Gastroschisis Update

Hey everyone,

I did have a thread, but it was lost.

For those who didn't read that thread, I'm 18 and currently 22 weeks pregnant with my first baby. After my 20 week scan we got told that our baby has Gastroschisis and that his bowel is outside his (or her) body.
I've been referred to the Royal Women's Melbourne where the baby will be born and will require surgery to put his bowel back inside his tummy.
I've got an appointment for Tuesday, which is pretty scary. I'll be having a scan, and consultation with the doctor, meeting with the pediatrician and surgeon, and getting some information about Gastroschisis.

I'm really chasing some support, if anyone has personal experiences with Gastroschisis.
My partner and I are really lost and aren't sure what to expect or what to do.
Its really hard and quite terrifying.

Any comments are appreciated.
Thanks!

--Charlotte.

I don't have any personal experience but I just wanted to wish you good luck for the appt on Tuesday :hug: have you started writing down all and any questions that come to mind so you can ask them at the hospital? It will probably be a pretty emotional and bamboozling day, so having Q written down might help. And maybe even taking notes when they give you the answers so it will be easier to recall. Please keep us up to date with how it's all going if you're comfortable to do so :hug:

Hi,

Yeah, we've written down about 20 questions and are taking a notebook so we can write down as much as possible.

I know that deep inside everything is going to work out fine in the end, but its still quite frightening.

--Charlotte

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't been able to keep you guys updated as to whats going on with me lately, I haven't had any internet.

Went to Melbourne for my second visit last week and got told that the baby is still too small, about 2 weeks behind. Got told to have an amnio by the U/S chick, we said no and she proceeded to yell at us and tell us that we don't know what we're doing.
She told me to my face that I "don't understand whats going on, your baby may have a chromosonal abnormality and it will die. It will be taken out by C-section and you'll have a scar on your uterus forever for no reason and you don't understand what that means".
She continued to yell at DP and I (who were shocked and couldn't say anything!) that it doesn't matter if he and I don't want the amnio because "WE WANT TO KNOW WHATS GOING ON!!" (meaning them). I tried to fight back but was told to leave.
I was in tears when we got out of there. I still don't think my baby is going to die.

Next step was going around to see my new OB (who we have trouble understanding because of his accent), and got told that we should have an amnio, we said no and left.
No answers. No nothing.

So, DP and I talked about it and we decided to go see my old OB, without Melbourne knowing.

We showed him the ultrasound results and he was able to tell us so much about whats going on. We weren't told that bub's has a small, lemon shaped head which means there may be a problem. He too suggested an amnio and after talking with him about the whole situation a bit more DP and I have decided to go for one, on one condition.

That my old OB does it. We don't trust the people in Melbourne, the word amnio strikes fear into us when the talk about it. But with my old OB it seemed like the right thing to do. The amnio will give us a very clear picture of whats going on and right now that seems like what we need.

New OB says he loses about 1 in 200 babies when he does an amnio.
Old OB says he has been doing them for 15 years and never lost a baby.

Its so hard. I don't want to lose my baby.

Hugs what horrible treatment you have received, so sorry to hear that. I can't believe that medical professionals that are specialised in high risk care could be so heartless and rude.

Good luck with the Amnio, I hope all goes ok.

Take care and we are all thinking of you.

xoxo

Charlotte, that is horrible treatment. If you want any support to deal with the hospital or want info on making a complaint please let me know.

I am glad your old Ob has been able to give you more info, can you keep going to see him?

take care,

Kate

I'm so sorry you have been treated in such an awful way :hug: this is a stressful enough situation without all of that on top of it.

I'm glad your original Ob is more supportive and keeping you well informed, making these hard decisions easier. Are you able to continue seeing him? Or have him communicate with the Melbourne Ob on your behalf?

Hi,

I'd love to keep seeing my old OB, but I guess the only thing I can do is go to Melbourne, get the results of each scan and go and see my old OB.

DP rang my old OB yesterday(the building where he is, anyway) and asked if he would be available for an amnio, but unfortunatley he wasn't in that day for some reason so the sister was going to talk to him and get back to us today. Well, I got a phone call yesterday afternoon from the building saying that the matter had been discussed with another OB (who I've never met or had anything to do with him!) and he's decided it's not possible. Basically, if Melbourne want me to have an amnio, then they have to do it.
I didn't think fast enough while the nurse was on the phone, because I was gutted that I couldn't have the amnio. But, I should have gotten mad... I was so mad when I got off the phone. The matter was supposed to be discussed with MY OB!! Not someone else who doesn't know whats going on!!
I've got an appointment with Melbourne on Tuesday, I guess I'll talk to them then and tell them the conditions on the amnio and they can sort it out from there.

