Premmie Mums #9

[Early Kids]

Hi Melssy, welcome Sounds like your wee man is doing very well!

Kitty, sounds like your wee man is doing well too

We are just plodding along here, DS1 is still 13.9kg at 4yrs and DS2 is about 10.7kg at 21m. DS1 is now seeing a physio as he is developmentally delayed in all areas.

[UsPlus2]

I remember not being stressed as I wasn't sure exactly what it meant to have him born at 34 weeks, because no one was freaking out I thought it was a normal kind of early. It wasn't until after that I found out that it was early and not everyone had babies this early. So the whole birth process for me (well c-section) was very calm, the staff were joking with me to make me laugh etc. I got the shock after the birth and even then it took a couple of days to sink in.

This is exactly how I felt. I even remember laughing nervously on the way to the hospital, with a towel between my legs catching my waters at 30 weeks, that we could be meeting our little man soon. I was excited. Even the NICU didnt knock sense into me, its was the only world I knew being a first time mum. but watching another mum and dad leave the hospital with their bub the same time I was discharged but DS was being transfered to another SCN that hit hard.

I'm glad to hear everyones little ones are going so well. Welcome Mel, its so great that your little ones scan went well. We are here if you need to talk.

As for my little man. He has the chicken pox he's little body is covered in so many little blisters. It is seriously one thing after another for him. I decided today that I think its time to see a naturapath. Does anyone have experience using one? I know kids get sick all the time but it seems like months since his body has had a break.

[Early Kids]

I took my boys to a naturopath and she really helped settle down some of our problems, which are still there but less severe now. I hope he gets better soon xx

When my waters broke at 28 weeks with DS1, I knew that it was early, but I didn't realise what it meant. It wasn't until everyone was fussing and people running around like idiots in the ED that I realised that something was "wrong".... then I got told the stats of 28 weekers and I was convinced that my baby was going to die. When I went into labour at 26 weeks with DS2 I knew that he had a good chance, but I was terrified and then the days rolled into weeks of contractions and we managed to hold on. I knew everyday was giving him a great start and by 34+2 when I couldn't control the contractions any more I knew he was going to be ok, I knew his journey would be easier than DS1's. Having previous experience of the NICU definitely helped there. Not trying to belittle his experience, it was still highly emotional for me as I still had my baby taken away DS2 still required the ventilator and CPAP his first 12 hours were scary for me, but their journey's were just so different. DS1 isn't supposed to be here, there was never any fear on DS2's life.

[teresa]

welcome mellsy

i didnt know what i was getting myself into when i had the second big bleed and my ob asked what i wanted to do. i asked him then what he wanted and he said to have this baby and i just started crying and said me too. i just wanted him here safe after all the bleeding. i didnt realise at the time what it meant for us.

DS is around 12 kg now. such a little heifer! had him fitted for shoes yesterday and he is a size 7!! he has big fat feet lol. just waiting for him to walk now. he has take a few steps but then thats it

[shazzi]

Welcome Messly, hiya everyone,

It is interesting to hear what we were thinking about at the time. I was blissfully unaware of what it meant if I had DD at that time. I had been in hospital for 24 hours following a small bleed. I had to have no bleeding for 48 hours to go home and had only just stopped. I had been asleep for one hour and due to get my second steroid shot. I woke up busting big time to go to the toilet and put my had on the bed. It was very wet. I turned the light on and discovered i was lying in a pool of blood from my waist to my knees. I knew it was very bad and rang the bell as they were coming in for my shot. I started shaking so badly one of the nurses half lay on top of me as they wheeled me from the ward. When the doctors were checking out my cervix a part of the placenta came out and then they got bubs heart rate at about 70 and rushed me off for an emergency c-section under GA. That was at 29 weeks 6 days. My placenta had abrupted. She had a heart operation at 12 weeks as well so her breathing was laboured and growth very slow until after that.

I am now pregnant with number two who is a boy. I worry so much about another premmie. I check my undies constantly in case of blood, if I feel too "moist" (sorry TMI) I check. It is hard for me to see it as a different pregnancy as they do not know what caused the abruption. I am seeing the psych at the hospital who is helping me through these emotions.

Miss K is going great. She is about 10.5kg at 20 months so still little (bottom 25%) and still seems a little delayed but really not by much and I do not care.

This time DH and I already have a provisional name as last time I had not thought of names and DH had.

xx

[Early Kids]

WOW Teresa Hamish is doing so well!!

