Post by Monica Geller on Apr 17, 2015 15:32:53 GMT -5
J spent 14 days in the NICU. He's small, but healthy. I have no idea how he's going to be developmentally. I know he's a little "behind" for a 2 month old; our pediatrician told us to expect him to be about 2 months behind for about the first year or so, but not to worry too much.
My 32 weeker spent one week in the NICU at Children's Hospital and 4 weeks in the regular nursery at our local hospital. She went home on oxygen and was on that for about 6 weeks. She also had to do some PT for a few months when she went off the oxygen just to make sure her movement/muscle tone, etc. were all developing normally, but other than that, she has had no lasting affects or issues. She was also considered 2 months "behind" but developed at a normal rate for other babies that were her age.
Post by pantsparty on Apr 17, 2015 16:00:32 GMT -5
My brother was born at 32 weeks. He needed some therapy (I don't know exactly to what extent, but I believe it was mainly motor skills) but was fine overall. No lasting complications.
My BFF's 32 1/2 week DD just turned 10 last week, and is perfectly healthy. She spent about two weeks in the NICU, and has never had a delay, health problem, or anything else attributed to being a preemie in 10 years.
Over a month in the NICU (but they were twins) and they are 99.9% healthy. They use an inhaler twice a day as a preventative. I think they might end up with cold induced asthma but other than that (and speech therapy) they have done awesome.
They will be three in Monday.
I hope your sister is hanging in there. It's so scary in the moment but the majority of stories she will hear about 32 weekers are positive.
DH was born at 31 weeks nearly 30 years ago. He had a few weeks of nicu time, but was totally fine when they released him. Hit all his milestones more or less on target and no complications.
Dd was born at 27 weeks. I had the steroid injections 2 hours before she was born. She only needed CPAP after birth, and only for the pressure-it was room air, and was off all breathing assistance before 2 weeks. She went home at 38w2d and that was only because she was a sloooooow eater. They had told us to expect to take her home around 36w, until she got lazy with eating.
She had some mild torticolis, which caused a flat spot on her head and needed a few months of PT. She was followed in the High Risk Infant Development clinic until 2.5 just as a precaution. At that visit she scored 98th percentile for cognition, 80th for language, and 65th for physical development. She is now almost 3 and is a totally healthy and normal kid. People who don't know she was a preemie can't tell.
Good luck to your sister. There is every chance that her baby will do really well in the NICU and is at a good age if he/she has to come early.
Post by compassrose on Apr 17, 2015 17:12:01 GMT -5
My goddaughter was born at 27 weeks. She stayed 8 weeks in the NICU but has never had any health issues. She's 15 and in a gifted magnet HS. Her brother was born at 32 weeks and is healthy but slow on developmental milestones (but so was their dad).
My 32 weeker was in the NICU for 4 weeks but that was 12 years ago when they had to be 5 lbs to go home. He had minimum issues and is as talk as his 14 yo brother who was full term. My 35 weeker was 6 lbs but he had lung issues (32 weeker did not) even though he had received steroids at 30 weeks when he first tried to make an appearance. He was in the hospital for almost 3 weeks and is a happy, healthy, active almost 3 yo.
Post by lavender444 on Apr 17, 2015 18:27:37 GMT -5
I had a 31weeker 5 years ago. He stayed in NICU for 7 weeks. No long term complications, but when he was little his pancreas was immature and he had a lot of trouble digesting fats. He also had allergies to breastmilk, dairy and soy. So feeding him was a very expensive nightmare. He saw a GI doctor until he was 2, which is when he outgrew those allergies. I had both steroid injections to boost his lung maturity. He spent a few days on CPap, a long time on oxygen and had super low HCT levels, and had to get daily injections of EPO to boost his red blood cells back up.
My niece was born via emergency c-section at 32 weeks. She was one the biggest babies in the NICU and has been ridiculously healthy. She's six, barely ever sick and such a smart little girl. She is petite (she is the same size as my 4-year-old) but so are her parents.
32 weekers. DD did 3 weeks in NICU, DS did 4 weeks. No lasting medical issues at all. DS has some sensory issues but overall nothing huge. I got two rounds of steroid shots. Both of my kids are petite but really teally healthy and happy.
Post by CrazyLucky on Apr 17, 2015 20:08:09 GMT -5
My niece was born at 32w1d. She was in NICU a full month. Now she is 2+ and boy is she a dynamo! She gets croup a lot (five times so far) and the doctor said that it has something to do with being born early but she will outgrow it. She was behind in a few of her milestones at the beginning, but she's totally caught up now. Smart little girl.
I felt so bad for my bro and SIL. Niece was so tiny and had so many tubes connected to her. It was such an emotional hardship for them, and it was a financial hardship too. Even with insurance, it took them quite a while to pay it off. But in the end, awesome healthy kid, so they can deal with the rest. I hope everything turns out well for your sister.
My son was 29 weeks (2.5 pounds). He had to be on CPAP a couple days but never the ventilator. He was in the NICU for 8 weeks. He's 5 now and once he was home we never had any issues.
My daughter was 32 weeks (4 pounds). CPAP one day, no vent. 3 weeks in the NICU. No issues. In fact, she caught up to normal weight by 6 months. It was crazy. She's 3 now and bigger than her brother.
Twins, 32 weeks, 4 days. DS was in the NICU for 24 days, DD only 19 days even though she was smaller. They are 7 now and completely healthy, smart, etc. It was such a difficult time in the NICU and even after they had feeding issues as newborns. Once they got past that, they've been awesome.
My friend's twins were 27 weeks, no steroid shots. 6 weeks in the nicu while their lungs beefed up, and they are now crazy 4yos! One wears glasses but I think that's more genetic than prematurity-related.
My twins were born at exactly 33 weeks. They spent 34 and 37 days in the NICU under the 'feeders and growers' area. They have had no complications at all ( knocks of wood). My DD is almost 5 and baby A is only 2 pounds shy.
My twins were born at 32 weeks. They were both in the NICU for a month. They did early intervention physical therapy for the first two years of their lives. They struggled to eat for a long time and are still in speech therapy but they're healthy and happy 6 year olds.
Post by dragon's breath on Apr 17, 2015 23:27:09 GMT -5
Hope everything goes well!
My son was born at 33 weeks (steroids about 24 hours before delivery). Two weeks in NICU, came home on a breathing/heart monitor that we had for a couple months (until it didn't alarm for so many hours, and he made it through his first cold). He had a persistent cough for years, especially when he would run or it was cold, and everything seemed to settle in his chest when he was sick. Seemed borderline asthmatic, doctor thought a lot of it was just irritation from the ventilator and he eventually grew out of it some time in elementary school. He has Aspergers, but I don't think that is a result of him being preemie (although it probably didn't help).
He's now 17, 6' 2" (or taller, it's been a while since we checked), smart (and a smart ass), and healthy.
Thank you guys so much!!! You made me feel so much better. I was able to take her out for fresh air today in a wheelchair, she loved it!
I spent two months on hospital bedrest and getting out of that room was the best thing ever! Glad she was able to get out for a bit. Wishing her the best.