This is so frustrating!!

Are you seeing a genetic counsellor at the women's?

No, but I probably should be considering there is a possibility of a chromosonal abnormality.

Charlotte, I'm so sorry you are going through this. Firstly to have the worry over the health of your beautiful baby and then to be dealing with such rude and insensitive people! Thinking of you. :hug:

Genetic counsellor can also help get information for you or get drs to explain thing properly. They can also give you info on amnio's etc. One of the main principles of genetic counselling is the right to personal autonomy (the right to make decisions for yourself) and being given appropriate information in a format you can understand to make the decsions is really important.

They may also be able to link you up with families who have also had bubs with similar conditions who might be able to give you tips on the surgery etc.

That sounds good. I'll see if I can organise that when I'm in Melbourne next.

That would be so good.

Thanks kate!

Hey again everyone!!

My spirits are so high after coming back from Melbourne yesterday!! Mostly because we dealt with people we hadn't met before and didn't see anyone we did know!
And we didn't hear the word amnio or chromosonal abnormality!

First was the ultrasound which was given to us by a really lovely girl who talked non-stop! That was awesome! She told us that bub's head looks funny and we said that we've been told that. She said that its most likely normal, but just looks deformed because bub was in breech and has been for every scan we've had.
Her and her superviser aren't worried about bub's size (exactly 3 weeks behind), because he's still growing at basically the right rate, just small. He's perfectly healthy on the inside, but some of the exposed bowel may be beginning to dialate (or stress). But they can't really tell at this point, so they're not worried.
Although, they did say that his growth is slowing just a tiny bit, nothing to be concerned about yet, and so they did a check of my blood flow to bubs. And my left side is giving up a bit, so my placenta is aging a bit faster than they'd like.

The plan from here is go to Melbourne every second week, and see my local OB every week in between, and be scanned ever week to keep an eye on my blood flow.
They're also watching me closely for high blood pressure and pre eclampsia.

I've started having steroids, which hurt like hell!! Gotta have another injection today! I was told that that will help bub's lungs and brain develop faster. And, of course, I'd go through anything to make sure he has the best chance.

And I've been told that they're going to try and keep me pregnant for another month and then deliver soon after that.. In 4 weeks I'll be about 32 weeks, which gives bub a really good chance of surviving the operation and having minimal problems afterwood.

Met with a pediatrician, who explained everything again and was extremely helpful.
He says that I most likely won't need a C/S. There's no difference in how the bowel will cope. I guess that'll only come into play if bub doesn't turn around.
Getting a tour of the Royal Childrens in 2 weeks, hopefully.
And also been told that we can stay in Ronald McDonald house in the hospital.

So good!! I'm so happy!!
Thanks again for all your support. You guys have helped me so much.

--Charlotte.

So happy for you Charlotte! Sounds like you are both in wonderful, reassuring hands and everything is in place for your little man xox

Hi Charlotte,

I read your update #2 and am so glad for you to be reading this one and hearing that you have had a more positive experience with the medical profession this time.

Good luck with everything over the next few weeks.

so glad to hear you being so positive Charlotte. I have merged your three threads together so they are easier for people to find as I know a lot of people are following your updates

xx

Had a scary night last night!! Started getting some pretty bad stomach pains. Went to see the local midwife (whose consulting area is her lounge room! Just gotta watch out for the kids toys!) and she checked me out. My stomach was tightening and was really quite sore. She's dealt with alot of Gastroschisis babies before and said that the safest thing for me to do was go to the Hospital, which is an hour away (and then most likely go onto Melbourne). Unfortunatly my old OB is overseas, so I had to see a replacement.
They hooked me up to a monitor, bub is doing really well. Gave me some drugs to stop anything happening, gave me a pap smear to see if anything was going to happen (my first ever!! Not a pleasent experience!!). Luckily, all the pains stopped, and labour seems like its a while off yet. They kept me overnight for observation, and tried to do a trace this morning without any success. Bub was just too hyper!

I have to take some pills for the next week to relax my womb, making labour unlikely. I'm glad! I was so worried that bub was coming.

Hey everyone,

Finally got the internet back, so I can get on here and post an update!

