Tips/Advice on how to cope please.

[MultipleMama]

I'm having a ELC on 4th October, I'll be 31+3. This pregnancy has been high risk from the start due to being twins but due to more complications; me and one baby, it's been stressful and heartbreaking. I won't go into too much detail and ramble on.

Here's the facts:
T1's has Oligohydramnios, started at 9 weeks. Always up and down.
T1's has SUA and severe IUGR diagnosed at 20 weeks.
T2 is healthy and estimated at 3lbs.
T1 is estimated at 1lb 5oz.
I had an Iron IV at 24 weeks.
Went into preterm labor on Monday. Had magnesium until Friday afternoon and steriods.
I have 4 other DC who are thankfully in school/nursery all week.

I'm struggling to deal with it all and have no idea what I should pack in my bag seeing as I won't be bringing them home. We've had a tour of the wards but it's not really helped.

What should I expect involvement wise. I want to use cloth diapers but no idea where to start for babies that small or even if they're allowed. I plan on calling the NICU but was hoping you lovelies with experience could lend me some tips and advice.

Sorry for the long post! Stuck in a hospital bed has left me nothing to do but think.

[Mama1980]

Morning, great news! 15 minute feed is amazing, won't be long now..... Glad to hear that apollos infection shows signs of clearing too. How are they today? And how are you holding up? X

[MultipleMama]

I'm doing good. Managing. Trying to figure out home and hospital. Stressed out by everything. We're moving to another country at the end of the year due to DH's work so trying to organise that too is crazy. Luckily it's DH's last day at work until after New Year. His help will be great.

No change in Apollo but they're wanting to try and wean him off the ventilator he's been on long enough that they're concerned he'll become dependant on it.

Artie's feeds are becoming longer. Oh and she cried for the first time today! :)

[MultipleMama]

Bringing moby wrap in tomorrow to see how Artie reacts to it and check her sats in it. So hopefully, I'll be able to walk around the ward with her and nap with her during quiet time :) She managed to stay awake for a 10 minute feed today! :)

No change with Apollo but we meet his new nurse soon. Nervous.

[CelticPromise]

Hi MM. I haven't seen this thread before but I have a 27 weeker born with IUGR weighing 1lb 4 oz soI can relate a bit. congratulations!

My DS also had PDA ligation and struggled to get off the vent. It took six weeks and a course of steroids to get him onto CPAP. He's four now, doing very well. I'll be thinking of you all.

[MultipleMama]

Hi, celtic, glad your LO is doing well. Positive stories always make me smile. Thank you :)

A'lo has his MRI tomorrow, and on Wednesday they hope to try and start to wean him off the ventilator. Then Friday we will be introducing breast milk into his stomach, and it's also the day I will hopefully get to have kangaroo care with him :)

Artie is doing amazingly well, a part from her size, you'd never guess she was a preemie, aside from needing a bit of oxygen and help feeding, she's doing great for a 31 weeker! Today she had 15 minute breast feeds :)

Can't believe they're 4 week old tomorrow!

[CelticPromise]

Good news all round I hope. I waited 30 days to hold my boy, longest wait of my life! I didn't know I could push for KC while he was on the vent. Great news about Arti. Is there good bf support in the unit?




Sending good thoughts to you all.

[MultipleMama]

They encourage both breast feeding and kangaroo care. Apollo's new nurse (lead nurse) is great so far too who has encouranged us to be more hands on and take over some of the things staff have been doinfg. I.e bedding, picking up, diaper changes.

Good and bad news about A'lo. His grade 2 bleed has almost self healed but he now has a grade 2 on his left side. Other than that it all looks good which is wonderful news considering they'd told me to expect the worse and be prepared for abnormalities due to him having Symmerical IUGR. Also turns out he's allergic to Iburofen. So they're having to give him something else for the swelling.

I got hold Artie in the moby wrap today so I could walk around practically topless . She also had 3 20 minute feeds on demand. So proud!

