What is Premature Birth
Premature birth (also known as preterm birth, or premie) is defined medically as childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of gestation. Most pregnancies last about 40 w...
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Twins at 24 weeks - My story
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Saturday, my fiance and I were at a wedding. I felt funny, my back hurt. But that was it. We left the wedding at 815pm, and I took some Tylenol. Slept til 11pm...and then it hurt more than anything. Just my back. Nothing else. Around 3am, Joel said let's go to the ER, we had decided that I had the dreaded kidney infections that they tell you will come with pregnancy.
We went to a nearby hospital, not the one that my OB is out of. I was told the worse thing ever as I lay there in mounting pain. "You are in labor at 24 weeks". They stabilized me and sent me to Rush Hospital downtown Chicago, the best place for newborn preemies. I had an emergency C-section upon arriving, knocked out completely. Quinn was born 1st at 1123am 10/25, 1 lb 14 oz, 13 inches long. Mason was 2nd at 1124am, 1 lb 9 oz, 12 inches long. My little boys, Quinn and Mason, are in NICU..and will be for the next 3 months. I can put my hands inside the little circle, after scrubbing completely, and touch their little toes and hands. We can also cup their heads and feet to calm them down, it's a trick to emulate the womb pressure. We pray a lot. How do you take the ups and downs, the weeks of worry? Thank you for your time and attention...hugs for all. Posted on 11/01/09, 12:11 pm |
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I was hoping you would join this group. There are a lot of ladies on here who helped me tremendously when my girls were born at 29 weeks and I had so many questions and I also wanted to be among people who had gone through this.
To answer your questions about the ups and downs and the worry...I tried to remind myself after every visit that they were in excellent hands. I prayed constantly. But I could never stop worrying, no matter how hard I tried. They are your babies and they are not with you, so I think it's almost impossible not to. Just try to spend as much time as you can or are allowed to with them. They respond in so many ways to that. Believe it or not they know your touch and voice, so talk to them as much as you can. Did they tell you how long it would be before you could hold them? We're all here for you. (((Hugs))) 
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Hi
Dawn had good advice. Def touch them as often as you can. I did ALOT of talking. I would read, tell stories of the day, whatever, so DJ would hear my voice. Our NICU was great and let me be involved in alot. I am not going to lie being in the NICU can be h*ll. It will test every ounce of strength you have. I suggest having a wonderful support group, family, friends and your fiance...lean on them. There are great people on here I also suggest i village-preemie support -http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-pppremature How are the little guys doing now? Have they gained weight? My thoughts and prayers are with you and your little guys. My little guy was born at 27 weeks and spent 71 longggggg days in the NICU. With out the NICU he would not be thriving like he is. He is 11 months and is crawling and into everything. It is a LONG road. I know Dawn and myself are here for anything. TAKE CARE of yourself!!! {{{HUGS}}}
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Thank you both.
Well, since the the posting: Quinn has had a perforated bowel with leakage, so two drains were put in. As of today, 11/08, they removed one of the drains! Plus, he has pooped in his diaper! He had surgery to close the PDA in his heart, no complications. He is actually resting comfortably, and looked really good today. Weight-wise he is up to 1 lb 15.5 oz...so almost 2 pounds! Not getting breast milk for now. Mason had a chest tube to drain air from a leakage around his lung, that came out a few days ago as well. He's been trouble the last couple of days, keeps going up on co2 levels and de-satting on oxygen levels. He is really active as well, so they keep uping his fentyl to keep him sedated. He is also up on weight..1 lb 13 oz! They are two weeks old today...every day a miracle. I am so tired most of the time, trying to heal from the c-section and remember to pump every 3 hours. I haven't been able to actually hold them yet, cannot WAIT. In terms of pumping, not getting more than an ounce today at a time. Suggestions?
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Sounds like they are doing really well! You've got a couple of little fighters on your hands and that is wonderful! I did leave you one suggestion for trying to pump more in the comment area on your journal, which was to try and look at a pic of them while pumping. But then I thought of something else. Will they allow you to pump at all during your visits with them? That may increase it some too. Don't know if you have joined yet, but there is a breastfeeding support group on here and they may have some advice for you too. Take care and thanks for the update.
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hi there i read ur discussion and i was there 2 years ago and it was the hardest thing ive ever gone through! i had my son at 24 weeks he weighed 1lb and 11oz! and i felt so lost and worried all the time but these little guys are fighters and watching them grow and get stronger help u grow and get stronger as well! my son is 2 now and he is not mobile by himself he needs a walker to get around and he gets sick quicker then the average child so i just take extra precaution! but other then that he is very mobile and speaks very well and he just got an evelution done and he isnt delayed just on some motor skills but with physical therapy he will catch up! im telling u this so u keep ur hope up every child is different but they all suceed in there own way! and remember u are not alone and we r here for wen u need it! keep ur head up cause u have 2 babies looking up at you! let me know if you have any questions or just want to talk!
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