Am I the only one who gets upset?

[Carley]

When you see posts or people saying IRL that my baby is viable at 24 weeks and they will be healthy? Is it just me? Because I wish they knew the truth if a baby was born at 24 weeks. Am I over reacting?

 

[Tiffers]

No I do not think you are overreacting at all!! I agree with you. People do not understand. My husband works in the NICU and he works with the babies that are 24 weeks (and some earlier) and sees the consenquences.

 

[Carley]

I know what it is like at nicu from a mothers point of view but how about his? I'm curious what the nicu staff think? What does he do in nicu?

 

[Pyrrhic]

I'm curious as to why these posts exist? Why 24 weeks? The youngest premmie to survive was 21 week and 6 days.

 

[Carley]

I'm curious as to why these posts exist? Why 24 weeks? The youngest premmie to survive was 21 week and 6 days.

People don't stop to wonder what kind of damage that baby will have to live with...

 

[jenny873]

i was thinking this before when i seen a thread about baby being viable. x

 

[Carley]

When my son was born at 24 weeks, the nicu specialist stated nearly every baby born before 24 weeks had a major haemorrhage. So that leaves me thinking what would happen to a 21 week old baby? Sometimes doctors need to know when to say no, this isn't fair on the baby.

 

[jnall1965]

When you see posts or people saying IRL that my baby is viable at 24 weeks and they will be healthy? Is it just me? Because I wish they knew the truth if a baby was born at 24 weeks. Am I over reacting?

I went into labour with my daughter at 24 weeks. The consultant sat us down and told us they had an incubator on standby but the chances of her surviving were less than 5%. Luckly they managed to stop it and she was born at 34 weeks, she still ended up in scbu but is now a healthy 13 year old. I remember sitting in the scbu with her looking at all the other babies that were in there who were born at between 24 and 26 weeks they were so ill. She was in there for a week and 6 babies died while we were there thats roughly one a day omg.

I agree with you people dont realise the problems that these tiny babies have.

 

[xXx Vamp xXx]

I think it's because they've never gone through having a child at 24 weeks sweetheart. I don't think they mean to say it that way, it's maybe just the way they see things from lack of experience?

I was talking to my mum about your little angel the other day x

 

[Carley]

When you see posts or people saying IRL that my baby is viable at 24 weeks and they will be healthy? Is it just me? Because I wish they knew the truth if a baby was born at 24 weeks. Am I over reacting?

I went into labour with my daughter at 24 weeks. The consultant sat us down and told us they had an incubator on standby but the chances of her surviving were less than 5%. Luckly they managed to stop it and she was born at 34 weeks, she still ended up in scbu but is now a healthy 13 year old. I remember sitting in the scbu with her looking at all the other babies that were in there who were born at between 24 and 26 weeks they were so ill. She was in there for a week and 6 babies died while we were there thats roughly one a day omg.

I agree with you people dont realise the problems that these tiny babies have.

You were lucky they could stop labour, that's fantastic. They tried for me but as you can see we had no luck. We got told everything during labour, I didn't take much in, I was in too much pain. I'm so happy for you that stopped labour until 34 weeks, that's fantastic!!! When I was in for 6 days we had two sets of twins die born at 24 & 25 weeks. And 4 babies born at the same time. I just wish people knew what they would face at 24 weeks.

 

[Carley]

I think it's because they've never gone through having a child at 24 weeks sweetheart. I don't think they mean to say it that way, it's maybe just the way they see things from lack of experience?

I was talking to my mum about your little angel the other day x

I'm trying to but some seem to get so excited that their baby could be healthy and live a normal life if born at 24 weeks...

 

[Samantha]

.

 

[ALI]

oops did not realise O/H was adding comment here too at same time. Its pretty much what I was going to say. Having premmie at 24 weeks does not necessarily mean a baby may not be completely healthy or only have minor problems.

At the NICU unit our princess was in, we read of a baby born 2004 in the same unit weighing under 1 lb at 14 oz or 400g. The mum went into birth at 22 weeks with severe pre-eclampsyia and because she was 22 weeks the doctors performed an abortion, to save her life. A nurse noticed a short while later the baby was still alive and quickly connected her to oxygen. That baby is now a healthy happy 4 year old with no problems. The article gave us hope.

We recently discovered they also had a website www.lucyblueparker.com

 

[Samantha675]

When I hit 24 weeks, I felt that at least then my LO would stand a chance IF something were to happen. No matter how slim the chance.

