premature baby - what to take to hospital??

[charlienash25]

Hi all, I am new here so not sure if this is in the right category or not.

Im currently 30+3 and had a consultant meeting on Friday - to cut a long story short my last pregnancy resulted in my babys weight dropping and me being prepared for birth but they were too late and I had her stillborn at 34 weeks due to placenta abruption.

I had a scan on friday before my consultation which revealed my current baby had only gained 3oz in 2 weeks so has started to slope off like my previous pregnancy. I have been told that I will have another consultation on 5th October and scan and if baby hasnt gained sufficient weight i will be sent in for a caesarean immediately. However if she has gained a little bit they will keep their fingers crossed that I go to 37 weeks before giving me a caesarean.

Looking at the worst case scenario, this will mean my baby is approx. 32/33 weeks if I have to had her after my next consultation, but I havent a clue what to take in my hospital bag?!

I want to get prepared now 'just in case' because I really dont think the OH will be able to get the right pads or even knickers etc

Any advice on what I should take for baby? Will I need to take in premature/tiny baby clothes if she is so early or will she be in an incubator with just a nappy?

Thanks

[Marmiteisyummy]

I'm so very sorry for your previous loss. What you're going through now is unimaginable in terms of stress and I admire your practical approach hugely.

I think in your situation I'd pack 2 bags, one for labour/emLSCS and first few days. Second bag with more clothes and toiletries for an extended stay, as you may be able to stay longer if your LO is in special care.

If your baby if very prem I don't think you'll need anything for them at all. Worth packing yet another bag though I case you do get past 35 weeks and get to go home.

I had a normal delivery and I'm sure someone after a section will add to this but:
Old nighties (or dark ones)
Flip flops rather than slippers (you can wear in the shower)
Dressing gown for you as may be walking to special care, just make it a very thin one or you'll boil.
Food -lots of
Straws for drinks I case you can't sit up well
Big knickers (cheap tesco ones you can throw away)
More maternity pads than you think you'll need
Luxury travel shower gel etc (really nice pick me up)
Dark fluffy towel
Books/kindle/iPad whatever else for entertainment
Lansinoh if planning to express/breastfeed
Nursing bra
Going home clothes
I took a stash of paracetamol and codeine too but it's probably not recommended I just hated the thought of being dependent on pain relief at the midwifes convenience when they are so very busy and understaffed on the postnatal wards.

Sorry that got a bit convoluted! Very best wishes for the next few weeks, hope you get to meet you LO at the right moment for both of you.

[Marmiteisyummy]

Btw, my good friend had her dd at just 33 weeks. She needed a little help with breathing to start but only for a few hours. Stayed in scbu for a couple of weeks for feeding. She's now 1 and is a delight with no problems at all from a rather early start to life.

[FamiliesShareGerms]

What Marmite said. I wouldn't worry too much about clothes until you know how big s/he is, hospital will have little babygros you can use until you can get to Mothercare to get your own. I expected DS to be 5.5lb but he was well under 5lb and didn't fit the clothes I had bought for some time, so was in hospital clothes for a couple of days. I remember it was really important to me to get DS in "my" clothes so he felt more like "mine".

Good luck with everything - DS is now the biggest in his class, bright as a button, and you'd never know how tiny he was in the beginning

[Bryzoan]

Sorry to hear what you are going through. Our daughter was born at 34 weeks by surprise so I didn't have a bag at all. While a bag for me would have been great all I would have needed for our daughter was tiny nappies and cotton wool. She had didn't wear any clothes for a couple of weeks - and when she did the hospital were happiest with her using their clothes - they had loads of lovely ones that had been donated. This made washing really easy as they did it. It may or may not be the same in your Nicu, but I bet they wouldn't mind you phoning to ask and maybe even going to look round. I spoke to a couple of mums in situations simillar to yours while we were in when they came to see the ward. Really good luck. Hope all goes well for you all whether term or otherwise.

[charlienash25]

Thanks all for replying. I should have probably also mentioned that i have a DD aged 5 and she was 5lb 10oz full term so its not a surprise my baby will be small. Just wondered whether to take this LO some own clothes in.

Currently LO should be weighing around 3lb 14oz - but is only at 3lb.

Thanks for the support also, it means alot

[TheCapedCrusader]

Hi, I don't have much to add with regards to the practicalities as its all been said, but I just want to give my support. I had a 32 weeker and he is now twenty months and thriving. It is difficult having them in hospital though. PM me if you ever want a chat, anytime.

[Pastabee]

I'm so sorry for all you have been through and are going through now.

Have you got a good friend or relative who could have a key? My friend's baby was poorly when she was born and has some ongoing health problems that require unplanned hospital stays.

I have a key and have often fetched things for them, gone to Boots / Sainsburys for them, put a bit of washing on etc.

If you are looking at an extended stay I think it would be best to have someone you trust on stand by for you.

[charlienash25]

Im only a young mum (22) and unfortunately lost all my circle of friends when i had my DD at 17. Dont have the confidence to make any more but thankfully I have great support off my family and OH's family so both sides will be on call if we need anything.

TheCapedCrusader How long was your LO in hospital for born at 32 weeks?

Im really hoping my LO holds on for 37 weeks but really need to look at the worst outcome of her being born in 2 weeks..

