Preparing for premature baby

[Blueroses99]

I'm 23+3 in my second pregnancy. My first pregnancy last year ended suddenly at 21+3 when I went into pre-term labour due to weak cervix, and sadly our son was just too little to survive. The preventative measures to manage the cervix (cervical stitch, progesterone, rest) are failing and I had an emergency second stitch 2 weeks ago to try to buy some more time. I am still at very high risk of pre-term labour and I know my little girl could make an appearance at any time, though I'm trying to keep her in for as long as possible. Every day, every week I know she is getting stronger.

So I'm just looking for support and advice really. What can I do, if anything, to prepare for a premature baby? Has anyone had anything similar?

Hello Blue. Wishing the best for both you and your daughter. I found this section of MN invaluable when we were on NICU and i just needed an answer from another parent in the same situation. I found much reassurance from the many parents with prem babies in their 20's now still posting about the outcomes. My advice would be to get home and to spend time as a couple together as often as you feel able. The NICU world is overwhelming and relentless and just being at home in bed for even two hours helped me to cope and destress. I know you blog but you may find the constant questions and need for information from family etc taking over after a while. My husband took over responsibility of being the main sharer of information and i turned my phone off most of the time to just concentrate on each day and to rest my mind x

Congratulations. What a lovely name. I am keeping everything crossed for her and for you

Congratulations, all the very best for your daughter and all the family.

Oh I'm so glad you made it at least to the 24 week milestone! Congratulations on your daughter and on becoming a mummy
It's going to be a long ride, so just take each day as it comes and try not to let things overwhelme you.

Thanks all so much for your kind wishes and words of advice. I'm rushing around at the moments, seeing baby, expressing, getting myself checked out etc so I haven't had a chance to read properly but I definitely will when I can catch my breath.

Hope everyone's ok blue x

Baby is stable and being really well looked after in NICU. She has started to feed and seems to be changing everyday. Just hope she continues to do well.

What a great update, thank you!
The rapid change in them is baffling! Just wait till you hear her cry propey for the first time... Have they given you an idea of how long until you get to hold her?

Congratulations on the birth of little Aviana blue . I'm another prem mum, though a relatively enormous 31 weeker!

Please make sure you give yourself downtime in the midst of everything. It's all a lot at once, isn't it? Take care of yourself, too.

Just wait till you hear her cry propey for the first time

And when she first opens her eyes!

Congratulations blue I'm glad she's going well hope your doing well too, nicu is a stressful environment

Ah I'm so glad to hear she is doing so well. Brilliant that she is feeding already. I do hope you can hold her soon. That will be a magical moment for both of you.