Hi everyone! I'd like to join you here. I haven't lurked or anything but I'm a long-time Bumpie (from ttcal, then pgal/m15). Ill catch up on things here but in the meantime I wanted to say hi.
This past Thursday I VERY unexpectedly gave birth to my son at 31weeks2days. My water broke at 6 am and by the time the hospital on-call OB saw me around 7:30, I was fully dilated and he was trying to get out. Because he was so ready to go but still breech, they had to do an emergency c-section under general anesthesia.
He was born weighing 3 pounds 10 ounces and 16.14 inches long. He's breathing on his own and has started eating via feeding tube. His bilirubin levels are nornal so no photo lamps yet. He seems to be very strong and healthy and I'm so happy!
Getting to this point was a long process (3 missed miscarriages at 7 weeks, pregnant this time after Femara+TI+trigger, daily Lovenox injections, and close monitoring by hematologist, rheumatologist, and MFM). I honestly thought I was out of the trouble zone and it never occurred to me that he might come early. So I have NO experience or knowledge with preemies.
They said the very earliest he may be released is 35 weeks so FX he's ready to go then. It breaks my heart leaving him in the NICU each night.
An update from today- they said he's doing great and they're upping his feeding! He was at 4 ml every 3 hours abd this morning they upped to 6 ml. He responded so well that starting tonight they are increasing by 3 ml every 12 hours until he's at 31 ml. Then I think he may be ready for breastfeeding. FX! It's my last night in the hospital and I can feel my anxiety growing.
Post by runningmommy519 on Jan 19, 2015 18:41:40 GMT -5
I am sorry you are here. I had DS at 35 weeks due to severe IUGR and pre-eclampsia. He was 3lbs 4.5 oz at birth. He did great in the NICU too and only needed to grow and learn to eat. He spent 21 days in the NICU. I was able to successfully breastfeed him. Send me a PM if you need any support or have any questions. Breastfeeding a preemie is challenging but totally possible.
Post by alphaphi98 on Jan 20, 2015 14:46:24 GMT -5
My first baby was a 32 weeker due to pPROM, totally unexpected. She was 3 lbs 9 oz and spend 25 days in the NICU. She also did not have breathing issues and was basically a grower and a feeder. We tried breastfeeding, but she just never wanted to latch on. I ended up pumping and feeding her with a bottle. I advise you keep up with your pumping along with breastfeeding. I pumped every 3 hours for the 1st 3 months, even when she was in the NICU.
It sounds like your LO is doing great. Best of luck to you! Keep your spirits high and know you're doing a great job.
Glad to hear he's doing well. I had my dd at 32w, she was 3lbs14oz. I also had a hard time leaving her every night to go home. One time even getting in the elevator with a family, their baby and all the balloons and gifts they got going home together.
Married Sept 2008 ~~TTC Nov 2010~~ IUI #2: 1/21/13-100mg Clomid(CD3-7)(8M post wash) + progesterone= BFP!! EDD 10/13/13 8/21/13 - Naomi born at 32w3d by csection due to Pre-E
Got to AW a bit. Today, at one week old, our little guy came off the IV and the nasal cannula and is doing great! He's now up 2 ounces over his birthrate. We've started nuzzling and trying to get him interested in sucking but that's hit or miss. But he's doing SO amazing. I'm just so overjoyed!
Got to AW a bit. Today, at one week old, our little guy came off the IV and the nasal cannula and is doing great! He's now up 2 ounces over his birthrate. We've started nuzzling and trying to get him interested in sucking but that's hit or miss. But he's doing SO amazing. I'm just so overjoyed!
Nothing new to report today. No weight gain and no changes, but that also means no changes for the worse. He's still doing great. Tried nuzzling but he opened his mouth, latched on, sucked once, and immediately fell asleep. The lactation nurse said it was still very advanced for his age though. He was sleepy today but the highlight for me is that I'm learning his different grunts and faces and what they mean. I love all his sounds and expressions!