[MultipleMama]

Artie is now 4lb 10oz!! Right little chubby cheeks! :) Her feeding is coming along nicely, no issuses besides her impatience at suckling. :)

A'lo's eye infection has finally cleared up! I can now see both his lovely eyes. The swelling looks to be going down though his bruises are still brightly coloured. They moved up his scheduled and today he had his first drops of breast milk and it agreed with him!! :)

[Mama1980]

Wonderful news! Well done Apollo and Artemis. I'm thrilled for you all. Have they said if Artemis is likely to be able to go home soon? X

[MultipleMama]

They've said mid November. They've said if she carries on the way she is, they'll maybe even give me a date :)

[MultipleMama]

It's only 2pm and I want this day to end already. DH headed upto the hospital at 4am after a terrifying call from the NICU by the time we arrived at 4.30am, he'd had 4 brachycardia episodes, he managed to pull himself out of one but thoses required intervension. From 4am to now he's had 14 Brady's. I know that it's normal for Prems to have but I'm terrified and scared. They were going to start weaning him but they're posponing it for now. You can tell it's happening as his lips and fingertips turn blue but usually if stroke his nose or foot it brings it back up. I feel such a mess. I haven't seen Artie at all today, DH has but I feel so guilty. I don't my child to suffer any more. I'm scared he's in pain. I want them home.

[Poppet45]

Oh my lovely, handhold here. How is A right now? Do they have any theories on what's causing the bradys? They are so scary and thats a lot to be having. Sending lots of strength and get better vibes to you x

[MultipleMama]

They don't know whether it's due to having another grade 2 or something worse. He's having no problems with the b/m he's having. They're putting him on antibiotics and sent of blood work. The Pead in charge of his care suspects Sepsis. Now I'm terrified and have no clue on what that might mean.

Thank you. .

[plentyofsoap]

Thinking of you and your family. Stay strong x

[CelticPromise]

Hey MM sorry it's been a tough day. Sepsis could be any Sitt t of infection, even the most minor ones can affect these tiny ones. Fingers crossed they wipe it out quickly.

[MultipleMama]

Thanks ladies. They have him on antibiotics and fluids, and have increased his o2 level and replaced all his IV etc lines and feeding tube minus his trach, cleaned around his stitches and redressed it. We'll find out his results on Monday. Spent an hour with Artie, who's coming on amazingly well in her feeding and we're even closer to her coming home :)

[CelticPromise]

Sounds like Apollo is being well looked after. My DS had several infections, usually his long line was the chief suspect, and they always set him back a bit but not for long.

Lovely news about Artie.

[Rumplestiltskinismyname]

Been reading through your thread. Have no experience of premmies- but hand holding and a lot of positive vibes being sent your way xxx and fantastic names! Xxx

[Mama1980]

Hi how is everyone today? I have been thinking of you all. So sorry to hear Apollo is having such a tough time, have fingers crossed for good news tomorrow. If it helps in anyway my ds1 became septic after a infection caused by his chest line, it was tough for a few days but he is ultimately unaffected by it.
Great news about Artemis X

[MultipleMama]

Thanks, mama. Jst

[MultipleMama]

Thanks, mama. Just hearing positive stories and avoiding google is helping.

Apollo today is neither better or worse. Up til now he's had 7 Brady's. He not responding much which they're concerned about before you could stroke his stomach and underarm and he'd alomst always spasam like he was ticklish but not anymore.

Artemis is one super human baby. So proud of her. On the 13th I will be staying all day and all night in the parent room with her. If she successfully feeds with hardly/to no complications she can come home that evening!! So as of next week they are going to remove her tube and feed her by cup. Very excited!

[MultipleMama]

Results are in; Apollo has (gram negative) Sepsis. He's on a higher dose of antibiotics, fluid for his bp and so on... they also told me he may get worse before he gets better but they've caught it early which gives him a better change of recovery. They're keeping him on b/m as it seems to be helping his weight not yet at 2lbs but so close.

Artie's feeding tube was removed earlier so no she's feeding either by cup or boob. So proud :)

[Mama1980]

What a little star Artemis is- amazing, you must be so excited at the prospect of taking her home.
Sorry to hear about apollos results. But sounds great that they have caught it early. My son did get a lot worse (don't want to scare you but he did) but then he also picked up very quickly once the anti biotics and fluids got to work. I noticed a huge difference as soon as he had some help fighting the infection. And as I said he is completely unaffected by it. I have everything crossed apollos clears up fast too. He sounds such a little fighter. Thinking of you all x

[MultipleMama]

Very excited. Just the feeling if knowing that she'll be home is scary but I'm so happy. Still trying to figure out how I'll b/f on demand while still visiting Apollo while avoiding bottles. We're leaning towards using the cup when I'm not there until Apollo comes home but still trying to prepare everything for her coming home and our move at the end of the year. Hectic! :)

[Mama1980]

Wow you really do have a lot on your plate. I think the cup sounds a good idea. Mine never used bottles and when absolutely necessary a cup worked fine.
How are you all today? X