Friday, September 24, 2010

A Question For Readers About Early Babes

If you had a premature delivery, can you tell me how everything went....steriods or not, hospital time and for how long, size of baby and how far along you were in pregnancy as well as vag/section. I am really dilating and trying to be careful as I feel like my body is a time bomb. I am miserably uncomfortable, but I do not wish to have Jesse quite yet as he is obviously not cooked. I am scared he will have so much NICU time and I would be devastated. Each day I keep him in at this point helps me to feel that much better, but I feel almost certain we wont make it to the projected induction around the 20th of Oct. I am contracting so much and I just know my body is reaching a point of major irritability with the pregnancy. I can't explain it, but somehow I feel deeply that my body is trying to end this pregnancy very shortly. I don't think I am going to last much longer. I want as many stories as I can get...all the gory details! I get steriods for his lungs next week @33 weeks on the dot and I am PRAYING like crazy to AT least hold out til then if not another week beyond that.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

why has your dr. not put you on bedrest?

I can't offer any advice on premature delivery, but am praying your little one stays put until the 20th:)

Kat M said...

With my 5th baby (have 6 now), I started getting contractions around 30 weeks or so, if I was on my feet for more than 5 minutes at a time. If I had to keep bending down to clean/pick up, it was only a minute or two before they would start. I put myself on restricted activity. My Dr. told me not to do stuff that gave me contractions and almost everything did.
I ended up getting 4 teenage girls to come help me (they were homeschooled). It was one of the hardest times in my life to let go and sit on my rear and let other people take care of the house and kids.
Thankfully my son made it to 36 weeks 6 days. He was born via emergency csection because he was transverse and I was 10cm when I got to the hospital. He had to be taken care of for a while because he had fluid in his lungs (the whole csection baby thing) but I finally got to hold him about 8 hrs after birth.
My contractions started around the same time with baby #6 and I didn't take it as easy, but my MIL came and I was able to hold on to the baby until 36 weeks 5 days and I got my VBAC. He was a small but healthy baby.

Please try to get some help around the house...or even let your house go. Your baby's health is so important and it is not something you can ever take back. You can get your house in order after the baby is born. Do everything you can to take it easy and keep Jesse cooking. I hope everything goes well.

Anonymous said...

Hi! I just thought that I'd drop you a note because I've had all of my babies early. All 4 of them! My first was at 37 weeks and healthy. Second was 26 weeks and healthy. Third was 35 weeks and healthy, but did have to be in the NICU because of his gestation. My fourth was born 1 year ago and I had began contracting at 30 weeks. I was flown to the hospital in the cities and was given the steroid shots for his lungs. I was on moderate bedrest until 36 weeks and 4 days and he was born healthy as a horse! I can't remember where you're at in your pregnancy, but everything will be fine! All of our "earlybirds" weiged in at 6 pounds 5 ounces....except for our earliest baby at 6 pounds 7 ounces! If you have any more questions, dont' hesitate to contact me!
Nicki
daveandnickiskids.blogspot.com
nickiordave@live.com

Jenn said...

Hi Janis,
I had my triplets at 34 weeks, 5 days. Yes they were triplets, so a bit of a different situation, but they were still preemies, and could be comparable to if you have your single baby a week or 2 earlier.
I did NOT have steriods for their lungs, as my Dr said that after a certain point, steriods won't make any difference.
I had one girl and 2 boys. My little girls was 4lbs 0.5ozs, and my boys were 4lbs 2.5ozs, and 4lbs 7ozs. My little girl was perfect, never needed an IV, oxygen, NOTHING!! She was in the NICU simply for her size, and because she was a triplet. My biggest boy (4lb 7ozs) had the most problems. He was born with a pneumothorax (sp)which is basically a whole in the lung. It is VERY common in preemies, and will usually heal on it's own.
My girl and healthier boy were in the NICU for 10 days, and my sicker boy was in for 18 days. I know that doesn't sound like a lot of time, but it was honestly the longest 18 days of my life. I am not trying to scare you, just keeping it real! I *thought* I was prepared, since I was having triplets, and I KNEW they would be in the NICU, but I still was not prepared for how empty I would feel leaving the hospital without my babies.
I have to run now and get the kids lunch, but if you have ANY more questions, PLEASE feel free to email me and I will answer as best I can! Good luck, and TRY to keep that baby cooking!! :)
Jenn (gjbegg@telus.net)

Farmer Mama said...