It's been over a week since I went to hospital, thinking that bub was coming and no baby yet!! I'm on nifepine tablets to stop anything happening. My old OB gave me some more, so I'm happy! Will have to talk to Melbourne on Tuesday and see how long they want me on them. OB gave me a months worth, plus 5 repeats. I could keep this baby in forever if I wanted to!! :p

Had to go for a scan at the hospital (an hour away) on Wednesday to check on bub... And here's how the drama unfolded.

We went to the hospital and we went to book in, and Melbourne hadn't sent a referral so I got told that legally I couldn't have the scan because they don't know what they're scanning for. So, I told them what they're scanning for. (placenta insuffiency, bub wellbeing, blood flow in the placenta, cord, and brain). So, I cried after being told that I couldn't have the scan. They rang Fetal Management in Melbourne, but no-one is there on a Wednesday! And I'm not under one doctor, which they couldn't understand, I told them I'm under a team of doctors. So, without a referral and a contact number for ONE doctor, they can't do it.
Got them to try and ring my old OB. But he was still on holidays.
Had a great thought and got them to ring my GP who knows whats going on with my pregnancy because I've seen him a few times and he had to give me steroids the other week.
Got a referral from him and finally got into the scan!!

Next day and I went and saw my old OB, at Melbourne's request. And got the scan results. I got a "everything's still the same, fine" from him and he sent me up to the hospital to get a CCG (?) to check on bub (another Melbourne request). Bub's still doing good, according to that. Got a really strong heartbeat! Of course, he made it difficult because it just wouldn't stop moving and the midwife had to sit and hold the disc on my stomach and basically chase bub around for 20 minutes.

Now, I got a copy of my scan results (As I always do) and there's something I hope someone can help me out with.
Here's what it says......

"Umbilical atery Doppler demonstarates good diastolic flow with an S/D ratio of 4.4 which is abnormally increased." then it says it again later adding "This is suggestive of RUGR".

Can someone help me out?? Do you know what it means??

Also it says that my amniotic fluid is normal. Hopefully I get the same result in Melbourne next week.

Thanks again everyone!

--Charlotte.

Oh gosh, what a drama. :hug:

From the little I understand, if the S/D ratio is increased it could indicate intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) which means the baby is smaller than they would expect. I am assuming they made a spelling mistake on your report. There is a link between IUGR and Gastroschisis so they would be expecting to see this. It's not really good enough though that they wrote that on your report and didn't take the time to explain it. Could you go to your GP and ask him to talk you through it for greater clarity?

I know that bub is small. At Melbourne last time he/she was exactly 3 weeks behind, and this scan says he's 2 weeks and 6 days behind. So, I'm not worried.
But, I've been told that everything that they use to measure him is compromised anyway. Bub's head is a funny shape (most likely from being in breech and having low fluid) and they measure the abdomen which is small than normal because some of the gut is out.
I've got an appointment in Melbourne on Tuesday, so I'll see what they say.

Thanks!

Back from Melbourne again!!

Things looking good, bub still behind but now less than 3 weeks behind. In fact, the leg measured at just over 2 weeks behind. So, maybe bub is bigger than we think.
The bowel is a bit more dialated this time (10mm 2 weeks ago, and 12mm now). But we got told that its nothing to worry about.
I asked about the C/S and got told that its very unlikely that I'll need one...even with all the complications. But, here's where the OB contradicted herself... I asked about a C/S and she said that likelyhood of that happening was 'very unlikey'. Later on I mentioned that the baby was in breech and is there the option of turning the baby? I got told no.
I can't deliver a breech baby, but they won't turn it??? How does that work?? I didn't really think about what she'd said til we were on the way home.
I asked about consent forms. I know that when I booked in to have my baby at the local maternity hosp (an hour away), I had to sign all the consent forms for labour...to consent to a C/S, the use of forceps, etc. But, I got told (and I wasn't very happy) that ''by choosing to have your baby at the Royal Women's, you've given your consent".
My argument was that I didn't "choose" to have my baby there, I was sent there with no other option. I got told that that was irrelevant.
I'm also not very happy that it doesn't appear that I'll have to sign any consent forms for bub. They can just do whatever they want to him/her.

On the good side--we got lots of answers, and got told that bub is looking good for staying inside my tummy for another 4 weeks!! Yay!!
And bub weighs 2 pound 2. I'm happy about that!
Placenta still going, hasn't gotten any worse.
Fluid is good, I think it may be a bit low still, but its OK.
Got told to have an amnio again, but rejected it quickly. Again, its their argument that THEY want to know what they're dealing with and what they need to prepare for.

