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.

Hi congrats of Katherine's birth

She looks just like Kangaboy did 13 years ago

He is now 5' 5" tall and in size 7 shoes

So from LITTLE ACORNS HUGE OAKS GROW

Hi JW i remembered Katherine in my prayers again last night, i hope Katherine is still progressing well!

jw shes adorable.no experience myself but wanted to say how lovely katherine is.

I've just had a nosy at the photos too - the photo of her with her daddy is really lovely. The best of luck to you all. She's beautiful.

Whats the latest news? Havent see you post lately hope Katherine is ok!

I was thinking the same today hope everything is going well

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/49/549650
have seen JW on this thread!

Just seen this thread but having had my own premmie, I couldnt not post. Katherine is lovely!
Yes, the time in NICU is a rollercoaster of emotions - as others have said, hang on in there, don't feel you have to try to cope all on your own. Let others help you in a practical way, and giving emotional support. My DH had to return to work 2 days after the birth (no fortnight paternity leave then) and that was a huge pressure for us both. Try to keep him involved - he may be feeling scared and anxious but also a bit more 'detached' from it than you are which is hard for him.
Progress will be in small steps with such a tiny baby, but as you know there are so many lovely success stories these days of babies who had a rocky start but come through it really well. My own dd is now a stroppy teenager, and to look at her you would never know how teeny she was.

Hello johnworf, was just sent over here by CantSleepWontSleep.My friend just delivered at 24 and 5. Baby Boy no-name arrived about a n hour ago, 1lb 14oz, we are all praying hard.

I really hope Katherine is doing really well. xx

Hi Johnworf, just wanted to say that Katherine is gorgeous and hope this thread is giving you the support you need. X

Just seen this thread and just wanted to send you all the strength in the world, and lots of hugs too.

SCBU/NICU is one hell of a rollercoaster (my DS was born at 30 weeks which I know is a world away from 24 weeks)- I think you see the very best and the very worst in life played out there.

Katherine is doing so well, as are you- hang on in there. I know for a long time the only comfort I had was expressing milk- but at times that was so tough to keep going. Be gentle on yourself. 3 years down the line the memories fade and I'm so lucky that my DS is now as normal as any other 3 to (hmmm!).

Not sure if you've had a chance to go in this yet but I found the BLISS messageboard a few months after DS came out of hospital and wished I'd known about it before, I'm sure it's still good for support: www.blissmessageboard.org.uk/index.php

Thinking of you all xxx

JW, hows things going? Your new pics are great, Katherine looks very well

Hi ladies, thanks for you posts. Been quite hectic around here!

She's now up to 2lbs. She's on 3/4 EBM to 1/4 formula to get her weight gain up.

Still on the ventilator and had her tube changed today (which I hate as it's so barbaric).

She's wriggling and jiggling around and now we can tell when she's done a poo - oh and what mightly poos come from such a small bottom But it's all great stuff.

She's such a darling and I do fret about everything but I think that is only natural.

I can see she's getting bigger but only because her selection of woolly hats are getting smaller and I can see her hair now

It's hard sometimes. I do still cry when I see her especially when a new baby comes on the unit and it's looking like a 'real' baby should...fat, big and bouncy. For a tiny tot though, she's coming along albeit slowly.

I'll keep posting on here and keep putting the pics up and hope you ladies will tell me what you think

Hi Johnworf

Thanks for the update. I have been wondering how you are doing.

Sounds like she's doing really well. It's lovely to see your photos.

Of course it's only natural to fret. That is what Mummies do best!

lovely photos thanks for sharing them

oh my goodness, she's lovely

I have no experience whatsoever in this area but I know a cutie when I see one.

Yeah she is lovely in a kind of 'old lady' looking way! J/k. Once she fills out I'm sure she'll look more baby like.

Life on NICU is very up and down. I hope none of you ladies have to go through it, and those who have will know exactly what I mean. Every little thing seems mountainous; the good days are excellent, the bad days leave you on the floor.

Of course DH is immune to all of this, each day is the same He's a bloke though and I think they see it differently to us mums.

My DD looked like a little old man for a while so maybe I like that general look

BlueBumedFly meant to add I hope your friend's baby is doing well. The first few days are the most trying and I hope LO is doing well.

