36weeks

[jeanelle]

my little girl was born at 36 weeks (14 th fed 2004). she had to have a feeding :( tude for about 2 days, as not feeding. we were in hostial for 5 days (happy to be out). she is good today like babys her age. :)

[gymmum]

My son Isaac was born on the 12 Dec 03, I was 28 weeks prego when I had a emergancy ceaserian. He was in hospital for 11 and a half weeks. He is doing very well now, but still very small. He is currently 9 and a half months (meant to be 6 and a half) and only weighs 5.3kg. He is my little miricale and I love him to death.

[Ari's_mum]

Awwww I am so happy to hear that you're beautiful babies are doing well now.
My son was born at 34 weeks and 4 days. He was born naturally with forceps delivery and was in the hospital for 2 weeks. In the beginning he had to have a feeding tube but other than that he was so strong and healthy. He's 20 months now and going really well. He's happy and healthy and such a sweetheart.

[onabreak]

My daughter Caitlin decided she had had enough and wanted out at 30 weeks. She weighed 1.58kg at birth born 9 November 2004. She had to put in an incubator in ICU and placed on air for the first few days. She then graduated to Special Care still in her incubator. It was really hard as we had to look at her through the plastic and could only touch her through the port holes. We did get to cuddle her on occassions.

She was tube fed through the nose or mouth every day. At one stage she got really sick and could not keep her food down, she could not even tolerate 3ml an hour of milk. She became so tired she could hardly get oxygen into her little lungs. They rushed her back into ICU and pumped her with antibiotics and put her back on air through her nose. Five days later, she had a second wind and was back in Special care. She started to do really well putting on heaps of weight.

She graduated again to the other area of Special Care where the parents got to have more responsibility. It had now been 7 weeks that I was going up to the hospital everyday 7 days a week for 8 hours a day with expressed milk for my baby. We were finaly told the good news that she could come home on Christmas Eve. The best Christmas present. At present Caitlin is 5 months, is over 6kgs and very chubby and doing very well. She gives you the biggest smiles every day. I have to say having a premmie baby was the most exhausting experience in my life. But in the long run it was worth it.

[Lallas' Mum]

My son was actually born late (11 days over) but due to his size (4.77kgs) he had a bit of a rough ride on the way out. He was admitted to the special care nursery initially for just for observation. Luckily he had been under extra care and attention as he had picked up a urinary infection during birth. He had to stay in the nursery for a week and was tube fed EBM and had to be on a drip.

In the short time he was in the nursery we watched the progress of a little boy who was born at 28 weeks. He was born about one month earlier than my son but was still only a quarter of his size. It opened my eyes as to how much dedication his parents had for him and how much their lives had been put on hold while they watched over him.

I know the emotional roller coaster ride my husband and I endured during that short time and it made me realise how much heartache and uncertainty parents of premature babies must face.

I just want to congratulate all parents of premmie babes for having so much courage, patience and love for their wee little ones. You truly are angels in waiting.

[TwoBlue]

Hi all
My son was born at 36 weeks, he just came of his own accord and after a good, easy 6 hour labour there he was, but not so well.
He was a good size 6lb7oz and 51 cm long !! but he has trouble breathing and also had a blood infection, he was in the NICU at Monash Medical (VIC) for 10 days on CPAP (Oxygen) for 4 days and antibiotics also for 4 days, tube fed for 8 days and then breast fed beautifully.

I know 10 days is such a short time but any time spent at home without your bubs spent going in and out of hospital with EBM and for a short cuddle seems like an eternity. My son, Samuel is now 1 and thriving !! He is just beautiful. He is still about 1 month behind in most developmental things (except walking which he started at 11 months!!!!!) but you dont care because you just love them :)

I totally praise and encourage all parents of premmie bubs, its such a hard time but worth it :)

[riley&coopersmum]

My twins were born at 33 weeks by emergency c section after I was diagnosed with what they thought was a kidney infection but turned out to be a ruptured artery (I'd also had two episodes of prem labour at 28 and 29 weeks which were halted). Our boys stayed in special care for 3 1/2 weeks. We were extremely lucky that, other than being small, they were pretty much OK, only having to spend 8 hours on oxygen. They had feeding tubes for about 2 weeks and were in humidicribs for about 2 1/2 weeks. We got so used to changing nappies sideways through the portholes that it took us a few days to get the hang of changing them properly!

The nurses were fantastic and encouraged us to do as much as possible with them. Every day I hoped the paediatrician would tell me I could take them home and then the day he did I went into a panic in case it was too soon!

