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Original poster

Please tell me positive tales of babies being born at 25 week or around

33 replies

needahand · 20/02/2009 15:21

My friend is I think 25 weeks pregnant. She has been in hosp since yesterday and I have looked after her DD1. The latest Apparently she has lost all her water but has no contractions but apparently

I think one lady on here has been told that the baby will be born in the next 15 days.

I vaguely recall a lady on here being in the same situation.

Could you please share any positive experience and/or information that I could pass on for reassurance?

And please spare a thought for my friend if you can.

Thanks

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Original poster
needahand · 20/02/2009 15:44

Anyone?

OP posts:
OrmIrian · 20/02/2009 15:46

Not me but a friend who lives near. Little boy born at 26 weeks. Wasn't expected to live.

He started school in September last year.

ermintrude13 · 20/02/2009 15:49

There's a lady on the 40+ thread who had her DD at 24 weeks and she's a little poppet who's doing very well.

Lulumama · 20/02/2009 15:49

my cousins wife delivered around 24/25 weeks. her baby made it and with no long term health implications , although was on Oxygen for a long while after discharge from hospital

the longer the baby stays in utero the better.. every day will help

fingers crossed for your friend and her baby

Original poster
needahand · 20/02/2009 15:50

That's wonderful OmIran. I know there isn't much they can do apart from sitting tight and hoping and they are in the best possible place at the moment (hospital) but I just wish there was something I could/they could do to alleviate their stress.

Please keep posting positive information/statistics/stories

I am preparing an e-mail with useful info and have already linked Bliss in. Any others?

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castlesintheair · 20/02/2009 15:53

My niece was born at 24 weeks. My SIL's waters broke and they managed to pump her full of steroids and hold off actual labour for 24 hours. This probably helped with the lung development enormously and hence the fact that at 3.5 she's completely fine and even tall for her age.

NorthernLurker · 20/02/2009 15:53

Search for johnworf - who is the lady whose daughter was born at 24 weeks and for worszelmummage (I think that's the name) who lost waters pre 24 weeks. Their stories may reassure you BUT they are not a prediction of what will happen to you friend and her baby. The world of premature birth is full of success but it is also full of heartbreak too so keep your fingers firmly corssed. Other than doing that and looking after her dd there is little you can do I'm afraid. I will say a prayer for your friend and her baby and wish you all lots of good news soon.

Original poster
needahand · 20/02/2009 15:58

Thanks NortherLurker and all the others. I know the world of premature babies is full of heartbreak (I have myself been subject to the steroid/hormones to stop/stall labour at 32 weeks but I had not lost all my waters I just had a leek) but I am trying to focus on the positive and try to help them have a bit of hope because they will need that more than anything. Having been in the situation myself, I know how awful it is and no doubt the doctors are talking about statistics, chances of survival etc..

Thank you for the prayers too.

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WorzselMummage · 20/02/2009 16:03

My waters went at 22 weeks and i was told labour was imminant and ds wouldn't survive. He managed to stay put for 5 weeks and is doing well, he'll be released on the community soon.

If she has internet access in hospital then www.kanalen.org/prom/ is a great site.

I'll say a prayer for your friend, and cross my fingers too. These babies are stronger tham we give them credit for.

Tell your friend to do absolutly nothing apart from go to the toilet and drink water, she needs to be strict and out herself on total bedrest.

Original poster
needahand · 20/02/2009 16:09

Worzel thanks for replying. It is you I had in mind and knowing the baby stayed put for 5 weeks after water break is something very very positive. I will also recommend this site to them. I hope you LO is well.

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WorzselMummage · 20/02/2009 16:15

I dont think the Consultants like to give anyone hope, ours was a right doom monger but i think he did it to protect us. The Neonatal nurses who gave us a scbu tour were much more positive about ds's prognosis. If your friend could get someone to wheel her to the scbu and get hem to show her round it might help, i found it made things less terrifying.

My post on here was full of wonderfll stories from women who had been though a simealar thing and tbh it lept me going though some horrible times. Your poor friend, i really feel for her

I have to go and get dp from work and go and see my little man but if there is anything i can do to help then let me know.

twocutedarlings · 20/02/2009 16:16

No direct experience needahand, but my DD1 spent a couple of weeks in NICU, while we were there DDs neighbour was a teeny tiny little mite called Alice, although she was actually born at 32 weeks she had stopped growing at 24 week due to PC and only weighed 1LB 6oz at birth. She was actually born in cyprus while on holiday and her mum and dad made the heart breaking decision to fly her home so that she could receive the best medical help. The odds on her actually making it through the journey were extremely slim - but obviously she did!! she is now a strapping 6 year old with no health implications, she actually towers well above my DD who is the same age.

