PLEASE HELP! - First baby and waters broke at 25 weeks! Told to expect premature birth! Wtf now???

[MrsRose2018]

Hi ladies

Some of you may have seen my previous post but I need new advice in light of new circumstances!

So very long story short my waters have broken/are leaking at 25+4. I've been in hospital since last night, had my steroid injections (omg ouch btw!!) and given prophylactic antibiotics (which I'm not able to stomach it seems). I'm in here till Saturday night!

Just had my proper growth scan and been told I have "plenty of fluids for now" but that this will eventually run out. I know baby can trundle along happily without his fluids but it's now a matter of preventing infection and hoping he doesn't decide he wants out now - which according to my scans doesn't seem like he does

I have been told to prepare for a premature baby and that 34 weeks is the goal for induction but it COULD be any day and every day counts from now!

This is our first baby and I have NO IDEA what to expect! Are there any good books or research on premature baby's? How do I need to change my game plan? What do I need to buy to prepare for a preme baby? Can I/do I bank my breast milk?

Any and all advice appreciated xx

P.s I’ve also posted this in the premature birth forum but I’ve had lovely advice from you all so far and it’s technically still pregnancy!

Check out the charity The Smallest Things. They have a website and a facebook page which is full of information for people with premature babies.

A relative of mine had hers at 27+5 and he is a perfectly healthy nearly 3 year old. Be prepared for the baby to spend months in hospital. Fingers crossed you get to 34 weeks.

I was told at 18 weeks my waters had broken and was told I should terminate given all the horrible possible out comes I was sent home to wait for another scan 2 days later I found a wonderful support page on face book PROMS they will give you advise and help you with anything you need I was told a baby can go 6-7 weeks with no fluid before making an arrival, please contact them as a pregnant woman you have so many rights and your voice has to be heard please co fact them. When I went back 2 days later for my scan I was told my waters hadn't broken so they do get it wrong also, when they thought my waters had broken I was given antibiotics to prevent any infections I also read that drinking lots of water can help the fluid level stay high and also coconut milk which is vile also it been knowen for the hole to seal back up. Good luck please get in touch with the PROMS Facebook page

Sorry it was called little heartbeats

I’m sorry to hear this, must be very stressful. What you need to do now is delegate. People will want to help, give them jobs.

With DC2 I was admitted with bleeding at 33 weeks, held on until 37.5 but had to get a relative to buy maternity pad, big knickers etc as couldn’t trust DH.

With DC3 firs5 admissions was at 24 weeks, so I really do know what it feels like.

Have they discussed steroids to mature the baby’s lungs? I had these with both my girls.

My daughter she was born 29 weeks.we stay 5 weeks in hospital with her. She is 3 and a half now and everything is fine. Pray for you and for the baby. Hope everything it will be fine with you. Good luck 🤞

Hello
I’m sending positive warm wishes to you and your baby.
My waters broke at 26 weeks and I had my baby at 28 weeks. He stayed in hospital for over 3 months mainly due to his lungs being under developed and needing oxygen.
He spent a few weeks in intensive care then moved to high dependency and then spent a week or so in low dependency before being discharged.
The hospital may have rooms or flats that you can stay in whilst your baby is in hospital.
The hospital my baby was in had breast pumps you could borrow whilst you were on the ward and at home so could pump throughout the day and night. There isn’t anything you really need to buy for the baby to begin with as the hospital provide a lot of things.
I would make sure you have a good network of family and friends to call upon for support and help ie picking things for you whilst you are in hospital, make food, contact people on your behalf and generally just be there for you.
Make a bag up for you with items you need. I found my iPad and iPad charger invaluable as I could download music and programmes to listen to and watch whilst I was in hospital as you can be in there for a long time with not much to do.
Try to take it a day at a time if you can. It can be a long emotional and physically demanding road - my 28 week baby is a walking cheeky toddler now.
Take care of yourself

It might be worth having a look on www.bliss.org.uk

I second Bliss, enormously supportive

Try not to worry, my waters broke when I was 16 weeks pregnant and continued to leak throughout pregnancy. I was advised to terminate, doctors said there was no way my baby would be unharmed (I didn’t I had a gut feeling baby would be ok as I had already lost 3) I went into labour at 28 weeks, they gave me drugs to stop it and eventually he was born at 30 weeks by emergency caesarean, he is now 37! Hope everything goes well for you and your baby.

Hi ladies,

Thank you for your advice so far and I'll deffo check out the links you listed!

I had my two steroid injection in my arse cheek yesterday - OMG that’s the worst pain I’ve ever felt (so far)

I’m “sensitive” to amoxicillin, asithromicin and Erythromycin so I've got terrible cramps and diarrhoea (sorry TMI) but I'm trying to keep on taking them so prevent an infection.

Just had a proper proper growth scan and surprise surprise (in just over 5ft) he has little legs but that’s actually because his head and tummy are actually measuring a bit ahead - about a week and a half which considering he’s gonna be a preme is a good thing!!

Scan also showed that he has NOT descended and is still high so him breaking free doesn’t seem imminent right now! So not great news but not the end of the world like we thought when I was admitted on Tuesday!

I think it's just the complete change to my "birth plan". I know it's just a plan and you need to be flexible but it couldn't be more different!

I had hoped to be giving birth to a fat wee boy who had me in labour for 20 hours. I wanted the MW led unit and a pool I could dip in and out of for pain relief. I only wanted gas and air and no inductions or pain killers!

