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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.

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SparklyGothKat · 09/06/2008 21:34

JW she is amazing... She looks so small but wow!!

MissingMyHeels · 09/06/2008 22:47

JW - her progress is just amazing! IMO, this is when you realise quite how fabulous the NHS can be.

You sound like you're holding up really well. Hoping she keeps getting better and better x

Original poster
johnworf · 10/06/2008 09:06

Thanks for your lovely comments SparklyGothKat and MissingMyHeels

The NHS can indeed be a wonderful thing and I suppose it's at times like this that you come to realise what a splendid job these people are doing.

Yep, she sure is small but packs a punch Growing like a weed each day

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SparklyGothKat · 10/06/2008 10:54

there is pics of ds2 on my profile, he was born at 33 weeks weighhing 4lb 8oz (2.050kg) when your little one get that big we can compare photos!!

Original poster
johnworf · 10/06/2008 11:36

SparklyGothKat he's an absolute giant compared to my tiny toes!!! What an adorable little one you have there. I bet he's grown lots since that pic was taken He's prolly a strapping bruiser now, knocking other children out of his path! Way to go LO

Lovely pic though. Can't wait until Katherine is that size

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SparklyGothKat · 10/06/2008 11:39

He is 8 months old now. Did you scroll down to the bottom, the little ones are at the bottom, the ones near the top were taken last month.

bubblagirl · 10/06/2008 11:45

your dd is adorable myself and twin brother were 1lb9 and 1lb 12 when born and were now 28 and have child of our own everything is so much more advanced now and your dd looks a real srtromg girl hope she makes fast progress

Original poster
johnworf · 10/06/2008 15:17

SparklyGothKat your children are adorable You'd never be able to tell that prem LO was prem now! What a big boy he's grown into ....there's hope for weeny Katherine yet

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Kewcumber · 10/06/2008 15:34

johnworf - I have recent photos of my DS who was a 980gr premmie to encourage you, and he didn't even have the benefit of the good old NHS. Katherine sounds like shes doing fantastically well - I wish you all well.

mummylight · 10/06/2008 17:48

johnworf i think you are right i will post my message on another discussion, this was perhaps the wrong one, maybe bereavement!All the best for your little one!enjoy every minute with her!x

SparklyGothKat · 10/06/2008 18:07

All my children have been prem JW. DS1 was 35 weeks and weighed 5lb 2oz, DD1 was 31 weeks and weighed 3lb 12oz, Dd2 was 33 weeks and 3lb 8oz and Ds2 was 33 weeks and weighed 4lb 8oz. Ds1 is now 10. Dd1 is 8 on friday and tall and skinny, Dd2 is 6 and small and beautiful, and Ds2 is getting bigger, small for 8 months but doing well.

I look at them all (especially the girls) and can't believe they were the tiny scraps in SCBU, they do grow!!! lol!!

Katherine is beautiful and I look forward to seeing pics as she grows. If you need any tiny babygros let me know. I have 3lb+ ones

Original poster
johnworf · 10/06/2008 18:28

aww thanks SparklyGothKat. You're really brave having 3 children that have all been premature . Honestly don't know how you did it - it's really hard work!

Thanks for the offer of the BBGros. Not yet seen her in any clothes yet (apart from hat and nappy - fab look) and she's not yet got to even 2lbs..I'm sure she'll soon be there though

Thanks kewcumber. Just going to have a peek at your LO. As little as Katherine!

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Original poster
johnworf · 10/06/2008 18:31

OMG Doctor Kewcumber is sooooooooooo sweet Think I'll rename him Dr Cutecumber

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katie7 · 11/06/2008 19:52

I have 3 yr old twins born at 26 weeks and 6 days in Rome. F and L are so wonderful I couldn't imagine life without them! They are now doing well with learning, language (bi-lingual Italian and English) but do have motor skill issues - my boy has minor cerebral palsy and so only walks with special shoes and braces. He falls a lot but is independent on flat surfaces and is improving. He is so gutsy and the coolest little man. My daughter is just a little clumsy and may need inserts in her shoes...she is now running and learning to jump. Hang in there!