These days, they are still a bit small for their age (they are 19 months) but they are meeting all their milestones and behaving like right little toddlers!

Sarah

[kamckellar]

at 36wks i delivered my son LIAM 6lb13 naturally and other from being very sleepy and having to constantly wake him for feeds he was fine.we were in hospital for1wk.he will be 7 in october and has been diagnosed with ODD.he is now on medication and a lovely boy.he has a severe stutter and we are apart of the LIDCOMBE PROGRAM.next came ETHAN 5lb 9,6wks early.he was in special care for 2 wks as he was just too weak to suck.he was tubed for 12 days,on the breast for 2 days when we were allowed home.he had to go to OT AND PHYSIO as he couldnt sit up by 1 yr of age and had poor muscle control in his legs.he crawled at 15 months and walked 2wks later.he is very uncoordinated but a happy and healthy boy.he will be 5 this aug.next came by EC at 29wks my identical twin daughters ISLA weighing 2lb 13,27.5CM and KEELY weighing 3lb 1,28.5CM.they were both ventilated for 12 hrs before going onto CPAP.ISLA had a brain heamorrage and got NEC.her weight dropped to 1lb 9.we were told to prepare for the worst.not only did i have to deal with my GIRLS,but i was taken to NEPEAN hospital to have them as there were no beds for them at JOHN HUNTER HOSPITAL.i had a new DR deliver my bubs in a hospital i didnt know.the ambulance that drove me to NEPEAN broke down on the freeway and we had to get into another ambulance.then the ambulance driver took a wrong turn and we got to the hospital an hour late.my daughters were born 45 mins later.i could not hold them,or see them,or hear them.they were rushed to NICU.after being stitched up i demanded to be taken to see my babies.i was so scared.they were so tiny.i couldnt even see their faces because of the ventilator and tubes.their little arms were as thin as my pinky finger.day 2 was no better.we were told that ISLA'S "BLEED" could leave her brain damaged or with a variety of disabilities.i had no family near and was worried about my BOYS who didnt even get to say bye to their mum as they were at preschool.my mother was amazing.looking after 2 boys aged 3 1/2 and 21 months and driving to PENRITH from NEWCASTLE as often as she could.after the first wk of no sleep for fear id lose my little angel and keeping a vigil at her bed,she turned the corner.KEELY came of CPAP,was gaing weight,had her LONG LINE removed at 2 wks.she was moved up a level in NICU.ISLA was struggling and at 10 days i was offered my first hold A KANGAROO CUDDLE.it was my opportunity to feel her heart beat next to mine and to finally smell her.she was 14 days old when she was moved up with her sister.our next hurdle was to get them into air and off CPAP so we could transfer back to newcastle.at 3 wks we got the ph call from JJH to say they had beds.it was the happiest day of my life.KEELY arrived 1st by a NETS team and a nurse from NEPEAN.ISLA arrived 2 hrs later.they had never had a bath and the first thing i was offered was to bath them.MY PLEASURE.both were still in incubators for 2 more wks.we got the usual set backs,EYE INFECTIONS,JAUNDICE AND REFLUX.BUT GRAM BY LITTLE GRAM MY GIRLS GREW.they continued to be fed EBM and i had bucket loads.4 wks before their due date my girls came HOME.ISLA 4LB KEELY 4LB9.3 days at home and ISLA STOPPED BREATHING.i raced to the hospital where she was RESUSSED twice and put into ICU back on CPAP.I had KEELY rooming in with me,i went to ring mum and when i came back she was being RESUSSED.she ended up in ICU aswell.after 17 long weeks and back on CAFFIENE my girls came home.they will be 2 this MAY.KEELY IS BLOOMING.AND ISLA'S NOT FAR BEHIND.they both have CHRONIC LUNG DISEASE,which gives them ASTHMA.and they have shocking ECZEMA.ISLA IS DEAF IN THE LEFT EAR but talks better than KEELYthey both go to OT and have regular check ups with their paediatrician.it may seem like ive been to hell and back but i wouldnt change it for the world.I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT THE REAL HEROES HERE ARE THE PREMS.THEY ARE BLOODY FIGHTERS.OH AND BY THE WAY ISLA'S BLEED RESOLVED BY ITSELF.ALL SHE GOT FROM IT IS DEAFNESS.WE DONT TREAT HER ANY DIFFERENT TO HER SISTER.TO ALL MUMS OF PREMS IT GETS EASIER.IT COULD BE A LOT WORSE.I MET MUMS WHO LOST THEIR BUBS AND YOU'VE NEVER HEARD A MUM CRY FOR THEIR CHILD LIKE THESE WOMEN DID. AND TO BE HONEST IM READY TO GO AGAIN.JUST DONT TELL THE OTHER HALF THAT!

