My precious little princess has arrived..

Hi all, yes you read it right, I have had my precious little bundle!!! Ashleigh Grace arrived on Monday at 12.23am, weighing a whopping 890 grams (just under 2 pounds) and 34.5 cm long. Delivered at 26 weeks gestation. She is doing really really well in Neonatal and breathing on her own which is really good. She is so tiny but just so perfect. I was only discharged this evening and it is quite upsetting to come home without her but I know she is in the best possible place with amazing staff. She will have to stay in Neonatal for around 3 months give or take so it is going to be very trying for us and I obviously won't be around much but will pop in when I can!

So anyway i was complaining on Thursday about having "braxton hicks" which weren't at all! My midwife told me to meet her at Middlemore and they examined me (I was 3cm dilated) and scanned me and she was head down and very very low. To cut a long story short, they pumped me full of drugs to try and stop the labour and also gave me steriods to help her lungs develop. I basically laboured right through the weekend, going down to delivery 3 times before there was no stopping her on Monday. Very painful - couldn't imagine giving birth to a 10 pounder!!!!

Well have to go and express now

Awwwww Kelly
Hope Ashleigh grows to be a big, strong healthy kid!
I don't know anything about Neonatal but breathing on her own is a huge feat! (my friends baby was born at 28wks gest. and had oxygen for 3 weeks)
All the best for the coming weeks and if you need to talk you know where we are!!

Awwwww congratulations on your very early arrival.

The team at middlemore are awesome. A few years ago my sister's gave birth prematurely I think it was earlier then your 26/27 weeks. She was so tiny and so perfect. Sadly, she became one of God's Angels at 2 days old. But we know that she's in a better place and that she is watching from heaven, and strangely enough family members have had dreams about her over the years, so we even know what she'd look like if she was older (well what she'd look like at around 7). In this day premature babies have a much higher chance of surviving and I'm sure you're little girl will be a fighter. Just remember we are all here for you, and you, baby and your family are in our prayers.

Kia Kaha

oh wow how scary for you guys and exciting to have your baby here. Do they know why you went into prem labour? I really know what you mean about leaving your baby at the hospital, its not the way things are suppose to happen but yeah she is in the best possible care. I remember driving home from the hospital with no baby in my tummy or in the car and thinking how strange it felt and wrong too. And they look so helpless in the incubators, I remember the nurse hitting kobes head as she put him back in and i just about punched her. My stepbrother had a wee boy at 26 weeks and you wouldnt even know it, he is now 4 and is not slow in developement or anything just a little smaller. Good luck with everything, it will no doubt be a rocky road for a while but totally worth it. Keep us up to date when you can.

Oh wow! Congratulations! All the best for the next few months

Wow. What a stunning post ! I wondered where you'd gone, figured you were busy with other things, but didn't cross my mind straight away you might've gone into labour ! Congrats on your wee girl though, so glad to hear she is breathing on her own, and lots of for you both - I am sure she will pull through just fine. I'm curious too though, in a good way (?), as to why you went into labour so early? Regardless, glad you both came through it!

oh my goodness Kelly, Congratulations and welcome wee Ashleigh! Wow you have a little fighter there, she sounds like she is doing really well! You take care and big hugs.

Congratulations on the arrival of your baby girl - I am sure that Ashleigh will be well looked after in Neonatal

Thanks all, just about to head off to the hospital.

No they aren't sure why she arrived early, they did the usual tests to see if I had any infections or anything but everything came back clear. They have sent the placenta off aswell but I just have a feeling that I won't get any answers and it will be "one of those things"!

Marlene, yes she is on CPAP (breathing aide) and they were giving her 1ml every 6 hours but she was spitting up a little when I left last night so they may have to stop that for a little while!

Anyway have to go express again and then leave! Thanks for all your good wishes, its great to have support from you guys!

Wow! (seems to be the common sentiment here, but it's appropriate!) Congratulations Kelly on the safe arrival of your little princess!
Welcome to the world, Ashleigh!