Any Preemies?

[kristiemcnealy]

Our middle child, now 2, was born at 31 weeks.  She is doing pretty well, but has a speech delay and some sensory issues.

-Kristie

[Tara]

I have a good friend who just had her baby girl at 32 weeks, she was 2 pounds 12 ounces. SHe said the doctors told her that everything was fine and the baby would not have any problems, just needed to gain weight to go home... I thought they couldn't tell that early though about sensory issues and other delays. Do you know? I am hoping for her that there is nothing going on but I was also really surprised.

[Aimee]

My kids were not born early (only 2 weeks early) but each of them were 5 pounds or smaller---and so they had some preemie complications-similar to being born early.  So I understand some of the issues.  However I was totally blessed, and was able to leave the hospital in 24 hrs with both my kids, they didn't need to stay in a NICU.  My oldest left the hospital weighing 4 pounds.  he technically didn't even fit in the car seat to go home!!!

[kristiemcnealy]

Tara-

I'm sorry to say this, but it is too early to tell anything for sure.  There are clues, and things that make it more likely that the baby will do fine, but you can't be sure.  My daughter didn't have a brain bleed or any major complications, but the mere fact that they are in the NICU getting poked and prodded for blood work and stuff puts them at risk for sensory issues.  Plus, there has slowly been research coming out that shows that kids like mine (and your friends) are at an increased risk for learning problems once they get to school, even if they do great up until then.  Plus, for a 32 weeker, your friends baby was quite small ( my 31 weeker was 3 pounds 15 ounces). 

-Kristie 

[Tara]

Plus, for a 32 weeker, your friends baby was quite small ( my 31 weeker was 3 pounds 15 ounces). 
-Kristie 

I know, that's why she had the emergency c-section. She went in for a checkup and they found that the baby had quit growing and fluid was drying up. Also something went wrong with the placenta- not previa, but the baby wasn't getting enough blood or nutrients. So they decided the baby would be better in the NICU than in the womb

Anyway I wanted to be optimistic for her but I just thought that seemed kind of like rose colored glasses and I didn't know if the doctor had actually said that or my friend was just saying that or what.

[My Four Blessings]

Here is hoping that everything is OK! We can always hope for the best.

My youngest was a month early. He is so far fine, but the docs had sent me to a developmental ped, just to make sure. He has done most everything early, so so far, I think we are ok...I hope!

[lonestar818]

Hope all goes well for your friend's baby, it's early to know for sure but it's amazing what modern medicine can do.  She's going to be understandably worried and going through a lot of stress, so trying to keep a positive outlook is good.  Not to say that she shouldn't take extra precautions (keeping her baby away from too many people for a little while is probably a good idea to give the immune system time to develop more fully) but if you dwell too much on everything that could possibly go wrong you'll drive yourself crazy.

My twins were born 6 1/2 weeks early, spent 22 days in the NICU.  They had TTTS which caused some health issues in addition to prematurity.  They were pretty big for being so early though, Dom was 4 lbs 1 oz and Dawson was 5 lbs 8 oz.  A lot of that was water weight though, he was really swollen due to TTTS.  When they came home from the NICU, Dom was about 5 lbs and Daws was about 6 lbs.

For the first year, they went to a dev ped, and Dawson went to a ped cardiologist to track how his heart was doing due to some issues from being premature, but that resolved on its own.  Today they are healthy 7-yr-olds.  Both have autism and sensory issues, and I used to think that might be related to the issues they had at birth, but my 3-yr-old was born 10 days past his due date w/ no complications and he has autism / sensory issues also.

[mtomecko]

Well, I think I have you all beat! LOL! I have 8 children (7 living, 1 angel). They were all born at 34 weeks. I had a set of twins in May of 07 that were born at 23 weeks... they both weighed 1 lb. 7 oz. Kenny is now 21 months old and his twin brother became an angel 2 days after he was born. Kenny has all sorts of issues from lungs to feeding...he has bilateral hearing loss and feeding problems due to being on the vent for so long. The whole story is on my blog.
I am glad there are people here who have preemies...My other children are fine now, they all basically have asthma...sometimes.
Cant wait to get to know you all. Thanks!

http://mtomecko.blogspot.com/

[Candid Carrie]

I am right on your tail, missy! 

My oldest is 27
My next oldest is 20
I've got two adopted foster kids at 14, 12
And almost adopted foster kids that are 6, 7. 

My 20 year old was a twin, his sister died age age 7. 

So, I've got six here although I've only and two pregnancies.  In fact, my birth kids are the only ones without "repeat" fathers.  The 14 and 12 are full siblings and so are the 6 and 7.  My birth are seven years apart, different fathers. 

Whew, long story to say I've got six kids.  The end. 

Oh, and we will all live happily ever after.