I know this doesn't relate directly as it wasn't 31 weeks but I had Sophie at 27 weeks due to pre eclampsia. I was terrified but although she was tiny (1lb 13.8) she has done amazingly well and is just about to come home in the next few days, we hope. It's been a long haul and I won't say it's been plain sailing emotionally, but it's amazing what fighters these little babies are. Your friend's baby has 4 weeks more than Sophie had, and they told me even every half day inside makes a difference.
There really is so much they can do for babies born prematurely. Sophie was on a ventilator for a few hours - she didn't need it to start with but then she got tired. After that she was on CPAP for 9 weeks. She was re-ventilated once for a few days, had a wee bit of jaundice and an infection in her belly button and one eye infection but that's pretty much all the problems we have had and they all cleared up quickly.
She was in an incubator in intensive care for I think 6 weeks (it's all become a bit of a blur!) then into HDU. Then she went into a heated cot 3 weeks ago, then they gradually cycled her off CPAP and then she came off the oxygen too.
She is now in special care and we are just working on establishing the breastfeeding.
She is 5lb 7 and just looks like a newborn now, 11 weeks down the line. She is demand feeding, crying, really alert, doing all the things you'd expect from a newborn.
They will probably get your friend to express milk for her baby, as breastmilk is easier on the gut for premature babies. Then after a while they might give the baby 50/50 breastmilk and formula to put weight on. Sophie gained roughly 3oz every 3 days! It will get fed via a tube in his or her mouth. Your friend will be able to do as much for her baby as she can, in the way of nappy changes and giving the feeds via the tube, and she will gradually be able to do more and more as the baby gets bigger and more stable.
One piece of advice I would give is limit the visitors. I really regret that we had the full quota of visitors every day for about the first 6 weeks! I felt like I didn't have enough time with my own baby as one of us had to keep sitting out cos they only allow 3 round the cot.
If you or she needs someone to talk to who is just going through it at the moment, pm me. Also I have Sophie's entire story on our blog at
www.theyearofbabyb.blogspot.com - it might be reassuring to read it and see the pictures of how she has changed over the weeks. I think I'm about 3 weeks behind on it though!!
Also, the Bliss website helped us immensely. And talking to others who have been through it.
I am sure all will be well for her - 31 weeks is really good as the baby has had a lot longer than Sophie to develop. I had steroid injections to help mature Sophie's lungs and they really do make a huge difference.
I wish your friend and her baby all the best. xxx
..thanks xx
