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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Question regarding very premature birth

84 replies

OhWhatAPalaver · 23/08/2016 21:52

My sister is currently 23+5 and in hospital with heavy bleeding and waters leaking significantly. My question is, what are the drs meant to do if she goes in to labour in the next couple of days? Ie. Before 24 weeks? Are they supposed to try and help the baby survive or would they treat it as a 'late miscarriage'? Seems a bit odd to me that they haven't already transferred her to a specialist early pregnancy unit. Should she be demanding this? Apparently the drs and midwives are being very cagey about it....

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KayTee87 · 25/08/2016 15:02

Just wanted to wish your sister the best of luck. My friend had a 23 weeker, he's now 2 years old

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 25/08/2016 23:37

Thanks, it's so nice to hear the stories of 23+ weekers being healthy and thriving years later
She definitely got some kind of infection so they are trying to treat it but if the infection markers don't come down then she will be induced. Hopefully the antibiotics wil start working soon!

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Drmum123 · 26/08/2016 06:14

Thank you for the update! Your sister must be almost a twenty four weeker now! Everything crossed for her!
We can do loads for extreme press now and s your sister had had steroids and is in the right place she has given her baby the very best chance. Good luck!

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 31/08/2016 15:33

Just a quick update, after lots of bleeding and total loss of waters they decided an emergency c-section was the best option. Both mum and baby are doing ok, they are wondering whether or not to give my sister a blood transfusion but other than things seem good so far. Really hoping they will both get stronger now.
She had a tiny girl who only weighed 1 lb 8 oz!

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seven201 · 31/08/2016 15:44

Oh wow! Congratulations to her and the family. Such a tiny baby. How many weeks was she when the c-section happened. Everything crossed for everything to continue to go well.

Unsurechicken · 31/08/2016 15:55

Oh- congratulations to your sister. Id push for a transfusion i was boarderline 1.4 liters after my first elcs and i felt horrible for about 6 months with my second emcs which was a cat2 i lost only 300ml and felt really good i could tell the difference. Hows baby girl doing? Did they get rid of your sisters infection?

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 31/08/2016 16:04

Congratulations to your sister

I have no experience of such extreme prematurity but ds was born at 32 weeks, he was in scbu for 3 weeks and 15 years on he's 6ft 1.

Tinklypoo · 31/08/2016 16:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SolomanDaisy · 31/08/2016 16:18

Wow, congratulations! I hope the baby is doing ok.

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 31/08/2016 20:08

Thanks everyone :)
Not sure if they've given my sister a transfusion but they've given baby one, not sure why! I have no idea what nicu care entails.
They did manage to clear the infection thankfully. She was 24+5 I think when they did the section.
I think in a way it was best for her to have the baby because she was so ill and exhausted with it all, even though she's probably more exhausted now than she's ever been. Hopefully they will give her a transfusion and it'll make her feel better.
I had a section with my first and they were considering a transfusion then but just ended up giving me iron tablets. I think I would have had a much quicker recovery if they had done it but the drs don't seem as keen to give them as the midwives

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Drmum123 · 31/08/2016 20:26

Hey don't worry about the baby blood transfusion. That is super Common. If you think about it at baby that tiny has a really small circulating blood volume. We take loads of samples to monitor ventilation and fluids. As a result they All get anaemic at some point in the first couple of days and need a top up! Also we keep it high (over 12) with ventilated babies as it means that they need less oxygen. Congratulations to your sister and good luck....... Girls do better than boys! X

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 31/08/2016 21:26

Thanks Drmum, it's nice to hear from a professional, very reassuring! :)

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AWhistlingWoman · 01/09/2016 10:35

Congratulations to your sister. My daughter was born at 23+4 weighing 1lb 7oz. It is not an easy road for these very little ones but you sound lovely and your sister will need support from her family over the coming weeks and months. My little girl just turned eight and it is hard to believe that she was once such a tiny, vulnerable baby.

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 05/09/2016 13:01

Quick update. Both mum and baby are battling with infection at the moment. Baby is very sick with it and on full ventilation. We're all very worried.
They have given my sister transfusions now as well as baby. Baby has also had to have a platelet transfusion as her blood wasn't clotting well. It's heart breaking seeing her so tiny all wired up to the machines in nicu. We can only hope she fights through this. She looked so strong the other day, all things considered. I hope she can pull through.

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DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 05/09/2016 13:05

How stressful for you all. It really is take each day as it comes in the scbu which is easier said than done I know. Your poor sister. Thanks for the update

Cococrumble · 05/09/2016 13:10

Thinking of you and your sister your niece sounds like a little fighter! Hang in there baby girl!

Original poster

OhWhatAPalaver · 05/09/2016 13:19

Thanks. She is a fighter. Must remain positive! I know they can do amazing things these days in NICU.

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BlackbirdSingsInTheDeadOfNight · 05/09/2016 15:35

Unfortunately infections are very common in the tiniest babies. My son was born at 24 weeks and 1lb 9oz very nearly 11 years ago, and we had a long rocky journey with numerous infections, at least 13 blood transfusions and all sorts of other challenges. We were enormously lucky though and here we are now, soon to celebrate his 11th birthday. Neonatal medicine has advanced greatly in the past decade so hopefully your little niece will get through it all too. Thinking of you all.

LondonGirl83 · 05/09/2016 15:55

I can say from my own sisters experience that the next few months will likely be up and down but at nearly 25 weeks, more babies survive than don't survive so there is no reason to lose hope even when there are inevitable setbacks. My sisters twins are now big strong 10 year olds despite being more premature than your lovely niece!

Congratulations to your sister and I hope she recovers soon as well.

Mermaid36 · 05/09/2016 16:05

I had twins at 26wks gestation in April, they were 1lb 7oz and 1lb 11.5oz. I'm in the north west too if that's any help (delivered at Preston as they have a level 3 NICU).

We had an 18 week stay in hospital (16 weeks NICU and 2 weeks transition care) and my girls are now home.

We had a pretty rocky few months as the girls were very poorly, and were ventilated for 29 days.

If your sister (or you) need anyone to chat to who has been through this, please don't hesitate to drop me a message

SleepyRoo · 05/09/2016 16:09

I have a lovely healthy niece (now 10) who was born at 24+0. It can work out.

WellErrr · 05/09/2016 16:21

Really hope everything's ok

AWhistlingWoman · 05/09/2016 16:26

Thinking of you and your family, it can be a very bumpy road. My daughter was in hospital for four months and picked up a few infections, it can be a really scary time. Hope they both feel better soon

Frazzled2207 · 05/09/2016 16:36

Just seen this thread, thinking of you, your sister and her tiny baby girl.

CaurnieBred · 05/09/2016 16:53

My niece was born 29 years ago at 24 weeks and 1lb 12 oz. A wee bit of a rocky start: a few years with vulnerable lungs but overall not too bad. She now has 2 degrees and about to start her 3rd.

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