I even skipped over the chapters in my book about prem babies in ignorance.

I will obviously do absolutely anything in this world to get him out alive and happy but I'm so sad at how things have turned out!

For me right now I am trying to concentrate on what I can do to make him better when he comes out! Breastfeeding is SO important to me so I think I'm gonna invest in two Elvie pumps (ouch) and get the book by Le Leche League and try and bank some milk for him so we can hit the ground running!

I was given an amazing suggestion about keeping muslin cloths next to me/against my breasts so they smell like me and he can have them bear him or in his incubator!

I think it all depends on how much he hangs in there! If we can get to 30a+ weeks I hear you can pick them up and touch them more!

The thought of not being able to cuddle
My baby and seeing him filled with tubes and wires brings me instantly to tears! Xx

I'm so sorry you're going through this worry and I wish you and baby all the best

@MrsRose2018 I have an Elvie and much prefer my Ameda Lactaline. Ask the hospital if they can loan you a pump. It'll be much more efficient. Honestly I actually hate my Elvie. Used it all of three times. I've kept hold of it to give it a try with #2 but I'm not holding out much hope. Good luck x

Don’t get Elvies. Save your money. You are going to need a hospital-grade double pump and the hospital feeding team will almost certainly lend you one if your baby needs to spend time in SCBU or NICU.

Don’t attempt to start pumping yet - you could inadvertently start uterine contractions and this is the last thing that you want right now. Ask your midwife for a kit in order to harvest and store colostrum. It can be frozen.

Oh right ok...

So should I hold off trying to pump/express even if I could go into labour any day theoretically?

Or will he be so prem at 26 weeks he can't have milk anyway?

That's interesting about the Elvie pumps, they're so highly recommended! I'll check out other brands

Xx

I’d hold
Off expressing too - don’t encourage anything.

A tiny tiny bit of milk will be needed if he’s due any day so don’t panic - your baby will get what he needs

I’ve had a 27 weeker. Your neonatal unit will help support and guide you so do
Ask them for advice and what to expect. Units differ so it’s worthwhile finding out what yours do

www.google.com/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/fabulous/6230327/mum-premature-son-water-rescue/amp/

I know it's the sun, but I read this story a while ago and thought of it when I saw your previous post.

You should be able to harvest colostrum once baby is here. If you do have issues however would you consider donor milk? The hospital should be able to advise on that too x

Expressing/feeding causes the muscles in your uterus to contract, which is literally the last thing you want right now - you want to prevent labour not encourage it.

Seconding PP, you'll need a hospital grade pump, they can lend you one. Dont spend any money just yet.

My DS was born at 33+4, two weeks after waters breaking. Obviously this is a totally different ball game to 25 weeks, but I can give some advice on expressing.

You will be able to harvest colostrum using a syringe until your milk comes in. Your hospital should help you start this within an hour or two of the birth. It may be that your baby is nil by mouth and just fed and hydrated with IV glucose to start with. Or he can always have a bit of formula or donor milk down his feeding tube until you have enough milk expressed. My DS had some formula until day 2 and then was entirely on expressed milk.

Borrow a Medela Symphony or similar hospital grade pump off the hospital, or you can rent them for a reasonable price (your hospital may have a discount code). Try and double pump, and make sure you follow the advice to do 8-20 rounds of expressing in 24 hours, including at least once overnight.

Definitely don't try and express milk beforehand, as others say it may stimulate.labour which you want to avoid while he's still happy in there.

Fingers crossed for you and him. Every day he stays inside is a bonus! xx

Don't pump now- could increase the risk of him making a move. Wait until he arrives and the teensy bit you manage to pump initially will suffice. They need v v little at first and he'll be tube fed if makes an appearance pre34 weeks. Honestly I think there's v little you can do to prepare at this moment other than keeping him as long as possible (obviously) . I think the one of the hardest parts of prem birth is coming to terms with the fact that instead of something to look forward to it becomes fraught with anxiety and fear. NICUs are amazing places with the most incredible medical teams but are terribly harrowing. I almost feel like telling you not to do any reading at this stage as it may make the anxiety worse. Every preemie comes with their own issues and no NICU stay is ever textbook. When the time comes the amazing doctors and nurses will tell you everything you need to know and do - including support for breastfeeding. I was incredibly lucky that DS was born at 30 weeks. I do hope your boy stays put for as long as possible.

Aw OP I've read a few of your comments on here the past couple of weeks and thought how lovely you seem!! Really really hope you and baby are OK, this must be so stressful for you. There is lots of great advice on this thread to which I can add nothing, just send my best best wishes and hope baby hangs on as long as he can!

Thanks ladies!!

The advice about pumping is so so useful!

I should apparently get some counselling from a member of the the NICU staff before I leave which Will be good!

I'll make sure to ask them about renting a pump/what to do!

I've been recommended the Spectra S1 hospital grade pump by a few people! "Only" 150 quid if I need to purchase one!

I'm just hoping my boy has inherited my stubbornness as well as my impatience and it's going to defy us all and stay tucked away till 34 weeks! It's not he infection risk we just need to manage!

My whit cell count is raised due to the steroids and my immune system is also suppressed so I'm not even allowed out for fresh air atm!

Literally the woman in the plastic bubble!

I'm gonna give this boy so much shit when he's older and fatter 😂 xx

Now the infection risk*