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.

Wow, lou, good luck to you too! I know johnworf posts on the 40+ ante-natal thread.

Hi lou. Just read your post. How are you and LO?

Thanks Ewe - will try to find the thread.

Hi Ladies,

It's been a while since I've been on this thread. My fault....bad memory..and it had disappeared from the 'threads I'm on' link so I had no chance really!

Anyway, quick update on Special K; she's doing marvellously. She's been transferred to a smaller unit closer to home as she was considered 'too well' to stay at St Mary's! They needed the bed for sicker babies, understandably. Even as she was being loaded into the mobile incubator for her trip to smaller unit, her old bed was being prepared for the next baby which had already stamped it's name on it. Wasn't even cold! But there you go, that's how it works I guess.

So, down to Katherine. She's currently around 3.7lbs. She's managing 9 hours off CPAP and 6 hours back on (ambient oxygen - usually around 28-30%). She's up to 3 hourly feeding via her NGT. Hopefully we're to start trying her with a bottle next week but staff are mindful not to overload her with too much after her move. Period of settling in has commenced

Her ROP (retinopathy of prematurity) test showed she has a slight Stage 1 which may or may not require laser surgery in the future but it may go of its own accord.

Her PDA is still apparent so she's down for another Echocardiogram in the near future to see how that's closing up. I'm hoping they're not going to say she needs ligation surgery for this and if they do I shall seek a second opinion.

I've posted photos on my profile page link as she grows. I pretty much take them every other day so hopefully you can see her progress.

Once again ladies, thanks for your comments and keep reminding me about this link as memory is shot!

JW xxxxxxxxxxxxx

So glad to hear Katherine is doing well!

I posted right at the beginning of this thread with no idea that my due-Sept baby would also turn up early - born 30th June at 31 weeks, still in SCBU but doing well for the moment (touch wood!) . He also had to be transferred (at 6 hours old) so I well understand how stressful that can be.

The pictures are beautiful, she's grown so much and she looks positively chubby in the most recent ones!

lou222 how's your lo doing? Your experience sounds really scary.

lou222 just seeing how your LO is doing. Hoping that he's pulling through.

Just wondering if his bowel problems were NEC or something else?

So glad that you are now allowed cuddles as I think it's very important for us mummies of early babies to get as much contact in as we can - we're not like the lucky mums who get to take their term babies home with them. We have to take comfort in whatever nursing staff allow us

only just found this thread. and been looking at your pics of your wee girl. so smal land precious and aqlmost up to that magical 4lb marker. i hope she continues to do well and is home with you soon.

Thanks misdee

Hoping end of August is home time. But will keep you updated on her progress.

Just seen this and looked at your beautiful pictures. Hope your little girl keeps doing marvellously well and is home with you soon.

Lou222 - hope your little boy does well too.

she's beautiful johnworf! Congratulations

Am thinking of you all with babies in SCBU. My DS was born at 31 weeks, and has just turned 5, healthy and no problems. I expressed night and day for a month, and then he did get the hang of breastfeeding and carried on for over a year, so it is possible.
Good luck to all x

Katherine had her first bottle today Guzzled the whole 10mls (a third of her feed) down in one!

Now weighing in at 3lb 10oz (as of y'day).

She's starting to cry and pull off the CPAP on the odd occasions she's back on it. She's turning into a little bugger

Yay!!!

hi all
sorry just been so so busy at the hospital with my boy but thanks for your messages

we have been having a bit of a rough time
I was told a couple of weeks ago that he had an infection, was critically ill and it was touch and go for a few days. They let me sleep at the hospital to be with him all the time
he was on morphine and antibiotics and on a ventilator
...well wonder boy pulled through and he is doing ok now
was taken off cpap just a few days ago and has had a blood transfusion and just looks alot healthier than he was.
catching up to you johnworf he is 3lb 3 and is on 20mls!!
so is katherine not being fed with a tube? that's impressive
i know you on the 40+ thread ( i have been on there along time ago so when i get chance i will pop over there aswell!!)
oh and his bowel problems are fine now - he's great at pooing!
what's nec??

Hi lou222

Glad to hear that your LO is doing brilliantly Sounds like he's been through a lot but is coming out the other end and on the up.

Katherine had her first bottle yesterday and took the lot (10mls) in one go. She's now doing 3 hourly feeds of 37mls. Hopefully the NGT will be coming out soon

She's spending longer periods off CPAP now - yesterday she did 10 hours off and 4 hours on.

NEC is necrotising enterocolitis. Doesn't sound as though your LO has had it or you would have known about it!

Hope things are now settling down for you both and you're moving forward

Katherine is weighing in at 4lb 13oz (or 2.188kilos) as of Wednesday this week.

Some new pics on my profile.

She looks great! Such a pretty little thing and she's really filled out now hasn't she?
Hope you get her home soon

johnworf - wow, she is absolutely beautiful. What a peach. (Me I'm still bulging and bulging on the September thread, I bet it seems like an age since you were over there with us, but we haven't forgotten you.)

Johnworf I'm so glad katherine's doing well - she looks amazing in the pictures, she's filled out amazingly well!

Hope you get her home soon

Wow - 4lb13oz and in a cot!!! Things are really progressing, I hope she can come home soon! She's absolutely gorgeous

(and btw she now weighs more than my DS2, who is 4lb10oz at 37 weeks gestational age, 6 weeks chronological age)

Ooh, she's beautiful! Is she a redhead?
You must be exhausted but very proud. When's she home when's she home when's she home when's she home?

Jonworf glad she is doing so well she is lovley

Thanks ladies! Yes, she's lovely but I'm biased. So glad she's started to finally look like a 'real' baby. She's even in real baby clothes now.

On the home front, she's come when she's ready. She'll be 36 weeks old tomorrow (in old money i.e. if she'd still been on the inside rather than out) so it's not long now. Slowly and bit by bit things are coming together.

Pidge thanks for keeping us in your thoughts and mention us from time to time on the September thread. Must be weird for you seeing my baby outside while you're still baking yours!

And yes, she's got red hair...at least tinge of red but def red eyebrows. DH says she's going back I rather like it myself

Just been having a peek at your beautiful daughter. Glad she is doing so well. Hope you get her home soon!

Ooh, no, redheads are gorgeous

Send dh back

Just had a look on your profile at your beautiful daughter. So pleased she's doing well xx