The most premature baby to survive... - Page 2

[rik8144]

I have been in the NICU for 2 years. I went straight there out of college. It gets harder when you are the gestation of the baby that just came in....IE: you are 24 weeks when a 24-weeker comes into the unit. It is odd to see due dates the same or near yours. I think sometimes there is bliss in ignorance......see, I know exatly what would happen to my child were it born at 21 weeks.

[HeatherB]

I think the point of the original poster is that, especially when you've had a loss in the past, it is comforting to think that "even if" baby came at X or Y point, you're now in or approaching the "safe zone," where a baby will most likely survive. Obviously that point isn't necessarily 21 weeks, or even necessarily 24, but at some point, most babies have a good chance of surviving. For those who are anxious about their baby's health for weeks and months on end, it's helpful to know that even in the worst case, there's likely something to be done now.

Obviously, NO ONE would wish to have a micro-preemie! But for some, even that tiny sliver of hope is enough to get through a few more weeks without worrying incessantly about baby's health.

[knowerofnada]

Originally Posted by HeatherB

I think the point of the original poster is that, especially when you've had a loss in the past, it is comforting to think that "even if" baby came at X or Y point, you're now in or approaching the "safe zone," where a baby will most likely survive. Obviously that point isn't necessarily 21 weeks, or even necessarily 24, but at some point, most babies have a good chance of surviving. For those who are anxious about their baby's health for weeks and months on end, it's helpful to know that even in the worst case, there's likely something to be done now.

Obviously, NO ONE would wish to have a micro-preemie! But for some, even that tiny sliver of hope is enough to get through a few more weeks without worrying incessantly about baby's health.

Thank you, Heather, for understanding my point. I certainly was not advocating for prematurity, saying premature babies are healthy, nor do I wish to have a premature baby. :

[firstkid4me]

Actually, that baby would be considered 23 weeks 6 days if you go by gestational age.

[blueridgewoman]

For me, it's that now, after two really difficult losses, I have a tiny shot in hell at having an actual living baby for the first time in my life. A tiny milestone that, frankly, I've never hit before.

That's it. It's not that I would necessarily make a child suffer by prolonging their life when it was hopeless. It's not that I want my baby to come early. It's just one more step to having something that, so far, has completely alluded me.

[firstkid4me]

Originally Posted by blueridgewoman

For me, it's that now, after two really difficult losses, I have a tiny shot in hell at having an actual living baby for the first time in my life. A tiny milestone that, frankly, I've never hit before.

That's it. It's not that I would necessarily make a child suffer by prolonging their life when it was hopeless. It's not that I want my baby to come early. It's just one more step to having something that, so far, has completely alluded me.

I understand what the point was, I truly do, I just don't want you to get your hopes up when you don't have the facts of the matter (or aren't processing the facts... I had to have them explained to me.) The baby's age was 21 weeks 6 days after conception, you're supposed to tack 2 weeks to that for gestational age, so the mama was actually 23 weeks 6 days pregnant. So I think the "yay we're past the survival mark" is better saved for 24 weeks pregnant, not 21 (I'm counting down too and I haven't had a miscarriage or an early delivery.)

[knowerofnada]

Originally Posted by blueridgewoman

For me, it's that now, after two really difficult losses, I have a tiny shot in hell at having an actual living baby for the first time in my life. A tiny milestone that, frankly, I've never hit before.

That's it. It's not that I would necessarily make a child suffer by prolonging their life when it was hopeless. It's not that I want my baby to come early. It's just one more step to having something that, so far, has completely alluded me.

Well I am blessed to have one child already, so I can't say I know exactly how you feel, but after having my own m/c in Nov., you have articulated beautifully my reasons for finding comfort in my OP. I am so happy for you that you're now having a healthy pregnancy, and I joyfully celebrate this milestone with you.

[knowerofnada]

Originally Posted by firstkid4me

I understand what the point was, I truly do, I just don't want you to get your hopes up when you don't have the facts of the matter (or aren't processing the facts... I had to have them explained to me.) The baby's age was 21 weeks 6 days after conception, you're supposed to tack 2 weeks to that for gestational age, so the mama was actually 23 weeks 6 days pregnant. So I think the "yay we're past the survival mark" is better saved for 24 weeks pregnant, not 21 (I'm counting down too and I haven't had a miscarriage or an early delivery.)

Because there had been other babies previously born at 23 weeks, I don't see why this was so newsworthy then. She was supposed to be the "youngest preemie to have survived", and many others have already been born at 23 weeks. SO now I'm confused.

[knowerofnada]

* nm I'm not thinking clearly

[DoomaYula]

I have also read that the youngest surviving baby was 21w6d -- I take that at face value, the woman was 21w6d, not 23w6d.

article

Another article.

[JessicaTX]

The tacking two weeks on comes from this statement

She was delivered 21 weeks and six days after conception.

from this article http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

[firstkid4me]

Originally Posted by JessicaTX

The tacking two weeks on comes from this statement

from this article http://www.breitbart.com/article.php...show_article=1

That's exactly the article that was pointed out to me when talking about conception age vs gestational age.

[Banana731]

There is a "born early" look?

[DoomaYula]

The article says

Neonatologists who cared for Amillia say she is the first baby known to survive after a gestation period of fewer than 23 weeks.

So... I still think she was born at 21w6d

[rik8144]

Rebecca - I get what you are saying. I am cosidered 24 weeks 1 day right now. BUT If you go by my CONCEPTION date I am 22w1d. This is true for all women.....while the baby isn't technically growing for the first two weeks, we still consider ourselves 2 week pg at conception. So, the first day of your missed period (in a normal, text book case) you say you are 4 weeks pg even though the embryo only implanted 2 weeks ago. This baby didn't have the first two weeks of nothing since she was created in a pitri dish. So, based on her conception date yes she is 21w6d but if this would have been a 'normal' conception then she would have been called 23w6d by her docs.

[kleines]

Banana- I don't know if there is "technically" a born early look. I do know out of the 10 or so people I know personally that were premature (and the dozens of others I have seen at the hospital) MANY of them have a certain look to their face. I didn't mean that to be offensive in any way at all, it is just something I have noticed. I also know a few of the nicu nurses and they talk about that all the time. It isn't always the case though of course!

[Inspired007]

Originally Posted by marlygf

I get the point. If my baby were to come now, she could have a good chance of living. That's great, but I'm still scared to death. There is great technology but I feel it's sometimes abused. that's just my personal opinion.

I wonder what type of abuse you're referring to here. Doctors (and science) are making great strides everyday and although all premature babies don't have a great chance, some of them get through being born early without so much as a scar. I don't know exactly what you meant but I think I understand you to mean that Doctors intervene too regularly sometimes (like a God complex?)? If that's what you meant then I, myself, would take great comfort in their attempts to keep my baby alive and I'd deal with the consequences later. Of course, I want a perfect baby. But if God dealt me a different hand then I'd be thankful everyday that at least she were alive. This is just how I feel at this stage of my pg. I can certainly understand how some might feel differently.

I have a friend whose daughter was born at 28 weeks, was two pounds AND she pushed her out at 8 cm dialated! She tore her cervix on the way out (incompetent cervix and she didn't want a c-section). This child is 6 years old and the only problem she has are intermittent nose bleeds b/c the blood vessels in her nose were underdeveloped. I know for a fact that every day of her life, she Thanks God for saving her child, regardless of the aftereffects.

[knowerofnada]

Originally Posted by YumaDoula

The article says



So... I still think she was born at 21w6d

Exactly. Otherwise the newsworthiness of it just doesn't make sense. Reporters aren't always straight with their facts, unfortunately.

[Banana731]

Originally Posted by kleines

Banana- I don't know if there is "technically" a born early look. I do know out of the 10 or so people I know personally that were premature (and the dozens of others I have seen at the hospital) MANY of them have a certain look to their face. I didn't mean that to be offensive in any way at all, it is just something I have noticed. I also know a few of the nicu nurses and they talk about that all the time. It isn't always the case though of course!

I was just curious. I've only seen premature babies.

[candyapplez]

so I showed Dh the picture of the baby. I said "that would be scary" (to have a baby that early) and his response

"and really expensive":

I told him "that wouldn't matter".

men...