Where can I see the photo? I am a bit slow tonight!

Original poster
johnworf · 12/06/2008 10:17

Hi katie7 my pics are on my profile under photos so if you click my name (underlined) it should take you there.

Great to hear that your LO's are bouncing around just like all other children. I'm taking each day as it comes at the mo and can't even think about tomorrow until I get over today.

Seem to spend my life at hospital and attached to a breast pump! Still, can't complain as she is doing ok at the mo.

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lottiejenkins · 12/06/2008 17:50

Hi johnworf. My friends two children were both born premature, her daughter was 8 weeks early at 3lb 8oz and her son was ten weeks early at 3lb 15 oz, the little girl is now nine and the little boy is six they are totally fabulous children and though they arent my godchildren i call them my nearlies. I was so in awe when i saw the little boy in the scbu, i was the first one out outside the family to see him. I am going to evening prayers at church tonight we have a lovely service of 15 mins with time to pray for those who we wish to think of,,, i will remember Katherine tonight and pray that she will continue to grow and be strong! Lots of love to you all xxx

Original poster
johnworf · 12/06/2008 19:57

lottiejenkins thank you so much for thinking of Katherine in your prayers. That's such a lovely thing to do

We're hoping and praying ourselves that we'll look back in a few years time and remember (fondly) the times we had in SCBU when she was just a scrap of a thing. She'll have a great birth story at least - and two birthdays as well!

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lottiejenkins · 12/06/2008 20:02

I was pleased to be able to do it... and will continue to do so............ xx

lindseyfox · 12/06/2008 21:57

my niece was born in 2006 and was 23wks and 3 days emergency cs due to mother having eclampsia she was fitting.

she did really well, was only ventilated for 3hrs whilst transferred to a specilaist unit and then was on cpap for 10wks then on oxygen.

took ages to get off oxygen and thought she may come home on it but eventually was off it and came home at 14wks.

she weighed 1 pound 4oz at birth and was 4 pounds when she came home.

is now 2 and bit and in 6-9mths clothes toddling around, chattering away, she has chronic lung disease but has no hospital admissions for 14mths.

she is developing at the normal rate.

good luck to you little one

Original poster
johnworf · 13/06/2008 09:39

Thanks linseyfox. Yep, the chronic lung disease is something that is at the back of my mind but if it happens, then there is nothing we can do but accept it.

Katherine is still on the ventilator at day 16 but she's starting on indomethycin today with the hope that it will sort out her PDA. We're not even close to CPAP yet.

Your niece was pretty amazing to get off the ventilator in just 3 hours at that gestation What a little fighter!

Katherine is back past her birth weight of 1lb 8oz today with a huge weight gain of 50 grams in the past 2 days. She is now 690 grams. At least my breast milk is doing something good!

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hertsnessex · 13/06/2008 09:57

Johnworf,

Thinking of you and your DD. My sons were in scbu - but werent really premmie - the were 36wks.

Praying for you all and wishing you every strength to get you through the next few weeks.

cx

hanaflower · 13/06/2008 16:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

lindseyfox · 13/06/2008 16:21

sounds like she is doing well.

think my niece would have benefited from the ventilator for a bit longer really

(i am childrens nurse and have worked in scbu so was hard for me to not give my two pennys worth when she was in!!)

there was plenty of times when we thought we were moving forward and she would take a huge leap backwards.

just remember as each day passes she is getting stronger and advances in medicine reallt do help these little ones.

SparklyGothKat · 13/06/2008 16:23

wow JW she is doing great, as is mummy

LMAsMummy · 16/06/2008 11:39

Have come to this very late, but congratulations to you all.

By the way, I am no medical expert, and I might well be told I am wrong, but I think that with chronic lung disease - you were worried it might be diagnosed - the lungs do repair themselves gradually as time goes by. My dd1 had it initially on discharge, but her lungs are fine now.

Hope all goes well!

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