Shaz, I totally understand, I was constantly checking for my waters. A few of my friends had placental abruption early (a good friend had her bub at 30 weeks) and they went on to have term babies (or at least closer to term). all the best! How far along are you now?

[Melssy86]

oh Shazzi. My experience doesnt seem that bad now.
I think the hardest thing for me is that they have no idea why he was so early. He was normal for gestation although they said he was quite long. Midwife had noted that I had gained more weight in the two weeks before birth then i had all pregnancy. But dont think that has anything to do with it.

My older bro was 5 weeks early. I tried to be born at 6 months but they stopped me so was only 2 weeks early. and younger bro was born day before due. So there is hope for us all. lol.

[shazzi]

Thanks girls.

Sally I am now 27 weeks. I read that the risk doubles for a second abruption but it is so low to begin with. They scanned the blood vessels going in and out of the placenta and they are good and healthy so that felt good.

I think one of my biggest stresses at the moment is how to stop breastfeeding my 20 month old to sleep as that is going to be a bit tricky with a newborn!!!

Melssy I agree I think it is a hard thing when they do not know why we our babies come early. If you have more children hopefully you will get lots of support. I am public and getting lots of great support for both the emotional and physical side of things. It helped that I cried a lot at my first appt with this bub though. I have had two different opinions of what caused the bleeding and I have settled on the one that gets the most votes and was told at the time LOL. But it is still not reassuring enough. The other for me was that I had placenta praevia, but I do not have it this time so that is a relief.

Enjoy your precious little bundle. I am so looking forward to a new little squishy to hold.

[UsPlus2]

Congrats on your growing your new bundle, and another congrats for breastfeeding for so long. Its great that you are getting the emotional help from the hospital, it is something I really wish I had more of during my last pregnancy. I had the same stress of not knowing why my waters broke and the TMI you mentioned is exactly what I did the whole way through my pregnancy. I swear noone mentioned in the pregnancy books how many times you would now look at the toilet paper lol. All the best making it to full term, Miss K is roughly the same age as my DS, rest when you can, toddlers and pregnancy are a tiresome pair

[RainbowBrite]

I think I was just in shock with my two earliest prems.
My DD3 pregnancy was up and down with an irritable uterus...I was in and out and hospital and had my steriod shots at 24 weeks.
By 26 weeks I was fully effaced and 2-3cm dialated so they had told me I wouldn't get to term. Then at 26+6 my waters break and I end up in hospital on bedrest. It was so hard my dd2 was only 10 mths old so still such a baby and I couldn't be there for her
Ten days later at 28+1 I went to the toilet after lunch and felt a little tickle in my vjj so on investigation I felt 5 tiny toes...her foot was only just inside.
I rang for a nuse and things happened very quickly from there...lots of nurses, doctors and a dolphin torch confirmed her foot down through my cervix.
I rang my DH and he rushed in and just made it.
I was rushed into theatre and 30 min later my baby girl was delivered by emergency classical c-section. all happened so fast I really didn't have time to think much...I think I was in shock.
DS4 pregnancy was also hard and I had to push for internal u/s to check on my cervix...by 23+4 weeks it was shortened and funnelled and they needed to do an emergency cervical stitch (which carries a lot of risks that late) I also got my steriod shots too....I went home 3 days after the stitch.
I had been home for 5 days when I got bleeding and ctx...so ended up in hospital again.
On the morning I was 25 weeks I got more ctx and they went all day and nothing was stopping them and I was bleeding ...at 4.30 his HR was dropping with contractions and things happened very quickly from there...my DH arrived and I was rushed into theatre for another emergency c-section. It was so scary because he was so early.
He had a rough journey and things did not look good when he got NEC and perforated his bowel but he proved to be a real fighter and after 15 weeks we brought him home

Well done on 27 weeks Shaz It is good that every thing looks good...I hope it continues and you carry your precious bub to full term.

[Rosebud]

Hi All!

Been a little absent from BB so WELCOME to all the newbies. It's good to read that everyone little ones are doing well!

Our little man turns 2 tomorrow! Still can't believe he is here with us let alone turning 2. He has amazed one and all.

Thinking back to when we first met with the Neonatologist and his first question was 'Do you want us to medially intervene and resuscitate at birth'? I glad our answer was 'yes, please do what every you have to, our little one at least deserves a chance' and just look at him now!

Every year on his birthday, we all take the day off work and kid off school, head down to the NICU with cake to celebrate and thank the NICU staff for everything they have done for our little man and family.

