My daughter was born at 29 weeks due to severe pre-eclampsia. She weighed 855 grams. It was quite a surreal experience being totally unprepared for the birth so early in the pregnancy and not having adjusted quite yet to having a baby after such a short time- I was barely showing!! My blood pressure was 250/180 and the midwife wouldn't let me stand up. She took my blood pressure four times and use several different cuffs and stethoscopes because she couldn't believe the reading. I had protein in my urine. Within 30 minutes of being at the hospital i was in a bed with a magnesium drip and several others, a baby monitor strapped on and a catheter in. We were terrified. Less then 24 hrs later i was signing a consent form which I couln't read due to the drugs the doctors had me on and being prepped for an emergency ceasarian as my baby's heartrate was slowing. An hour later Emily was born, the doctors warned us that she would not be breathing but she let out a squawk and took a breath, she was ventilated for 12 hours and then breathed on her own with the assistance of cpap after that. I remember her starting on 1m of breastmilk per hour. Our time spent in NICU was very positive and the kangaroo cuddles were my most favourite thing of all, we spent most of our time at the hospital cuddling, expressing, singing and playing with Emily. My husband used to finish work at 1am and go to the hospital o cuddle and feed her. So sweet!!
I was actually feeling quite high after herbirth and didn't feel at any time that we were going to lose her. Emily remained in hospital for 64 days and came home 2 weeks before she was due to be born weighing 2.2 kilo's. I have since had another baby girl called Zoe and the pregnancy was perfect and she went full term. I did take cardiprin as a preventative for the blood pressure elevation but it remained fine throughout the pregnancy.