Then & Now - our preemies

[AP]

I thought a sticky like this would bring inspiration and hope to others browsing the forum. I'm sure we all remember what it was like in the early days, wishing we had a crystal ball. And of course - Google isn't always a friend

Feel free to post your stories, pictures and update your entry in the future(using the edit function on your entry), and I hope this thread helps someone out there.



_____________________________________________________________


Guess I'll start

Alex was born at 27+4. We didn't know we were going to have an early arrival! From strange pains that no-one knew what they were, to discover I was in labour, 9cm dilated, all in a few hours.

Our little girl Alex was born at 2lb 14oz, a good weight for her gestation, and spent a few days on a ventilator before progressing to CPAP.
She had a Grade 4 IVH, which caused fluid to build up and it was a worrying time wondering if she would need a shunt to drain it. She didn't need it in the end.

We spent 11 and a half weeks in neonatal, and returned 5 weeks later for an overnight stay so she could have laser eye surgery. Her eye test had shown ROP The process was quick and she was fine after waking up, and we got to take her home again and carry on as a family.

Alex is 5. She's just been diagnosed with autism and they are considering ADHD too. She has done fantastically, albeit delayed in most areas, but we have had great support educationally. She has limited speech which is improving thanks to sign language. Alex also wears glasses as a result of the ROP (well....when she tolerates them ) She throws up a lot, since she got home, and we have no idea if this is reflux or not, which is hard work, and no-one can seem to work out what's causing this!

Alex also has a little sister now(3 years), and she was full term. They are fabulous together!

https://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s246/sandismall/image_1_zpsd6f7acbf.jpg

 

[twinmummy06]

My twins were delivered via C-Section at 34+1 due to ongoing placental sharing issues which resulted in Twin 2 not growing at all between 32-34 weeks and going into distress. They weighed in at 5lbs 13oz & 18.5" (twin 1) and 4lbs 7oz and 17.3" (twin 2). They spent 3 weeks in the SCN nursery for a little jaundice, learning to suck and as feeders and growers. I had two shots of steriods before they were born so they were breathing fine on their own.

They are now 5, 6 in October. Time has just flown by. We battled reflux when they were babies, food refusal and speech therapy at 4 for talking in twin talk and knowing minimal "actual" words. They have been discharged from speech therapy recently - they are up with in a normal range for speech for their age and I couldn't be any prouder! They are still fussy when it comes to food, but otherwise they are happy healthy little guys! There is also still a 2lbs+ and a 1" gap in height and weight, with the bigger twin still being well, bigger lol.
They also have a full term little sister who is 14 months old today. I love my little family to bits

Twin 1, 1 day:
https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz353/twinmummy06/caelanday1.jpg

Twin 2, 1 day:
https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz353/twinmummy06/connorday1.jpg

Together again at 11 days old, (t2 our left, t1 our right):
https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz353/twinmummy06/twins11daysold.jpg

5 years old (t2 our left, t1 our right):
https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz353/twinmummy06/ConnorourleftCaelanourright55yo.jpg

And I've come back to update finally! They're now 9 years old! And still love soccer (t2 left, t1 right)
https://i843.photobucket.com/albums/zz353/twinmummy06/FB_IMG_1461727464950_zpsjoaxixkp.jpg

 

[Skadi]

I experienced Pprom when I was 28+4 weeks pregnant. Labour held off for several days which gave the Drs time to pump me full of antibiotics and steroids to help her little lungs develop quicker. I was on complete bed rest and not allowed to even get up to shower.

I started labour on Sunday night and Monday morning Keira was born a tiny 1360 grams.

It was with relief that I heard her tiny little cries, I knew that meant she could breathe a little on her own. When I finally got to see her in the NICU she had tubes everywhere and was on cpap. Later she was under double bili lights. They found a slight bleed on the right side of the brain but we were told it wasn't severe. 4 days later she came off Cpap and two days after that she was completely done with the bili lights.

We were very fortunate that she was such a strong little girl and did so well in the NICU. She quickly graduated into the level 2 nursery to feed and grow and after 7 long weeks she came home.

She is still a very tiny baby, even for her adjusted age, but she is doing so well. If it weren't for her size there are very few clues that she should only be 3 months and not 6.

This is her today at 6 months actual and 3 Months 2 weeks and a day adjusted.

