Funny thing I heard the other day...

[eenysugarplumfairy]

I was speaking to a shop assistant the other day - she stopped to ooh and aah over my son. She was commenting on how big he is, and asked how big he was at birth. In answering I said that it was really great he was so bonny and big as he was premature. She said...

"My daughter was premature too, she was nine days early"

!!!

I smiled politely and managed to stifle my laughter. Our baby wasnt DISASTEROUSLY early but he was EARLY and was ill because of it.

I just thought it was funny and wanted to share.

Lots of people think premature just means 'before the due date' regardless of how far before, IYSWIM. Not an unusual reaction.

Fair enough I just thought it was funny as it is not what MY concept of premature is!!

The thing is you can't actually judge prematurity on how many days early the baby is. It is more a case of how mature the baby is. My friends son was 9 days early but was in NICU as his lungs were immature and he needed CPap.

I have to admit I didn't know if DS was going to be premature at 37+6. And I am a nurse. I am also thick as shit mind. So perhaps that could explain it.

LOL

My DD was only 8 days early but needed SCBU care. She was 5 lb 12 oz and barely breathing when born. I dont think of as premature in the 'real' sense but she certainly needed more care than a lot of babies born a 'few days early'

ok sorry if any of you were offended that i found it funny. I obviously dont think its funny when any baby is born needing help.

my dd2 was born at 27 weeks in March - can't think of any reason why someone would even suggest that 9 days early was actually anything less than term. Have had it said to me, by people who knew my dd's birthweight (2lb 5oz) - oh yes mine was small too, 5 lb 12oz. I smiled politely and let it pass!

eenysugarplumfairy - i wasnt offended at all.

Just saying that quite a lot of people confuse 'prem' with 'needing help' and I always find it easier to say 'she was born early' (dont use the word prem as i agree she wasnt) otherwise people want the gory details and its too much hassle to explain

I wasn't offended either, just that some babies are not mature even if born to term and are still poorly sick because they haven't cooked long enough. My DS was only 6 weeks early which some people don't consider that early but it was early enough!