I'm holding up okay. Each day is different. Today was harder to say bye to him. But overall I'm good. Today we set up his pack n play and car seat/stroller. So exciting! Tomorrow is our Babycare class.
Nothing new to report today. No weight gain and no changes, but that also means no changes for the worse. He's still doing great. Tried nuzzling but he opened his mouth, latched on, sucked once, and immediately fell asleep. The lactation nurse said it was still very advanced for his age though. He was sleepy today but the highlight for me is that I'm learning his different grunts and faces and what they mean. I love all his sounds and expressions!
I'm holding up okay. Each day is different. Today was harder to say bye to him. But overall I'm good. Today we set up his pack n play and car seat/stroller. So exciting! Tomorrow is our Babycare class.
I think one of the hardest parts is how different each day (or hour) can be! It's such a roller coaster.
meladorie, reading your posts I keep thinking 'I remember that part.' My girls were born 11 weeks ago at 33w 2d and spent 20 days in the nicu. It was sooo hard to leave them as others have said and it felt like their stay would last forever. Now it seems like it went quickly.
I would also advise you to continue pumping. If your hospital allows you to use the medela symphony there and you have a pump at home that is a great combo. My nicu also have me multiple sets of pump parts so I didn't have to worry about lugging them back and forth between home and nicu.
If you're not already, I would recommend keeping a journal with each day's activities/victories/stats/visitors. It helped me feel like we were moving forward when I could see an overall trend toward improvement.
Hugs to you! Do take advantage of this time to get sleep, maybe even go out or do something nice for yourself. My DH and I went to a movie and dinner one night and it was tough not to feel guilty but now that the babies are home I'm glad we tried to make some time for us!
meladorie, reading your posts I keep thinking 'I remember that part.' My girls were born 11 weeks ago at 33w 2d and spent 20 days in the nicu. It was sooo hard to leave them as others have said and it felt like their stay would last forever. Now it seems like it went quickly.
I would also advise you to continue pumping. If your hospital allows you to use the medela symphony there and you have a pump at home that is a great combo. My nicu also have me multiple sets of pump parts so I didn't have to worry about lugging them back and forth between home and nicu.
If you're not already, I would recommend keeping a journal with each day's activities/victories/stats/visitors. It helped me feel like we were moving forward when I could see an overall trend toward improvement.
Hugs to you! Do take advantage of this time to get sleep, maybe even go out or do something nice for yourself. My DH and I went to a movie and dinner one night and it was tough not to feel guilty but now that the babies are home I'm glad we tried to make some time for us!
My hospital uses the Ameda pump and I am also renting one to keep at home. It's definitely getting tiring but I'm sticking with it.
I like the journal idea. I've been tracking weight in a baby book but a journal with other little details seems good.
Pumping is so tiring. I hope your nicu nurses are praising you for it because that helps on the tough days! They would always say how awesome it was when I came in the morning with milk.
DS was born at 34w due to severe IUGR and was exactly the same size as your little guy. He spent 2 weeks in the NiCU as a feeder and grower. I breastfed him until he was 20 months old. The pumping is hard at first but it's worth keeping up with and it is possible to switch to just nursing if you keep at it. Sending T&P to you and your family that he keeps growing stronger and gets to go home soon.
meladorie - how are you and your little guy doing?
Doing well. This week we had a small setback when they found some specks of blood in his poop. They ran lots of tests and an x-ray and it was all normal so they think he's allergic to the cow milk protein in the supplement. They put him back on an IV for a day and then slowly added in plain breast milk. The whole thing resulted in him losing 60 grams. But he's back on a different supplement now and is up 50 grams. So he's finally doing well again and no more blood!
Post by lucilleaustero on Jan 29, 2015 14:54:01 GMT -5
Hi! Congrats on your little guy. The NICU can be a roller coaster of a ride and things can change so quickly. Leaving at night is so hard. Pumping in that little room can be lonely and it lets your mind wander, which was not my friend.
He will be home soon and I am so happy that they found a supplement that works for him.
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