store for if this happens too early.

TIA!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

First of all
I had DS2 at 33 1/2 weeks. He was 5 lbs, 12 oz. The doctors could not find any reason for it but I just went into labor on my own. I had a c-section (DS1 was a C as well).
He was taken right into the NICU and put on oxygen. He was breathing too fast so they had to put in a feeding tube as well (they didn't want him to aspirate). He was in there for a week and I was able to hold him the day after I delivered. He was also jaundiced so he spent a lot of time under the bili lights . The nurses were amazing and taught me how to change his diaper in the incubator and talked to me a lot.
Not only are you dealing with the pp hormones, but having a preemie in itself brings a lot of emotion.
Hmmm, what else can I tell you?

Oh, and DS turned 1 yesterday and is AMAZING!! As far as I, or the doctors, can tell, he has no lingering effects of being born so early other than him being a peanut

Message edited 8/13/2009 4:14:20 PM.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

i too was put on bed rest at 25 weeks for pre term labor i had a t- pump till 35 weeks. (yes i made it to 35 weeks it was a blessing!) the goal was 34 weeks.

once they stopped the pump (due to insurance reasons) i wasput on terbutaline pills for about a week! but at the same time my blood pressure was going higher and higher noone ever knows the reason beihind anything that happened. At 36 weeks 6 days. i went to hospial because of BP the said they can no longer wait or put it off to come back in 12 hours when i was 37 weeks (im pretty sure because at 37 weeks your considered full term?)

DD was delivered at 37 weeks exactly and 7lbs 10oz... no effects shes perfect (so far) didnt even need to be in the NICU!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

29 weeks 6 days....DS was born at 2 lbs. 13 oz.

21 months later......26 lbs!

DS was in the NICU for 6 weeks....he did very well, just needed to gain weight.

Feel free to FM me if you want to chat....it's great to talk to people who have been through it.....that helped me alot.

Message edited 8/14/2009 8:01:50 AM.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

My SIL had her first around 32-33 weeks and he was in the NICU for a few weeks. But he was pretty strong the entire time, just needed some help breathing and incubation.

She had her 2nd at about 31 weeks and she was born an OX. They put her on oxygen and took her off within a day. She stayed in the NICU about one week.

God Bless you!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

DS was born at 34 weeks at 5lbs.....he spent 4 weeks in the NICU----his main issue was apnea (forgetting to breath) although he never needed any oxygen or anything. So he mainly stayed for that and came home on a monitor until he was 3 months. Now at 18 months he is a happy, healthy (and big) boy!!!!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

My dd was born at 35 weeks exactly. Doctors don't know why, but I just went into labor. She was 6 lbs 4 oz and was totally healthy. She went directly to the normal newborn nursery at birth after being checked out by the pediatric staff, and was sent home with me after 2 days. She has been amazingly healthy thank god, and only had a slight speech delay.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

Posted by MrsPJ

How far along were you when you gave birth? What happened with the baby? How long did the baby have to stay in the NICU? How is your DC now?

I am 29 wks been on bedrest since 25 and dr says his goal is to get me to 33 right now and take it from there. really wants to come out already....just want to know what I am in store for if this happens too early.

TIA!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

Not that big of a preemie here, born at 36 weeks, one mth early.

My DD was large anyway, 7.4 lbs even a mth early. Went right to regular nursery, then from the csection had some breathing issues and went to the NICU where she stayed for 2 days. She got antibiotics, oxygen and extra monitoring.

She's perfectly fine now. I you make it until 34 weeks. You can do it!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

DD was born at 33 weeks, so 7 weeks early. My water just broke and she was born about an hour later. She was 4lbs 2oz at birth and she was taken straight to the NICU. She had no issues from being early, only that she needed to gain weight. She stayed in the NICU for 2 weeks and she lost a little (as all babies do when they are born), and when I took her home she was the same 4lbs 2oz. She was a tiny peanut.

She will be 3 in a few weeks and she is still a peanut (about 26lbs), but has made all her milestones within the ranges or full-term babies and has had absolutely no issues whatsoever.

Good luck

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

My DD was born at 33 weeks (7 weeks early) due to low fluid and the placenta simply not working (there was reversal blood flow also).
She was born at 2lbs 6oz.
Just went to Dr. today (shes 3 months old now) and is now 7lbs 13oz and doing GREAT!
She's amazing all the dr.s and therapists (she recieves EI).
She was in the NICU for 34 days.
In the OR (I had a repeat C section), I was able to see her, take pics, etc because she came out kicking, crying, and breathing all on her own.
She needed no help except for a feeding tube. She alternated from a feeding tube to bottle..When she'd drink the bottle, she'd "Tire out", therefore, they alternated.
When she gained weight and was on all bottle feedings, she was discharged!

Any more questions, feel free to FM me.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

DS was born at 35 weeks. My water just broke and I had him about 10 hours later. He weight 5lbs 10oz and was kept in NICU for 8 days because he had Pneumonia and was on oxygen.
He just had his 5 month check up today and is doing great! Weights 15 lbs, rolls over, and is eating cereal, fruit & veggies.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

Hi, I had 25 weeker twins.

The long story summed up into a short story... I went into the hospital with cramping, they found I was 3cm dilated tried to stop the preterm labor and about 12hours later after an emergency C-Section, I delivered a beautiful LITTLE girl and boy.

They had an extensive stay in the NICU...105 days to be exact! They stayed in the hospital until my due date (which they basically said from the beginning would probably happen, they were right on the money they came home 1 day earlier then my due date.)

