Premmie Mums #8

I think this is just an indication of how positively ENORMOUS my little boy has got... We had our 12 month check just recently, and he's a little bit lighter and a little bit taller than Nakita. 11.4kg and 78cm (but the measuring thingy didn't go any longer!). We're sitting between the 75th and 90th percentiles - except his head circumference which is solidly on the 90th. You'd never believe he was a prem to look at him now, but I'm finding that with the passing of his birthday and the anniversary of his EDD it's doing my head in now more than ever.

TK, I ordered a doll. I honestly think it will help. I hope it will, anyway.

BW

Thanks Sal :D

BW, and for Sam, he is doing just wonderfully :comfort:, he within the same range with each of his %iles and on the chart for his age, you wouldn't believe it with N either, and it nice to not get the constant array of "ohh isn't she tiny" and dirty looks people thinking that your child it too small to be out of hospital or that you are starving them!

They didn't do N's head at her 18 months check but when she was in hospital in October, her head was on the 97th%ile, weight 25th%ile and length 10th%ile, so you can imagine the Dr's getting a bit stressed over it :o I lost count of how many Paed's measured it and asked mountains of questions. I never thought there was anything wrong, she just has a big noggin :rofl:

Way to go Nikita!

Sal, Tristan sounds like he is a happpy and contented little baby who is getting enough to eat, perhaps he was always going to be small? Would it be an issue if he hadn't been a prem? I think you are doing an amazing job with both boys, what lucky kids to have such dedicated parents as you two!

Charlie is a big boofer at 11.8kgs, he has certainly caught up size wise, we have been very lucky with our long term 'issue's', we will see what he is like next winter if the chronic lung thingy is better or if we do the hospy run's again...... :lol:

butterfly warrior, we couldn't bring ourselves to order a doll, we have a stuffed monkey that was in the cot with charlie when he was born and it's the same length, skinny legs, same size head etc but I can still food myself into thinking " Oh, Charlie was a bit bitter than that, he was heavier etc etc. " I think the reality of the doll would just be too much. A premmie mum friend of ours has one of her daughter, she was only 24 weeks and I don't cope with that AT ALL it's tooooooo small, toooo confronting........ But it's been really important for her to remember how small Tilly was when she was born....
Whatever it takes to get through is my philosopy, I still don't cope very well remembering those days........Charlie's due date is coming up and we just passed his coming home date a few days ago.....

Big Hugs Sally2 :hug:

I hope the CLD is improving has he had any recent scans? We've been told to expect another crap winter with N as well, hoping we can avoid the hospitals as well, way too many visits last year :shakehead:

A few friends have been the same with the dolls, I got mine so I could really remember, although I wish I had gone for a fells like rather than actual ad the actual just doesn't "feel right" :lol:

i dont have any issues dealing with the fact i had 3 premmies,maybe cos niesha was 35 weeks and didnt need to go to nursery and then with hunter i knew something was wrong and he would be safe before he arrived and with serenity i was in shock hoping id go longer but id done it all before so i was an old hand so it just seemed lilke no biggy to me.....i dont think id get a doll cos i like thinking she still small and my baby and it would show how much shes grown

I've heard so many stories of 35 weekers doing better and getting out of hospital faster than 36 weekers. Does anyone know why that is? I guess I've also heard of some 36 week babies popping out much, much bigger than Sam and not needing SCN at all... and it bugs me that Sam needed to be in there for so long... especially so when I realise he probably could have got out much quicker (and we may have been able to BF properly) if a stupid nurse hadn't put in an NG tube that was too short and probably caused us our biggest problems!

BW

I'm just soooo happy all these premmie babies are healthy and thriving :D!

It all depends on baby, why they were prem, their size, whether steroids were given, ect ect. there are so so so many factors.

