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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

Oh my God, baby has arrived 2 months early

45 replies

Jodiesmum · 15/04/2003 15:10

Posting very hastily in state of complete shock after giving birth on 10 April, exactly 2 months before my due date. Got ill with severe food poisoning plus urinary tract infection and these combined seemed to set off the labour. Hospital at first said they could stop it, no problem, but drugs proved ineffective and a few hours later I was in full-on labour. The whole experience felt like a nightmare, not least as I was just recovering from a horrible illness and hadn't eaten for days. Also the special care baby unit at Kings was full to bursting so as the labour was advancing the midwives were ringing round all over the south east trying to find a unit with space. In the end, the labour went too quick for them to move me, thank God and the baby has been squeezed in at Kings which is SO lucky as the unit is brilliant, also I have a two year old who needs me to be at home, not camping out in Portsmouth or wherever. Baby is doing OK though not great, all we can do is hope and pray she will come through. In the meantime I'm back in normal clothes, taking my toddler to the park as though nothing has happened and feeling like a complete madwoman. Sorry this is so long and rambling, just have so much to get off my chest.

OP posts:

Report

ninja · 15/04/2003 15:14

Thinking of you and the baby Jodiesmum, you sound like you're coping well. I can't say anything of any use I'm afraid

KeepingMum · 15/04/2003 15:14

Congratulations Jodiesmum on your new 'surprise' arrival. Hope all is going well and the little one will soon be out of SCBU. Thinking of you all.

windmill · 15/04/2003 15:16

Thinking of you Jodiesmum. You must be feeling really distressed and shocked. Its amazing how well premature babies do. You are probably worried sick about him or her and nothing I can say will reassure you but please keep on adding to this thread so we can support you as best as we can.

SoupDragon · 15/04/2003 15:16

Wow! Congratulations and wishing your little one all the best.

Chiccadum · 15/04/2003 15:18

Congratulations Jodiesmum on having your little one, I don't know how it is to have a baby early, but know how daunting it is for baby to be in SCBU, I hope you both do well and your young one is home soon.

jemw · 15/04/2003 15:19

congratulations jodiesmum (or newname now?)
Is new baby okay apart from being prem? It is a big shock isn't it when you are not prepared for such an early birth

I can second Kings SCBU - my ds was born there 6 weeks prem and was there for about 10 days, in a ventilator etc but the unit and staff were excellant

Let us now how you are all getting on, love jemw

WideWebWitch · 15/04/2003 15:20

Congratulations Jodiesmum, what a shock that must have been. Hope your baby's home soon.

mum2toby · 15/04/2003 15:22

Congratulations Jodiesmum!!!!!! The wee one will be home in no time! Is 'it' a boy or a girl??? What did he/she weigh in at?

My friend had her baby by emergency C-section 5 weeks early and he weighed 4lb 12oz and was home in a week!

I know there's a big difference, but with technology these days the chances are fantastic!

Good luck, keep us posted on the wee ones progress.

....back into your old clothes already!!!???

sobernow · 15/04/2003 15:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Bugsy · 15/04/2003 15:47

jodiesmum, congratulations on the very early birth of your baby - I hope she will get stronger with every day that passes.

Crunchie · 15/04/2003 16:09

Congratulations Jodiesmum I know exactly how you are feeling as I also had a prem baby. It was 4 yrs ago and it was the worst 14 weeks of my life until she came home. Everything feels very unreal and you are in a kind of limbo for a while. I don't know if I can offer you any real help, except to say at 32 weeks your baby will be really well developed and although it seems terrible I am sure she will do great.

Post if you need to, I'll check back regularly.

whymummy · 15/04/2003 16:20

congratulations jodiesmum,my son was 7 weeks premature but apart from beign a bit jaundiced he was fine so all i can say is that i hope your little girl is ok and can soon come home,hugs xx

grommit · 15/04/2003 16:22

Congratulations Jodiesmum - what a shock for you! I wish you and your new daughter all the best

oxocube · 15/04/2003 16:27

Congrats to you all Jodiesmum. Hope all goes well for you and baby xxx

rainbow · 15/04/2003 16:53

Jodiesmum - congratulations xxx
Got any names yet and details - weight etc
Nosey aren't I?

SamboM · 15/04/2003 17:05

Congrats, hope you get over the shock soon! And hope the babe is ok.

pie · 15/04/2003 18:32

Congrats on your little girl.

Thinking of you new DD, mumsnet will power will get her through!!!

judetheobscure · 15/04/2003 19:33

Congratulations! I know the feeling of being shellshocked; must be very difficult with an older one to look after too, so hope you're getting lots of support.
My dd was born 9 weeks early, weighed 3lb 5oz. She spent about 5 days in an intensive care incubator with CPAP and drips, then progressed onto breathing by herself, NGT (tube into stomach) and finally onto cold room (still warm) cot and attempted bf. She stayed in special care for 6 weeks as she didn't put on weight, was eventually given a blood transfusion which seemed traumatic at the time. She was finally discharged weighing 4lb 2oz.
It was all quite distressing but she's now a happy, very intelligent 7 year old with no signs at all of her less than perfect start in life.
Wishing you and your dd all the best, and knowing you're in good hands at Kings.

Jodiesmum · 15/04/2003 21:01

Thanks so much everyone, it's great to get your support and good wishes and I love hearing about other prem babies that have got through. Baby is called Jessie and was a really good weight for her age - 4lb 4oz. But today is a low day as she's not that well after starting on breast milk yesterday (through a tube) which doesn't seem to have agreed with her. Being tested for infection and back on glucose only so as not to stress her system. I've been told to expect constant ups and downs so am trying to stay positive, finding it very hard though.

OP posts:

jasper · 15/04/2003 21:36

LOVE the name Jessie -it was on my list when I had my last baby boy.
Congratulations

miriamw · 15/04/2003 21:46

Congratulations and welcome to Jessie! Wow - that is a good weight for 32 weeks. Sorry to hear that you're having a low day. Ds1 was in SCBU for a short while, so I know some of the emotions, but can't even begin to think of the combination with a toddler - although it sounds as if you'll have your hands too full to even dwell on things. I hope that she picks up quickly, and that you can have your family all at home together soon. Do you have family around to help out?

mears · 15/04/2003 22:58

Jodiesmum - 31-32 weeks is an awkward age for delivery I think, especially if the baby is a good weight like your dd. You can expect good progress but babies of that gestation can be slow to 'get off the mark'. It really is one step forward and two steps back for a while. Well done on expressing milk because that really is the best thing for her. Once she is ready to tolerate it you should start to see an improvement. Make sure you get a decent amount of rest - I remember running about everywhere when ds was in intensive care (only 5 weeks early but ventilated). You have to remember that you need to get lots of rest even though you are not physically caring for a baby at home. Unfortunately my MIL was not appreciative of that fact. Hope you have people looking after you. Best wishes, mears.

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leander · 16/04/2003 00:12

Congratulations Jodiesmum and welcome baby Jessie,what a lovely name that was our choice if ds was a girl.Big hugs to you both, hope she is doing well,xx.

Demented · 16/04/2003 00:31

Congratulations Jodiesmum, thinking of you and your new baby girl, hope everything works out well.

mum2toby · 16/04/2003 07:42

Jodiesmum - Jessie is such a gorgeous name!! Is it short for Jessica or is it 'Jessie'?

4lb 4oz is a good weight, she would have been a corker at full term! I've no personal experience of this, but wish you both all the best.

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