[LonelyCloud]

Sorry for your previous loss. I hope all goes well with this LO.

DS was born at 34 weeks, and to start with, when he was in an incubator, he just had nappies on.

The SCBU he was in provided all nappies, cotton wool etc, and had a stock of tiny donated baby clothes that the babies could wear once they were in clothes. SCBU also gave me access to a breastpump and a supply of sterile bottles for expressing breastmilk. They provided free formula for formula-fed babies being cared for in SCBU. Not sure if all this is the same in all hospitals.

It might be worthwhile talking to your midwife and seeing if they can arrange for you to have a look at your neo-natal unit or a chat with one of the neo-natal nurses - that way you'd be a bit more familiar with how a neo-natal unit looks if your LO is early, and you'd have a chance to ask them directly if you need anything for your LO.

Good luck.

[charlienash25]

I would love to be able to do that LonelyCloud - but they arent sure whether they will look after me at my local hospital, i may have to go to one of 3 hospitals which are miles away. Wont know until my next scan on 5th October and if things are the same I could well have her by 8th October so dont have much time :(

[HollaAtMeBaby]

Has anyone mentioned hand cream? If baby is in NICU or SCBU you will be washing your hands a LOT! Good luck

[newby2]

Hi,

My heart sank to hear your sadness and loss. Great that you have a firm plan this time and will have a baby soon.

Our baby was 4 lb at birth. We needed tiny hats (knitted are better) Tiny clothes (she was nursed in her clothes and didn't need the enclosed incubator) Really soft comfy blankets (when you take your baby home they will probably need to be swaddled. Knitted booties are brilliant. Basically anything knitted for prem babies keeps the heat in well. You can get baby nests for moses baskets and tiny babies like to feel contained, we had one for our DD and she was very contented after the incubator. They should never sleep on their tummy unless in hospital.

She was 4.5 lb when we took her home and lots of layers were required initially even in a warm house (vest, then baby grow, booties and no hat whilst sleeping but mittens were good too. She also needed tiny dummies so help her suck to feed so a few to take in is a good idea. She also had dry wrinkly skin and I found using baby lotion to massage her whilst in her hot cot helped us to bond and she enjoyed it.

We weren't expecting her arrival so my partner had to go out and get prem clothes from mothercare and mamas and papas pretty quickly. It all worked out and our DD is lovely and healthy at 2 years old.

[terror4Atoddler]

Hi,

i gave birth to 25+2 wk twins on Christmas eve, weighing 730g and 860g . the unfortunate loss of twin 1 at two months old and twin 2 going through 4 operations in 5 different hospitals over seven months was a life changing experience and one i wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. but you need to concentrate on positives, the dr's are aware of a problem and are keeping a eye on you and preparing you and baby just in case. the percentage of problems and length of hospital stay does decrease 30wks + and as a mother of a preemie that got the worse of everything possible there is light at the end of the tunnel, these baby's are remarkably strong. my dd is 2yrs 9 months and surprises me every day.

as for taking things for the baby i would suggest you wait until baby is born for size and condition, sum times the lines that give them med's and so on may get obstructed by clothes, the hospital are happy to provide things for you until baby is ready.

but i would say a laminated picture of you/parter/other dd ....etc to stick on incubator/cot not only will it give baby something stimulating to look at but have the special people close at all times is important.

and for you i would suggest when visiting baby bring clean spare top preferably loose or a boob tube as skin to skin contact ( kangaroo cuddles) is a vital part of there recovery 9 and is nice for mummy and baby.

i hope you wont need any of this advice, good luck pm if you would like to chat.

sorry about long speech! :-)

[HiHowAreYou]

The only thing we were expected to provide for our DD in SCBU ourselves were nappies and cotton wool.

I'm so sorry about what you went through last year. You must be terribly stressed.

32 weeks isn't that bad if you have to go ahead with the birth in a fortnight, so don't be too scared. They'll give you some hormone injections to boost the baby's lungs beforehand.

I second hand cream too. All that hand washing really dries out your skin!

[silverangel]

I would say not much for baby in the beggining. They like to keep them just in nappies in the beggining so they can get to know the babies skin colour, if they look hot / cold and monitor breathing by sight. My DTs were 32 weekers and 3lb3 and 3lb5. They went into babygrows at about two weeks old. Not much point buying the super micro stuff until you know you'll need it. If you do, Boots do a range that all does up with velcro so easy for putting back monitoring wires that are easily dislodged. One hospital we were in provided nappies, the other didn't, pampers micro are the smallest, you can get them in bigger Sainsbury's and Boots.

I had the steroid injenctions and DTs needed no assistance with breathing and had no setbacks, they stayed in hospital until they reached 4lb - seven weeks. They are now 14 months and currently trashing the living room remarkably effectivley! Best of luck.

[silverangel]

Oh, Mamas and Papas do a cute range of 'Petit Petit Bebe' clothes - up to 5lb, expensive though.

And a massive yes to the handcream!

[Homebird8]

There's a company that does special clothes for prem and tiny babies and has some great advice and support for you on their website too. Here is the support page. I once met the lady who runs the company and she knows what it's like from her own experience.

Sending you love and comfort for your loss of your DD and clarity and calm for your situation now. I hope your little one keeps growing nicely and you can keep baby inside for a good few more weeks.