The following is statistics taken from Lil Aussie Prems, on gestation VS Hospital stay (I've taken out the babies names for privacy reasons) and it is still by far better to reach 36 weeks than what it is any less xxx

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23 weeks
Average: 163 days/ 23+3 weeks

24 weeks
Average: 147 days / 21 weeks

25 weeks
Average: 106 days /15+1 weeks

26 weeks
Average: 114 days/16+2weeks

27 weeks
Average: 89 days /12+5 weeks

28 weeks
Average: 74 days/ 10+4 weeks

29 weeks
Average: 60 days / 8+4 weeks

30 weeks
Average: 51 days / 7+2 weeks

31 weeks
Average:41 days / 5+6 weeks

32 weeks
Average: 37 days /5+2 weeks

33 weeks
Average: 23 days / 3+2 weeks

34 weeks
Average: 18 days / 2+4 weeks

35 weeks
Average:15 days/ 2+1weeks

36 weeks
Average: 11 days /1+4 weeks

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gosh i had to go searching back the psges for this one!
this is Nixon's birth story

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...y-arrival.html

Great story

it sucks that they made you lie on the bed when I had niesha I was monitors but preferred being on all fours

Today is their EDD and theyre 6 weeks already.Now is pretty much our terrible hour when DS goes down at 7.30 and the girls decide its dinner time :(
Things are going well Im getting plenty of sleep I just wish it was easier to leave the house.

HUGS Rhy :hug: Due dates are hard, but it does get easier. be nice to yourself, you are doing so well.

I wasnt allowed to walk around with Brendan had a timed shower, timed toilet break ect. With Tristan I was allowed to do what I needed.

yay rhyb up and onards rom here

Hi Ladies!

As promised I've been a bit crap at coming in here regularily but I've just caught up with the thread so I thought I should say Hello and give a bit of an update.

Seth is doing great - he really is. Other than a minor hip issue - which the Paed at the Royal Women's freaked me out about as she advised she thought he needed immediate surgery to fix the problem before he was 3 months corrected - he's doing wonderfully. Chubbing up quite a bit and getting quite long - he's now in 0000 clothing which is a shock to me. Each time I put more clothes away that no longer fit him I'm both sad and happy all at once. I can't believe how much he's grown!

And he's smiling and laughing like the happiest baby on Earth so I really am quite a lucky girl, even despite all the other issues going on in my life at the moment.

However after others took a look at my birth report (the one they gave me when DS was discharged from SCN) they basically freaked out and let me know that not only did DS almost die (which I knew) but I did too. For the past 4 months I had thought DS's early arrival was brought on by stress as I was told - it turns out my placenta had abrupted and when I was bleeding at home like crazy before the ambulance came, I was in serious trouble. Like, really, really bad trouble.

To make matters worse, the fact that my 12 week scan highlighted Low Papp-A should've signalled to the midwife and Drs that were taking care of me that I would have a prem baby. Nope, nothing. And apparently they never should have let me discharge myself 5 hours after giving birth - they didn't even give me an iv and it's on their bloody website in a flowchart to provide info to other medical professionals with advice on how to care for a woman with APH. Basically they chucked the flowchart away in my case and did NOTHING.

Oh - and when I ended up passing out on my bathroom floor for 40 hours 2 days after DS was born it wasn't because of exhaustion caused by the constipation I was dealing with as I had thought. Apparently I had lost so much blood and a piece of the placenta had lodged on top of my cervix causing me to pass out.

So now I'm completely messed up about my pregnancy and birth. I'm angry that they KNEW I'd have a prem baby and no one told me and that they not only put my life at risk but Seth's. Because he came early I had to scrap my plans to return to Canada before the birth, thus causing a huge mess with immigration/housing/legal stuff, etc. I've contacted the hospital and had them send me the form so I can request our hospital records and then I'm taking them immediately to a lawyer. I don't care if I never see a cent from them - but they can't let this happen to someone else. Yes, we were lucky but who in the h wants luck to play such a huge part in something like birth?

Anyway, sorry for the rant. Just wanted to give you the heads up about why things are still quiet on my end - so much stuff for me to process now and I can't get a grip on it yet. I'm really angry and sad whenever I think of it. It's bad enough I've felt guilty as heck this whole time thinking if only I'd coped with the stress of DH leaving than Seth could have avoided 6 weeks in hospital without his Mummy 24/7 but to find out they could have helped to ensure that he stayed in longer and had a better chance at the beginning? It's just wrong. No wonder he was born so darn small.

