Babies born prematurely - help :-)
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Topic: Babies born prematurely - help :-)
Posted By: ginger
Subject: Babies born prematurely - help :-)
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 7:47pm
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No, don't worry - Cuinn is currently using my uterus as a trampoline, happy as a clam, as I attempt to sit here and type while his feet miss my bladder only occasionally. This is for my niece.
My brother's partner is going to be delivering my niece in the coming weeks, and baby will be arriving possibly as early as 24 weeks although we're all praying that we can stretch her out for as long as possible. Mum is the one in danger - baby is quite happy. Baby will be delivered at Auckland hospital (they are Tauranga based, but will be transferred when the time comes) - would they be transferred to Starship? I don't know if Starship has an ICU for babies. Also, do they wear clothing in the incubators? If so, just hats and booties, or little jackets as well? We've (well Mum has) done research on the types of wools suitable, it's just a case of being prepared with what the baby may need. What else ... Oh, how long do babies tend to stay in hospital when born that premature? I think those were my big questions, but if there is something really obvious I have missed, I'd really appreciate any feedback. Mum will be delivering by c/s if that has any bearing. Thanks so much. ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Replies:
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 7:51pm
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Sorry I have nothing to say that can help to answer your questions, I just wanted to say that I wish them all the best and hope that everything goes well for them. And also 30 weeks - wow time has gone fast, soon it will be your turn -------------  
 
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 7:53pm
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Ginger - I have emailed my brother as his little boy was born at 30 weeks (weighing 500gms) - will post as soon as I get a reply. In their case it was Mum that was in danger too - she had HELLP syndrome, which was only discovered by accident (she thought she had indigestion)...and it was all pretty scary and rushed.
------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:05pm
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i think you'll find they wont fit much and the hospital will have all they need in the beginning...
hope they manage to keep him in as long as possible... ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:06pm
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ooo I hope she manages to hold on past 30 weeks.
As far as I know, while bubs is in the hospital all nappies and clothing is covered by the hospital and they will only need to bring going home clothes with them - but that may be sometime in the future if she delivers that early. -------------  |
Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:08pm
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Hiya Ginger
Is there a reason baby is being delivered in Auckland? as Tauranga usually comes under Waikato Hospital. Middlemore is where the NICU is. Waikato have one also. Baby won't need any clothes for a few months as s/he will have too many tubes and wires to start with and the nurses need to be able to see baby's chest to observe his/her breathing. At 24 weeks Baby will be on a ventilator (breathing machine) which will do all the breathing for him/her as his/her lungs won't be developed enough to breathe on his/her own just yet. Baby will have steroids to mature his/her lungs before birth. Obviously the long baby can stay in utero the better. We tends to say to parents aimed to be home by your due date but with a 24weekers they are much more risk of complications that can put them back several weeks. It's a very rocky road the NICU journey so your Brother and his sister are going to need loads of support. And despite everything don't forget to say congratulations! A nice present is a journal that Mum and Dad can write in or a special blanket for when bubby is well enough for cuddles. Feel free to ask any more questions  -------------  
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:10pm
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All the best for your brother and of course his little one. 24wks is so so early but modern medicine is truly amazing!
Ashleigh was born at 26wks. We were told that 26wkrs have an 80% chance of survival. I'm not sure what the figures are for earlier gestations. Baby will be delivered at Auckland hospital (they are Tauranga based, but will be transferred when the time comes) - would they be transferred to Starship? I don't know if Starship has an ICU for babies. Not 100% sure but I think it would be Auckland Hospital NICU. Also, do they wear clothing in the incubators? If so, just hats and booties, or little jackets as well? When first born bubs will either be intubated if she isn't breathing on her own - or put on CPAP. When on CPAP they normally wear hospital hats as the CPAP tubing is pinned to the hat to stop it moving. And they only wear a nappy, no other clothing. Ashleigh didn't start to wear clothing until she was around 33/34 wks and was moved into a cot when she could maintain her own temp. Oh, how long do babies tend to stay in hospital when born that premature? The "rule" is they stay until around their due date. But that varies greatly depending on each child. The earliest is 36wks (from memory), 2kg and obviously feeding well. But then there were babies in NICU when we were there that were 8 months old and still on oxygen. Ashleigh was discharged at 37wks. Hope I answered some of your questions. Feel free to ask away if you have anymore ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:11pm
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Mrs B - which hospital do you work in? ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:13pm
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Waikato -------------
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Posted By: KH25
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:15pm
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Oh cool - well, in the nicest possible way, I hope I don't meet you when I have my next bubs seeing we live in the Waikato now lol!!!! ------------- Kelly, mum to DD, 19Jun06 (26wks 1lb15oz) DS1, 24Oct10 (32wks 4lb11oz) and DS2, 31Dec11 (32wks, 4lb11) http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mrs_B
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:18pm
Hope never to meet you either 
How is your bubby doing now?
