Delivered my 24w6d son 2 weeks ago ...

My pregnancy was expected to be complicated ... Cerclage placed at 15 weeks ... home bedrest followed by hospital bedrest due to PPROM at 21 weeks.

The weekly sonograms said that I was increasing in fluid volume going from a 4 ... to 9 ... to 11! However, the following evening my waters really broke! Thankfully, I had already received the 2 steroid shots.

A week later at 4AM I awoke to something more than Braxton-Hicks! The nurses moved a little slow for me and I wasn't able to partake of pain medication. I had doctors shoving all kinds of forms and consents in my face for a c-section ... thankfully, he was in the head down position and I was able to escape that fate. Our only issue was the removal of the freakin cerclage!

Babies come when babies come ... they didn't have the chance to remove the stitch and I was able to deliver my son with no problems. He came into the world breathing on his on making the tiniest little squawk ... only then was I able to exhale. There is something magical about hearing the first cry!

Of course he was whisked off to the NICU but I did get a quick glance at him. I'm not new to the NICU experience but I am new to this level of prematurity and am looking for other parents in the same/similar situation for support and encouragement.

By Birdie8fish
Posted June 10, 2008 at 3:53 pm
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Congrats on your lil man. May he continue to do so well. I havent had one that early, my last one was a 29wker. I have been having complications w/ this pregnancy since 10wks, not sure how far along I'll get. I wish you and your family the best!!!!
Mel

By caldwell0805
Posted June 10, 2008 at 4:22 pm
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Congrats of you new son! That's great that he was able to breathe and make a little noise! My babies were born at 24 wks 5 days and I was only able to get one shot of steroids before they were born. My best advice is to pray and try to stay positive. After more than 100 days, my babies came home on oxygen and with apnea monitors. But they never made a return trip to the hospital and today they are doing really well. They will soon be one year old, almost 8 mo corrected! If you ever want to chat, send me an email...
caldwell0805@sssnet.com
Best wishes to you and your family,
Ginger

By drakesmom
Posted June 10, 2008 at 4:33 pm
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Congratulations on youe little guy. My son was also born at exactly 24w6d on 6/27/07. It is great your son is breathing on his own. The shots definitely help my son unfortunately did not get the benefit from them. I got the first shot at about 2 in the afternoon and he was born at 6:45 that evening due to severe preeclampsia and HELLP. He was on the vent for almost 3 months, no brain bleeds, PDA that closed with meds, a couple scares of NEC ( all treated medically no surgery), several infections, anemia, ROP Stage II ( had surgery on both eyes), and bilateral hernia repair. He came home after 130 days. He will be a year old this month and is 11 lb 15 oz and 24 in. He is still on very little O2 and apnea monitor. His fine motor skills are caught up to his adjusted age. He is more delayed in his gross motor. He gets PT once a week he is still not sitting up or crawling. He will be getting glasses soon and has some feeding difficulties. But overall he is doing great for how premature he was. I know you will hear over and over again that it is a roller coaster ride and it is definitely true. Good luck and I hope he continues to do well. If you need to talk feel free to email me: gsp143@hotmail.com

By scottj
Posted June 11, 2008 at 6:01 am
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Congratulations on the birth of your son. My first son, Nate was born at 25 weeks on April 8 ,2005. He spent 100 days in the NICU, came home on oxygen and a monitor so it was a very long road but now he is 3 and doing great. It is a long rollercoaster but I hope all goes well for your son and your family. God bless.

By Feistylioness78
Posted June 11, 2008 at 6:41 am
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My surviving triplet boys were born and 26.5 weeks in November. One came home in feb and the other is still in the NICU. I know the whole NICU experience. The boy at home has a VP shunt due to brain bleeds and the one in the hospital has a trach. Feel free to contact me. I hope he does well and breezes through.

By Alexis_and_Zoes_Mom
Posted June 11, 2008 at 7:31 am
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Hi there. I noticed your post right away because I have twin girls who were born at 24w6d. They are now 5 1/2 weeks old and doing very well. Would love to talk. Feel free to email me at sthompson@monroecc.edu

Susan

By wikkedlilgrrl
Posted June 11, 2008 at 1:17 pm
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Thank you so much for your well wishes! There can never be too many prayers and positive vibes!

Today (and last night) was a rough night for me (and Zephan) so your thoughts and prayers mean so much.

Please keep in touch ...

All my best to you, your precious baby and family!

By Owen24weeks
Posted June 11, 2008 at 2:37 pm
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My son was born at 24 weeks 5d. He weighed 1 lb 12oz. Unfortunately, my labor and delivery were both so quick, there was not time for steroids.

There were many days in the NICU where I felt like things would never get better and they only seemed to get worse. But, slowly, he got stronger and healthier. He spent 111 days in the NICU and was finally released without oxygen or monitors.