I'm glad to hear everyone and their babies are doing relatively well, and I'll still be here lurking until I feel like I can speak in here again.

S xo

Sally - :hug: weigh ins can be hard. I have no wonder words of advice for you but know that we are here for you. How did you go at the doctors?

Beema - WTG Nakita & mummy! I hate it with doctors when they just basically confirm everything I have said LOL. I also wish the dolls felt more accurate even though they are correct weight.

BW - I found Caitin's EDD really hard... I have no idea how I will cope towards her first birthday and EDD again this year - time will tell. I hope that the doll is able to bring you some closure. It did for me, I'm one of the mums that needs to remember how small she was. I think Sam is doing beautifully, he is a very happy little boy and very keen to show off his walking abilities!

Sally2 - fingers crossed you get reprive from the hospital runs this year :hug:

Heavenly -

Leesa - I agree... it is good to see so many happy, healthy prems.

Nickers - thank you sharing Nixon's story.

Rhyb - due dates are terribly hard. Glad to hear you are getting plenty of sleep.

BR - Glad to hear DS is doing well. Wow that is a lot of information for you to take in. :hug: I am at a loss for words.

AFU - DD is doing very well. We went to the ECHN last week with DP who was not at work for the day. DD weighs 6.7kg now (50th %), 62cm long (25th %), and HC is 41cm (25th%). The ECHN said with her responses and progress she is very similar to a FT baby - and that whilst we still can't discount her being prem, she is doing really well. I cried... couldn't help it. It just felt so different to the constant issues with her weight when she was in hospital... the huge fuss they made over a 20gm loss in 2 days etc... to finally be told something good without the "mmm how is she going for corrected age" comments was just such a relief.

TK - WOW she is doing so awesome!!!

BR - :hug: I'm really sorry for the way you were treated, I hope that the hospital changes their ways to prevent it happening to another.

*ETA* Dr's went ok... I have an umbilical hernia (I had with Tristan and it hasn't gone done) and need surgery to have it fixed.

tk thats excellent news!!!!!!!

ive never really had a problem with the edd days maybe its just me ive kinda been like beore then she was special cos she was here when she wasnt meant to be and she'd get special attention and now shes suposed to be here ppl wont think shes special...prob cos noone makes a big deal of it cos its my 3/4 kids so its like theres another one so it was nice to have the attention though it wasnt nice she was so early

Morning (afternoon if not in WA LOL)

Brendan has been enrolled into a Speech and Language Programme :D Am kinda excited as it's a group thing. Runs for 7 weeks. Looking forward to getting some new tips :D

Tristan is doing well :)

thats fantastic sally

serenity all good too , still havent seen the chn lol but shes now a tight squeeze for 00000 legless out fits and when this pack of newborn nappies finish she will be moving up a size so i know shes growing, she also loves listening and music an singing and the breeze in her hair

Oh BR :hug: :hug: I am astounded to read how you were treated, you have me in tears, no one should be treated like that :( I hope that things work out for you, I am just in shock to read what happened, you are an amazing woman and mother and Seth would be so very proud of you and what you have done.

In time your own time can come back in and say hi.

Wow TK Caitin is doing really well, you must be so proud :D

Ooohhh I hope it goes really Well Sal and the Brendan can really move forwards :hug:

Serenity sounds like she is doing beautifully HM4 :D

Thankyou all for sharing your stories, it was amazing to hear how all these precious prems came into the world :grouphug:

AFus: DD has been sick again and ended up in hospital with and NGT as she hadn't anything to eat or drink for a couple of days and had temps over 39 degrees and no matter what we tried we couldn't get any fluids or pain meds into her. She is home now and has since come out in a rash. The Dr's think that it may have been to do with her 18 month chicken pox vaccination, some kind of viral infection. Apparently the rashes come out at the end of it. We had dry nappies until this morning (which only had a tiny bit in it, but she decided to drink some milk this morning and she had a bit more this afternoon, so enough to keep her at home. She isn't eating very much and mostly just plays with the food but that will come when she feels better. She lost 800grams, but that will come back in time.

