Born at 24 weeks 3 days

[johnworf]

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.

Just wanted to say best of luck and congratulations.

Everyone is thinking of you in the September thread. xx

Congratulations!!!!!!!!. I am due in Sept and I wish you two all the best.

Congratulations Johnworf. No advice really just to add to the others who have had an early baby. My dd was born at 32 weeks and spent 3 weeks in hospital. Its a scary place to be but ask the nurses what you can be doing at this stage to look after her. Expressing helped as I met up with some of the other mums in the "breastfeeding room" and Im still in touch with most of them. Im sure it would help you and your DH to talk to some of the other parents going through the same experience and remember it wont be forever.

Lots of love and best wishes xx

Hi from another due in September-er, and congratulations
It's good you've made a friend already - dd was born just before 36 weeks, and was in scbu with some scary medical conditions - a friend had her baby 2 days before at around 29 weeks, and it really helped to have someone to talk to, to share the worries. It can be a rollercoaster of a time, but she's obviously a fighter - sending lots of positive thoughts your way x

Another due-Septer here, congratulations on Katherine's birth Johnworf! But what a shock for you that she arrived so early. I'm so glad to hear that she's doing OK, she looks beautiful from her picture .

Despite having a few scary moments myself during this pregnancy I can't imagine what it must be like for you to go through this amount of worry. We're all thinking of you and baby Katherine and I wish you both all the best and send you lots of healthy vibes. xxx

Johnworf Just wanted to add my congratulations and support as it must be a scary time for you. A colleague of mine had twin girls who were born 4 months early (so must have been around the same time). They were tiny and at first they were worried about one of them but both recovered and are now normal healthy babies of 18 months. Good luck! x

I'm from the due-Sept thread too. Congratulations, she looks beautiful. Best of luck too, we are all thinking of you. Sounds like she is making great progress for her age and size.

Thanks ladies for your kind wishes.

starlight if you could 'graduate' me that'd be great

Another couple of pics of her from yesterday. She's 7 days old today! Huzzah

She's off the dopamine for her low b/p and the insulin - all subject to review naturally. The doctors are talking about putting her on CPAP which is absolutely marvellous (although we're not quite there yet).

wow johnworf. I am 24 weeks tomorrow and cant believe you have had your little girl at this stage!

What a little fighter she is! Off to look at her pictures!

Tell me if I am being too nosey but was it just a case of spontaneous premature labour?

johnworf - congratulations to your little girl on her 1 week birthday - sounds like she is doing amazingly.

Another one from the Sept thread popping over to say congratulations and all the best with lovely Katherine - sending you all good wishes!

Message withdrawn

Congrats on Katherine making it to 7 days! It must feel like a big milestone, she sounds like she's fairly determined to stay here.

Hi johnworf,
Its great to hear that she is doing so well I love the new pictures

johnworf...only 7 days old and talk of being put on CPAP already? Thats fantastic!! What a little star!

Hi johnworf

Fantastic that Katherine has reached her 7 days milestone and talk of CPAP and reducing her meds. She is a little fighter!

New pictures are lovely.

How are you feeling? How are things with DP? Remember to take some time for yourself xxx

Johnworf - What amazing pictures, you can see how much she's grown just in the last couple of days!

We're all sending mega-good vibes from the September thread!

Thinking of you, L. xx

Congratulations! Katherine sounds like she is doing brilliantly. My ds was born at 34 weeks with RDS and didn't go onto CPAP until he was 5 days old, so 7 days for a 24 weeker is fantastic. We spent 7 weeks in SCBU and your posts have brought it all back!

I really understand the "cheated" feeling - I still get a lump in my throat when I see heavily pregnant women browsing through mothercare - but I'm sure it will start to melt away as time goes by and Katherine gets stronger.

It's really tough emotionally and physically going through SCBU, as I'm sure you know by now, so be kind to yourself and take care.

Dear Johnworf,

I'm from the Sept 08 thread too and wish you and little Katherine all the very best.

Thinking of you both,
Kx

Hi ladies,

So lovely to hear all your good wishes especially from the due September mummies

Not really sure what started my labour off. They questioned an asymptomatic UTI - no symptoms at all basically. But then I did have a 1.5 litre blood loss so they thought it was an abruption. Still really in the dark over what caused it but it's just one of those unexpected things that can (very rarely) happen in pregnancy.

She's doing really well up to now (she says with 'fingers crossed' after it!). Her weight has gone down slightly but it's to be expected. She is now on my milk - albeit 1/2 a ml an hour The arterial line has been removed and once again we heard the CPAP machine mentioned last night. She's 8 days old today so we'll have to wait and see what the day brings us.

All I can say to any mummies in here whose LO does make an unexpectedly early surprise visit - try not to worry too much. The nurses and doctors really are wonderful.

I'm still having my ups and down days while my body gets used to not having 'lump' there! But I'm hoping as the days/weeks/months wear on, I'll be much better as Katherine grows stronger

Johnworf, Im sending you the biggest hug and best wishes ever. I know what you are going through and it is so so tough.I didnt manage SCBU very well at all at the time but it will get easier. Katherine is obviously a fighter and girls fair far better than boys (i was told by scbu), hang in there and keep posting your lovely pics. She will know you are there and will benefit from your closeness. My tiny little prem turned out to be a strapping and beautiful 13yr old just lately, although at the time I never allowed myself to think of the future.Each day is a milestone and from the sound of it Katherine is doing well. Wishing you all the very best.

247 your comment is an inspiration to me right now. There is hope, I know there is. I just need to feel the force (Luke)

I'm going to post the link to my blog on here and then I can have a normal mums conversation with you ladies. You can follow Katherine's progress on the blog if I've got the link right!!!

The link to Katherine should be here

Off to hospital soon so will keep the blog up to date and speak to you ladies later on when I get 5 minutes.

xxxxx

Johnworf

I have no direct experience of this, but have two nephews (twins) born at 29 weeks and in the SCBU for more than 7 weeks. They are now 2.5 and very bright, talkative (3 languages - English, French and Italian)little boys. I do not see them very often, as they live in Switzerland, but talk to them on the phone regularly.

I was amazed and impressed about how my brother and sil took to the scbu and how they coped when they brought them home. The staff were great and did their best to ensure that the parents were involved in every part of their care where possible, which helped very much. I hope you have as positive an experience as is possible.

I just want to send you my best wishes and will be following your story as long as you post here. Katherine looks amazing and it sounds like she is a real little fighter. Good luck and big hugs.

hi johnworf. Another Sept mummy here. I have been thinking about you and Katherine lots and wanted to send massive amounts of love to you both.