Premature Birth Support Group
Premature birth is defined medically as childbirth occurring earlier than 37 completed weeks of gestation. About 12 percent of babies in the United States are born prematurely each year. The shorter the term of pregnancy is, the greater the risks of complications. Infants born prematurely are at a greater risk for developing serious health problems such as cerebral palsy,...
I just wanted to introduce myself. On 6/21/2011 I gave birth via c-section to a little girl. She was 6.5 weeks early because I ended up with severe pre-eclamspia. She was 5lbs 1oz and 18in long...pretty big for her gestational age. She is doing amazingly well and only had to spend 1 week in the NICU before coming home. Apart from being on a strict feeding schedule (which is working she is already up to 5lbs 9oz), having a little trouble with choking on her spit up (which doesn't happen often at all) and sleeping more often she is very healthy. There are still things that I don't really know about being a preemie mom so hopefully I will gain some insight here.
My son was a 25 weeker, spent 15 weeks in NICU, had a very rough ride in there. We have been back countless times to ER and admissions, see the physio, speech & language, and occupational therpapist. He still has the spit up issue too :) And still forgets to breathe and turns blue... he does a lot of scary things really!
I do agree in part, a lot of probs are MORE LIKELY in micro-prems like my son. BUT - they are not necessarily SPECIFIC to them! I see some 24 and 25 week babies doing far better than their 34 and 35 weeks 'friends' from NICU!! It depends on YOUR bub, and how they are. Emmablue's babies are healthy and that is truly a wonderful thing! My son is 16 months old and still adjusted. He is averaging 10months, only 6months in some areas (eg gross motor skills). So although you are less likely to experience these probs, even 36 weekers can have years of difficulties like more frequent hospital trips, developmental delays (which can be mild, but significant nonetheless) behavioural and mental differences etc. So don't be alarmed if you experience any of this! There is a lot of support available if you do. Hopefully your little princess progresses beautifully like a term bub and you don't have to experience any of these issues!! :)
And you know what - there are just things we don't know about being mums, nothing to do with being a preemie mum! :) Spending a week in NICU means your girl is doing great, and isn't being majorly affected by her prematurity. So think less of her as a prem, and more of her as an early arrival! There is a lot you don't need to do with her that other preemie mums like myself do, which means you can enjoy being her mum, take a few extra precautions, and not be terribly worried :) Take comfort in that!!! xx