She is now walking by herself, she started the day before she got sick, but she hasn't done it since, but I am sure she will in a few more days :D

Have a great weekend everyone xxoo

Yay Serenity :D

Beema, :hug: Poor muffin :( Hope she gains the weight back quickly xx

Hi Everyone, I have lurked this thread from time to time over the last 6 months (gee that's gone fast) and have felt a bit silly for thinking of posting in here. Let me know if you think it isn't suitable, I'll understand.

A brief story of us:
We had no idea when our conception date was and due to irregular periods. Our local doctor decided that our due date would be 25th August, 2009.

DD was transverse oblique and I had a low lying placenta. I went into labour on the 2nd of August and was given drugs to stop the labour which only worked on the 3rd and final attempt and DD was born via c/s on the 3rd August, 2009 at 36w6d. So technically she was only 1 day from being a FT baby. She was rushed off to NSCN due to breathing difficulties, and failure to keep body temp. It was 8 long hours before I got to meet her which then was only for 10mins. She was almost 24hrs old before I saw her again. It became evident quite quickly that she wasn't anywhere near a FT baby with her actions. She was 2.5kg 48cm long and 33cm HC. She had monitors and was under heat lamps in an open cot. It felt like a long road, and we were told she looked like she would be here until her due date. I longed to hold her, feed her and bond. I too struggled being on the maternity ward without my baby. Especially since for the first few days my room was the first beside the nursery. But she made a quick turn around and ended up being discharged to our room on the 11th night and out of hospital on the 12th.

We had many issues with feeding and expressed by hand for the liquid gold to be given via NGT She had formula top ups eventually used bottles at some points She had her NGT removed 10th morning and we fully Breastfed that day. Sorry this is a bit of a ramble and all over the shop, I'm trying to condense the story and am realising that I still haven't come to terms with everything that happened as I've not really spoken to anyone about it all.

DD is going well now, feeds great. Has reflux, colic, had torticollis which has been fixed and still has plagiocephaly. She also has a milk protein allergy. She has quite a few strawberry birthmarks which apparently are common in female prem bubs.

It is only now that I'm starting to see developmentally in some areas she is going great guns but sometimes I feel like she is falling behind - the cons of a going to a regular mothers group.

On Thursday we had MCHN visit and she was 6months 1 day. 6.5kg, 65cm long, and 42.5cm HC.

This has turned out to be a long post :redface: sorry.

Hey my dd at 35 weeks was 2.5kg sucky ur bub had to stay in cos my dd luckily didn't but of course we won't kick you out

Hello Ellee, welcome to the premmie group :D It sounds like you DD is going really well!!! She's bigger than Tristan hehe, he was 5.99kg at 7m (born 3090 at 34+3) How is she going for development?

*ETA* forgot to update Tristan's exciting news!! He's starting to crawl, wouldn't call him crawling just yet, but oh so close! He is also trying to sit now as well :D

Hi everyone :). I forgot about this thread! It's probably a good idea for me to join in now, as it looks highly likely that we'll be having another prem. DS was 35 weeks, and although had been borderline IUGR, was healthy enough to come home with us. Not that we were without any premmie-related dramas, but we were very lucky that we could take him home.

This bubba (as many of you know) is significantly IUGR, so they think will need to be delivered early (or I may go into prem labour again). Although, I'm feeling very positive over the last few days, and it seems that my tummy has had a growth spurt, so I'm hoping that means bub has ;). Another u/s and Ob appt tomorrow, so we'll have a better idea then where we're at. With any luck this bub will hardly be prem at all!!!!

Looking forward to getting to know you all, and catching up on your stories. I'd better head off and call the hospital now to see if they're ready yet to do our CTG :rolleyes:

Good to see you here Janie, I hope everything goes well for tomorrow xx

Thanks Sally :). I'm feeling really nervous actually. Few movements on the CTG yesterday, so we have to go in early for another one today. I think that has raised the anxiety levels a tad :lol:. I KNOW bub is okay, I got a nice kick minutes after waking up this morning, but it would have been nice not to worry about another CTG session. And we're trying to cram alot in today......I have NO maternity bras to wear after the birth, none of my old ones fit me, and my current bras just won't be suitable post-birth. So I want to go to the Mothers Direct shop today before going into the hospital, as I really need to be fitted. It sounds crazy, but I really feel like I need to do this before bub arrives.

