My Preemie

Amy,

I completely understand where you are coming from with the events of the NICU. It is one of the hardest things I have experienced. Our daughter was born 18 months ago at 25 weeks and 5 days. The doctor was not confident she would make it due to her being so early but she did. She is a fighter. Remember that everytime he takes a step backward it is just like when your older son was learning to walk and he would fall down and crawl before walking again. It is a process of training the body what to do. Sara was on the vent for about a week total and was on high flow nasal canula for about 3 weeks and I didn't think that would ever go away. She then moved to a regular canula and was in the hospital for another 2 months roughly before she came off of the oxygen. It took her a while to learn how to breath and drink at the same time also. Like I said Sara is now 18 months old and has just started walking, we can see her mind working when it comes to trying to talk, though nothing is coming out really yet. She is VERY intelligent and according to the NeoNatologist she doesn't even act/look like a premie. Miracles happen everyday and most of the time we miss them because we don't notice them. Seek happiness and patience in knowing that you are holding a complete miracle! If you ever need to or what to talk through things I am glad to talk. We went through our share of back steps like when she had to go back on the vent after being off for 3 days due to her lung collapsing. And just as she was going to be going home she got a virus and ended up in isolation and IVs and everything everywhere. It WILL be okay. Remember, and it is hard to do I know, to do something for you. It IS okay to take a day off from the hospital and just call and check in or to not spend as much time there as normal. If you don't take care of yourself then neither boy will have you to take care of them.

You are an amazing mom and you CAN DO THIS! Things will get easier and each day is a GIFT and just stay focused on the now each day. Celebrate Liam's strenght and courage each and every day. Even when you are tired and frusturated, just take a moment to look at him and feast in the joy that he is. Bless you all!

Amy,
Our little girl was born at 34 weeks. She spent 6 weeks in the NICU and at the time I thought it was the hardest thing ever. We had lots of gains, and even more setbacks, and a lot of crying (from me). I just gave birth to my second child 4 weeks ago. She is full term and very healthy. Looking back though I realize that I am closer to my preemie daughter b/c we had so much quiet one on one time together in the NICU. So look at the positive, there is no laundry, tv, dishes, ect to get between you and your baby while he is in there, it is not much, but keep your spirits up....it will happen!

I've had 2 preemies both girls. #1 was 33weeker and #2 was 34 weeker. Neither needed oxygen thank God! But..both had bad jaundice, struggled to eat, and so forth.

I'm going to tell you this though preemies are extremely difficult to breastfeed. I tried my butt off and never was successful. Mostly do to being preemies they just weren't interested to much work. Girl#1 spent 15 days in the special care nursery and Girl#2 spent 10 days in the special care nursery. They would have got out a few days earlier if I would have just bottle fed from the get go. Because I wanted to breastfeed and my daughter's both didn't sucessfully breastfeed they stayed longer I finally said screw this gimme a bottle I'll pump my milk and they sucked those bottles down like no tomorrow and came home quicker once on a bottle. If you really want your son home ASAP just concentrate on bottle feeding and introduce the breast at home when he's a little stronger. If you are adament on breastfeeding then keep plugging away but your baby may stay in the NICU longer.

I had both my girls at Abbott Northwestern and they were both over at Children's. We spent so many hours traveling back and forth and visiting it is and get's so time consuming. Both my girls caught up fast with size and with development. Just hang in there he'll be home sooner than later and he was lucky to be born at 34 weeks seriously they dodge alot of problems after they hit 32-33 weeks. My nephew was 1 lb. he was a 26 weeker and had to hang on for life to survive.

My girls are now 8yrs.old and 10mos.old both are doing absolutely wonderful, healthy and happy. The only thing we run into is wheezing ashtma like symptoms in the winter with colds otherwise HEALTHY like horses.

That is great that you have been able to breastfeed. Liam needs your love and encouragement which is what you're doing. He will be home soon. My son was born at 35 weeks and was not in the NICU but he did have some lung problems. He was on oxygen for the first hour of his life and we had some trouble breastfeeding. He's now 5 years old and starting school on Friday. It is tough when they are so small but it get easier. He does still have some lung problems such as asthma that is cold and allergy induced. We have been to the doctor several times with pneumonia and bronchtis. But as he's gotten older we have visited the doctor less and less.

Congratulations on the birth of your son. I am sorry things are not what you expected. I had my oldest daughter at 33 weeks and she was in the NICU for 3 1/2 weeks. I am not sure what hospital you are at but I would use the nurses/docs there as your resources as much as you can. Does he have lung disease or just immature lungs? My daughter had hylaine membrane disease, also known as resp. distress syndrome. She is great now. She will be 7 in a few weeks. Good luck