Had a tour of the Children's Neonatal Unit.
No where near as scary as I thought it would be. We were about to look at a couple of babies and see how Bub will be hooked up to drips, feeding tubes, etc.
They had no Gastroschisis babies in tho..

Alls good!!

-Charlotte.

Hi Charlotte

Good to hear you sounding positive, and that you got some answers. Have you looked at the spinning babies website? They have info on how to get a breech bub to turn upside down. I know some of the other people here have had success in doing lots of half handstands (your head down, bum up) to get bub to move.

I went through the women's and did not have to sign any consent forms. You do have the right to refuse procedures. You have the right to ask for more information if their explanations don't make sense, or you don't agree with any procedure they want to perform. They are supposed to ask for verbal consent for anything they want to do to you or bub.

That's great you got to see the NNU, it won't be as scary with preparation.

take care

The spinning babies website is an excellent resource, but there is still a chance bub will turn on his/her own so you can go for a vaginal birth. Vaginal breech birth is always an option too if you don't consent to an caesarean but in general doctors prefer breech babies to be delivered by caesarean so they will likely not support you if you chose to go down that route. Also with your baby being slightly smaller it increases the risk of a breech vaginal birth which no doubt your doctor will explain if you ask to go through the risks. However as with any medical treatment the final decision will always rest with you.

I'm so glad you are getting more answers now. Keep asking the questions and if you are unsure, ask again. Part of a doctors job is to gain informed consent before any procedure so they must therefore give you all the information that you ask for.

When boytwin was in NICU there was a gastroschicis bub brought in straight from surgery, and his mum was telling me that he had not yet fed, and the doctors did not want him fed just yet. They were however begging her to express for him because she was planning on formula feeding and they all thought this was a bad idea for his delicate bowel. I don't know if he had any other issues though. I know you mentioned in another thread about your plans to breastfeed, have the doctors spoken to you about how soon bub will likely be able to ingest milk?

The Paed told us that bub won't be able to feed for about 2 weeks. They have to drain the stomach and bowels, which we've been told will be a green colour or something like that. When it becomes basically clear, we can start to feed bub about 1ml every couple of hours and gradually increase the feeds until they're happy with the amount bub is drinking and then we can go home. Of course, bub will be fed via tube for the first while, and then I guess we'll have to train him/her to feed from the boob.
Hopefully we won't be there too long. The closer we get to the due date (January 20), the better. I've been told, tho, that they don't really want me to get past 36 weeks because it increases the chance of stillbirth.

I've come to terms with needing a C/S, I'm fine with that now. But, of course I'd prefer a vag birth.

Will check out the spinning babies website later on, I'd be very interested to see if bub will turn. But it would be weird for him/her to be in a different position. I'm so used to how it sits. The head is always to the right of my belly button. :-)

--Charlotte.

Another update!!

Sorry its taken so long! On monday morning I woke up with stomach pains and took notice of them for about 2 hours. They were coming basically 5 minutes apart, but with no tightenings. I rang my midwife and she checked me out cause they were really starting to hurt!! She told me to go Melbourne and she rang them to tell them I was coming. But, for some reason, they decided that they were too busy to check me out and said that I'd have to wait til Tuesday afternoon for my normal appointment. So, what I had to do, is go to my old OB (an hour away) and get him to say that there was nothing the locals could do and then transfer me to Melbourne.
(The hospital an hour away can only take healthy babies. And nothing under 34 weeks)
In the end, thats what happened. But, with all the pains they didn't want to risk me driving down there. So, I was ambulanced to the airstrip, and then flown to Essendon and then ambulanced to the Womens. DP had to drive down, and didn't arrive for another 4 hours.
All Melbourne did was give me a CTG for a couple hours, did a spectrum (?, the metal thing) test and swabbed my cervix- which was still closed, but bleeding. They thought it was either the start of labour, or it could have been from having an internal back locally.
The test came back negative saying that I wouldn't go into labour for at least 6 days. Which, so far, is true. :-) plus some more steroids.
I had to stay in over night and have my normal appointment the next afternoon. Everything is still OK with bub but they want to keep a close eye on me.
Which means, no going back up home. They don't want me 500kms away. So, I'm stuck in Melbourne until bubby arrives.
Tuesdays will be OB and ultrasound.
Fridays will be CTG and doppler scan to check the placenta.
Once the placenta worsens, even a little bit bub will be delivered.

I spoke to the Paed (David from the Childrens, he's really good), and he thought that bub would be delivered within a week. Well, a week is now and no sign of bub.
The OB has seen situations like this go on for over a month.

I'm so gutted that I can't go home. I'm 32 and a half weeks, and I have no idea when this baby is coming. Its so frustrating!
Bub is healthy enough to come now, but they want to keep him/her inside for as long as possible. He weighs an estimated 2 pound 10 as of Tuesday.

I just want this to be over. I never even got any notice to say that I had to stay. I just got told that I couldn't go home.

Also, the bowel is starting to dialate. It was 10mm, 2 weeks later it was 12, and 2 weeks later it was 16mm. But, the paed said that its not accurate. It happens all the time where they say that the bowel is horrible dialated and stressed and a perfectly un-dialated bowel comes out.

Sorry if this is all jumbled and doesn't make much sense!!

Anyway, I'll try and update when I can.

Thanks for all your support.

--Charlotte.

(((hugs))) it sucks that you are stuck so far from home. It's all very well knowing it is for the best, but that doesn't make a hard (and I'm guessing very boring) period of bed rest any easier. Have you any friends in Melbourne who can visit to keep you company, or is your partner able to be with you?

Stayed with his grandparents in Werribee, but we're currently spending the weekend in Rosebud, and then back to Werribee.
Werribee is incredibly boring.
Rosebud is cool, but it hasn't stopped raining since we've been here!!

I don't know anyone in Melbourne, so its awesome having DP with me.
I hope to get some answers on Tuesday as to when bub is coming.

I finally got some answers!!

Had an appointment today, was meant to be just a CTG, wellbeing scan, and OB.

CTG went fine, scan took ages because bub was being difficult (as usual!), and then after waiting for over an hour for the OB we finally got what we were looking for.

Unfortunatly, it didn't happen as gracefully as we'd hoped. We walked in to the OB's office and she basically bombarded us...

"So, you've had the scan, I've looked at the results, the baby is still doing well and I'll just get you to sign these consent forms for a C Section at the end of next week some time... Just come over here and I'll take your blood pressure."

.......um...... ok....

So, basically the placenta just isn't doing what its supposed to and its worsening. Got a CTG on Friday and a growth scan on Tuesday and then delivering bub either Thursday or Friday. I have to admit that I'm starting to get worried.

Signed all the forms and just waiting on a date.
Managed to sneak home (500kms) for a couple days to sort ourselves out, and then its back to Melbourne for a couple days and then have a baby!!

By next thursday I'll be 34 weeks.

Will keep you updated.

--Charlotte.

Oh wow Good luck with it all.

It may seem overwhelming and they havent handled everything in the best way communucation wise and explanation BUT you are both in great hands.

Good luck with it all, hope bubby gets over the gastroschisis op quickly.

How exciting that you have a date to meet your bubba. I hope all goes well and you are holding your precious child soon xx

Best of luck charlotte!! Keep us posted...

I'll make sure I try to keep you guys updated. I think I'm ready now.... Not really sure how to fully prepare myself for it, but I've done lots of deep breathing and "everythings gonna be OK"-ing. lolz

I rang the Womens a while ago and asked if I'd been booked in yet, and they saw that I needed a C/S but no time had been booked yet so I have to ring back in the morning. Mildly frustrating.

It was good talking to the paed surgeons, but it was kinda everything we knew.
It's nearly 100% likely that they're going to use a silo to ease the gut back in over 4-5 days. Because bubby is so small it will put too much stress on him/her to put it all back in at once, also they're going to take over all of bubs breathing by using a ventilator. Not sure for how long, tho.

I'm getting pretty excited, I have to admit. Its finally going to be moving onto the next chapter. I'm so sick of the "complicated pregnancy" chapter. I'm so ready to start the "getting bubby better" chapter of our lives.
And for some reason over the last month its been killing me that I don't know if its a boy or girl. I call it "him" all the time, but I been having dreams that its a girl.
Its driving me mad!! But, I'm not going to find out now via ultrasound.

Anyway, will let you know when the C/S is and how the growth scan on Tuesday goes.
Then, hopefully next weekend, I'll be able to find the internet and let you know how bub is going after being born.

--Charlotte.