A question about birth.........we had a lovely middy yesterday on the ward who chatted alot to us about birth, and SCN etc. I asked if I went into labour now how much monitoring I would be having. And she said that given the baby's circumstances I would be monitored the entire time, on the CTG. I was kind of prepared for that, but a little disappointed, as I won't be able to use water etc. So glad we're doing Calmbirth (if only we get to finish it LOL). Soooooooooo, has anyone else had this experience, and how did you deal with it? My labour with DS I was active or in the shower/bath the entire time, so I'm really unsure as to how I will deal with being hooked up and basically immobile. Both my Ob and the midwife have reassured me that they think my labour (if we have one) will be pretty quick, but of course no one can guarantee that.

TIA :D

Janie, I was on monitors the entire time with Sam at 36 weeks... We did ok, I think. I did struggle with being able to move, especially as labour started out posterior. It wasn't that I wasn't allowed to move, it's just that when I did, the monitors would often lose Sam and I would freak out. When it got a bit too much to cope with, they offered me a scalp monitor for Sam, which I accepted. I also asked them to help me into another position to help... and as soon as I was on my knees leaning over a bean bag, Sam flipped as well so things then went very, very quickly and I really couldn't give a crap about what the monitors were doing. 5cm to pushing in two contractions (not that I knew this, I struggled on trying to stop my body from pushing despite the urge). I honestly don't think the shower, bath or being able to walk around would have made a whole lot of difference, especially with things going so quickly. Perhaps work on optimal positioning and hope that the predictions of a quick labour are correct? Ask about scalp monitors when your water breaks and are dilated far enough - they gave me a bit more freedom of movement.

BW

Thank you so much for those tips BW :D. So they're happy to use scalp clips on weeny babies? It's not something I ever would have thought I'd be keen on, but if we need continuous monitoring I think I'm prepared to change my mind ;). Yeah, my labour with DS was 14 hours, and there is no way I could have tolerated being hooked up the entire time without pain relief. The midwife said yesterday that in all likelihood, by the time we arrive at the hospital it's unlikely I'll have much time to be thinking about running a bath etc :lol:. Like I said, one can only hope so!

I don't know how small a baby would have to be before they wouldn't want to use a scalp clip. It just left Sam with a little scab on his head for a week or so. I've seen worse marks on babies after forceps or ventouse extractions. I still had to have one monitor on me... but it was the one measuring contractions, not keeping track of bub's heartbeat.

BW

I was strapped to the CTG for Brendan's entire labour/birth. I had to ask permission and wait for someone to remove it to go to the loo, I was allowed to have a shower, but it was timed. I laboured in my back and it was really hard to get comfy without trying to move to move. Every time I moved the CTG would lose bub. I think this is one of the contributing factors to having so many drugs (morphine, gas and an epidural) With Tristan I was on the CTG for a while in early labour but they were happy with our progress so I was allowed to have a loooong shower and walk around a bit.

It really depends on the Dr you get for delivery and the midwives too. Another contributing factor is bub, Brendan was all over the place for my labour, his heartbeat would rise too high and fall too low (which is why I was given an epidural they were going to do a c/s) where as Tristan stayed fairly steady for the time he was on the ctg.

All the best hun xxx

Hi Janie,

I was on the monitors the entire labour with DD. I was induced due to PE & HELLP so also had the synto drip...

I wasn't able to use water (which I had planned to do) but was able to remain active. The cords are fairly long (well mine were but I did ask them to ensure I could still walk around) and I had one of my support people in charge of moving the drip as I needed to.

The monitors did fall off at times but I just buzzed for the nurse to come in and fix them up. I did panic a few times that I couldn't hear DDs heartbeat but at the same time the monitors usually fell off mid contraction so I didn't really care about them until the contraction had passed and then I realised that the CTG was having an attack cause it couldn't find the heartbeat.