Thank you for the stories. Its helpful to put it in perspective. As for why I am not on actual bedrest.....havent seen my dr in 6weeks. He has been gone for this and that so I have seen other drs and a midwife in his office who are all so non chalent. I only know I am dilated because I learned to check myself with my second baby. I see my dr on wednesday this coming week so we will see what he says and my guess is it will be some form of bedrest??? I have put myself on very restricted activity for now. I am 32 weeks and 2 days today so I still need Jesse to stay put a while

Tuff Family said...

Well, all my babies were early...35-36 weeks...I had to do med's and bed rest..I was always told I was high risk. Going to the dr. was always stressful for me because all the fuss they would do over me...Then my husband and I decided we were going to totally trust God , pray and let him have total control over pregnancy #7. We got a mid wife and we planned on a homebirth even though the dr.s and medical community warned me that I could never have a homebirth...My mid wife was great and I loved going every month to see her, I had no problems, and I delivered #7 2 days past my due date, that is a miracle...All about trusting God.. He is in control, I just needed to have the faith...
I will pray for you, Heidi

Farmer Mama said...

Heidi, that is amazing. I too am trying not to stress and have asked Heavenly Father that if he sees fit for Jesse to come out, just to let him be ready to come and equipped. I pray this daily several times a day. So were all your 35-36 weekers ok or did any spend NICU time?

Show Us The World said...

Three of mine were born at 36 weeks, after weeks of being on bedrest. All were almost seven pounds and healthy. I delivered them all vaginally with no meds so no complications there.

I have a niece and nephew that were born much earlier and spent time in the NICU. If you can make it to 36 weeks, it will up the odds of no risks/healthy baby .

My last one I went full term, but was dilating very early on. I was dilated to FOUR for two weeks before he decided to make his appearance. (He's still my strong-willed one!) I had visions of his head popping out while I was walking around somewhere, lol.

I stayed down as much as possible to slow down the contractions and when it came time to deliver it was a very fast and easy delivery so I think all the dilating/contracting helped out some.

It is a scary thing when you are going through it though so I feel for you.

Tuff Family said...

Yes, my son (#4) was in the nicu with immature lungs..He was born at 36 weeks and weighed 6lbs, all the staff were very surprised that he had immature lungs...He is a happy and full of energy 7 yr. old boy...My daughter(#6) was in the nicu but just for monitoring...she is now 5 yrs.old...I am still amazed that I had # 7 baby 2 days past my due date..My family still talks about it and the stand we made to trust the Lord...You can read all about it on my blog, but its private so I would need to send you a invite....
Blessings, Heidi

Michelle said...

My kids are adopted and neither had any prenatal care but they guesstimate that DS was born at 36 weeks and DD was born at 34 weeks. Neither baby needed any interventions. DS was released a day and a half after birth. DD was held in the hospital for 5 days for 2 reasons, the hospital adoption policies sucked and they were concerned because she was jaundice (after getting the paperwork the numbers were even lower than the ones DS was able to come home with so really I think it was just an excuse to hold her because of the stupid adoption policies they had in place).

Brenda said...

I had my last boy at 36 weeks and I didn't get steroids. He was PERFECTLY healthy. He was small (5lbs 12oz) but other than a little jaundice, he was perfect and came home with me.

Hugs and Prayers that Jesse stays in a while longer and that your body can cope.

Best Wishes!!

gretchen said...

Janis,
I had one of mine at 36 weeks with no problems. 2 were born at 37 weeks with immature lungs and each stayed in the nicu,one on a ventilator and the other on cpap for a week. I am expecting my 10th baby next month.