24 weeks today, high risk pregnancy, anyone want to keep me company as I face up to the likelihood of delivering a premature baby?

[grainmum]

So, that's it really. Leaking amniotic fluid for the last 8 weeks. Braxton hicks of varying degrees of uncomfortable. Struggling to hold it together mentally. Was doing OK until last appointment on Wednesday but since then I just want to crawl under a stone, I'm monitoring every twinge and feeling pretty pessimistic.

People who've been there - how did you cope? Any ideas for something constructive I can do to prepare in some way?

Congratulations on his arrival
On air is good. Hopefully he's a tough little lad. Have you been able to hold his hand?

Thanks for all the good wishes. Onto CPAP at lunchtime and out for a cuddle this evening xx

Oh that's very good! On both counts :)
Special care can be a right old rollercoaster of emotion. I hope you're doing OK?

Yes thank you @explodedcloud. I think at the moment so relieved that he is safely here, trying hard to remember that there is a long way to go and that there are likely to be ups and downs. Just wondering when I might get evicted from the postnatal ward or when I might like to leave. Physically don't think there is anything keeping me here...

Good to hear he's doing well. Did you deliver naturally? Post natal let me stay 5 nights, are you near to home? Our hospital had free parking for parents, meals for breast feeding parents, a sick children's trust house, and a few other bits to try and check if your hospital have anything that might help. Every prem baby I saw developed jaundice so don't worry if that crops up. Enjoy your cuddles

I assume you didnt end up with a section then? I had to stay a few nights because I did and then my dc was doing well enough for us to go into the transition ward before coming home. You may want to get off the post natal ward asap but I guess it's going to depend on lots of factors.

I had a 29 weeker and a 34 weeker, congrats on making it to 30 weeks! How's the pumping going, do you have access to a good machine at home and at the hospital?

My 29 weeker is now 13 and a typical PITA teen, my 34 weeker is 10 and lovely except when she fights with her sister. So thankful for modern medicine!

Yes vaginal breach. @6pm consultant suggesting paracetamol and examination/CTG in an hour if not settling, midwife saying contractions not palpable, 7pm not able to lie still to be on monitor, 7.47 out after 1 push in labour ward (just) - hairy moments while sitting on the wheelchair outside waiting for someone to buzz us in!

Congratulations! So glad you made it to 30 weeks. My DS managed 4 more days than yours - he's now 98th centile for height, and regularly scares the living daylights out of his reception teacher by climbing/cartwheeling/somersaulting or some other daredevil method of getting from A to B!
Do keep posting. Support in NICU is so important.

Oh my! He was really determined to get out. One day that'll be a funny story about him jumping out feet first as soon as you hit the ward. Don't be afraid to ask if they have a counselling midwife if you need to talk that labour through.

Just been thinking about that. This setting alarm for early morning expressing isn't helping my sleep, been awake for over 2h now. Think I just have so much to process... have seen signs about a counsellor on NICU too, a few suggestions on coping strategies going forward would be useful.

Coping strategies:
Make sure you have enough to eat and drink. I preferred to bring stuff with me to make sure I had it, others used the opportunity to go for a walk - either is fine, but needs some thought. You need to look after yourself especially if you are expressing.
I found routine helped. Arriving at the same time everyday, scheduling time to sit with baby, eat, express, repeat.
I found visitors stressful, others find it helps pass the time, so it's up to you what you would find useful.
Get to know other parents, especially in the expressing room.
Don't worry about asking lots of questions, even if you've asked before or didn't understand. There's a lot going on and you don't need to take everything in at once.

I can point you in the direction of my blog if you are interested. I'm on day 81 in the neonatal unit...

I'd also add make a diary of your baby's journey, I did a book just writing what happened every day and it helps pass the time and it's nice to look back on. How are you both doing?

Tommy's has a great app for keeping a premature baby diary 👍

Good thanks. Felt bad but banned DS and my parents today so was just me and DH. Off phototherapy this evening and head scan all OK.

Oh congratulations Hun xxx I saw your post ages ago then not been on mumsnet fir ages hope you're both doing ok xx

Congrats Grain! I've been off the miscarriage thread a while and just found yours here. So glad LO is doing well and fingers crossed you get all the right support you need going dorward, quickly. xx

This is hard. So on Monday stopped NG feeds due to bilious aspirate. Concern he might have a malrotation but ruled out on tuesday with a contrast xray. Plan for 5 days nil by mouth gut rest and antibiotics.
Issues about getting and keeping a long line in. Today needing a little bit of oxygen. No longer line. However at 12 days old has regained his birth weight. Feels like lots of backward steps at the moment...

Sorry to hear your having a bad time grain must be tough especially when everything's been doing in for so long too. Regaining birth weight is good though! Do they have any other ideas what might be up?

Managed his long line this afternoon. Chest xray looked ok. Various theories about his tummy, next test probably Tuesday so we'll have to wait and see.

I was in and out of hospital (mostly in though) from week 27 until my baby arrived at 32 weeks. I spent a lot of that time making sure I had everything ready for my baby and trying to distract myself with tv, games on iPad etc so that I could try and switch off. I found it helpful to visit the special care unit as well so I could see where my baby was likely to go and that made me feel a bit calmer.
My community midwife was very nice but I found when I saw her she wasn't really able to answer my questions about all my complications and the midwives at the hospital knew a lot more. Do you have a hospital bag ready for you and baby? I found that helpful as I had to continually go into hospital at short notice. I didn't have a baby bag ready though as I had no clue if she'd be born early or if we'd make it to full term so it was tricky knowing clothes sizes and nappy sizes.
The charity Bliss has a helpline for people who have had premature babies to provide emotional support so you could try that if you just wanted to talk to someone.
I found that in the 5 days before my baby arrived I knew something wasn't right so I think it's really important to listen to what your body is telling you in terms of going to get checked out etc. It got to the point where I congratulated me and my baby on getting through each half of the day as I felt every extra bit of time was good.
During the 5 weeks I was in and out of hospital I found it incredibly hard but now 3 months on with a healthy baby that time doesn't feel very important and feels like it was all worth it.

We had a bilious aspirate. Blue lighted to nearest surgical unit (one London hospital to another). Malrotation ruled out. Then the docs were more relaxed. It was deemed to be 'one of those things'. And feeding was restarted slowly. Fingers crossed the feeding picks up and the oxygen requirements go down.

Thanks @Luchi it's really helpful to hear that. He had his lower GI contrast study today so hoping for good news tomorrow. Expressing for a baby who has been getting no milk for 7 days now is a bit demoralising though it has to be said.

Don't despair. When they catch up he will go through your milk quickly and it is good to have a little in store for later. If the contrast was clear and they have done nothing then just hold your horses. I am assuming they are treating as suspected NEC then and hence the rest. Ask them tomorrow quite clearly what their theories are and what their management plan for each.

Just to say I'm thinking of you Grain. Sod all words of advice but lots of best wishes and virtual cuddles.