They had many complications in the beginning of their life all associated to being born too early. However, once they came home and were off oxygen, they seemed to strive in leaps and bounds. They did receive EI services and constant check ups all over the place but I would travel anywhere, any day to watch my little monkeys do as wonderfully as they have.

Today they are happy, energetic 2 year olds that so far, are developing like there peers. To date, they really have no complications with being a preemie except that they are a little under weight. From what some doctors say it could just be hereditery too, so who knows.


I credit a lot of their success to them being strong willed babies and the fabulous nurses and doctors and Schneider's NICU.

If you have any questions please FM me.
Hope some of this info. helps you!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

AndreaLMT also had a preemie and was on bedrest - maybe FM her too!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

dd was born at 35 weeks. i actually went into the hospital at 34 weeks (sat night) and she was born at 35 weeks (sun morning). my water had actually broke the thursday before - just didn't realize it until later (it was a leak). she was 5lbs 15oz and 18.5 inches long. she went right to the regular nursery, though they wanted to keep her in an isolette for 24 hours to make sure she maintained her body temp (hospital policy). she gained weight great and is now 15lbs and 24 inches at 3 months old!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I gave birth to my DD at 32 weeks, 5 days and she weighed 4lbs. 14oz and was 17 1/4 inches. My water broke prematurely and the Doctor was going to try to get me to 34 weeks but I began contracting. My DD did not need any Oxygen or C-Pap. She just needed to gain weight and increase her BM consumption.

Looking back, it was an absolute roller coaster. My DD was in the NICU for two weeks and I felt awful leaving the hospital without her. I was also scared of what was to come.

That was 6 months ago. Today DD is 6 1/2 months and at the 6 month check-up weighed in at 15 lbs. 7 oz and was 25 inches. She seems to be on par developmentally (rolling over both ways, sitting, etc.). She has been in the 25% for both height and weight since her 4 month check-up, so not huge but on the charts or "caught up."

So although you may feel apprehensive of the thought of delivering early rest assured that in this day and age your DS should be just fine. The NICU stay is probably the toughest time but once they come home it is pure joy. Many and for you and your DS.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I was put on total bedrest at 20 weeks due to incompetent cervix. Started having small contractions at 29 weeks and started taking Procardia and continued with the bedrest. I was taken off full bedrest at 35 weeks and told to take it easy. DS was born at 35 weeks 5 days and weighed 7 pounds.

He was "grunting" and had to go to NICU, spent 7 days there...1 day on CPAP, 1 day on oxygen, 1 day under the UV lights for jaundice, 2 days in a regular incubater and then under the UV lights for another day...

He is one month old and the Ped. says she would no longer consider him a preemie. He is lifting his head and developing the same as a full-term baby.

Do the bedrest...it really, truly works! I would have had this baby way earlier if it weren't for the bedrest. FM me if you'd like!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

34 weeks. 1 week in a special care unit.

A lot of friends have had premies (28, 31 & 32 weekers, if I'm remembering correctly). NICU time varied but they were almost always released 1-2 weeks to their due date, if not on their due date. All of the babies were ok & now 6, 8, 10 year olds. The only issue I've seen crop up is ADD.

Message edited 8/14/2009 7:16:17 AM.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I was on strict bedrest with dilated cervix and pre-eclampsia with my twins.....I somehow held out until 36 weeks. They weighed 5lbs, 12 oz and 6lbs, 8 oz. They were perfect and came home from the hospital with me. I was very blessed!

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I had my daughter at 33 weeks. I was having lots of problems and my placenta finally stopped working.

She was 3lbs 5ozs 15 inches long. I had a c-section (my other 2 were c-sections)
She was taken immediately to the NICU. She had a c-pap for less than 24 hours and was able to breathe on her own. She wasn't fed for the first few days since it would be too stressful on her. She was then fed via feeding tube for a few weeks. She stayed in the NICU 4 weeks. Came home weighing 4lbs 7ozs and now at almost 11 weeks old weighs just over 8 lbs.

It is a roller coaster. Feel free to FM me if you need to chat. I found my friends that had been through it were able to really help me.

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I just had a baby girl 7 weeks ago, she was born @ 32 wks 3 days, weighed 4lb 5 oz & 17 3/4 inches. She cried right away when she was born (I just really needed to hear that) & was breathing ok, just needed a cpap for about 12 hours & then was breathing all on her own. Needed bili lights for a few days but otherwise ate like a champ & gained weight. She was in the NICU for 2 weeks so she could show weight gain & maintain body temp. She left the hospital a 4lb 6oz (lost a bit of weight but that's normal) & it now over 7 lbs 7 weeks later.
She's doing so well!
Many hugs to you, I know how scary this can be...

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I had identical twins at 30 weeks. I was having a perfect pregnancy and went into labor without explanation.

My girls were born at 2 lbs 10 oz and 2 lbs 11 oz. Neither needed respirators!!

Here is what they needed:

1. CPAP - common
2. Blood Transfusions - common
3. One daughter needed an IV survically implanted because nurses could not find a PIC line.

Both are doing very well! Went to every specialist so far and things look great.

Both came come at 6 weeks give or take. At discarge their weights were 4 lbs 3 ounces and 4 lbs 9 onces.

At five and a half months they currently weigh 10 pounds and 10 pounds 5 ounces. (i make itty bitty baby girls).

Re: For those of you who had premie babies

I went on bedrest at 28 weeks and DD was born a month early, at 35w2d. She was 5lbs and perfectly healthy. I had been given steriods at 28 weeks, so I think that helped. She didn't go to the NICU - she went straight to the nursery!