 

[Tootsie]

IMO I think some of the people who start these topics have gone through so much to get where they are now that IF there was a senario in which their babies had to be born early they are just happy as mentioned that with the current technology being as sophisticated as it is now their little bundle would have a much greater chance of surviving,

As you have so rightly put though i would not know what would the situation involves unless i had been through it or knew someone who had been through it. I understand that these posts may be upsetting to you and others who know the anguish involved in looking after a very early baby but some mums to be are really just happy they have made it that far into pregnancy without some of the other tragedies that can befall them.

I hope this helps a little as it's coming from someone on the other side of the fence.

 

[Samantha]

.

 

[TashaAndBump]

oops did not realise O/H was adding comment here too at same time. Its pretty much what I was going to say. Having premmie at 24 weeks does not necessarily mean a baby may not be completely healthy or only have minor problems.

At the NICU unit our princess was in, we read of a baby born 2004 in the same unit weighing under 1 lb at 14 oz or 400g. The mum went into birth at 22 weeks with severe pre-eclampsyia and because she was 22 weeks the doctors performed an abortion, to save her life. A nurse noticed a short while later the baby was still alive and quickly connected her to oxygen. That baby is now a healthy happy 4 year old with no problems. The article gave us hope.

We recently discovered they also had a website www.lucyblueparker.com

Wow what an incredible, inspirational story! And what an amazing little girl.

I'm so sorry you're having a hard time at the moment. I know that it must be very difficult for you as you approach the gestation at which you had and lost your little boy

If it will help you to understand a little more why people go on and on about their babies being 'viable' now, I think I can give a little insight into that: I remember getting very excited at my baby being viable at 24 weeks, because it meant that having a baby was that little bit more 'certain' somehow - I knew there was a chance that IF I gave birth, now there was a CHANCE, no matter how slim, or no matter what we would face along the way, that my baby could at least survive. That is not at all to say that I imagined that I could give birth to perfectly healthy baby at that point and not face the problems mentioned above.

Having had a baby in SCBU (for illness rather than prematurity), and watching other women going through having very early babies while Anna was in the high dependency nursery, I'll admit that my understanding of what these babies actually go through is much, MUCH fuller now. I could never have even imagined the trauma, or troubles these babies (and their parents) faced before. But that is down just to previous ignorance, and lack of understanding - I just didn't know.

I'm sure that if anyone knew how much it would upset you (or other women who have been through the same) to talk about 'viability' so lightly, they wouldn't splash it around as much. But as I said earlier, I don't think they mean to suggest or assume that very premature babies have an easy time of it; they are probably just excited to know that their baby now stands a chance, even if born at that point? I think even having seen the babies in SCBU going through everything that comes with being born so early, I would still be excited in my next pregnancy to hit the gestation where I know my baby could survive - that's not to say I'd want my baby there and then of course! I'd obviously still hope and wish and pray that my pregnancy and baby are healthy and full-term.

I hope this makes you feel a bit better - in helping you understand where we are coming from when we say, "Yay, 24 weeks - baby is viable / baby could survive if born now! ".

Best of luck for the future, x

 

[brownhairedmom]

I think Tasha put it very well. I think that once you get to that point that there is at least a chance, no matter how slim that chance may be.

Also, people don't understand, especially not first time moms. I've got to say that I have absolutely no idea how traumatic that is for people. I don't think anyone can understand fully until they're in a situation, but that goes for every situation.

I'm so sorry you had to go through that

 

[Mamafy]

carley. I think no-one can understand unless they've been through this. Joe was born at 28 weeks and in the words of the team "you can get a very good healthy 28 weeker and a very poor 28 weeker, and joe is the very poor 28 weeker"

2 1/2 years on the road has been tough, and we nearly/did lose him several times including when he was 8 weeks old having been home 2 days where I had to ressusitate him. He has had several febrile convulsions when he gets high temps and hospitilised humourous times for pneumonia due to the condition his lungs are in.

He has played 'catch-up' on his development too, everything was running at least 3-6 months late but he has reached all milestones.

He has chronic lung disease and has a dent in his ribcage which makes him gasp when he runs about. The journey has been tough and I think no-one can fully understand the emotions.

Joe was one of the 'lucky' ones though that although he has had problems and still has problems he pulled through.

I am so sorry Carley your little son wasnt one of the 'lucky' ones and I really hope you get to term this time

xoxoxoxo
xoxoxoox

 

[Hollys_Twinny]

I know I might be wrong but, When people are praising the fact that Lo reaches 24 weeks theres a chance baby can survive and that in its self makes them happy, I think they know baby will still need alot of help and chances of survival are slim, but I dont think they mean it in a shallow way as in " I want my baby out now as he/she is viable".