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?

Lower GI Contrast study all normal so back on the milk, 1ml/hour for 5 hours then an hour off so we'll see how it goes...
Yes they were treating for NEC but relatively low index suspicion so just ended up with 5 days treatment.

In our case I am pretty sure it was a cold. He had green mucusy nappies for a few days afterwards although the docs thought that being nil by mouth for a long time and then having the dye in their stomach also produced odd coloured poo. We went back up to full feeds fairly quickly but he was 33 weeks when it happened so a bit bigger.

So today he would have been 33 weeks. He's back on milk feeds via NG 2ml/hr increasing by 0.5ml 12 hourly. Contrast studies all normal so theory is just immature gut. He went back onto High Flow on Wednesday night and he seems so much better for it - hoping that easier breathing gives him more chance to grow!

Sounds like great progress! Yay for mini Grain.

Sounds great grain I'm glad he's doing better. How are you doing?

Hi Alb I'm OK thanks. Occasional things send me into a melt down but on the whole able to focus on DS. There is one particular aspect of the scenario that I wasn't prepared for and has been quite upsetting involving calls from the bereavement office etc, but it's part of it and I have to get through it. Easier when things are going OK, when he's having a blip harder to avoid the "what ifs".

How are you all getting on grain?

Wow it's ages since I posted! Mini grain ended up having surgery for bowel obstruction on 27th July. It went well and he has slowly progressed to full milk feeds. He had a lot of swelling post op and his oxygen requirements went up so he has been on diuretics to help reduce that and they have made the world of difference. Current issue is no weight gain - apparently loss last week with all the fluid coming off then static since Sunday. So we are on a mission to breast feed and have put him back in the incubator today so he doesn't have to use his calories to keep warm. He's still tiny so the latching on is taking a bit of practice. Hope you are all ok xx

Sorry your having a rough time, but it sounds like he's doing better which is great have they suggested using some formula if your not already? I expressed everything for DD (still do) but when her growth was static the mixed it to 75% my milk and 25% formula and added fortifier and that did it for us, we just did it for a few weeks and then switched back. She hadn't had the additional complications though so messing around with the milk may not be the best idea I guess. When is his due date? My little one is 18 weeks now (7 corrected) and she's giggling and beautiful and the happiest baby in the world, NICU was such a difficult time and I thought we'd never have normal life again but we do and it's lovely, fingers crossed things go much smoother from now on for you all so you can get home soon

We're on fortifier formula hasn't been mentioned yet. Due date is 9th September. So lovely to hear your daughter is doing well xx

Hi grain not sure if your still around, just wondering how you all are and if baby grain made it home yet?