Way too many emotions atm (it usually happens at this time of the year) so, when I am in a better head space, i'll share my little man's story.

[Charlotte91]

Wow, 25 weeks. It shocks me to hear about bubbas born under 30 weeks. DD was delivered at (planned c/s) 34+1 but measured at 30-31w because of IUGR.
I've seen pictures of under 28w they look so fragile, I'd be too scared to even think about touching one.
DD was 3lb 12oz but I was never scared of her. She looked fully formed although my dad thought that her eyes looked "spooky" as the eyelids were, not see-through, but just looked prem.
When some of my family came to visit in RCH when DD was 3 1/2 weeks old she was about 4lb something. Still very much under 2kg anyway. And DP and I were so comfortable with changing her nappy and passing her around and family was too scared to touch her.
Mind you, she still had a long-line (a drip thingy) in her arm and quite a few wires monitoring her.

[KittyK]

wow you guys have all been through so much, and look how well all your little men and ladies are doing now!!! It really makes me smile to see how well they are doing and knowing that DS will be the same

I sort of knew that he might come early but never really thought it was a possibility. I had placenta previa but it kept changing grades. At 20 weeks it was partially covering the cervix. Bled at 28 weeks got 2x steroid shots and spent the week in hospital. In the ambulance as I was transferred between hospitals the nurse was saying if they had to deliver the baby now he would have a very good chance of survival and the only thing I could think was...we haven't got a car seat for him yet, clearly I was still in shock. They were talking keeping me in the hospital until I had the baby but decided to send me home and they checked my placenta and it was completely covering the cervix and 3mm anterior. Bled again at 33 weeks but according to my scan the week before my placenta was now just touching the cervix. Got another steriod shot and stayed in hospital two days then got sent home. Then 34 weeks had the final bleed and he was out. none of my family wanted to hold DS when he was born, the grandads still don't want to LOL but he was 5lb 6oz when he was born, so quite big for 34 weeks I'm just glad placenta previa is by pregnancy so hopefully I won't get it next time round.

Shaz: GL with your pregnancy, hoping you continue to term!

[Early Kids]

Rosebud, Happy Birthday to your little man!!!! He's doing so well

Shazzi, Well done on 27 weeks! I have everything crossed for you to get well in to the 30 something weeks 37 would be brilliant!

Charlotte, aww your bubba girl was tiny for 34 weeks. DS1 was 30+1 and 3lb 6oz.

Kitty, he was a great size for 34 weeks! How long was he in hospital for? Did he need the NICU or just SCN?

DS2 was 34+3 and 6lb 13oz (3.09kg) and required intubation at birth so went straight to the NICU. He only required breathing assistance for the first 24 hours, interestingly he's the one with ongoing lung issues, go figure? We have had no issues with DS1's breathing since he reached term and he was diagnosed with Apnoea of Prematurity. Doesn't make a whole lot of sense really LOL.

[HomeStyleMumma]

Hi sorry to highjack this thread (I don't seem to be able to PM) i just wanted to say a big "Hi!!" to "Early Kids"..... G'day Sal it's been a long time since we've seen or spoken, I'm pretty sure I only had 2 and now I'm UTD with #4 and u've got another lil boy too. Although I'm pretty sure I did hear about that on the grapevine quite awhile ago. Glad everything seems to be going well for you.
Luv K. Jones

[Early Kids]

Hi sorry to highjack this thread (I don't seem to be able to PM) i just wanted to say a big "Hi!!" to "Early Kids"..... G'day Sal it's been a long time since we've seen or spoken, I'm pretty sure I only had 2 and now I'm UTD with #4 and u've got another lil boy too. Although I'm pretty sure I did hear about that on the grapevine quite awhile ago. Glad everything seems to be going well for you.
Luv K. Jones

WOW number 4!! So glad to hear from you! I hope everything is going well Are you on facebook? will try and find you!

[HomeStyleMumma]

Yeah they all keep me pretty busy but it's heaps of fun... most of the time haha!!
No sorry don't have facebook (hubby not really into having private stuff public). If you can tell me or I can work out again how to PM I can give you email addy or something. Then maybe can try catch up again when I'm up in the old home town next??? Won't be for a while though as we are off holidaying for a few months from Easter to get back about a month before bubbys birth

[Early Kids]

you won't be able to PM until 50? (I think) posts... *removed email*

glad things are going well for you too! And a home birth after a prem! That's awesome!