Premature birth
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
United States
April 4, 2007 12:53pm CST
My son was born six weeks premature. He weighed just 4lbs, 10oz. He spent the first 4 weeks of life in the NICU, then came home on an apnea machine. He stayed on that until he was a little over three months old.
However, he is now coming up to his third birthday and you'd never, ever know by looking at him that he was born so early. Luckily, he's shown no lasting effects of being born preterm.
Have you had a child born prematurely? Please share your story if so!
1 person likes this
6 responses
@sjettmomof2 (213)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Both my Son and Daughter were born premature. My son was born four weeks early and weighed 7pounds and was 20 inches long. He had a mild case of jaundice, and for the first year had acid reflux. But, now he is four years old and looks like a six year old. My daughter was born five and a half weeks early. She too was 7 pounds and 20 inches long. She didn't have surfactant in her lungs and was in nicu for 14 days. She was fine as soon as she was given the surfactant shot, But she had alot of jaundice. There were all kinds of babies in there that were 3-4 pounds. You would never have known she was premature by looking at her. We drove 2 hours back and forth every days to see her til she came home. I had a wek uterous from surgeries and I guess 7 pounds is all I could carry. You would never know she was premature either. After the scare with her, we decided onehealthy boy and one healthy girl was enough.
@sjettmomof2 (213)
• United States
4 Apr 07
The doctor thinks they would have been about ten pounds each if I had carried all the way.
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Thank you for sharing your story. Seven pounds, your babies must have put on weight fairly early in your pregnancies to weigh that much even though they were premature. I can relate to driving to and from the NICU each and every day. I did that, sometimes more than once a day, until my baby boy was able to come home. I'm happy to hear your children are happy and healthy!
@jjwatson28 (572)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I have not had a premature baby . But my aunt has and he too has no lasting effects. Its so hard to see something so tiny on all thoughs tubes and wires. Im so happy that he(your son ) is doing well.
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Thank you for your reply! You're right. It was extremely difficult to have to leave him in the hospital when I was released, too. That was the longest month of my life!
@onlyourbunny (94)
• United States
5 Apr 07
jjwatson28 is my cousin and her aunt is my little bother he is on a little legge hockey team and is one of the bigger players on hes team. he has really cought up oh is 7 years old now hes my moms was 28 weeks when see had hem..
I have two girls as well my first was born three weeks early...She is two now and has cought up with other kids...My second was born 7 weeks early she was 4.5 pounds and did not come home for three weeks.and is 10m and she is doing well just a little catching up to do
@cowgirl2701 (2079)
• United States
4 Apr 07
I haven't had a premature chid. You must be very strong to go through that. I am happy to know that he is doing great. Thanks for sharing your story with us.
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Thank you very much! I don't know how I made it through that month that he was in the NICU. Plus there was the bedrest for about a month before he was born. Being my first child I had no idea what to expect, then all the complications... but I'm just so grateful that he's doing so well now.
@poppoppop111 (5731)
• Canada
4 Apr 07
my daughter was born a little over 3 monts preemature. she was 2 pounds 2 ounces and spent 2 months in the NICU. she is 3 now and no one can even tell she was a preemie either. she is perfectly healthey in every way. it's amazing how well they do and how strong they are.
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
• United States
4 Apr 07
Thank you for sharing your story. I'm happy to hear your daughter is doing so well. And you're right, it is truly amazing how strong those tiny little people are!
@tanniebabe78 (2934)
• United States
5 Apr 07
I still have 2 months to go and somewhat fear this very thing. Especially as my Braxton Hicks are so frequent and getting stronger. Yuk, not looking forward to contractions. Geez! I thought I was gonna fly by that whole thing since I'm required to have c sections. lol. And last time I never had a single one, even after 4 days of pitocin!
@lightningMD (5931)
• United States
4 Apr 07
my grand daughter was 5 weeks early..she 5lbs 3 oz but dropped to 4lbs 9 oz...she was severly jaundiced but now she is almost 5yrs old she is still small for her age but others wise perfect
@suspendedindusk03 (319)
• United States
4 Apr 07
It's amazing how tough these tiny little babies can be, and how quickly they catch up to their full-term counterparts! Thank you for sharing your story.