 

[kelly6407]

About me


I knew there was something wrong when I reached 27weeks, being my 2nd baby I noticed the kicks and movements stopped. My feet swelled up too.

I had a home Doppler so listened to HB and heard baby was well inside, had a 28week appointment the week later to left it till then.
At my appointment the mw tested my bp and urine to find my bp was very high and I had protein in my urine. She asked about other symptoms so I told her about my lack of movement (hadnt had any kicks since 27weeks) but she didn't seem concerned, just told me I was 'looser' in there?

She came to my house next day and my bp was higher and I had more protein.
Still she did nothing, told me to take a urine sample to my antenatal clinic that day and go see her in a weeks time.

Took my sample to the clinic, they called me within hours to tell me to go to hospital and to take an overnight bag.

Upon arrival they had me hooked up and telling me I had pre eclampsia and was in great danger of seizing or having a stroke because my bp was sky high.
I had a nurse sit with my throu the night, giving me bp meds all night, I wasn't even allowed to go to sleep. In the early hours they said I was stable and could have some sleep.
In the morning I was scanned and told my baby was clinging to life, she had stopped growing for a while and was very small and sick. My cord wasn't working and she needed to be delivered within the next few days.

They gave me steroids and hooked me up to a blood pressure machine that tracked my bp automatically every half hour.
Also having babys heart rate checked the whole time and they then noticed her heart rate kept dropping

Decided there and then to deliver her.

She was born at 28+6 weighing 1lb 8oz.

She was whisked away so quick I didn't get to see her and it was 6hours b4 I was recovered enought to visit the nicu.

She stayed in the unit for just over 8 weeks and had a fairly smooth easy ride.
At the time though I didn't know it was going to be so smooth, I was terrified of something happening, things came up and sounded like they would be bad but they either weren't as bad as they thought or she fought through it.

She came home weighing 3lb 10oz at 37week gestation.

This is her A few days old
https://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x98/kelly6407/image.jpg


This was her the week b4 she got home
https://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x98/kelly6407/photo-13.jpg



This is her now at 14months old
https://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x98/kelly6407/photo-26.jpghttps://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x98/kelly6407/photo-27.jpg

 

[dizz]

Edited following threats and harassment

 

[25weeker]

Holly & Rebecca were born at 25+2 weighing 1lb 7oz & 1lb 6oz. It is a blessing I got to a point where they were viable because at 21 weeks I was on a business trip which ended with me in hospital being told I was dilated with membranes bulging. They could not see any cervix so was told I would labour within 24 hours. I spent the rest of the day panicking I would go into labour while my husband was travelling and have to deliver on my own. 4 days later I was still in the delivery suite and no signs of labour so a different consultant agreed to try pushing my membranes back in and putting a stitch in which was done at 21+5. I was on complete bedrest only allowed up to go the bathroom and to have a shower sitting down. I had blood taken everyday as CRP levels were all over the place and nearly induced at Xmas Eve and New Years day but thankfully as I was looking and feeling fine they done 4 hour obs morning & night. Eventually I went into labour naturally which was triggered by an infection.

Holly was twin 1 and was born breech. That night the consultant told us she had a grade IV IVH on her left side and a small bleed on the right. They said due to the size of the one on the left if she had a further large bleed on the right they would recommend turning off her life support so the next 2 weeks were critical. The next day they discovered her arm was broken from the delivery as she had it wrapped around her head when I was delivering! At 7 weeks old she had her own private plane to take her our home town and she remained there until 2 days before her due date when she came home. She is 2 1/2 today and she is doing great. She is signed off neonatal but I have requested she is kept on with paediatric community incase her bleed shows any problems at school age although to date she has no issues.

Rebecca was twin 2 and despite being the stronger twin when they were first born and having quite good Apgar readings they said she had been difficult to ventilate and the next day the pressures on the ventilator were going up and her blood still wasn't getting enough oxygen. They moved her onto the oscillator in the evening but she was deteriorating and that evening we were told they couldn't do anymore and she passed away in my arms.

Holly a day old:


Holly Now:

 

[EmSmith1980]

After having 3 big full term babies, it was a huge shock when my membranes ruptured at 23+3. Anya arrived 3 days later at 23+6, weighing 1lb 7oz. She spent 136 days in the neonatal unit, at Simpson's, Edinburgh. She was on the vent for 5.5weeks, BiPAP/CPAP for 8 weeks, and came home on 02 via nasal cannula. She had a Grade IV IVH, laser surgery for ROP, and has chronic lung disease due to the vent. Anya has mild hemiplegia due to the IVH, but is doing fab, and just took her first aided steps today, at 20 months actual. She sees a physio every 3 weeks, OT every month, eyes checked every 6 months, paed consultant every 6 months, speech therapist every 6 months and hearing is being kept an eye on.

This is Anya then & now.

https://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee94/pinkiepie1980/0-20months.jpg

 

[Foogirl]

I had the easiest pregnancy in the world, right up to 26 weeks. I wondered why anyone complained about being pregnant.

I took a business trip to London at 26 weeks and my world came crashing down. I started bleeding and basically didn't really stop. After a week at St Thomas' Hospital they sent me home and a week later I was back in Stirling with more bleeding. At 29 weeks my waters broke and an hour later I lost another 2 pints of blood. Taking no chances they went in to get Abby out and she was born 11 weeks early weighing 3lbs 7oz. Thankfully I'd had the steroid injections and her wee lungs were fighting fit. 6 fairly uneventful weeks later we got to take her home.

She is now 3 years old and has cerebral palsy. We've been lucky that it is only her lower limbs which are affected and in every other way she is absolutely perfect. Incredibly bright, funny and chatty, she amazes us with what she can do. The journey so far has made myself and Mr Foo stronger than we thought we could be both individually and as a couple.

https://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/original_foogirl/2f45fb5e-1.jpg

https://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/original_foogirl/f4e81fa0.jpg a few days old.

https://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/original_foogirl/IMG_0203.jpg (and Funty) aged 2 and a half


https://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/original_foogirl/photo.jpg showing off her snazzy nails

https://i690.photobucket.com/albums/vv268/original_foogirl/DSC_4076.jpg on her 3rd birthday.

Abby (and funty....) has become a bit of a star on facebook, her winning personality will hopefully see her through what may well be a very difficult life.

 

[buttonnose82]

Our story starts at 28 weeks, pregnancy had been pretty ok up until that point, then I suddently started getting sweeling in my feet & ankles, I got checked out, my BP was slightly raised but they just kept doing it until they got a 'nice' reading then sent me on my way, over the next 2 weeks the swelling got worse, I got checked out 2 more times, again BP raised but done over and over until nice reading, and just kept getting told it was normal. at 30 weeks we went to my parents for new year and myself & little man ended up staying as I was so swollen and in so much pain I couldn't care for my toddler, my legs would literally swell by 2 inches each during the day. On Jan 12th I went to the hospital for a regular 32 week appointment, by this time my whole body was swollen, I can hardly move. They checked my urine which showed 3+ protein & 3+ blood, my BP was 145/105, within half hour I was up on pre & post natal ward, they came took bloods which showed my liver had stopped working, my kidneys had stopped working and my clotting was totally out, they disagnosed HELLP syndrome, gave me steroids and in the space of a couple of hours od repeat BP's & bloods we went from 'lets keep this baby in 2 more weeks ..... to, this baby is coming out at soon as you hit 24 hours post steroids'

I was started on a number of medications for blood pressure and to prevent fitting as the swelling had started to spread to my brain. I was transfered to delivery suite.

The following day they tried to induce labour but they would only give me 4 hours, after 4 hours I was only just starting to get contractions, I was totally out of it because my body was full of toxin and just plain old exhausted. So 24 hours after steroids we were taken to theatre and they delivered our little dude ..... Friday 13th Jan at 15.15

He was 3lb 11.5oz. On day 2 they started CPAP and on day 3 he took a turn for the worse and required ventilating and a chest drain. The hospital we were at don't take ventilated babies so he was transfered to another hospital. Within days he started to turn a corner and come on leaps and bounds. Onday 10 he was down to 3lb 4 but quickly picked up again, he was discharged at 4 weeks old & 4lb 2oz

He is now 6 months old and 13lb 7, he is doing great, he has a hernia which he requires surgery on ASAP so waiting for an appointment for that, but other than that we have been very very lucky.

First Picture
https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/DSC03338.jpg

Day 3
https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/DSC03434.jpg

Tiny Tiny
https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/DSC03600.jpg

Coming home! 4 weeks old
https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/DSC03806.jpg

6 Months old!
https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/6months.jpg

https://i594.photobucket.com/albums/tt22/bearbumsnappies/6months1.jpg

 

[scottishchick]

I had identical twin boys delivered by c-section at 32.4 weeks due to twin 2 falling behind in growth and restricted blood flow from the placenta. Twin 1 was 4lb 6 oz and twin 2 was 3lb 1oz. They were fine when they were born, twin 1 was the only 1 who had a little c papp once he got upstairs. they spend 2 weeks in intensive care. Twin 1 spent a week in special care unit and got home. Twin 2 spent 3 weeks in special care as he was smaller he got very tired sucking. finally had them both home together at 5 weeks old.

first 3 pics were a few hours old ,last 1 was lastweek at 7 weeks old

 

[lil_mama_415]

Annalise RaynaJo was Born at 36weeks due to me having severe preeclampsia she was born fine at 6lbs 2oz and 18inches long she has some health issues and what we believe is sandifers syndrome but she is 6 weeks old and strong

 

[lozzy21]

Id had a normal pregnancy, the only downside being SPD starting at 22ish weeks. From about 28 weeks i started measuring bigger than i was and at 33 weeks i had a growth scan and they estimated baby was allready 5lb 8 and said i was looking at a 9lb baby.

At 35+2 id woke from a nap on the sofa and felt a bit wet, nothing major so i thought baby must be dancing on my bladder making me wee myself I put on a pad and with in half a hour it was soaked so off to hospital i went. My waters were leaking and i was 2-3cm. They kept me in overnight but since nothing was happening i got sent home with antibiotics with an induction date two weeks later at 37 weeks. Two days later my waters started looking green so i went in and they said they were going to induce me, well turns out there was no need as i was allready 9cm. After a traumatic labour Niamh was born at 21.08 weighing 8lb 15 at 35+4. She was badly bruised after the birth.
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/75817_10150349067070008_857650007_15813723_7992902_n.jpg

She was breathing fine and had a few BF all-though she did have trouble latching. She was given IV antibiotics twice a day as a precaution because of my waters having been leeking for 52 hours before she was born and because of the meconium. She was well enough to be on the ward with me but when she was two days old i noticed she started looking a bit orange, she got sleepy very quick and was too tired to feed. With in 6 hours she was under tripple lights and on IV fluids to help flush the jaundice. The SCBU was full so she was put in a cot in the middle of the intensive care room with 4 tiny really poorly babys.
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/2.jpg
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/SAM_0905.jpg

https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/1-1.jpg

She spent 3 nights in special care and then a night in transitional care with me before going home at 6 days old.

Early on she did things slightly behind but by 3/4 months she had caught up developmentally and is now 20 months old and a total monster.

5 weeks old
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/SAM_1058.jpg

7 months old
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/SAM_1480.jpg

Her first birthday
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/IMG_0870.jpg

Now(20 months)
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/3.jpg
https://i930.photobucket.com/albums/ad148/lozzy22minx/575898_10151930535555495_739385476_n.jpg

 

[tattmum]

My story starts out at 20 weeks gesgastin finding out I had preaclampsia toxciamia one OBGYN wanted to induce my labor at 24 weeks and i knew the chances of my unborn daughter syrviving were not great. So luckily i found a great OBGYN that kept me in bed rest at Miamia Valley hospital till 30 weeks and 2 days then she aid she said there was no choice but to deliver my daughter. My daughter Trinity weighed in at 3lb's 6 oz and was 16 inchs long. she satyed in the NICU for 1 month and 2 weeks. When she came home she had to wear an apnea moniter for her first year of life cause she wuld stop breathing while sleeping and eating. But know you could never tel all the struggles she went through. She wil be 5 August 16th and has had no problems affect her fom her prematurity.

 

[BabyK'sMam]

I had pprom and Evan arrived at 32+6 weighing 4lb 9oz. Being premature has not effected Evan at all. he's a little behind in what he should be doing but i think this is more to do with him being a lazy boy rather than him being a preemie. he's 2 next month and although he's small for his age he's perfect

 

[tattmum]

It is amazing what the little miracles can overcome, mine also came over alot. He is wnderful and cngrats on a nw healthy boy!

