6 week premature daughter
Discussion
Thank you Hugh, much appreciated.
My wife visited SCBU in the night and she was a lot calmer so they were able to turn down the oxygen a little. She's also passed F and U, possibly too much info but a good sign.
Wife is moving across the car park into nurse/doc accom for the next 3 nights.
I really can't wait to hold her, have to be careful with my bloody great sausage fingers though!
My wife visited SCBU in the night and she was a lot calmer so they were able to turn down the oxygen a little. She's also passed F and U, possibly too much info but a good sign.
Wife is moving across the car park into nurse/doc accom for the next 3 nights.
I really can't wait to hold her, have to be careful with my bloody great sausage fingers though!
hello again all. Just back from hospital after a right upper and a downer of a day. Darcey has been on Bipap after quite a few apnoea episodes since wed night but she seemed to be doing well late morning today so it was taken away. She had four hours of just a wee bit of O2 pumped into the incubator and mum even managed some skin to skin snuggling for 10 minutes. Bout half an hour later she was obviously exhausted and decided she didn`t really want to breath any more and is now back on Bipap.
Whoever said this journey would be up and down like a fiddlers elbow isn`t wrong. Good news is she took some of mother`s milk on board today. Hugh you are right again there is Jaundice and she`ll be under a lamp tomorrow I think. She`s still quite swollen although is weeing a bit so that will get better.
I know she`ll be fine, but this isn`t easy. My wife has moved into onsite nurse`s accommodation for the next 3 nights.
My wife is incredible, she is like a lioness when it comes to Darcey.
I`m going to drink a cold one and go to bed ready for tomorrow.
Whoever said this journey would be up and down like a fiddlers elbow isn`t wrong. Good news is she took some of mother`s milk on board today. Hugh you are right again there is Jaundice and she`ll be under a lamp tomorrow I think. She`s still quite swollen although is weeing a bit so that will get better.
I know she`ll be fine, but this isn`t easy. My wife has moved into onsite nurse`s accommodation for the next 3 nights.
My wife is incredible, she is like a lioness when it comes to Darcey.
I`m going to drink a cold one and go to bed ready for tomorrow.
Im in the same boat. My son was born on 15th December at 30 weeks. my wife is pretty much living in the hospital at present while we establish feeding do that hopefully we can bring him home soon. Unfortunately we had other post birth issues to deal with but inas much as I know what you're going through I send you my best wishes. Sounds like your wifes doing a sterling job. best of luck.
My little nephew came along last June six weeks early and my sister had a similar experience to that you are having. Barney took a couple of steps back at first, had to spend a lot of time under lamps, needed help breathing and wanted to pull his tubes out constantly.
Though he was 5lb at birth, he lost weight initially before putting it back on. He spent about three weeks in in total and he's had a few digestion issues in his first six months, mainly due to reflux, but he's now in the top 1% for length regardless of his prematurity.
Best of luck!
Though he was 5lb at birth, he lost weight initially before putting it back on. He spent about three weeks in in total and he's had a few digestion issues in his first six months, mainly due to reflux, but he's now in the top 1% for length regardless of his prematurity.
Best of luck!
I'm the mother of monkey/Michael - he's almost 30 months and leaping around the furniture hiding his cars around me. 6 weeks early did no harm!
If she wants some help with the breadtfeeding part (I didn't think id last the 6 weeks let alone the 13 months I did) I'm still on the breast mates group in Swindon and can recommend a couple of counsellor to see her if needed.
On the ward, Sue, one of the night nurses is great and Wendy on SCBU is too.
If you need anything, feel free to ask!
If she wants some help with the breadtfeeding part (I didn't think id last the 6 weeks let alone the 13 months I did) I'm still on the breast mates group in Swindon and can recommend a couple of counsellor to see her if needed.
On the ward, Sue, one of the night nurses is great and Wendy on SCBU is too.
If you need anything, feel free to ask!
