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Premature birth

Connect with others and find premature birth support.

Original poster

Born at 24 weeks 3 days

253 replies

johnworf · 02/06/2008 20:29

Katherine is now 5 days old and tiny. Really scared about every day and even every hour.

Any one out there experienced anything like this? Would appreciate any advice/support.

Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
johnworf · 13/09/2008 13:09

Hi ladies,

Katherine came home last Monday and so far, it's going well. Have a lot of outpatients appointments but that is to be expected.

She has been discharged from the ROP clinic as the laser eye surgery was a success. Now outpatient at the Eye Hospital.

She's been a super little sleeper and her routine is fab (thanks hospital staff!) She's gained 8lb's in 4 days when weighed, so me and DH must be doing 'something' right

Glad that the 2 hourly eye drops have now finished. That really was a trial and a half sleepwise but we're getting there.

Will post some pics of her as soon as I get time so that you can all do a compare & contrast now she's a big girl.

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Ewe · 13/09/2008 13:12

Wow, johnworf, that's such great news!

Look forward to seeing some more pics, she is a little stunner

CantSleepWontSleep · 15/09/2008 07:48

Fabulous news johnworf.

I presume that you mean 8oz rather than 8lb - that really would be quite something!

Original poster
johnworf · 15/09/2008 10:38

Whoops! Lack of sleep Yes, it's 8 oz's not pounds! That would be quite something

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Bramshott · 16/09/2008 14:43

That's fantastic news JW - hope you are enjoying finally having her at home with you!

Original poster
johnworf · 16/09/2008 15:19

Hi Bramshott. There's some pics of Katherine on my profile of her at home

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wotulookinat · 16/09/2008 15:40

Johnworf - your pictures have made me smile What a gorgeous little thing Katherine is.

Bramshott · 16/09/2008 16:05

Awww - she is scrummy! She looks very determined!! I see she's still on oxygen - is that working out okay?

Original poster
johnworf · 16/09/2008 18:38

Yeah the oxygen is no bother. We have cylinders rather than a concentrator as the amount of oxygen she needs is so low. We've started weaning down now and she should be off it well before christmas (fingers crossed), although with the winter coughs and colds arriving, we might have set backs.

Fingers crossed not.

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MintChocAddict · 18/09/2008 23:43

Congratulations on getting Katherine home, Johnworf. Here's to a happy, healthy Christmas for you all.

rrrayray · 22/11/2008 22:15

Just found your thread and am almost in tears looking at how TINY your little girl was when she was born!!!

What a beautiful little Story... So
glad she is doing so very well... you must be mighty proud of her as such a fighter!!!

Love to you all. xxx

SparklyGothKat · 10/12/2008 23:05

OMG Katherine is HUGE now!!!! I can't believe it!!! She is stunning I missed the announcement that she was coming home... well done Katherine and mummy and daddy!!!!

NorthernLurkerwithastarontop · 10/12/2008 23:13

seeing this thread pop up in active convos again has prompted me to have a look at all your pictures. It is amzing and remarkable and wonderful and it's made me cry too! Talk about coming a long, long way. God bless Katherine in her first Christmas

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 19/03/2009 21:16

I just found this thread as my friend had a baby 5 weeks early and I am looking for some advice for her

Your story made me cry johnworf.My second dd Philippa was born at 24 weeks 3 days in 2005 but she was stillborn.Lokking at your pics made me feel so happy for you.It must have been so hard at the start but look at her now! Shes a sweetie!

I went on to have another baby in dec 07 so had a happy ending.

my friend is having a bit of a rough time at the moment and i have told her to get on this site to get some support from mums in same position
x

tobysdad · 24/05/2009 08:30

My 1st child was born at the end of last year at a gestation 25+1

I had 3 months off work and coped by doing his cares with his Mum and talking to other parents on the Neonatal Unit.

Now that we have got him home I can enjoy feeding him before I leave for work in the morning.