Would be grateful to know his progress

Tell her to hang in there. The first few hours (not even days) were a blur to me and I felt a bit numb TBH. Everything is wrong, wrong, wrong...timing is out and head is not sure what is going on. I really hope she and her family are managing to cope. I'm 5 weeks in - almost - and I'm still up and down.

Hi Johnworf,
Just come across your thread and wanted to send you all my best wishes and positive thoughts. She's absolutely gorgeous. Don't have experience of such an early birth, but my DS was a 33 weeker and still think about those early days in SCBU. He's a big, noisy, strapping toddler now and I think you appreciate them even more after such a shaky start!! Only natural that you're still up and down. Keep your chin up for your wee fighter. Will be thinking about you.

Lovely pictures Johnworf. Have been thinking of you and little Katherine a lot.

It must be so hard when this 'limbo' stage of back and forth to the hospital goes on so long, as it will for you. DD1 was only in hospital for 3 weeks and that was hard enough, so make sure you go easy on yourself and just do what needs doing to get through the days, nothing more. I remember vividly that DH reacted to the stress of our situation by wanting to be superman, carry on completely as normal, and cook elaborate dinners (have since realised that cooking is his reaction to any crisis!) - whereas I would have been happy to spend 3 weeks eating toast if that had meant more time for talking, crying, and spending with DD1.

Hi katherine is gorgeous.

2 of mine were prems my dd1 was 9 weeks and weighed a healthy 3lb 3 and come home all fine after 12 days. My ds2 was 10 weeks prem weighing a mere 1lb 14 oz. He was in scbu for 10 weeks has had a few health problems. He is deaf but he is such a character. He'll be 6 in august and is still little for his age.

I remember how daunting i found all the machines and the technical jargin. I know it broke my heart everytime i had to leave him. I cried buckets. I was there twice a day for hours on end. I thought if im there nothing could happen to him.

So i understand exactly how you are feeling. And poor dad. I think they often get left out as everyone concentrates on the baby and mum.

I remember feeling so lonely. The nurse were fabulous but they never had time to sit and talk to me. So i hope you have someone to talk to lots. Is there a help group there at all?

Im way down in kent so i dont know whats in your area.

The pictures of you and her are great i so remember the kangaroo cuddles and i think they help enormously. I never wanted to put ds back i was aways just one more minute!.

Congratulations on katherine. Take good care of yourself though. Its extremely exhausting to toing and froing.

Have they said how much longer she will be in? They normally say their due date if alls well.

Good luck wishing her well xx

wanted to add Congratualtions.xx

Dont have any experience of a prem baby..

But my dhs cousins baby was born at 25weeks and is now a healthy 12year old.

Good luck
xx

hi johnworf
my little boy was due sep 18th (think maybe around the same time as you) and just a few weeks ago i was reading your thread amazed that katherine was born and my baby was the same size and still inside me !!
well that was not to be , because of pre eclampsia he was delivered at 27 weeks and 4 days.
He is now 11 days old so i have been reading your blog with interest.
I was too ill to go and see him (not my decision the nurses wouldnt let me) so they came down from scubu to tell me how he was
they then came back on day 3 and told me i had to get there now as he had taken a turn for the worse (did i want to ring anyone ) and when i got to scubu the consultant came over and told me he was very sorry and his heart went out to me !!
that was def the worst night of my life waiting for the news i didnt want to hear
... but 11 days later and the little man is still here, poorly but stable , he has problems with his bowels but everything else is ok.
it's amazing looking at your pictures, the little bean bag is exactly the same and all the terms and equipment is just becoming normal!!
I couldn't hold my boy for days but now am allowed cuddles every day
his bowels aren't strong enough for my milk yet but i am furiously expressing
I'm desperate to keep going so I can breast feed him myself when he is able
Is there nothing you can do about your diminishing milk?I'm worried that will happen to me.
I am a single mom so am coping on my own but i'm just so grateful he is still here that anything else seems unimportant.
Anyway just wanted to say hi and i know what you are going through!

I was wondering if there was any news about johnworf and Katherine (that's my daughter's name too - we call her Katie for short).