Hi charlotte,

I have been following your thread for a while but didnt want to post anything.
I had a daughter in July with Gastroschisis but i had her over in perth. I was induced at 35+5 because of non reactive CTG and a non reactive ultrasound and her belly had stopped growing at 30 weeks, and had a successful vaginal birth, turns out she was just sleeping and become reactive again a couple of hours later. Birth was uncomplicated and she was perfect the day she come out weighing 5 pound 3 ounces. Surgeon was little to my knowledge a fairly new surgeon to PMH and decided to put her belly straight back in. The next day she pretty much rejected it and her sats and bp and heartrate shot up.. they did emergency surgery to remove her bowel into a silo. a few days later they noticed part of her bowel had died to they released it loosley into a saline bag over the next week and a bit to try and save some of the bowel. when she was 10 days old they operated on her to remove the dead bowel and ended up taking 50cm which would have ment she could have lived a normal life. They put it back in a silo and carefully reduced it over about 8 days. The day before her final closure operation she was diagnosed with RSV bronchitis-(a viral infection like a cold) and surgery was put off. She started to get really bad with her breathing so she was back on a ventilator. anyways cut a long story short she passed away at 7 weeks old due to over ventilation had punctured her lungs one to many times.

Anyway My advice to you is to keep that baby in as long as possible. Ella was nearly 36 weeks but she would have lived if she wasnt that slightest bit premeture. It is good to hear that they will be doing silo.. it is the best way. You are in good hands in melbourne. If Ella was breast fed she would have been able to build up the immunity to fight the RSV and again would have lived. I know of about 4 babys, all who were in and out in between 8 days and 3 weeks.. some do have to stay if they have bowel complications like Ella did.

I wish you and your baby the best.. hang in there!

Thanks for sharing your story Shan, and I'm so sorry that Ella died. I'm sorry but we cannot have links to other forums so I have had to remove your linki to your birth story. We have a section on this forum for Birth Stories and Your Stories of Loss if you would like to share your story here.

Hey everyone

Sorry its taken me so long to get on. Unfortunatly Ronald Mac house doesn't have great internet and BB is blocked.

Hannah Marie was born on the 10th of December via C/S at 34 weeks weighing in at 3lb 12oz. Came out kicking and screaming and hasn't looked back since!
She has amazed everyone in the last 10 days. We were told before she was born that there was no way that they'd get the bowel back in and that a silo would need to be used.
They got all her bowel back in and she only has a few stitches in the middle of her belly button. I'm so proud of her.
She was taken off her ventilator on tuesday (14th) morning and then that night she was moved out of intensive care.
We were told that it would be over 2 weeks before she could feed and they actually started feeding her yesterday. It was 1ml every 2 hours and today its 1ml every hour and in a few hours they're going to see if she can handle 2ml an hour.
She hasn't done very many poo's yet, she did 2 at the Women's, but has only done a couple tiny ones since being at the Childrens.

I'm so happy with how my c/s went. I guess I just worried about nothing. It all went really well and I was off all painkillers except panadol from sunday morning.
We even got a hold of Hannah before she was taken away, they wrapped her in a blanket and layed her on my shoulder for about ten minutes. Even took some photos of us 3 and of DP and Hannah.

Got a bit of an issue with my milk. I've been told to express for 10min a side every 3 hours and that "you can never have too much milk!!"
Well, I've got too much milk and they're trying to reduce it! lolz.
I'm giving about 120ml every 3-4 hours and leaking really really badly! My poor boobs! I slept all night and woke up this morning after not expressing for nearly 10 hours and thought they were going to explode!

Hannah has been going well pain-wise. It was horrible to see her "drying out" from the morphine on Monday (13th), she had the shakes all day.
Today they've taken her off regular panadol and only giving it to her when she seems she needs it.

Still no idea as to when we'll get home, but the way she's going it won't be long away.
Aiming for Australia Day.

Thanks again for all your support and I'll try and update when I can.

--Charlotte.

I just found this thread hun. So glad bubs (and you) are doing well. It sounds like you have a real tough cookie on your hands! I hope you get to take her home soon!

<3 CL

How wonderful, massive congratulations! You sound amazing to have so much milk, expressing is never easy and often made harder by separation from your bub, it sounds like you are made to be a mum. I hope Hannah continues to thrive and you get her home as soon as is safe xx

Thankyou for the update - and congratulations on the birth of baby Hannah :cheer: it sounds like she's a real little trooper and I'm so glad the op went well and better than expected!

Sounds like you needed that 10hr sleep, I can just imagine how explosive your chest was! Your milk will settle down, but just think of the milk bank you're building in the meantime :)

Congrats again and keep us posted on how you're both going :hug: you're doing a fantastic job :)