Original poster
johnworf · 28/06/2009 19:03

tobysdad I hope your LO is thriving still I'm sorry I've only just remembered I started this thread and seen your post. It's hard at first but you hang in there and see how they amaze you.

Katherine had her 1st birthday at the end of May! I can't believe it has gone so quickly (although the time in hospital for the first 3.5 months seemed to last forever). She's sitting up, not crawling yet but being a little bugger like all of them at that age (she's 9 months corrected)

If you look on my profile you can see how she's got bigger and cheekier

I have a little travelogue of her first photos here on youtube if you're interested.

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ladylush · 28/06/2009 21:09

johnworf - just read your story. Congrats on your gorgeous girl I have been reading the prem birth threads to prepare myself since my waters broke prematurely at 27+5 weeks. Reading your story has given me lots of hope.

Original poster
johnworf · 28/06/2009 21:31

ladylush at least if your LO were born even now, he/she would have an excellent chance. Good luck and hope that LO manages to hang on in there for at least another month...preferably more!

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ladylush · 28/06/2009 21:41

Thank you Am now 28+4 as my waters went last Monday. So I am hoping I can go at least another 9 or 10 days. The thought of spending months in a NICU is quite heart breaking - though of course when you think of the alternative scenario it's something any parent would gladly cope with. Do they let siblings visit? I have a 5yr old ds.

Original poster
johnworf · 28/06/2009 21:58

I think it varies from hospital to hospital on siblings. Yes, on the whole they do. Obviously if they have a cold or any other illness then keep them away as these tiddlers are very vulnerable to infection.

If you get to 30 weeks then it makes a huge difference to how they progress and the problems they may encounter.

Think positive though It can be scary allround but if you ask as many questions as you can, then at least you'll know what's going on.

JW xx

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ladylush · 29/06/2009 17:46

Thanks johnworf. Yes hoping lo will hang on for another 8 days or so. It doesn't feel like he/she is ready to come out yet though it also didn't feel like my waters were about to go so I guess anything goes In an attempt to use reverse psychology I've been looking at the prem birth threads, websites and my bag is ready and goes everywhere I do from now on. Surely if I'm that prepared sods law will be that baby will come at a more seemly time

Original poster
johnworf · 29/06/2009 21:32

haha. Yes! It's always the way isn't it?

Let me know how you get on...or don't

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ladylush · 30/06/2009 21:36

Hi jw - had scan today. Baby is breach. Hardly any fluids. I will need c-section at 34 weeks unless baby decides to come earlier. They were jittery about me going home - wanted me to stay in but I am seeing the cons. on thurs morning and will review things then. The thought of staying in hospital for 5 weeks is quite depressing to say the least.

Original poster
johnworf · 30/06/2009 22:38

Why do you need a CS? Is it because LO is breech?

Btw, Katherine was breech and came bottom first but I guess it doesn't matter when you're a tiddler.

5 weeks in hospital sounds very grim. Don't blame you wanting to go home. Hang on in there LO!

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babyjamas · 01/07/2009 13:29

i spent 5 weeks in hospital before dd2 came at 27 weeks - not fun but you become strangely institutionalised. i have 2 older dcs and just had to 'let go' and allow others (granny and dh) to cope. in retrospect, a very short space of time if it meant getting to take my little one home (eventually!). dd2 also came breech, bottom first - consultant quite happy for her to come out like that - as JW says, it's not too much of an issue when you're teeny tiny, and natural birth better for the lungs, which is so v important in prem babies. dd2 now a wild and wonderful 3 year old - spent 11 weeks in neo natal - came home thriving and still doing so.i look at her often and can't believe how blessed we are to have her - when i was admitted to hospital at 22 weeks it was not the outcome i thought we would have. wishing you all the luck - btw, my others were both 31 weekers - 3ish weeks in SCBU for both, just feeding and growing. every extra day is a bonus.