https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 27 May 2026 05:51:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-330306 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:52:45 +0000 littlek 330306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sandsandmore: I'm so sorry for your loss. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-330301 Mon, 08 Oct 2012 13:50:29 +0000 sandsandmore 330301@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had twins at 27 weeks. One had severe IUGR and was born at only 12 ounces. Yes, 3/4 of a pound. The other was born at 2lb 1oz. The bigger baby spent 101 days in the NICU. He's perfectly healthy now. Unfortunately our smaller baby died at 5 months old; he developed a heart condition that's incredibly rare, with no treatment. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312993 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:23:56 +0000 Goldilocks1107 312993@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My coworker had her baby at 26 or 28 weeks. After 3 months in NICU, she finally put on enough weight to go home, just in time for Easter. My coworker was due a month before me, so when she came back (after the birth and before starting maternity leave when she could take the baby home) she would say "Hey, you've now made it further than I did!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312961 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 12:07:34 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 312961@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@AprilK: I have not heard of that book/story and will totally check it out! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312925 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:53:54 +0000 lovehoneybee 312925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL gave birth to her first son via emergency c-section at 30 weeks. I'm not completely clear on all the details, but I know she had pre-e + a blood incompatibility problem. He was in the NICU for 2 months, and today is a super smart, super kind, super healthy (and athletic) 8 year old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312909 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:46:59 +0000 AprilK 312909@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you read Half Baked by Alexa Stevenson? You can read a bunch of her experience on her blog, Flotsam, too (<a href="http://flotsamblog.com/" rel="nofollow">http://flotsamblog.com/</a>). But I think her little girl Simone was born at 27 weeks? It is a really outstanding read- she explains so much about the NICU just in the course of her story. I devoured it when my son was in the NICU. </p> <p>My small sir was born at 34 wks, 4 days per my obgyn's calc, I would say it was closer to 34 wks even based on my charting. He stayed in the NICU for 10 days, my story is much like @krsmall in that my water broke and we headed to the hospital. He was 5 lbs 12 oz and had no problems with breathing, etc, but my hospital had a rule that any baby under 35 weeks went straight to the NICU. Because he had no problems the nurses kept saying that he could prob go home with me, and then the doctors said no way on their rounds on Day2. I was crushed. Later someone explained to me that you should expect that the baby will stay in the NICU until you would have been at least 37 weeks gestation, maybe until your actual due date. Wish someone had explained that to me at the beginning! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312885 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:38:12 +0000 Beebug 312885@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any first hand stories.....but know two incredible people that were preemies (micro preemies?).</p> <p>First is BIL who is now 30 years old. He was born at 26w, two months NICU time (back then!) and was valedictorian of his undergrad class, and dentistry graduate studies class and is now a hugely successful dentist, nothing "wrong" with him because of preemie, he is perfectly normal!</p> <p>Another is a friend's daughter born at 25w. Three months in three different NICU's. She is 7 now and aside from "small" (though adorable!) her Mom is petite so it could just be a product of that, she just seems a little small for her age! Friend said that at school she just had to remind her teachers to treat her like a Fall baby instead of a Spring/Summer baby in some scenarios, but she said each year that seems to be less and less important.</p> <p>I don't know if this is even useful, but healthcare and science are pretty incredible! I hope your LO stays in and cooks as long as possible, and hope you stay well as well, thinking about you!!!</p> <p>I had a nephew born at 31w in May and he just turned 4 months old on the 24th, you already wouldn't know he is a premmie :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312850 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:27:28 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 312850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Blue: Thanks : ) Good luck with your twinsies... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312789 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 11:09:16 +0000 Mrs. Blue 312789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs Green Grass: Totally cheering you on! And, I'll definitely be following this thread since preterm labor is a possibility in my future. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312761 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:56:36 +0000 Mrs. Pen 312761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: oh my gosh I had never even considered that as a possibility. I cannot imagine what she must feel like. My heart goes out to her.</p> <p>@krsmall: I knew you'd had Brennan early, but never heard your story - sooo so sweet!! What a precious boy... I'm soo glad he is healthy and everything turned out perfect!</p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: just sending you some hugs and support!!! I cannot imagine being in your position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312740 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:49:15 +0000 matador84 312740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsgreengrass I know it's hard...stay positive!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312737 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:47:05 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 312737@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lydg: I just love hearing the really early stories. I hope I'll make it way past this point, but this is where I am right now! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312729 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:41:57 +0000 matador84 312729@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have a good friend who went into labor at 23 weeks and delivered at 25. Unimaginable. Her baby was 1 lb 12 oz and just over a foot long. He spent 3 months in nicu and is now 8 months old, happy, and NO health problems! Modern medicine is amazing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312682 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 10:06:39 +0000 mamachamp 312682@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my son at 36 weeks because I developed HELLP syndrome. I had a few scares though earlier on because my cervix was shortening, so I had to go on bed rest with steroid injections at 30 weeks. I'm so glad he made it to 36 weeks, because he was 5lbs 13oz with literally no problems.<br /> Mag is a pain- makes you feel terrible and you cant get up and walk on your own if you're on it. Because I had hellp syndrome, I was on mag for three days- it was annoying not to be able to stand up and go to the bathroom without having to wheel around my IV- BUT, I got a 24 hr nurse and I took total advantage of it asking a million questions. It actually helped me a lot with breastfeeding and feeling more confident when I left the hospital, so I guess that was actually a blessing in disguise! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312668 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:59:28 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 312668@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@winniebee: I should have figured there would be old threads! I'll check them out too!</p> <p>@BabyBruins: I think we might know eachother...I'm assuming you went to UCLA? Do you know KimberlyMichelle? If so, I'll send you a FB message. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312594 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:14:34 +0000 stargal 312594@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i didnt have a baby in NICU but just wanted to offer two stories that offer a lot of hope.<br /> i was born at 27 weeks (1 pd, 12 ounces) and i spent 3 months in nicu (back in 87, so medical tech. has certainly improved) i have no health problems today or anything....<br /> my cousin (seems very similar to your situation) was having bleeding and was admitted into the hhopsital at 25 weeks, she stayed htere until she develivered her little boy at 37 weeks.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312585 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 09:10:05 +0000 BabyBruins 312585@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I went into a little more detail on Winnie's thread so here is the short story.<br /> I had my little guy at 33w6d because of preeclampsia. I had a csection and there was a NICU team in the operating room. I got to see him for a second before they took him to the NICU and hubs went with them. He was 4 lbs 12 oz.<br /> We got very lucky and he did not have any complications and went home only 1 day after me (6days in the NICU).<br /> He is now almost 9 months old and pretty much caught up on all of his developmental milestones. He is crawling everywhere. I think he has caught up a little on his growth. He's a skinny thing but tall like his daddy and I think he will be just as big as he was going to be.<br /> Like some of the other girls have said, pumping becomes a big thing. I was not able to switch over to full time BFing until his due date. Before that I was pumping and giving bottles or trying a few minutes of BFing and then giving a bottle and then pumping to keep my supply going. If BFing doesn't work, it's okay. Supplementing is okay. You have to take care of your sanity AND the baby. Also like the other girls, I LOVED the NICU nurses (except one bossy one) and learned so much fom them. The NICU lactation consultant was really good too. I wish I could have had more time with her but we left pretty early.<br /> I also had a lot of emotions about how my pregnancy ended and how I wasn't ready to be done yet. I liked being pregnant. I hadn't had my baby shower yet. I really liked my due date. So that was a tough thing for me at the beginning and the time between when he was born and his due date. And again this summer when a friend and my sister reached and then surpassed how far along I got. It just made me sad. I wanted the whole experience and I didn't get it. But as my husband reminded me, we didn't get pregnant for the experience, we wanted to have a baby.<br /> You have been amazingly strong through this whole thing and you can handle this part too and the different challenges that come with having a preemie. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312429 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:41:06 +0000 littlek 312429@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Like @mediagirl: pumping becomes a huge priority. The minute after Brennan was born a lactation consultant came in and taught me how to use the pump. Whatever I could pump I would bring to the NICU in bottles that were specially given to us. During the 10 days Brennan was in NICU I spent my entire time at the hospital so I could feed him, change him, take his temp, read to him, etc. Changing a diaper while your LO is hooked up to monitors is challenging! Changing a diaper afterwards is cake! There is a great community at the NICU and you are surronded by caring amazing people. We loved our NICU nurses. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312421 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:36:15 +0000 mediagirl 312421@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My SIL had her son at 34 weeks. She woke up one morning and her water broke. She was admitted and 5 hours later, there was their little 4lb 6oz boy. He was in the NICU for 2 weeks so, she shuffled back and forth from home to the hospital so she could feed him every 2-3 hours. She did a lot of pumping at home so she would have enough milk for him. He's still small but he's kept growing along his growth curve and you would have no idea he was born early at this point (11 months). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312409 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:29:32 +0000 heffalump 312409@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@krsmall: Thank you! Your LO is sooooo adorable! What a sweet face :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312406 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:26:38 +0000 littlek 312406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This Brennan now at 4 months.. </p> [attach=2163/12/mb0d8e.450x600.brennan-soccer-photo1.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312403 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:25:27 +0000 littlek 312403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: Oh my gosh I can't imagine what your SIL is going through, my heart goes out to her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312401 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:24:30 +0000 littlek 312401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here is Brennan right after he was born on the CPAP. Oh I forgot to mention he was born at 4 lbs 8 ozs, which is pretty large for 34 weeks. I had him at 34 weeks 0 days. </p> [attach=2163/12/mb0d4u.447x600.brennan-nicu.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312394 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:15:40 +0000 winniebee 312394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, my sister gave birth prematurely to her first born (at 34 weeks) out of the blue. She was largish (5 lbs or so) and was in the NICU for 2 weeks because of apnea. She was discharged home on an apnea alarm which she wore for 3 months. She hit some of her milestones a little bit later as a baby (smiling, crawling, grabbing for toys) but was on track at about a year. She is an adorable, precocious, SMART, and loving 4 year old healthy girl. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312393 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 07:11:45 +0000 winniebee 312393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hey there,</p> <p>My abbreviated story (which I already shared with you) is that I had BH contractions starting at 26 weeks that turned into actual labor at 30 weeks. Was hospitalized for 5 days, got steroid injections for babies lungs, and was sent home med free to strict bedrest, where I stayed until just over 37 weeks. I gave birth to a healthy (albeit low birth weight) baby boy just 10 days early. Here's a thread that I started back when I was in the hospital!</p> <p><a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-pretermpremature-success-stories" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/share-your-pretermpremature-success-stories</a></p> <p>And a bedrest support thread!</p> <p><a href="http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bed-rest-support-thread" rel="nofollow">http://boards.hellobee.com/topic/bed-rest-support-thread</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312360 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:34:37 +0000 heffalump 312360@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rosie Girl: Thank you so much, it helps to get all the positive thoughts we can :) They are seeing hospice weekly to help with their grieving, I also couldn't imagine having to go through that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312355 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:19:01 +0000 Rosie Girl 312355@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@artbee: I can't imagine what your SIL is going through with having lost 2 of the babies but still having them there. I feel so horrible for her. My thoughts are with her and your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312348 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:09:13 +0000 heffalump 312348@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My lo came right on time on her due date, but I have a niece or nephew (they're team green) coming soon that will be a little early so I want to follow this thread. I'm crazy worried about it of course and praying every day that the baby will be safe and healthy. </p> <p>My sil was pregnant with triplets but lost two of the babies pretty late in pregnancy so they have to stay in her belly until she delivers her surviving baby. There's not a lot of room in there so they want her to deliver at 37 weeks if she doesn't go into labor before then. Luckily even though the baby is small, its breathing is right on track. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312347 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:04:08 +0000 bebe 312347@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My LO was born at 36 weeks, 5 days and was considered a 'late pre term' baby. My entire pregnancy was normal and I had no signs of labor beforehand. Since she was early, a team from the NICU was in the delivery room to check her as soon as she was born, in case there were any complications and she needed to go to the NICU. Luckily my LO was born healthy and did not need any further assistance and we were discharged 2 days later.</p> <p>After her 2nd pediatrician appointment, they determined she was jaundiced, so she was admitted to the NICU at one week old. She spent 24hrs there to get her bilirubin levels under control. It all happened so fast and we did not see this coming, she didn't look yellow to us, nor did we see any of the other typical signs. First time patents. :)</p> <p>LO is now 12 weeks and doing well, she's a happy and healthy baby, she was just anxious to meet us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/pre-term-laborpreemie-list#post-312346 Thu, 27 Sep 2012 06:03:10 +0000 littlek 312346@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my baby at 34 weeks. I woke up one morning and my water just broke, no signs of labor before this happened. I went to the bathroom to wipe and their was blood, bloody show. I freaked out and had my husband trow together a hospital bag (we were not ready). We went to the hospital and on the way called our doctor. She thought I was wrong about my water breaking so said I could just wait till 9 am and go into the office (it was 7 am at the time). We were almost to hospital so we went to the hospital anyway. I got to the hospital and they put me in a triage room. I was hooked up to the monitors and told I was having contractions, I had no idea. The doctor came in to see if my water had broken, he thought I was wrong. He did the test with the strip of paper and it came back negative, my water hasn't broken. He said just in case we would do an ultrasound. He did the ultrasound and there was barely any fluid around the baby so he admited me to the hospital and told me I couldn't leave until I delivered. He said they would delay me going into labor but if I went into labor they wouldn't stop me. They Gabe me a shot to stop my contractions and moved me to L&amp;D. Once in L&amp;D I got my first steroid shot. My contractions had lightened up so I was allowed to eat lunch. After lunch and the rest of the day my contractions kept coming back, I had 3 more shots. I had to stay in L&amp;D because I was having too many contractions and they wouldn't move me to the perinatal floor. At about 3 am I had my 2nd steroid shot. At 4 am the contractions were so bad I called the nurse and asked for another shot to stop contractions. The nurse had to call my dr and he asked to see how far dilated I was, I was a 9. After that it was a huge rush to get the epidural and deliver the baby. The NICU team was put on notice and were in the delivery room. The doctor came and 15 minutes after he arrived my LO mad his arrival. He cried when he came out, he was rushed to the NICU team who checked him. He was brought over to me for a second and I was allowed to kiss my baby before they took him to the NICU to be hooked up to monitors. The whole time I'm freaking out. They had DH go to the NICU so he could sign papers and I was left in the room to deliver the placenta and get my stitches. About half an hour later DH returned and he was overwhelmed by everything that happened. We called our parents to let them know about Brennan's arrival. I was moved to my room and told I could go see Brennan once I could show the nurse I could walk across the room myself. Let me tell you I walked across that room as soon as I was allowed. DH then wheeled me down to see Brennan in the NICU. He was on the CPAP. It is the scariest thing seeing your LO hooked up to so many monitors. He ended up being on the CPAP about 7 hours. He stayed in the NICU for 10 days. I can't tell you how hard it is to leave the hospital without your baby. I felt like a failure as a mom and cried everyday. The day he was released from the nICU was the happiest day of my life! He's now 4<br /> Months old and thriving. He is a little smaller than full term babies but he is hitting every single milestone. The doctors said to be patient with milestones and that preemies tend to catch up 100% by the time they are 2 I believe. He has no health issues from being born early and we love him a ton!!! Please let me know if you have any specific questions about the nICU it can be very overwhelming to go in there. Please let me know if you want to know anything else.. Sorry I wrote so much... </p>