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?

Titchy this happened with my girls. It just took time for them to put weight on before their lungs were strong/undamaged enough to go onto Optiflow/Vapotherm.
They were on Bi-PAP and CPAP for at least 4 weeks if not more, and needed a 2nd course of steroids to change down a step on their ventilation.

Also, please go and see your GP. Mine prescribed antidepressants and diagnosed me with PTSD. I do feel a lot better on the drugs!
FWIW - we lived at the hospital for 7 weeks in a family apartment

Titchy that great news about Bea, she sounds so strong.

Are there any charities that can help with mental health support? I know my friend who had her boy early got a lot of support from Tommys. Can your midwife/gp make a referral to the ante/post natal mental health team?

I'm not at all surprised you don't know what to do when you're not at hospital. I think many women who have had premature babies, especially with long hospital stays, suffer some form of ptsd. (I have been diagnosed with this and was told it's more common than you think in women who have lost babies or who have had babies with intensive hospital stays) what you have been through/are going through is incredibly traumatic

Titchy is is impossible to imagine how you WOULDNT have some form of PND given what you have been dealing with day after day. It also makes most sense that it manifests itself when you are away from the hospital where your maternal instinct tells you that you are needed.

Having had PND myself I can only suggest that you jump on this as fast as possible and get some medication prescribed. They worked for me quickly and I don't think you have the time or energy to try to fight this naturally or with talking therapy.

How do you feel about taking some ADs for a few months while you continue to get build Bea's strength?

I am so happy she loves to have her head rubbed again - it is such a wonderful image!

You would be a rather strange person if you could function normally away from the hospital when little Bea is fighting for her life. Does the baby unit have access to perinatal psychology? They can often by very good at supporting parents under such circumstances.

Anti-depressants may well be helpful but having a space to process all the emotions you are going through and to plan how you and Bea's dad can support yourselves, each other and strengthen your bond with little Bea may well be very helpful indeed. It may be worth asking to see if something is available. I have a friend who works in a NICU as a psychologist but unfortunately provision isn't consistent across different NHS Trusts.

Roo

I've been trying since early pregnancy to get support in place as I suffer from an anxiety disorder, which I already take meds for. The GP and hospital nurses have been trying to contact perinatal mental health for me. The unit has no perinatal counselling as they are both on maternity leave and no funding to replace them.

Big hugs to you OP so glad she is staying strong. Please try and get some support my little girl was in intensive care for a while she was born at 33 weeks but really struggled. I ended up not addressing my post natal depression and it ended up with me having so much regret now she is older (and totally fine now all be it a little behind) I didn't cope with her being ill at all and it hugly effected my relationship with her. It was only after I got help could I turn it all around and can honestly say I love her more than words. Ur v brave OP but please don't be afraid to ask for support as even superwoman has to take her cape off from time to time 💐 xxxxxxx

Bea is still on cpap and doing ok. We've been having lots of cuddles with our little Bumble Bea. She's definitely a Daddy's girl! We are enjoying being able to dress her in clothes, although most are too big as she isn't even 2lb yet. Thank you Asda/Tommys for actually doing clothes for extreme preterm babies. She is currently needle free for the first time in ages.

The picture is to show how tiny she still is.

Glad little Bea is still fighting hard and that you're getting to cuddle her more. Do you think it's making a difference to you mentally, being able to cuddle and touch her more? x

OP - she's tiny but perfect

Just beautiful! Mothercare also do a range of v tiny clothes (incubator vests etc). They are about the size of your hand (see attached pic). Our girls had them for a while.

So happy to hear she is needle free - another big step for her! She's beautiful. I hope you're holding up ok Titchy.

Roo

All your most urgent mothering and protective instincts have been activated in the most scarey and shocking way. Of course you feel desparate when you are not with her and anxious when you are. Hope you can get some emotional support for this tough time.

Titchy, what a beautiful picture! Hope you're doing okay

How lovely to see your little Bea snuggled into her mummy like that. Just what she needs - and you too. Take care

Wow, needle free, that's great! She's so tiny and managing without any intravenous medication and nutrition, amazing! What a little fighter!

So glad she's needle free! What a tiny little fighter!

Titchy I've been following this thread and thinking of you all. I'm so pleased she is doing well and she is just perfect X

Gorgeous photo! x

Titchy that is a lovely photo of you and Bea

HDU!!!!

Bea was moved to HDU tonight. Huge milestone. Seems strange not to be in our little corner of icu, but it's massive progress. She now weighs 950g so feeds are going up and she's still on cpap.

Lovely news OP!!

Oh my goodness Titchy

Well done Bea

Titchy that is just over 2lb isn't it?

I Have read some of your posts and for various reasons (complex) haven't commented. I think it's fair to say that firstly Bea's a tiny tower of strength :) and that looking at PND, you might well think about PTSD. The shock, fear and battle aspects are slightly different.
Your GP might be able to access counselling for that rather than relying on Peri Natal services.
I hope you both get home and find normal. It feels a long way off but one day you will