Premature Labour...32 weeks..LO will go into NICU - what do I expect?

[redwineattheweekend]

Hey all,

Not posted before, but could do with some advice/ideas of what to expect.

I'm 32 weeks pg, waters went, well more like leaked on Saturday morning. 2 days in hospital waiting for infection or contractions to start. Baby has enough fluid so they let me home yesterday.

So far no contractions or infection :) but I think Braxton Hicks are starting. They are bizarre and I didn't have them with my first..who I went to 42 weeks with so this is really confusing.

It is just a question of waiting really but I'm really stressing about the NICU. I cry every time I think about him going in there. I know it's the best place and I have heard very good things about our local NICU. They were supposed to come and talk to us about what to expect but they were just too busy to come down.

There is just so much I don't know. I just wondered what people's experiences of NICU have been, what have you been allowed to do/not to do/what did you need/anything essential that you couldn't do without, things you wished you had with you??

Thanks very much for reading

Hi. sorry but i have no advice for you as i have never experienced this but maybe yyou will get a better response if you post in chat or birth . I hope all goes well for you. Best wishes.

There's also a Premature Birth topic, you should get good advice in there.

Good luck with it all :)

Hello,

Sorry to hear you are going through this.

My dd2 was born at 33 weeks due to preeclampsia. The night before we went to visit neo natal and I cried buckets. The babies are so small and the machines, beeping etc. However, I'm so glad I did see it before hand and could adjust to the fact my baby would be going into that world.

She was taken straight there, I saw her very briefly. They have the team from neonatal in the room or theatre.

Each baby is different but expect that there will.be tubes, oxygen etc. I had no problem bonding but some find it hard because you can't hold them for long.

If you want to bf (they do encourage you do) then you should get support to express so they can be tube fed. The sucking reflex doesn't usually kick in till 34 weeks.

You don't need any stuff at first as they are naked in incubators and hospitals usually provide the tiny nappies. You need snacks and drinks.

Best of luck. I remember how odd it was knowing that my baby was coming early. Fingers crossed yours stays inside for as long as possible.

Oh and dd is 15 months and absolutely fine :)

I'm in a similar position. My waters went at 31 weeks, I'm now 33+3 and he's still hanging in there.When I was in hospital initially (they let me home now) they took me for a tour around the neonatal unit. I had been a bit upset that day thinking about the worst, and it helped a bit to have something concrete to see.

They have incubators and cots, and then some step down rooms to some rooms where you can spend the night there to prepare for going home. Although they told me a little about the types of support that the baby may need (breathing, IVs/antibiotics, nasogastric tube for feeding) they also talked a lot about the support for breastfeeding available - a room for pumping, milk kitchen to store/freeze milk, they like you to pump by the bed (increases flow) etc. I've since been reading lots about breastfeeding for preemies, and kangeroo care, as these seem to be the way that parents can contribute to care (apart from getting involved in nappy changes etc when appropriate) and make a difference.

I'm finding it nerve wracking waiting to see what happens, and hoping that everything is okay in there in the mean time. I've also been told that as he's breach (and not likely to turn due to lack of waters) I'll need a c-section, and if labour has not spontaneously started before then, that will be at 36 weeks. Everyday until then that they stay in is good.

Have you had steroids etc?

Thanks all,
glad your DD is ok Jolly, really reassuring post.

Meebles, it is really nerve racking, I think it's the not knowing that's the worst thing. Good luck to you and your LO. I have to go back to hospital twice a week and they said to ask then about going round as they may be a bit less busy. Yes had steroids.

Do you know if you have to bring your own pump/steriliser or do they supply those?

Thanks

They said they have pumps there - apparently hospital pumps are mega efficient, a bit like a milking machine! NCT and such places also have them to hire for home use, which may be handy. I'm hanging on to see what happens before I organise anything. I'm prepared to live at the hospital for a while if I need to (will be in for a bit after CS anyway), and we're nearly at the point where he may develop a suck/swallow reflex hopefully anyway.

Did you know, apparently in the states they would have put us on bedrest, probably in the hospital? DH was a bit nervous about taking me home. I think he wold have me strapped to the CTG 24hours a day if he could!

Apparently in NICU/SCUBU etc , it's a good idea to keep a diary to help you keep up with what's going on, take pictures so yo can see progress, and then one day be able to look back and remember it all. I've got a notebook in my hospital bag for that.

Bliss, and Tommy's both have good websites about premature babies too.

They provide pumps at the hospital, super dooper ones. They give you pre-sterilised bottles to pump into. Once you are discharged you'd need a pump to express at home and take milk in.

At first it is easier to hand express. You get tiny amounts at first bit before you know it your supply increases.

At our hospital they tube feed and once your baby seems interested you try to bf. This seems like it is never going to work as your baby is so sleepy but they get it.eventually. I roomed in with dd for 2 days after she had her tube removed and then finally home fully bf. She was in for almost 3 weeks.

Oh good news re pumps. I do want to breast feed but struggled a bit last time so hoping it would be easier this time around as I thought I'd be more relaxed 2nd time around - best laid plans an all (!)

I like the idea of photo/notebook, shall add that to my bag too.

I think my whole family would like to agree about bed-rest. I'm rubbish at slowing down, but obviously have had to and between DH, DM and DMIL I have company and someone to help me look after DD1 so I don't start anything off.

Will check the websites out, thanks for those.

redwineattheweekend and Meebles I hope all goes well for you both, I was in a similar position and it was a very nerve wracking time. DS was born at 34 weeks after my waters broke at 33 weeks.

It was all a bit of a shock at first, but the neo-natal staff were all lovely and took such good care of DS.

I didn't get to see the SCBU when my waters broke, but the midwives got one of the neo-natal nurses to give me a tour and a quick talk about what might happen with DS after I'd gone to hospital in labour.

There were a pair of paedeatricians in the room when DS was born, and he was taken to SCBU almost straight away.

DS was breathing fine when he was born, but he had to be put onto CPAP to help his breathing by the time he was two hours old as his lungs weren't quite mature enough. He also got put on IV antibiotics straight away, in case he'd got an infection due to my waters breaking early (he didn't, but it takes a while to run the blood tests). He got fed via IV at first, and then with a nasogastric tube, until his sucking / swallowing / breathing reflexes were all co-ordinated.

We didn't need anything for DS - the neonatal unit provided nappies, formula milk (DS's feeds were topped up with formula until I was managing to express enough breast milk for all his feeds), and they had drawers of spare baby clothes. We brought our own baby clothes in once he was out of the incubator though.

The midwives were fantastic about helping me learn how to express. The neonatal unit we were at lent me a breast pump so I could express for DS at home once I was discharged, and provided the presterilised bottles.

The neo-natal nurses were very encouraging about helping us with breastfeeding, and were also very keen on kangeroo time.

DS is now 10 months and doing fine
Good luck

Just wanted to give a few words of encouragement to you. I have had two preemies (and am currently 16 wks with what is likely to be another preemie :o) at 32 and 34 weeks. My experience slightly differed from yours in that I had no waiting time before delivery just waters broke and born a couple hours later. The first time you see your baby in scbu can be heart breaking- all covered with wires and tubes- they look so vulnerable. It's very strange at first as you expect all through the pregnancy that you give birth and then hold the baby and go home with them within a couple days, so having a preemie almost feels like a bereavement in a way, like you are grieving for your pregnancy if that makes any sense. Scbu and nicu is tough, but the staff are amazing with their encouragement and support, and you will get through it. My babies are 4 and 3 now and you wouldn't tell to meet them that they had the start they did. I am sure your little one will do brilliantly and everything will turn out fine. And if you feel a little (or a lot) overwhelmed by it all just talk to the staff and I promise you will feel better for it :)

Hi,

What a worrying time for you. Just wanted to say that I found the staff in NICU to be wonderful and felt like they were there for me as much as for DS. Please do talk over any worries that you have with them. Also to warn you that the neonatal unit is ridiculously hot so it's a good idea to wear light, loose clothing so that you are comfortable.

They will normally encourage you to hold your baby and kangaroo care (where baby is tucked up against you and getting skin to skin contact) is brilliant for your baby (and you!) If you can't hold your baby at first but can touch them then putting your hand on them firmly is normally more comforting for them. I got terribly upset when DS kept flinching and getting agitated whenever I touched him gently with my finger. As soon as the nurses explained then he was perfectly happy for me to rest my hand on his back and have a connection.

I think it is good to focus on every little achievement that your baby makes (but do not be disheartened if they seem to go backwards) DS came off and went back onto CPAP a few times but I tried to focus on the fact that each time he managed to be off it for a little bit longer. You will have a series of targets: breathing unaided, maintaining temperature, out of incubator into heated cot, volume/frequency of food.

They warn you not to expect baby to come home until their due date but hopefully it will be sooner. DS was born at 32 weeks and had some breathing difficulties at first but was home after three weeks. He is absolutely fine now and has caught up well. You have had the steroids so your little one is already going to be in much better shape. Hope all goes well and he/she stays put a little longer.

My little one was born at 34 Weeks and while she was taken straight to neonatal she did really well and after a few days on oxygen was breathing well on her own.

I was given a pump and expressed milk as she was tube fed and I had loads of help and support.

My little one came home after 4 Weeks which is pretty good as they usually say by their due date.

She is now 6 Weeks old, is still breastfed and other than reflux is perfectly healthy.

She is small but perfect.

Try not to worry, it can be a lot better than you expect and the neonatal staff are usually amazing.

Thank you all for the encouraging stories, it's really what I need to hear. It's great to hear how well everyone is doing down the line.

Thanks everyone, the stories are really encouraging and reassuring and like Meebles it's just what I needed to hear.

It's going to be tough, part of me wants to get on with it and part of me just wants it to not be happening. I'm just going to hope the contractions don't start anytime soon.