What experiences had you had with a preterm baby? How premature was the baby?

Answer 1

We just had two twins boys on June 2nd. They were born at 32 weeks and are both still in the NICU. They're both doing great and hopefully they will be discharged this week. No health problems, just a little time to get the hang of feeding.

Answer 2

My first came at 33 1/2 weeks, so 6 1/2 weeks early. No reason why, my water just broke. Our son was in a level 2 nursery for 3 weeks after birth, not quite a NICU, but not a regular nursery. He had jaundice and apnea problems while there, but after being able to breastfeed for a couple days straight we got to take him home.

The sleeping thru the night never came until he was 4 months. But now at 3, is basically caught up, and would never know he was a preemie. Our second son came at 38 weeks - that last 5 weeks seemed forever!

Answer 3

My daughter was born at 26 weeks. She weighed 2 1/2 pounds. She was fine, but they didn't let her go home until she weighed 5 pounds.

The other answerer is right, you don't judge the progress of growth of the baby by other babies the same age. Think of the baby as they age they would have been if not born early. If you do that, they'll probably be ahead (unless there are problems from the birth, or something like that).

The baby will eventually catch up.
My daughter is grown and fine.

Answer 4

I had twins born at 36 weeks. For the most part they were fine. No major issues. They had a little trouble feeding for the first couple of weeks, but they ate enough to be "ok". They slept more than my oldest did. Now, they are 15 months, they are a little behind with walking and talking but other than that they are perfect! Most premature babies catch up with their peers by two years old. The major preemie concerns would be lung maturity and the ability to feed and maintain their body temps.

Answer 5

I was driving down the road at 29 wks and felt an amazing pressure on my pelvic bone. It didn't feel right (2nd baby) I called the Doctors office and told the nurse and she said that it was normal for a second pregnnancy even though I told her I wanted to come in and it didn't feel right she told me to just relax. It got worse throughout the day and I couldn't sit, stand, lay down or get comfortable and had the urge to keep moving. Finally after 9 hours of this I called the on call Doctor and was told to get to the ER. I was dialating 2-3 and had amazing pressure and started with contractions. After10 hrs on 3 different meds (and the steroids) they finally subsided and were intermitten for 2 days and then I had none for 3 more and got to come home. I held on for almost a month longer and my son was born about 6 weeks early at 5lbs 8oz. They say if I had gone full term that he would have been between 8 1/2 and 11 1/2 pounds.

He had difficultie latching on, maintaining his body temperatur, waking up, falling asleep and holding his formula/breast milk down. When he came off of the formula at one his largest bottle was only 4-5 ounces. He is going to be 3 the end of September and he is just now sleeping 6-8 hrs in a row at night and is very slow in talking but is very smart and too brave for my heart to handle.

The doctor tells me that we were very lucky and by the time he is 5 he will be caught up with everything.

He is wonderful.

Answer 6

I was a preemie born in 1974, eight weeks early. I weighed 3.8lbs, and back then they didn't think I'd make it. I was in hospital for 6 weeks, in an incubator and on breathing apparatus. Not only was I jaundiced, I was also born in December, so I also had RSV.

I'm a very healthy 32 y/o - 5'5" and 130lbs. No physical hindrances or mental issues and my lungs work perfectly. I also have 2 sons - one on time and the other, late.

Answer 7

My youngest daughter was born at 33.3 weeks. I had been hopitalized the week prior for LOW amniotic fluid and HBP. She was born weighing just under 31/2 lbs. 3 lbs. 7.4oz to be exact and measured 16.5ins. long. They inserted an IV for the first couple days, to give her glucose. She was born with very low blood sugar. They also had to put her under the bililights for about 3 days. Her bilirubin was elevated. After her bask in the lights, she was just fine. She went home at 3 weeks of age, due to poor feeding which was due to poor muscle tone. Trust me, that's not a problem anymore. She's 2.5yrs. and weighs 31lbs. She's a little short 32 ins., but other than that she was very healthy. Hope this helped!

Answer 8

i was born at 26 weeks and now i have all sorts of problems

at first they thought i was gonna die but i pulled through and now i'm 25 and have a kid of my own
i was 3 lbs 5 oz which is actually pretty big for that gestation
i couldnt breath on my own and had iv's galore
i was in the hospital till i was 6 weeks old

i now have seizures and adhd i'm also a little slow and i'm only 4'10" and 90 lbs
all of this is because of being born permature

my daughter (she's 2) was only a week early and is bright and kind and intelligent but currently painting herself with handi snacks cheese lol omg bath time

Answer 9

My eldest was 5 weeks early. It was a shock. He had underdeveloped lungs and spent time in special care and intensive care. He kept up well with milestones until walking and talking. He walked at 16 months and still doesn't speak much at 21months. He is well, happy, great company and brings us much joy. All the best if this is your personal experience.

Answer 10

I had twin boys at 32 weeks, apagar score of 1, weighed 3lbs 7oz. One twin swallowed meconium and was intubated and rushed to the NICU while the other stayed in Level 2 Nursery, twin-a fell in a slight depression until twin-b was brought back 11 days later. They were released one month later to go home, ever since they been doing great couldn't tell they were preemies. One piece of advice Do not COMPARE your preemie with other babies, preemies do their sitting up, reaching for things, crawling at their own time and pace don't rush them, enjoy every minute. I thought my preemies would never sit up on their own and do many things and yet they've mastered everything on their own time. Having twins you'd think they'd do everything and learn everything at the same time, and they don't one learns faster than the other same goes for your baby he/she will learn on her/his own time. ENJOY let him/her be a baby and don't worry.