Baby born at 34weeks + 5. Need support

[MumOfHals]

Positive stories from NICU mummies & premmy babies. ( well and truly needed )

My little boy was born yesterday at 34+1.. he was born at 5lb 2oz.

He needs a little additional support with his breathing so he’s in an incubator in NICU. We’ve had cuddles and he’s making so many cute gurgle noises already.

My hormones have started to kick in from birth and I can’t stop crying, it’s awful seeing him hooked up to those machines, the noises- the hardest part is,

I can’t stay with him at night, so I’m downstairs in a bay, on my own with other mum’s and babies who are full term. It’s brutal hearing the babies feed at night and the cries, when mine is a floor away and I don’t have my partner with me.

Im worried on what’s going to happen to him, does anyone have any positive NICU / premature baby stories, I could do with a little positives xx

My baby was born at 32 weeks and I got told that by that point they're basically finished and are just putting on fat. So outcomes from 32 weeks are very good.

My dc was in hospital for five weeks but only really needed a high level of care for the first week. After that I got lots of cuddles and skin to skin time.

Fast forward, my dc is almost 12, healthy and no ill effects from being born early. We've also stayed firm friends with some of the families we met in NICU and all the young people are happy and healthy and getting on with their lives.

I know this is a huge shock and NICU is sometimes frustrating but hang in there, this will be a distant memory soon enough.

My youngest was born at 33 weeks. She's currently arguing with school friends whilst playing Minecraft. She was just under 5lbs.

My grandson was born at 29+4 weeks in January last year. He is now on the 99th percentile having been born at 2lb. He is doing amazingly well. He is beginning to talk and is cruising the furniture- about to become a little tear away.
It was so hard for my daughter. She went through everything you're describing. It will be ok.
I hope you're looking after yourself too.

Forgot to add, she made good friends from the other mums in NICU and still sees them. She says it's nice to see other mums who went through the same things. Nobody will be judging you- they are all busy worrying about their own little bundles.
Congratulations on your little one!

Hi OP and congratulations on the arrival of Henry! My DD was born at 35 weeks so I understand the fear and anxiety, hormones are all over the place and it's a scary place to be! But, as all the other posters have reassured you, your little boy will be fine. These days will be a distant memory soon, mine is now 4 and a half and the cheekiest little monkey! But absolutely perfect. Stay strong, try to sleep and eat and you'll be home before you know it.

God I remember being on a ward bay when DD1 was born - and she's 12 next week and it still stings at the memory of it.

Like I mentioned - DD1 was a very late 33 weeker (would have been 34 weeks but the clocks changed the day before) and she is now a smart arse, stroppy, academically near the top of the class, total gobshite pre-teen and you'd never ever believe she was that tiny (or that quiet... she never bloody shuts up).

She was on the later end of normal for motor skills related milestones until about age 2 - walked on the lateish side - but when she did start walking she skipped out that wobbly toddler zombie stage and just went straight to walking relatively confidently; was on the later end to get sitting and crawling as well, but was a very early, clear and confident talker so just ordered the world around to get what she wanted!

Congratulations. I can't speak for the gestation but both my girls were born 5lb 3oz at 37 weeks and are now 4 and 1 and thriving.

Ex nicu mama x 3 and now a nicu nurse.

He won't be away from you for long! As soon as he can breathe and feed and keep his sugars up he will be back with you, don't let postnatal discharge you if there's a chance he will be back with you soon!

Congratulations. My ds was born at 35+0, 5lb4oz and he spent 12 days in scbu.

Initially he had low glucose levels and jaundice but by day 2/3 it was mostly just his feeding that needed help with. So tube fed, then eventually bottle fed.

I pretty much cried 2-3 times while I was visiting ds. For 5 days I went between scbu and the ward for food/medication/sleep. I had a emcs and preeclampsia so they kept me for 5 days. Then I was discharged and I didn’t know how to go home and leave him. We got into a pattern though of all day there and night at home. I found it incredibly hard not knowing when we could take ds home. If I knew that it would be 12 days I would have relaxed. The nurses in scbu were all great though and he was well looked after.

Hes now a healthy beautiful 1 year old. No one would guess that he came 5 weeks early.

Good luck with your little one. Try to take care of yourself as well as your ds. I love his name by the way. I considered that name as a favourite but dh said no.

My 3rd child was born at 28 weeks, he is now 7. I distinctively remember being so upset about being with the other Mums and babies. It made me so sad.

It was also sad when I got discharged and he had to stay but I did get used to it. He was there for 10 weeks. Unfortunately he had lots of problems in his early life but he is doing really well now, that was due to brain bleeds and infection.

Sending lots of love and I hope you get your baby boy home very soon.

DD was born at 34+0, she’s now 11 and doing great. She was in hospital for about 3 weeks but most of that was because I wanted to breastfeed and it took a long time (turned out much later she had tongue tie) - I think most 34 weekers are home quicker.

I was put in a private room, can you ask about this? Much easier than being on a ward.

Also don’t feel bad if you decide to go home at some point, I felt I needed to stay at hospital the whole time (no older kids) but with hindsight it sent me a bit loopy.

NICU is an emotional rollercoaster and then when you get home you’ve still got all the newborn period to get through, so take it easy and accept all help you can get.

Henry will be just fine, 34 weeks is really good, it will just take him some extra time to get there. Best of luck x