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Premature birth

Connect with others and find premature birth support.

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Original poster

34 weeker with IUGR

16 replies

Bobo23 · 09/01/2009 19:12

Our baby was born last saturday at 34 weeks with IUGR which meant he only weighed 2lb 12 oz...

He is an amazing little boy and seems to be doing well. I managed to express loads of milk but frustratingly they have to feed him very slowly and increase the amount he eats really gradually to stop him getting NEC.

Me and OH are doing ok but tonight it got a bit overwhelming leaving him in a plastic box whilst we went home. It feels like its going to be a really long haul and I'm also terrified that he's going to suffer long term consequences from this...

Can't wait to have him home so we can hold him whenever we want instead of just an hour a day...

OP posts:

MilkyChopsKid · 09/01/2009 20:38

DD was born over a year ago at 35 weeks with IUGR, her weight and height have caught up. We were worried about the long term consequences, there are none!

DD was in hospital for just over two weeks so it won't be long for you hopefully! Your DS just needs to start sucking and maintaining his temperature.

Good luck, it is difficult with a baby in SCBU but I'm sure he will be home soon.

MilkyChopsKid · 09/01/2009 20:38

Oh and congratulations as well!

Slickbird · 09/01/2009 22:05

What is IUGR? Wishing you all the best for you both and you're wee bubba chubba. xxxx

JumpingJellyfish · 10/01/2009 21:14

Just wanted to say a huge Congrats on your little boy's birth! I know too well how horrible it feels having a baby in SCBU, and it is a long and rocky road ahead, but in spite of his size his gestation is good- how's his breathing? My son was born at 30 wks, but weighed 3lb, he was in hospital for 8 weeks and it was such a hard time- but saying that he is now 3.8yrs old and no one would ever guess his start in life (see my profile pics)

The gradual increase in feeds in hard at times to witness but it's definitely for the best- well done with the expressing (I felt at times like a dairy cow, strapped to the pump for 4 months before DS finally took to breastfeeding properly!).

I found the Bliss messageboard a great source of support (and their pamphlets too on the main website)

Good luck thinking of you all lots xx

JumpingJellyfish · 10/01/2009 21:15

PS. Slickbird- IUGR is IntraUterine Growth Retardation - basically the baby hasn't grown as fast as normal so is small for dates- usually due to some sort of placental problem and often found in mums who have pre-eclampsia

JumpingJellyfish · 10/01/2009 21:15

trixiethepixie · 12/01/2009 14:13

Congratulations on the birth of your son bobo. My ds was also born at 34 weeks at 2lb 7 because of IUGR. He spent 3 1/2 weeks in SCBU and got out before his due date. It was totally heartbreaking leaving the hospital and him behind. I cried the whole way home. Most hospitals have a size they have to get to before they think of discharging - ours was 4lb 10 and of course as mck says feeding well and maintaining temperature.

We lived for the little achievements - off oxygen, out of NICU, every oz he put on, increased feeds, coming off the monitors, out of the incubator and into the open cot.

Well done for expressing. It's totally exhausting to do as well as the daily trips up to the hospital. Are they adding human milk fortifier to it?

My ds is now 15 months uncorrected and his weight has caught up to average although length wise he still is slightly smaller than average. Developmentally he was a bit slower than other babies with his gross motor skills but it was more of a case of the mind was willing but the body wasn't able. He got there in the end though. It usually takes prem babies up to 2 years to fully catch up with their peers and I was told to correct his age in my own head developmentally to the size he was born at (was born at 34 weeks but the size of a 29 wker). Intelligence wise there seems to be no problems as he recently went for a Baileys test and surprised me with some of the stuff he could do.

All the very best to you and your son. Before you know it he will be home xx

Jenbot · 12/01/2009 18:58

Comgratulations! It seems like forever when your baby is in SCBU, and it is so horrible leaving them behind at nights.
It won't be forever though, honest - and one day what you're going through now will seem like an age ago.
Good luck - does your hospital have a parent group?

weepootleflump · 12/01/2009 19:15

I really feel for you Bobo, dd2 was born in dec at 38 weeks with IUGR and weighed 3lb 14oz.

I was really lucky that I managed to stay in hospital for the 9 days that she was in NICU as I was bfing. Also, we got to take her home when she was only 1.8kg as she had been born at term, so although small- fully developed/mature.

All the best, hope he is home with you soon. x

violethill · 12/01/2009 22:57

My dd was born at 35 weeks with IUGR, weighing 3lb 3oz. She was in NICU for a month. It's a rollercoaster of a time, go easy on yourself. DD is still quite petite (teenager now!) but perfect!

Trixie describes it well - prems usually take a while to meet their milestones so may be a little later than average with sitting/walking etc but they catch up.

Aw - reading your post has brought back memories.

Original poster

Bobo23 · 13/01/2009 16:05

Thanks everyone - he's doing well but the slow feeding is soo frustrating. I just have to keep reminding myself that he's doing really well physically (not on any drugs, oxygen, digestion seems fine) and that he may be tiny but he will grow really soon! By tonight he'll be exclusively drinking my milk which is a good thing cos I'm expressing a litre a day!

OP posts:

MilkyChopsKid · 18/01/2009 21:11

That's great news that your son is doing so well Bobo23, how are you and OH?

Our daughter was slow to feed, it is frustrating when you want them to gain weight quickly so that they can come home soon. It wasn't until a couple of weeks after DD came home that she stayed awake enough to take lots of milk. Things do change quickly but I know how impatient one can feel!

Original poster

Bobo23 · 19/01/2009 10:50

Welll he's doing ok! I've started trying to breastfeed... he has the right idea but is having difficulty latching on.....

Me and OH are doing ok - It sounds awfully selfish but the thing that is wearing us down is schlepping up to the hospital twice a day...

OP posts:

debs05 · 23/01/2009 22:50

Just had to post this, my first born son Oscar was born July 1993 at 33 weeks weighing 3lbs 1oz. Hes now nearly 16, had no problems is at Grammar School and I thinks thanks to steroids is very well endowed in the willy department!. Cant believe I ever went through want youve been through but I had 5 children in total and never had another premature baby. Good luck and best wishes

Original poster

Bobo23 · 28/01/2009 16:33

latest update! He's latching on! Yay for breastfeeding premature babies. Its so amazing!

Me and OH were really anxious about his weight last week but the consultant persuaded us that he should only have breastmilk - not fortifier. Anyway he was right cos he's now putting on a respectable 52 g every two days.

OP posts:

violethill · 08/02/2009 11:28

That's so good to hear Bobo!

Btw, my IUGR was middle child, first and third absolutely textbook pregnancies and births - just thought it may help to know that. The docs had no idea why, I had no problems with blood pressure, didn't smoke or drink etc.
The docs said it often is a 'one-off', just one of those things, very worrying but doesn't mean it'll happen again.

Thank goodness for the technology these days to identify the problem and then take care of our special babies during their early weeks

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