Original poster
needahand · 20/02/2009 17:24

Thanks so much for all your replies.

Worzel I have sent them the link. I think I will leave them alone for a bit as they are probably a bit in shock/suffering from information overload and I want to respect their privacy at these difficult times. However if they expressed the wish to talk to someone who has gone through this, could I try to arrange for you and them to talk. We'll see what happens and I won't do anything unless they ask me to.

I'll keep all the well wishers posted as and when I am. Obviously I hope I will be silent for a long long long time as if they don't need to drop their DD at ours hopefully it is a good sign.

Thanks again to all

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WorzselMummage · 22/02/2009 17:23

How are things going now Needahand ?

Your friend's been on my mind all weekend, i hope things are stable.

lizzytee · 22/02/2009 22:45

Hi needahand, our experience was similar in that I was told that my cervix was open and about 16mm dilated at 25 weeks and no-one could say for sure when our daughter would be born. She was delivered at 27+5.

In supporting your friend, bear in mind that at this stage every day makes a big difference to the outlook - so each extra day makes a difference and each week means a significantly shorter hospital stay.

As well as the sites others have suggested, try www.bliss.org.uk and the messageboard.

Based on our own experience, please tread carefully in giving your friend positive stories. I needed to prepare myself for the possibility that our baby might not make it, and hearing about someone's cousin/sister/friend's miracle baby did not comfort me at all. The trouble is, most people don't know, or forget about the babies that didn't make it. That said, it's now the case that many babies born at 25 weeks and above now do very well.

In our case the doctors didn't really give us statistics, but as WM says tended to give a conservative prognosis. Having been on the journey with a 27 week prem, I now think that is the only responsible thing to do. It's not that they don't want you to have hope, it's just that I really think they have no real certainty until the baby is born and even then they are so very fragile.

Hope your friend hangs on for a while yet.

Qally · 23/02/2009 00:15

My stepbrother was born at 26 weeks. He's 20 now. He's emotionally a bit of a late developer, and has dyslexia and was late to reach all milestones, but he was educated mainstream and is physically very fit/active - weighttrains, in fact. And medical care has come on a phenomenal amount in 20 years, too.

I wish your friend all the very best.

Qally · 23/02/2009 00:17

Just read lizzytrees - sorry, wasn't meaning to be insensitive and ignoring someone who's been there.

Original poster
needahand · 23/02/2009 12:33

Hi all thank you so much for your thoughts and stories.

I saw the dad this morning and the baby is still tucked firmly in 26 weeks tomorrow. Every day is like a little victory. I so hope the baby will be fine!

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LynetteScavo · 23/02/2009 12:36

My freind had her babies at 27 & 28 weeks...they are both absolutely fine, quite bright, and her little boy is extremly robust.(I'm being polite )

MKG · 23/02/2009 12:48

My cousin was born around 25 weeks. She's 16 now and there has had no issues related to it.

lizzytee · 23/02/2009 20:42

Qally, not at all, your post doesn't read that way!

needahand, really glad to hear your friend is still pg.

Original poster
needahand · 24/02/2009 15:13

Worzel if you are still around would you mind telling me what stuff you found useful for your newborn? I saw this site

www.peenyweenybaby.co.uk/sess/utn;jsessionid=1549a2ccf09c03a/shopdata/index.shopscript

and though if the baby made an appearance I might get the "wee angel cosy wrap". Do you think that would be useful or a complete waste of money? What did you wish you had then your DS was born?

PS baby still in

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WorzselMummage · 24/02/2009 15:57

Helloo !

So glad babies still in the right place

Hows Mum coping, is she still in hospital ?

I just got george some of the 5lb babygrows from Mothercare and he's been in them with the sleeves rolled down since about 3lb. I washed them on a hot wash and tumble dryed them before and shrunk them a bit ( something i am good at ) and they fit him fine. I wouldnt buy any teeny tiny stuff as the scbu will have it all.

Original poster
needahand · 24/02/2009 16:25

Hi Worszel thanks for replying. The mum is at home on bed rest but I know she has regularly (daily so far) appointments at the hospital. I haven't spoken to her since (only to her hubby) as she doesn't want to speak to anyone at the moment (which I completely understand) and I don't want to push it. There is a fine line between being helpful and being a pest! I think she is pretty heartbroken though.

Thanks for the advice. I will just try to find some small and cute babygros

How is your LO?

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WorzselMummage · 24/02/2009 16:32

He's doing well thanks nothing medical keeping him in hospital now we're just waiting for the little toad to start wanting to bf then we're free !

I am sure your not being a pest, i found the support of my friends and my post on here kept me going. Make sure you pass on ther kanelan link, it really is a brilliant site.