My friend had her babies

[Elphaba]

and I think her doctors are buttheads.
She was 33 weeks with twin boys, both vertex. She went in for an exam and the perinatologist told her that he could see that she'd be in labor soon, so he sent them on to L&D. Then the OB and the parents decided a c-section was safer for the babies.
The boys are in the NICU. They are so little, and have all those tubes and the most heartbreaking thing is that my friend said "sometimes the nurses even let us hold them."
I just about cried when I read that.
I'm thinking that breastfeeding is out of the question at this point, because they're too little too nurse right now, and if they aren't even allowed to hold the babies, I'm not guessing this is a hospital big on breastmilk for preemies.
I'm holding onto the hope that since they are so little they won't be circumcised, but I guess even that is a slim hope.

WHY wouldn't doctors try to stop labor if it had started at 33 weeks? And how can anyone say "it looks like you'll be in labor soon" ? I just don't get it. I really don't.

[lilgsmommy]

My friends Dr said that to her and the same thing happened but she was 36 weeks.....come to find out he was leaving on vacation!

Im praying for both your friend and the babies!

[weebitty2]

Well .. They didn't try to stop my labour last year with DD, and I was 32 weeks. Well they supposedly tried, ie. 4 months on terbutaline, one try at mag. sulfate, almost 5 months at bedrest ..

I told them if I was going into labour I wanted it to happen naturally, regardless of how early it was for DD to be born, but no such luck. I actually removed my own IV when they added pitocin, and the moron OB broke my water during a cervix check.

Granted .. I was already at 8cm when we went in .. but still, don't think it was right.

As for your friend though? "see you'll be in labor soon?" Oh COME ON! They can't even predict a FULL term, let alone preemies .. I walked around for 3 months at 2cm 85% effaced.

[Evergreen]

Oh man, Elphaba! That pisses me off. My neighbor went into labor at 35 weeks and her OB (for whom I usually have choice words ) did go out of his way to do everything he could to keep the baby inside. I can not beleive that there are OBs out there who actually decide to bring pretermers into the world if the womb is fine! Grrrrrrrr seems to violate the Hyppocratic oath.

[etoilech]

: :Puke

LAst time I checked, on/gyns were not endowed with ESP upon graduation of med. school. This makes me so mad, I can't even think too much about it.

"they even let us hold them, sometimes." Of couse they do they're YOUR kids. Poor mum and dad.

Why do so many NICU parents in the US have such issues with the nurses. I heard MANY times parents FIGHTING with the NICU nurses to HOLD their baby, or change the dipes, or just BE parents. WHat is the dael with that? Here they actively encouraged us to participate in our son's care (showing us how to massage him, bathe him, change the dipes, care for his NG tube. I just don't get this. They are your BABIES. WHy on earth would a nurse try to prevent them from caring for thier child?

Ok, I have to stop. It'll just make me upset. Start to finish this was a screw up. I truely believe that people get theirs in the end... I hope the ob gets his. :

Olivia

[Justice2]

Originally Posted by weebitty2

I walked around for 3 months at 2cm 85% effaced.

I too walked around (well, kinda limped, hehehe) for 11 1/2 weeks, 90-100% effaced and Kaeleb was fully engaged, at a +1 station. Every week, (and my several hospital stays on mag), my doc would say...you won't make it another week. I did too. All the way to 36 week 5 days! The first time, was at 25 weeks.

She should really, really check into her legal rights. What they did was put both her and the babies at a great risk by taking them early.

[Elphaba]

Oh I just don't know what to say to her. I was just so shocked and upset for her. I just hope that she has access to an awesome pump and can at least get them her milk.
What kills me is that she's a lawyer. She's very smart but I've learned that just because a woman is intelligent and educated does not mean that she knows about our birth culture and her rights as a woman and a patient.

[applejuice]

I feel so sorry for those baby boys!!

Your friend may have alot of book learning, but she has no common sense.

[3bees~1flower]

Elphaba...on the bf'ing issue...i too delivered my first at 33 wks...they told me i wouldn't be able to nurse him for at least a week which is when they develope their sucking reflex... well the evening of the day he was born, dh was with him and he was gnawing at his fist so dh said something and they gave him a binky...he sucked on it like a champ...i nursed him the next evening! and he latched on!! tell your friend to watch them for a sucking reflex, if they are acting like they want to suck...have her insist on trying to bf. it can be done!! btw, how big are they?

[Elphaba]

they were 5 - 1 and 4 - 8, so not too bad for as early as they were.
they can suck. they have pacis and she says they love them. so I guess that's a good sign. I'll have to mention the connection between the sucking on the paci and the ability to nurse.

[3bees~1flower]

Elphaba...they were good sized..my ds was also 4-8...unless they have breathing issues, i would tell your friend that she should insist on trying to nurse them...they will stay plenty warm during the skin to skin.

[Elphaba]

They still have the Oxygen tubes, but I think they are breathing on their own.
She says they are doing kangaroo care and introducing the boys to the breast. One of them "figured it out right away" but the other is reluctant. She is pumping all the time, but the hospital is supplementing with formula.
I was so relieved to hear from her. I guess when your expectations of hospitals are low, you're always pleasantly surprised, right?

[3bees~1flower]

well, that's good they are introducing the breast...is she pumping anything out? if so, why are they using formula for crying out loud? : that makes me upset when they do that, especially if the mother is pumping usable volumes....understandable tho, if she isn't pumping much yet...sorry for the rant...at least they are starting with bf'ing. i hope for the best for her!