My three were 7.5, 6 and 8 weeks early - they spent a month, three weeks and 6 weeks in NICU/SCBU. I've donr a warts and all summary below - just to show they all have issues but those are mostly easily overcome.
1) Spent 10 days on CPAP and lost 20% of birthweight in week one beacuse he was only on a drip. Day 4 was the worst as they wanted to ventilate and transfer but we avoided that somehow. Jaundice, infection and feeding issues - the norm basically.
2) 3 days on CPAP, couldnt' digest milk for 5 days. This time we got this great stuff called TPN - like a special food specially designed for your baby that goes through a long line (a special drip) so weight stayed on but infection from long line - cleared quickly. Home quickly after 3 weeks!
3) Spent 24 hours on cpap before went downhill - they intubated and gave sufactant which solved that one so only on cpap for a few days. This one took weeks to digest milk and got a cold and finally we left at 39 weeks.
I'd do it again if I didn't have to be pregnant - it nearly killed me last time so I think that's enough.
SCBU can be frightening - it can magnify all sorts of things but the staff are amazing. I can remember thinking the world was at an end one day and turning a corner the next. Important things are to take photos - it is a blur and really rest and look after yourselves.
Good luck with it all. BTW It took me 5 days to get a drop of milk out the last time and 8 before anything useable came out. I think that's extreme as the other times it took 3 days!
1) Spent 10 days on CPAP and lost 20% of birthweight in week one beacuse he was only on a drip. Day 4 was the worst as they wanted to ventilate and transfer but we avoided that somehow. Jaundice, infection and feeding issues - the norm basically.
2) 3 days on CPAP, couldnt' digest milk for 5 days. This time we got this great stuff called TPN - like a special food specially designed for your baby that goes through a long line (a special drip) so weight stayed on but infection from long line - cleared quickly. Home quickly after 3 weeks!
3) Spent 24 hours on cpap before went downhill - they intubated and gave sufactant which solved that one so only on cpap for a few days. This one took weeks to digest milk and got a cold and finally we left at 39 weeks.
I'd do it again if I didn't have to be pregnant - it nearly killed me last time so I think that's enough.
SCBU can be frightening - it can magnify all sorts of things but the staff are amazing. I can remember thinking the world was at an end one day and turning a corner the next. Important things are to take photos - it is a blur and really rest and look after yourselves.
Good luck with it all. BTW It took me 5 days to get a drop of milk out the last time and 8 before anything useable came out. I think that's extreme as the other times it took 3 days!
Quick update as were in hospital canteen feeding the boobie monster! My wife's milk has come through at a pace and Darcey has been taking milk on since last night.
Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life but today is one of the best. She opened her eyes the first time and I was able to hold her head gently and talk to her. She's beautiful.
Stats have stabilised and she's on omniflow not pap but may come off tomorrow. I may even get to have a cuddle tomorrow.
My wife I must say again is amazing.
Yesterday was one of the hardest days of my life but today is one of the best. She opened her eyes the first time and I was able to hold her head gently and talk to her. She's beautiful.
Stats have stabilised and she's on omniflow not pap but may come off tomorrow. I may even get to have a cuddle tomorrow.
My wife I must say again is amazing.
havent read everything else but just wanted to tell you that being premature is no problem at all nowadays.
i was born 3 months premature and so was my nephew. im 35 and my nephew is 8.
neither of us had any problems and we both spend 1 month in the incubator.
your daughter will be fine. dont worry.
and congratulations.
i was born 3 months premature and so was my nephew. im 35 and my nephew is 8.
neither of us had any problems and we both spend 1 month in the incubator.
your daughter will be fine. dont worry.
and congratulations.
Congrats!
A wonderful time, but make the most of it however hard it may be - they grow up unbelievably fast!
Both my kids were 6 weeks prem, both endured 3 blood transfusions each whilst still in the womb and another two each after they were born.
Both weighed around 5lbs.
Eldest is now 11.5 years old, stands at 5' 3" tall and has the makings of being an excellent rower.
And there we were, worrying about prem babies being small and weedy.....
The youngest is 8 and quickly catching up with his sister.
All the best to the three of you!
A wonderful time, but make the most of it however hard it may be - they grow up unbelievably fast!
Both my kids were 6 weeks prem, both endured 3 blood transfusions each whilst still in the womb and another two each after they were born.
Both weighed around 5lbs.
Eldest is now 11.5 years old, stands at 5' 3" tall and has the makings of being an excellent rower.
And there we were, worrying about prem babies being small and weedy.....
The youngest is 8 and quickly catching up with his sister.
All the best to the three of you!
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Im in the same boat. My son was born on 15th December at 30 weeks. my wife is pretty much living in the hospital at present while we establish feeding do that hopefully we can bring him home soon. Unfortunately we had other post birth issues to deal with but inas much as I know what you're going through I send you my best wishes. Sounds like your wifes doing a sterling job. best of luck.
My niece was born very early, weighed we'll under 2lbs.You'd never think it looking at her now at nearly 9 years old.
Her first feed was 1ml via a syringe and my sister and brother in law were constantly in hospital for nearly 2 months until she came home.
Best wishes to you and your wife.
Vee said:
My niece was born very early, weighed we'll under 2lbs.
You'd never think it looking at her now at nearly 9 years old.
Her first feed was 1ml via a syringe and my sister and brother in law were constantly in hospital for nearly 2 months until she came home.
Best wishes to you and your wife.
Thanks, He's taken to breastfeeding today which is a good sign, we may get him home in the next week or so which after 7 weeks will be a relief. He was born in the hotel room in Belgium so had an adventurous start to life!You'd never think it looking at her now at nearly 9 years old.
Her first feed was 1ml via a syringe and my sister and brother in law were constantly in hospital for nearly 2 months until she came home.
Best wishes to you and your wife.
Obiwonkeyblokey said:
Im in the same boat. My son was born on 15th December at 30 weeks. my wife is pretty much living in the hospital at present while we establish feeding do that hopefully we can bring him home soon. Unfortunately we had other post birth issues to deal with but inas much as I know what you're going through I send you my best wishes. Sounds like your wifes doing a sterling job. best of luck.
I hope issues not too serious wonkey? Darcey is still having about 5 braddies in a 12 hr period but is feeding really well on mother`s gold top. Best of luck to you and obiwonkeywoman and obiwonkeybaby.Just got back again, took the wife out for supper at The Harrow in Wanborough as the food unfortunately at The Great Western is plentiful but not particularly nutritious. She`s a particularly fussy eater as well.
Lovely day, discovered Darcey is a bloomin gannet. 29ml every 2 hours and now 36ml every 3 hours.
Don`t want to sound soppy or owt but she`s absolutely gorgeous.
We were encouraged to leave her to fight her own battles when she had apnoea and Bradycardia and desaturated her O2 levels and fair play to her, even though it`s HORRIBLE for a parent to watch, she picked herself up every time.
She`s on caffeine to help that and I reckon she`ll be back off the jaundice "grow lamp" by early hours tomorrow.
There`s such a huge difference between when I first met how and how she is now.
My wife is at home with me as there was no accom at the hospital tonight and I know, bless her, she`s really struggling. She`s gone into superwoman mode washing and cleaning since we got home just over an hour ago.
Don`t want to sound soppy or owt but she`s absolutely gorgeous.
We were encouraged to leave her to fight her own battles when she had apnoea and Bradycardia and desaturated her O2 levels and fair play to her, even though it`s HORRIBLE for a parent to watch, she picked herself up every time.
She`s on caffeine to help that and I reckon she`ll be back off the jaundice "grow lamp" by early hours tomorrow.
There`s such a huge difference between when I first met how and how she is now.
My wife is at home with me as there was no accom at the hospital tonight and I know, bless her, she`s really struggling. She`s gone into superwoman mode washing and cleaning since we got home just over an hour ago.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff