New Grandbaby

United States
February 16, 2010 1:35pm CST
Our adopted daughter is expecting our third grandchild. She is due March 23rd, but Miss Tate Elizabeth is very impatient (Like her mother) and continues to try enter the world early. Last night, my son in law called me and said they were back at the hospital for the third time in less than 3 weeks. The doctors tell us that per ultra-sounds and other tests they believe that Tate weighs 4 and a half pounds. I know that babies have been born earlier and weighed less, but I am still concerned. We will be traveling to Hot Springs tonight to check on her. The hospital staff is giving Tyra steroids now to help Tate's lungs develop faster since her mom is already beginning to dilate and they are unclear if they're going to be able to stop the labor this time. Have you had a child or known someone who had a baby prematurely? How did the baby fare?
9 people like this
9 responses
@mgmagana (3618)
• United States
22 Feb 10
i too would be concerned 4 lbs is very small.... my sis is also due at the end of March...she's having a boy, name, unknown lol.... i think too that some times dr.'s are inaccurate about the weight sometimes too.... my friend had her son a month early and after telling her he probably weighed a small 5 lbs... he came out a healthy 6 lbs. 8 oz. so if she were to need to deliver lets hope they were off on their guestimate weight.
2 people like this
• United States
11 May 11
Grandbaby - Pate Elizabeth
Thankfully, they were able to stop her labor. Miss Pate Elizabeth arrived safe and sound at a very healthy 7 pounds and 1 ounce. She was right on time. Now, she's just turned a year old and is thoroughly enamored by my husband. I keep trying to get her to say Nonnie and she giggles and rolls her eyes at me and says "Pop Pop" Then she will laugh hysterically when I say "NO!!! Nonnie!" Here's a recent picture of her!
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
16 Feb 10
I was born in 1956 weighting 4lbs 4 oz. I am now 53 and have had no problems. I believe within 53 years things have grately improved for taking care of a premature baby. I ended up staying in the hospital for a month back then. I'm sure the baby will not be staying in the hospital that long and I believe she will be ok. I have heard of other babies born weighing 2 and 3 lbs and did well. I wish you all the best of luck.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
My husband spent 4 years working at Children's Hospital in Arkansas. They had babies that survived that were born weighing as little as a pound. (there is a 6 year old running around somewhere in South Arkansas who weighed 14 ounces after her mother delivered her after a horrible car accident---she was born 5 months early!)
1 person likes this
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
12 May 11
Thank you for the best response mark. Hope all is well with your granddaughter. God Bless!
@flowerchilde (12529)
• United States
17 Feb 10
I was four pounds when I was born, that was 54 years ago. Congratulations and prayers for baby and mother..
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
Four pounds? I know that there are many babies who are born earlier than what Tate will be (So far we are still safely tucked away) but those babies aren't my granddaughters! LOL I mean I pray when I hear about one that is born prematurely, but there isn't that fear in my heart for them that there is here.
• Canada
25 Feb 10
No premies in our family, thank goodness. I was born 28 days late, but there were complications, so i was in the premie unit simply because I needed special care for another complication. Everything turned out great, because 28 years later, I'm sitting infront of this computer responding to this discussion. And congrats on the new grandbaby.
1 person likes this
• United States
11 May 11
Woo Hoo! I was right on time, but all three of my brothers were about 6 weeks early. All had to be put into the neonatal unit. One of them didn't make it and passed away after only 24 hours of life. He was 15 months younger than me and I'm sure would have been a thorn in my side just as the other two were growing up! LOL
@terri0824 (4991)
• United States
18 Feb 10
Well I was born a few weeks early and only weighed 4lbs ll oz when I was born and that was 48 years ago. The only thing with me is that I am still petite. But other than that I had no problems. We have came a long way in medical technology so the baby should be fine. I pray for a healthy baby and that she thrives when she enters this world.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
My youngest daughter was early, but she weighed 5 pounds 8 ounces. (I think they missed my due date a little as well) She had no hair, no eyebrows or eyelashes. But she had a healthy set of lungs and used them from the moment she took her first breath to let us know when she was unhappy...LOL
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
18 Feb 10
These days doctors can care for premature babies a lot more adequately. My friend’s daughter was over one month premature and she was very tiny when she was born. The baby was immediately placed in an incubator and remained in special care at the maternity hospital for almost two months. This little girl is eight years old now and thriving; she has absolutely no health concerns and functions and is growing normally. I get the feeling that your daughter and grandchild will be okay. Keep us posted and all the best...
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I appreciate the thoughts...Both of my girls were a little early, the youngest more so than the middle child, but Kristen who is older had more health problems, and still does. Her digestive system wasn't completely developed, so it took several months for her to be able to eat. I wasn't able to nurse because she couldn't digest the milk. We had to put her on Nutramogen, which is a partially digested formula. It was thick and gray and the nastiest smelling stuff I've ever come across that I intended to feed my children.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (84668)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I'll keep you all in my prayers. Let us know how it goes.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I really appreciate that! I am in Arizona at my mother in law's and she is back in Arkansas. So far we are still at 2 grandchildren. I hope that she will wait until I get home, but I know that Tate will come when she gets ready! They have Tyra in bed, and on steroids, and these seem to be working for now.
1 person likes this
17 Feb 10
We are all different and that includeds babies. Baby is in charge and will come when she is ready and not to anyone elses time scale. All we can do is to stand by and help if necessary. Babies are tough and nature has been dealing with the problems of child birth for thoussands of years so relax, stand by and let the medical staff do their job and baby do hers.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
You are right. Once the weekend was over, and her doctor got back in the office, things were done quite differently. The physician that was on call last weekend, managed to alienate my husband, who is the most laid back and easy going person I know on the planet.
• United States
16 Feb 10
My daughter was born almost 1 month early. She was born healthy and still remains healthy. The less your daughter does the better. If I were her I would remain in bed only to get up to use the bathroom.I had a lot of health issuse while carrying my daughter. And everything turned out fine. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Feb 10
I certainly appreciate that. So far, they have been able to stop the contractions. We're just taking it one day at a time, and praying for the best. They are still giving Tyra steroids in order to strengthen Tate's lungs, and that also seems to be helping Tyra with the contractions (the doctor's told us this might happen)