So terrified. Emergency section at 25w

[Titchypanda]

Today I've been admitted to hospital and told my baby will need to be delivered in next 24 hours due to poor growth and almost no waters. Baby is only measuring at 1lb 2oz with a less than 50% chance of survival. My husband and I are devastated and terrified. Has anyone been in a similar situation?

So glad to hear your update about Bea. It's good your families are supporting you.

Having been through NICU, all I can say is to take it a day at a time, an hour at a time if you have to.

Are you expressing for Bea?

Yes, not getting much but every bit helps.

So true! Each drop is like gold dust! I know a few of the NICU mums had a prescription of Domperidone from their GP to help increase their milk supply. It's really hard expressing on top of recovering from an EMCS & having a baby in NICU

Oh Titch I remember the guilt well. It's awful because you are so proud when you have a good weigh in or they have removed the long line and you want to tell everyone but you know that someone else is having a bad day. We ended up just nodding and saying 'ok today' when other parents asked. Does your nicu have a counsellor you could talk to, it does help with the guilt feelings.

I am so pleased you have the support around you. The bliss parents handbook is a godsend, we ended up giving both sets of grandparents a copy so that firstly they stayed away from Google and also if we were exhausted and didn't want to talk in detail they could look up what we had told them. This was useful when DS was diagnosed with a pda, as we struggled to explain it.

I hope today is a good day, she sounds feisty, always a plus in nicu.

titchy I pumped for 12 weeks for my girls. Have the unit lent you a breastpump? The best thing to do is double pump (both sides at once) as that will bring your milk in quicker and make fattier milk as well

I pumped exclusively too for months. Tried fenugreek and domperidone but the thing that worked was eating well and pumping every three hours with a hospital grade pump, four hours at nighttime.

Keep going Titchy, you will be fine, whatever you produce is enough for now. I remember getting 2mls and then 10mls but it took so long for DD to be able to be fed my milk that I had enough by the time she needed it.

She didn't get feeding until she was almost 6 months old, I had tons in the freezer by then.

Do what you can if you are up to it, whatever you do and forever long you do it is fantastic.

However long you do it!

I can't double pump, I've tried but as I need to vary cycles, I need a free hand!

Bea started feeds today and seems to be tolerating them. She has been really unsettled all day, she has pulled out her NG tube and they changed her ventilation and she didn't like it. She looked distressed. I managed to calm her a couple of times by rubbing her head. She was stable when I left and I rang Nicu a few minutes ago and she was still stable then. It's been a rollercoaster day.

Hang in there titch. It's a long journey and so many ups and downs. Completely emotionally draining. It's so hard seeing them go through all the procedures. But it's for the best and I used to tell myself that she won't remember it. Keep at the pumping, it does get easier but it's not fun. I guess it's really the only thing I could do to help my daughter. Thinking of you x

hope you're little Bea is doing well.

I've just scanned through this post, but didn't know if you've heard of a lulla baby? I just brought one for my boy to help him sleep but it says on the label they were made for NICU babies in mind as a companion?

Don't know if to been mentioned but may be nice for you little trooper x

She sounds like such a fighter. Hugs to you all xx

Congratulations mummy panda!! It must be a terrifying time for you ... sending cyber luck and hugs. Take strength from all the positive stories!! A friend of mine had twins at 27 weeks and they're starting school next year - both fine. Another friend had first a 28 week delivery then 27 week with her second - again both doing well and both at school

titchy - get yourself an old sports bra and cut a couple of slits in the cups - voila! Hands free pumping bra! (You can buy them, at about £30 from amazon)

Just read this thread, I am currently pregnant myself. Your strength is amazing. I'm wishing you and your little Bea all the luck in the world xxx

Titchy your daughter is a fighter - she must get her strength from you and daddy

I love that you are reading to her and that daddy changes voices - she'll love that!

Will be thinking of you all - stay strong and be kind to yourselves and each other. You'll both have different ways of coping

Titchypanda, just another message to say how amazing you are. Great you and your dh have such supportive families, that must be a great help. Best wishes to you all.

Oh lord, I remember the pumping so well. It's no fun and games but as someone else said, it's something positive and practical you can do to help your baby. You just have to keep at it and annoyingly nighttime is most effective at boosting your supply. Not sure if you're allowed but I often expressed next to the incubator which sometimes helped it to flow. Remember to drink lots and have lots of snacks.

Another NICU mum here to echo what Mermaid said: cut some slits in a tight fitting (so it will hold the weight of full bottles) bra and voila, you can double pump hands free!

All my love and best wishes to Bea, it sounds like she's doing fantastic!

She's a bit more settled, but seems to be more panicky when she is turned or moved for cares. The weight of the vent tubes are very heavy for her when she's flat on her back and she doesn't cope well with that. The nurse has rested her tubes on her teddy to take the weight off. My hubby has been ill so not allowed to visit. I was there almost 10 hours today. Once she had hold of my finger she wasn't willing to let it go. The doctor says she stable, so we are taking it day by day.

So pleased to hear she is settled & you have spent lots of time with her. I've been thinking about you all. Is she tolerating her feeds?

Sounds familiar Titchy, my 1lb-er also hated being handled and being on her back to begin with. As she gets bigger she will mind being handled less. The staff are really great at making sure your baby is comfortable so if she looks uncomfy to you, just ask for help🙂

Hi Shutitmuppet, so far she's tolerating them, but we have to see if they work there way through in order to know for sure.

I'm trying to drink more as I often forget. Been eating loads though.

Sounds good OP. Keep strong x

Hi Titchy, just to let you know I am in a similar situation (twins born at 29 weeks, in NICU now). I am pumping as well but not getting huge amounts either. I am finding the pumping hugely time consuming, especially when I am trying to fit in lots of visits to NICU as well. But it's the only practical thing I can do to help them at present, so I am persevering.
Hope Bea has a good day today.