[mel m]

I'm new to these forum/chat things so please bear with me.

My little Samuel was born on the 5/8/2004 at just 23 weeks weighing in at 668 grams. I went into labour very quickly and had Samuel naturally much to my horror. We spent a total of 116 days in hospital and as expected we had a real rollercoaster ride during that time. Samuel had a Grade 4 bleed in his brain, a PDA that wouldn't close, Necrotising Enterocolitis which meant he wasn't able to take milk feeds for 2 weeks and numerous infections. It was really hard for us as we had moved from Melbourne to Wellington, New Zealand for my parters work earlier in the year and therefore had no family with us.

Samuel was just amazing and whatever obstacle was thrown his way he mananged to beat it. He came home 4 days before his 'true' due date and even managed to do so without being on oxygen. A week before he came home he decided he was a big boy and started breathing on his own. He is now 9 months (or 5 months corrected) and each day he surprises me with his achievements. So far he is showing no signs of any abnormalities. He is my little miracle. :D

[Melissa1983]

Hi
I actually had both of my girls prem. Mikayla was 5 weeks early, as i was induced with her, and with only a 2 hour labor and Abby was 3 weeks, with 1hr labor. Mikayla was fed by a tube for 3 days, and in a crib in special care. It was so hard to see a new born baby and so tidy in one of those things. Mikayla only weigh 5pound 7. Its also hard when you cant even hold them and i was doing it on my own. Today she is 2 1/2 and you wouldnt think she was a premmie baby.

Melissa

[sopolicha]

I love hearing these stories and that all have had good outcomes. I had a good outcome, but have horrendous hospital stories.

I had an emergency caeser at 34 weeks due to shocking high blood pressure. I was in hospital for a week before and I had no idea that I would not be going home without a baby.

I had my blood pressure taken at 10.30am and then little Sophie Rose was born at 12.19pm, four pounds eleven ounces which is just over 2 kgs.

The next morning around 7.30am, I was still attached to the drip etc, and no nurse etc had been to tell me what was going on with my baby or to remove the drip. So I rang the Special Care Unit to find out. They thought it was a great laugh that the mother of a baby who was in thier unit would be ringing up. I just wanted to not only see my baby but to see that she did exist and that she was okay.

She was able to breathe on her own, but just could not suck. I was expressing breastmilk/colostrum by hand, did not know about breastpumps etc at the time and was not told by the hospital staff, until much later. After seeing the state of the breastpumps and the room in which they were kept I am sorry that they told me.

I remember they told me that her feeds were going to be increased from 18ml at a time to 22ml and I can remember thinking how the hell I am going to get an extra 3ml to feed my poor baby!

I could go and on about our time in the hospital which was the Mater Mothers Private in Brisbane, but I don't have the time and it gets quite nasty, I do not have a good word to say about them except for one exceptional midwife.

In the end, my daughter will be four in early August and she is just lovely, and without a care in the world as all children should be.

[lily81]

Hello all, I am the mother of twin boys, Ethan and Riley, born at 33 weeks. They weighed a hefty 5 pound 4 ounces which is great for being 7 weeks premmy. I went in to labour and after letting me contract all night my "stand in" obstetrician decided to deliver by emergency c-section. It was all very scary. When the boys were delivered they both stopped breathing so I only saw them for a brief moment before they were whisked away to the special care nursery. They were both placed on bubble cpap (which airates the lungs to stop them from collapsing). They were tube fed for 4/5 days although I expressed every 2 hours so that they could have precious colostrum and breastmilk. All up we were in hospital for only 11 days which is great for them being so premmy. Now they are 3 months old and have TRIPLED, yes thats right, TRIPLED their birth weight and they don't really look like premmy babies. I might add here too that their weight has a lot to do with their father's size, he is 6ft 8 and 140kg so I guess they were going to be big babies anyway!! :p

[hayfilfy]

Hi there!

Our twins Hayden and Brooklen were born at 37 weeks via c-section as they were both breech babies.....Hayden had engaged Breech and there was just no turning them LOL

Hayden weighed in at 5lb 11oz
Brooklen weighed in at 6lb 11oz

Great sizes for 2 premmies but they required no assistance at all (very proud incubator here LOL)

They both came back to the ward with me and we were home in 5 days....