There was one point where they asked me to stay on the bed because the trace they needed kept being interrupted by the montiors falling off. I told them I would stay still (or not as active) but not on the bed. So I sat on the fitball for that trace and bounced but I held the monitor in place so they could get their trace.

I didn't use any pain relief just visualisations, walking, bouncing etc etc.

My only advice would be to make sure that they leads are long so you can walk around

Best wishes xox

ETA: oh yes, the asking to go to the loo etc... that annoyed me no end!!

I was monitored with niesha 35 weeks went on all fours she was posterior with hunter I had none cos he was just a sudden urge to push and I was waiting in the labour ward after my waters broke to see what they wanted to do and serenity I was 7cm after 10 min but they noticed she was footling breech so emerg csec

:

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I wasn't able to use water (which I had planned to do) but was able to remain active. The cords are fairly long (well mine were but I did ask them to ensure I could still walk around) and I had one of my support people in charge of moving the drip as I needed to.

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wow that's awesome! My cords were only just long enough to move on the bed!

We were on the monitors too, but as Charlie was so small and posterior as he moved down the canal, the monitor lost him. Sal FREAKED at that point and pushed him out after they broke her waters in four minutes ( 2 contractions )as they couldn't hear a heartbeat. He was bruised from head to bum all down his back poor thing :lol:
It was hard for her not being able to move, but as we were still in denial up until they broke her waters that we were having a baby that day, I don't think she really understood she was in labour and there were other options for pain relief ie moving around, water, if you know what I mean?!?!?

Janie, good luck honey, we have been watching your story on the forums, hoping bubs has a MASSIVE growth spurt in the next couple of weeks!

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wow that's awesome! My cords were only just long enough to move on the bed!

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At first I thought they were 'standard' length but I could walk around the bed and if I stayed on the side that the machine was on I could walk maybe a metre and a half from the bed.

One of the middies knew my doula and said to her at the end of it all that I was lucky to get the machine with the long leads LOL.

I just asked to be able to move and apparently one of the middies who was on when they first broke my waters went and got that machine only because the one that was in the room didn't have paper - quite lucky I guess

I wasn't on the monitors, there wasn't the time, they used the doppler a couple of times, but then lost DD HB and everyone got all stressed, but it wasn't long and I was pushing her out anyway, and I could feel her kicking so I knew she was ok :D

If I was it wouldn't have mattered as I was comfy kneeling and leaning over the back of the bed, until I had to turn around :o

TK, very lucky!!

I am one very proud mumma :D Tristan is officially crawling NORMALLY at 7m3w old!!! (he's about 6m1w corrected I think...) It's sooo awesome, he's soo cute and cos he's still quite small it's actually quite odd to see :lol: Now I am going to know I am alive rofl...

Janie, i hope everything goes well for you your almost 32 weeks which is fantastic.
With Nixon i had to be hooked up to the CTg the entire time, so i had to labour on the bed the whole time, and un connect every time i wanted to go to the bathroom!
I end up sucking on gas for the pain, but i never made it to pushing stage i had a c/s.

Just also coming in to update that Nixon is having his big diagnostic assesment tomorrow. Its at a diagnostic clinic and to be accepted for the assesment we had to have an extensive phone conversation, fill out many forms regarding Nixon's history/ behaviour etc and have referals from several different professions.

So its a long one, goes for 4-5 hours. he will be seen by a Paed, a speech therapist, a OT & a child physologist, some parts we will sit in on and others we wont be able to.
If there it is clear to them they will break for a meeting then bring us back in and discuss and give us a diagnosis. If they are not 100% sure then we wont get a diagnosis then.
somewhat nervous, not because of what the outcome may be but just the stress that they may have to put him under to carry out all their assessments.
we've been waiting for this for 6 months, it seemed way too long away when we first got on the list and now its actually here.
Another thing on my mind is my dad has his specialist appointment tomorrow which will determine if his blood count is on the rise again and he may need to start hormone therapy (had prostate cancer 4 yrs ago, also had radiation treatment 12months ago.
gonna be a big day for all the family

WTG Tristian!!!!Clever, clever boy!!! :bluecheer: