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Preemie Support Thread  

post #1 of 33
8/2/08 at 1:27pm
Thread Starter 
Since no one else has started one-here we go! I really have nothing to add right now, just wanted to start a thread-I need to pick up and then head back to the hospital.
post #2 of 33
8/2/08 at 2:24pm
How's baby doing?

I'm here wanting early but not 7 weeks, I do feel for your family.
post #3 of 33
8/2/08 at 8:55pm
Thread Starter 
Well, he's doing good. He should be out from under the lights tomorrow and is having his IV removed tomorrow as well. I can try to nurse him tomorrow for sure. Today when I held him, he was wide awake, looking at me and whatnot and then he started rooting! It was so funny, he kept turning his head so his face was smooshed into my boob and when I'd move his head back-so he could BREATH-he'd get all mad and start crying. He kept licking me too, lol. He's definately got the right idea!
post #4 of 33
8/2/08 at 10:13pm
lol... that's funny that he was licking you. Smart little baby though!
post #5 of 33
8/3/08 at 12:04am
It is so precious your baby was licking you! I'm happy to learn he will have his IV removed and taken out from under the lights!

:
post #6 of 33
8/3/08 at 1:12am
Hi everyone!

I'm glad to see the preemie support thread here in my DDC, as I am trying to ward off having my baby early. Eariler this week, I started having contractions that they are having a hard time stopping. I am on medication for it, and also had a fetal fibronectin test that came back positive. Today, I think I started to lose my plug.... so I am a bit worried she'll be here soon! I have to make it to Monday to deliver here in town, so I am trying REALLY hard to make her wait!

Docs, glad to hear your little one is doing well... I have been following your story.
post #7 of 33
8/3/08 at 12:33pm
Cari, please let us know how it goes when you try to nurse him today! It is wonderful that he is doing so well! I can't wait to see more pictures, also. I'll be 32w6d tomorrow and seeing Kaidyn do so well gives me hope about my own babies who will be here soon!
post #8 of 33
8/3/08 at 2:56pm
Thread Starter 
I got to hold him again last night and he was wide awake for a good half hour, staring at me, so cool. Then he fell into a DEEP sleep-I was picking on him, playing with his head and his feet and he wouldnt move at all. I think its having the boob for a pillow His resperations and heartrate were the lowest they've ever been-he was just totally relaxed.

He's up to 30ml feeds, which is a lot when you look at how little he is! So far he's gotten nothing but booby milk and he has yet to spit up even a little bit, he's handling it awsomely. Its so cute after he eats, his belly is SO huge and round. I'll try to get some pics today
post #9 of 33
8/3/08 at 4:44pm
pauletoy here!

Thank you so much for starting this thread.

I posted a few days ago about JT's birth at 7 weeks on July 17th. DocsNemesis your NICU stay sounds exactly like our experience.

CPAP for 2 days
G Tube
Jaundice
Isolette

We weren't allowed to hold JT for the first 2 days. After his birth, I barely got a chance to kiss him on the head before they wisked him away.

He was released from NICU at 11 days. We are home now and trying to learn to breastfeed. He is so tired all the time and breastfeeding wears him out. Our only success has been using a nipple shield. I just hope we will be able to wean off of it soon.

I completely understand all of the emotions you are feeling. I also have 3 older children. I felt like I was neglecting the older ones by going to the hospital 4 times a day for feedings. It is so hard emotionally and phyisically.

We didn't even get a chance to recover from birth.

Oh and be prepared for a clothing problem. We have 2 outfits that actually fit JT. Even preemie clothes are huge on him. The snaps on his onesies hang below his knees.

I hope your NICU stay is short and that both of our little ones catch on to BFing quickly.
post #10 of 33
8/3/08 at 8:59pm
Thread Starter 
Well, he was supposed to try nursing today but he decided he was too content just being held and wouldnt wake up for it, lol. Maybe he'll be more awake tonight when I go back and he can try then.

The clothing thing is something we've been talking about. He cant wear clothes right now because he's in the isolette anyway, but I guess it just depends on when he comes home as to what will fit. He weighed 4lbs 9oz today, he's started gaining again so thats good. I have a bunch of *newborn* outfits we bought that are supposed to fit 5-7 pounds so hopefully those will fit. If not, I do have a couple baby bags and onesies that should fit. I'm sure he'll grow fast and be in regular clothes so quickly that I dont really want to buy a bunch of preemie stuff-except maybe one take me home outfit, hehe.

Oh yeah and he's out of the bili lights, woot. I'm getting a lot more cuddle time when I'm there now. He should have his IV line pulled here soon, but the canula has to stay since he still needs oxygen. They try to lower it and he starts having trouble. Its so annoying trying to hold him with all those tubes and lines everywhere! But I'm just glad he's doing well-we're hoping he can come home in the next 2 weeks!
post #11 of 33
8/3/08 at 9:00pm
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah! I need socks! None of the ones I have would even remotely fit his little feet. Any suggestions? lol
post #12 of 33
8/3/08 at 10:06pm
We didn't want to spend too much on preemie clothes, either, but had some luck finding them at consignment stores. They are in perfect shape since they wear them such a short time, so if you have any of those around you, they may be worth checking or at least calling to see if they have any! We hit one right after someone brought in a ton of preemie stuff for twin girls, which was great for us since we're having 2 girls. We have spent maybe $30-40 on preemie clothes (including outfits we hope they'll wear home from the hospital), which I think is totally reasonable for 3 babies.

We found preemie socks at a couple of places, but I can't remember which ones! They do look small but I have no idea if they will stay on.

Keep thriving, Kaidyn!
post #13 of 33
8/3/08 at 11:22pm
I am so glad to hear that he's doing well! I hope that you get the chance to nurse him soon and he's a champion nurser.
post #14 of 33
8/4/08 at 8:04am
Cari, I'm so glad he's doing well. Good luck with trying to nurse. I'm hoping to start down that road with my boys in a week or two.
My boys are 7 weeks old tomorrow and we're about halfway through our nicu stay.
post #15 of 33
8/4/08 at 1:20pm
Thread Starter 
We tried last night. At first he just let my nipple sit in his mouth, he tried sucking a couple of times but wasnt very interested. Then he just fell asleep with my boob in his mouth, lol. Oh well, at least he was content!

He's off all IV stuff now, they're taking it out today, and he will start on bottles as well. He's capped out his feedings (40ml) and now they're fortifying my milk on top of that and he's handling it great.

I think my 8 year old is rebelling this morning though so I gotta run.
post #16 of 33
8/4/08 at 1:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by pauletoy View Post
pauletoy here!



He was released from NICU at 11 days. We are home now and trying to learn to breastfeed. He is so tired all the time and breastfeeding wears him out. Our only success has been using a nipple shield. I just hope we will be able to wean off of it soon.
In my expereince as a lactation consultant-nipple shields REALLY HELP the little early babies and most are ready to wean off of them by the time they are term... I know its hard, keep it up and lots of
post #17 of 33
8/5/08 at 1:19pm
Thread Starter 
Yay! So he has no IV left, he's off of oxygen, and he's in a regular crib already-he was staying too warm in the isolette, lol. All he has to do is learn to eat and he can come home. We tried last night but he was really clueless. They said he's used to sucking on the binky and the nipple is just like that, BUT he isnt used to anything actually coming out of it. He'd suck once or twice and then make this awful face and spit out the milk. He also doesnt have the whole suck, swallow, breath thing down-his heartrate kept going down. Poor little dude, its so complicated doing all those things at once!
post #18 of 33
8/5/08 at 1:38pm
Cari, he is making great progress! I know suck-swallow-breathe doesn't usually develop until 34 weeks or so, and with all his impressive progress I'm sure he'll have it down soon. I looked at the most recent pics and he is just so beautiful!
post #19 of 33
8/5/08 at 1:53pm
Thread Starter 
Yeah, thats what she said. He's 33w 6d adjusted today (omg he's a week old already?!) so he's right on the cusp of when thats developed. Its kinda cool seeing these reflexes they usually develop in the womb develop on the outside. Anywho, she said probably within a few days he'll get that part figured out, he just needs to accept the whole food coming out of a nipple thing. lol

I think I gave dh a complex last night cause I mentioned how small ds' penis is. I know that sounds wierd, he's perfectly proportioned but I've only changed his diaper twice so its just something I noticed and commented on (actually it was more omg, its so cute and tiny....now I sound like a perv, lol). Now he's going well, itll get WAY bigger, its not THAT small, lmao. He's such a guy....
post #20 of 33
8/5/08 at 1:55pm
Thread Starter 
Btw-how are you doing Venus? When are they planning on you delivering or are you just going as long as you can? You've already done an awsome job! I cant imagine carrying three at once!
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