He is now a happy, healthy three year old and his first weeks are only sad, difficult memories.

Get support from those around you that are able to give it and focus on your baby.

By mercie67
Posted June 12, 2008 at 9:09 am
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Best wishes to you, your son, and your family. What an experience it is with a preemie and every child has their own journey to travel. We have been so blessed by our wonder. I spent 5 weeks on bedrest starting at week 20, had my water break at 25 weeks, and was in the hospital for 10 more days before she decided it was time to enter the world. She was born at 26.5 weeks weighing 1 lb. 12 oz. I never imagined when I saw how small she was that she would progress as she has. I had steriod shots at 24 weeks and I think they helped. She was in the NICU 60 days and had few complications.

She just had her 1 year birthday (~9 months adjusted) and weighs just over 21 lbs. crawling and babbling up a storm. I thank God for her every day - she is a miracle. Take courage, give yourself a break when you need to, and as others have stated, lean on everyone around you.

By IanMommy
Posted June 13, 2008 at 10:10 am
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My son is a 25weeker we spent 150 or so days in the nicu. He is 19 mths now and doing pretty well. Meds are just flowvent for his lung issues plus inhaler. Also some therpy for development. Come talk anytime I'm on cafemom ianmommy4

By SEngel
Posted June 14, 2008 at 3:38 pm
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Congrats on your son! Your situation is much like ours, with the bed rest, and PROM, and the extra weeks in the hospital. We were diagnosed with TTTS @18weeks. Lost Hayden at 24 weeks, Prom @ 26 weeks...Ella at 27 weeks. What is Zephan's weight? Ella was 1lb 2 oz..They look almost identical...Best of luck with your long road in the NICU.

By lilfiery
Posted June 16, 2008 at 12:02 am
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my son was born 24 weeks and 2 days. He only weighed 480 grams so was considered very small for even his gestational age. We went through a huge rollercoaster ride in the NICU, but happy to say that at 18 months adjusted--my little miracle is the joy of my life. He is a wonderful happy little boy--with a few developmental delays, and a little tiny for his age, but perfect in my eyes.

24 weekers seem to be little tough fighters. Lots of love and prayers saw us through the 4 months of hospitalization. Our lives will never be the same because of all our experiences--but as time has passed--i truly believe our lives are much richer now.

Take care

By preemiegirl
Posted July 3, 2008 at 12:33 am
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Congrats on your son. My daughter was also born at 24 weeks and will be two corrected August 31st. She is doing really well despite the roller coaster ride that we went through. She does have some ups and downs but i think we have gotten over our biggest and most challenging hurdles. My best advise to you is PRAY, get support from people around you, and focus your attention on your baby. My prayers are with you both. If you need to talk email me @ venicemorrison@yahoo.com

By Jaidensmom
Posted October 11, 2008 at 1:46 pm
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First of all, congrats on the birth of your son! I also had my son at 24w6d. At 21 weeks I was 2cm dilated and a circlage was put in. He was 1lb 10oz and also came out breathing on his own. His only major complication was a colostomy due to a hole in his bowels caused by the medicine used to close the hole in his heart. He spent 3 months in the NICU and came home 18 days before his original due date with nothing but vitamins. On his due date his colostomy was reversed giving me the joys of changing poopie diapers. :-)Today he is an extrememly healthy 20 month old who weighs 24lbs and if it wasn't for all the pictures I took, no one would believe he was a micropreemie. My advice to you is to pray and make sure you partake in everything that goes on with him in the NICU. You are not new to that so I'm sure you know the benefits of kangaroo care and also making sure he gets as much of your breastmilk as possible. Good luck and I wish you and your family the best!

By abbyschrad
Posted October 12, 2008 at 11:18 pm
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Congrats on the birth of your son. I know this is a pretty stressful time and that the NICU rollercoaster ride is a crazy one. I am co-mom to Hallie, a 23.4 weeker and surviving twin who is now a pretty healthy (with feeding issues, major food allergies, and a bit of a speech delay) 28 month old (2 years corrected). She's amazing and brilliant (if I may say so myself!), loving little girl.

One thing that helped us survive was finding (or, more correctly, being found by) an online micropreemie support group. If you are interested, here's the URL: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PreemieBlogMoms/

It's a great group and there are lots of moms (and dads and some grandparents etc) of babies still in the NICU, lots of parents and caregivers of somewhat older micropreemies etc. We've got a lot of support to give and a really decent amount of technical knowledge (and tons of 'been there done that') between us.

And here's the URL to my daughter's blog: blogginghallie.blogspot.com

I link to the blogs of many other micropreemies and you might take interest and solace in some of their stories.

Abby

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