 

[Marleysgirl]

I'm a mature Mummy, Andrew is my first child and I was 39 when I fell pregnant. Due to a high DS score (1 in 5) my care was transferred to the High Risk Clinic at the hospital, which meant that I received additional scans. One of those scans picked up that I had bad uterine notching (affecting the placental bloodflow) and that my baby was IUGR, so I was warned that birth would be premature ...

I didn't realise how premature until a scan at 28wks showed that the bloodflow had reversed. My botty was walloped with sequential steroid jabs, and I was scanned every 2 days from then on. A week later, I had a morning during which I felt no movement, so I phoned my consultant. I was due for a scan at 3pm but he offered to scan me in his lunch-hour. Fearing the worst I went prepared with my hospital bags ... Andrew was born at 7:43pm that evening by c/s (he'd have been earlier but I ate lunch, which meant I had to wait for the anaesthetic!)

Andrew weighed 1lb 6oz. He was tiny. He was rushed to NICU and put on a ventilator to help with his breathing - this photo was taken on his second day.

https://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Tigsteroonie/Baby/DSC01395.jpg

He stayed on NICU for 11 weeks, progressing through the various rooms and slowly growing. He came home just two days after his original due date, which was a huge huge bonus for us.

It transpired he'd had a cranial bleed just before birth (hence the lack of movement) and that may well be the cause of his various problems. He has hearing problems, he's not deaf but has auditory neuropathy which means we don't know exactly what/how he hears (he wears aids to amplify what he does hear). He developed epilepsy at 8 months but was successfully treated with steroids. He has been classed as 'learning delayed' for a couple of years now, he is non-communicative, and we have now been referred for testing for Autism.

Still, he's bloody fantastic! He's a little poppet, it's his 3rd birthday this month and he is wearing age 18-24m clothing. This photo was taken a month ago when he was exploring the sand (texture) on holiday:

https://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn274/Tigsteroonie/CIMG8409.jpg

 

[Foogirl]

Yay Andrew! Such a wee star. Glad to hear he's coming along well.

 

[BigDaddy44]

Sofia Michelle was born at 24 weeks 3 days due to my wife having severe preeclampsia. Just days before she delivered the doctors recommended that we abort, as Sofia's chance of survival was very low and the likelihood of her having a "normal" life was even lower. We told the doctors where to stick it and Sofia was born via emergency c-section on 12/15/11. She weighed only 1lb 2oz at birth, and her lowest recorded weight was .992 pounds. She spent 138 days in the NICU and gave us quite a scare, but Sofia is doing wonderfully and her development is right on track.

You can see all of her pictures on her Facebook page - GrowSofiaGrow

https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_18227.jpg
https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_1835.jpg
https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_18447.jpg

https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_3232.jpg
https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_3239.jpg
https://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c162/SBGRAD24/IMG_3174.jpg

 

[babyonbrain]

Thank you ladies for sharing your wonderful stories. I went into preterm labor at 28 + weekds was dilated 1 cm 50% effaced. They stopped labor, gave me steroids for babies lungs. I am 30+4 today. Had more contractions yesterday sending me to hospital again for observation, luckily with no progression. They cant find a cause for me dilating and having contractions. Suprisingly I was on bed rest only for a few days and they are letting me resume normal activities?!? One dr told me that they dont recommend bed rest much anymore as they dont find it stops preterm labor, they think if your are going to have a premature baby then thats the way it was meant to be. So needless to say, I dont agree, I am super paranoid now with every contraction, pain and increased pressure. I feel helpless....all I can do is take one day at a time and hope and pray this little boy stays in place a little bit longer. But reading your stories gives me added hope and comfort.

 

[Srrme]

I have 2 premature babies, Elias and Fenix.

Elias was born at 28.6 weeks, weighing 2 pounds 11 ounces, and measuring 15 inches long. He spent 60 long days in the NICU. He is 21 months old now, and huge. He's walking, talking, and getting into everything.

Fenix was born at 35 weeks, weighing 4 pounds 13 ounces, and measuring 18 inches long. He spent 21 days in the NICU, and came home right before the New Year. He's 8 months old now, sitting unsupported, and attempting to crawl.

They have both made me (and their daddy) very proud!