23 Week Babies - anyone watching?

[deemented]

About to start on bbc2 now.

My boys were prem and my friend has a 23 weeker.

Tissues at the ready.

We had it 3 times in 48 hours and I can truly say it was horrendous. Each time we had agreed that palliative care was the right thing to do the drs changed their minds. Truly awful.

We would also have agreed to withdraw treatment if the drs recommended it. Deemented you did the right thing, you know that.

I don't think I have EVER felt so grateful for having a healthy FT baby!

This is a nightmare choice though isn't it. The logical part of my brain says that money is better spent on other things - fighting cancer in children for example - rather than fighting to keep alive tiny babies with such low chances.

But these are real human beings with parents that love them....

I do. I do.

But sometimes, i wonder.

One if my twins had skin that broke easily like Matilda. He still has a scar onn his back from where there was a tiny bobble on his sheet that bore a hole into him.

How old are they now, Geepers?

Ouch. When the nurse said 'It's like killing your own child'. Please why didn't they edit that out. It's doing the best for your child, and not wanting them to suffer. Deemented I can't imagine the horror you faced. I'm so sorry for the loss of your Son.

What a lovely and compassionate Dr this man is.

What brave amazing parents

They are 13 months. Have you seen their blog? Www.twinsjoeandharry.blogspot.com. You can see very early pics of them, and pictures from now.

It makes me angry when they question these babies 'human rights' - they are babies born live ffs, why should they have any less human rights than anyone else.

I also think it's outrageous that the funding issue comes into play...'could the money be spent elsewhere? blah blah'...why can't money be spent elsewhere and in these speacial units

Matilda's parents are so calm. Feel for them so much.

But it's true, Emmanana - that is essentialy what it boils down to. Harsh as it is, but it's the truth.

*special

angry typo

I think the nurse meant that parents FEEL that they have killed their children by agreeing to withdraw treatment when that is NEVER the case.

I don't know how much my 86 year old grandad weighed when he was born, but was he told weighed 'less than a bag of sugar'. My great-grandparents were told he wouldn't survive.

Geepers - it must be so difficult to watch. And the others who have been through it. You're so brave. So sorry for what you all went through, with happy or sad outcomes, it must be so hard.

While I agree that every baby should be given a chance, I can see where Heather is coming from. She was on tv this morning, she said she had a great life whilst she was at school, friends, routine, a life, but now it's just nothing. She has no job, she won't have a family, she relies on her family for just about everything, and worries constantly about the dY when her parents aren't around.

Neice and nephew were born at 26 weeks, 21 years ago. Nephew is over 6 foot and is a quantity surveyor, niece is at uni. They were in hospital for months, weighed less than alb each when they were born.

I fear there isn't going to be a happy ending here

Heather is so mature at just 18. But her story is so sad :(

heartbreaking

Poor poor baby

geordie there are many many disabled people in the same situation as Heather, the system should support them and if it doesn't then the system has failed - but that doesn't mean that all disabled people don't deserve the chance to life IMO

Geepers - your boys are amazing!

Thanks itchynose, I certainly think so. And watching this, I appreciate more than never how lucky I have been.