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:40pm
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Hi Ginger - if she is transferred to Auckland then bubs will be in NICU which is on the same floor (not in Starship). My wee nephew only wore a hat and booties the whole time he was in the incubator - my nana was knitting them based on teddy bear clothes sizes. My nephew was in for the incubator for month. I think that Kelly and MrsB have answered all of your questions! Sending lots of good vibes though. They are a fantastic team up at NICU at Auckland, with some amazing clinicians and nurses, they will be in very good hands.
------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 8:55pm
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Thanks so much for your help/input everyone.
Mum has one kidney which is a donor kidney and there have been issues associated with that throughout the pregnancy, but now the kidney function is starting to deteriorate (sp?) too much, so that plan is for Mum to hold on as long as possible and everyone to keep everything crossed that she makes it through the next 4 weeks, or longer. She's just gone 20 weeks (exactly 10 weeks behind us). They're not panicking yet, just stepping up monitoring, but I think it's got more to do with Mum that they may end up in Akl. I didn't realise there was a NICU at Middlemore - that would make life a lot easier ... well, easier than it would otherwise be as we are in Manurewa and family and Dad would be based from our home. Plus of course, it's a shorter drive for my porky self 
Kelly - thanks for that re the clothing. I might tell Ma that the best thing is to keep her knitting needles smoking in our direction for the moment
I figured they'd be in hospital for a while, but it's good to know the general rule. Poor Mum said to me tonight did I think that baby would be about 3lbs if born at 24 weeks  I think she had kittens a bit when I said no ... Cuinn is a porker and he was 2lbs 11oz at 28 weeks approx. 500grams Simsam is 
Mrs_B - I was thinking that a Cocooi wrap would be a good idea. We got one for Cuinn and I thought it might be the most practical thing for baby for a wee while. (For later, I gave my brother a daddy bag too, although he couldn't understand why it had so many pockets He'll work it out!)
For now, I think we just keep things crossed. Mum is determined to make it to 30 weeks, and she's that blimmin rock headed, she may just do it. But, where the mind is willing sometimes ... so I just want to be a bit prepared to offer the best support I can. Thanks everyone!! ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: MrsMojo
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 9:08pm
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I have nothing to add except they'll be in my thoughts and prayers. Good on you and your family for preparing yourselves. -------------  
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 11 November 2008 at 10:34pm
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So sorry to hear Ginger, I'll keep my fingers crossed that Mum and bubs both stay well for a lot longer yet. My thoughts and prayers to them.
I stumbled across http://www.trademe.co.nz/Crafts/Knitting-Weaving/Patterns/auction-187160810.htm - this today whilst trawling through $1 reserves in a fit of boredom, maybe your mum could do a few of them? ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: ginger
Date Posted: 12 November 2008 at 4:31pm
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I said to my brother last night that his partner is so pig-headed stubborn that baby isn't coming out that she'll probably go overdue
Obviously, she so won't, but I think that while she can keep focussed on the long term she is relaxed about the dangers in the short and that will go a long way in the next few weeks. ------------- Cuinn Lachlan 23.1.09 - 22:00 Antonia Helene 4.8.11 - 09:41 |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 12 November 2008 at 4:52pm
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Will be thinking of you all
I know my aunty knitted this cool wee wrap for my cousin's baby that they use in the NICU down here (when they get a bit bigger obviously). Have no idea what the name is but you could google it. |
Posted By: nictoddie
Date Posted: 12 November 2008 at 5:41pm
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Hey there, sorry to hear about your sis in law ginger , having a premmie is a blessing but also very scary.
My Makayla was born at 30 weeks probs from 24 weeks, she was 3lb1oz and I have big bubs, my first was born over due at 10lb6oz and this one was at 3lb at 27 weeks. She was in hospital till 36 weeks and was only in clothing and a cot at 35 weeks, they pretty much only wear hats and booties like someone else said while in the incubator. It's an amazing journey with lots of trials along the way depending on the gestation they are born at, neo and scbu units and staff are just simply amazing and are the light at your never ending tunnell so they will be well cared for. I hope and pray she can get further along than what they have been told as it does cut the journey short the longer they stay inside, the rule of thumb tends to be feeding and holding temp not ness in hospital till their due date. ------------- 
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