s/o Preemies

[cjeanette]

Lots of good thoughts headed your way.

[ijack]

I would recommend you take a tour of your NICU just in case. Often 35 weekend don't need intervention, but that's not always the case. I would also ask your MFM (I assume you're seeing one) about the possibility of getting steroid shots - at 35w they won't give them, but if there is a chance you'll deliver earlier than that you would want them.
Many hugs to you, if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.

[atouchofklasse]

Hugs and ditto ijack. I knew a NICU stay was in my future and the tour really helped me process everything.

[Deleted]

Hugs to you. I'm sorry your DH isn't handling it better. Please feel free to whine, vent and scream here as much as you need to. You should also make sure you tell him when you are at a breaking point. Say, "I need to be alone, hugged, allowed to cry. " Or whatever it is " and I need your support right now." You can't be strong all of the time

[w2w]

I am sorry. That is a lot to think about. 35 weekers usually do really well. Some get released with the mom, and others need to stay for a little extra time. I think the biggest issues are generally eating related - very sleepy, so it is hard to get them to eat enough to gain. I have a 30 weeker, and if someone said told me I had a reasonable chance at getting to 34 weeks with another baby, I would have another one very soon. 34 weeks is when everything usually comes together - suck, swallow, breathe, regulating temp, etc. Definitely get the steroid shots.

[h]

I am so sorry you are dealing with this; it sounds so stressful. Do you guys have any nearby extended family that can lend additional moral support and help out with your daughter?

On a positive note, I have several friends who have had 34/35 weekers, and all the babies are thriving.

[whitepicketfence]

I don't have any experience with preemies, but I'm sending lots of good thoughts and prayers your way.

[barefootcontessa]

I am so sorry Tori. This sounds like a really difficult situation. Did they do an MRI? There is some question about my placenta (I have had four c-s, so I am at risk) and the MFM I have been seeing mentioned more detailed study later in the pregnancy before making a judgment. I obviously know nothing about your case but do you feel confident in the diagnosis and treatment? Are they just worried about your going into labor early? Is that why they are saying 35 weeks? If you are in the hospital, are they willing to wait any longer and monitor for contrax so the baby can mature more. Please ignore me if this is not helpful.

[pugz]

scary babe I'm so sorry. We'll be here to talk to and entertain you if you end up on bedrest!

sending you good thoughts and vibes that baby cooks for a long time and you both stay healthy.

sounds like you have some support. I'm worried about after baby is born. Is recovery from a hysterectomy similar to c-section recovery? Will your dh be able to take time off from work? Can family come help then? Glad you have your MOPS group

[momabear]

Since you are looking for ways to prepare, can I make 2 suggestions?

One would be to start a carepages website. (www.carepages.com) On there you can basically journal your pregnancy and birth. People can follow your page and get emails when you update. The best part of that is not having to remember who to email with updates. If someone wants to look, they can. It also is great for once you are past the hospital and early days because you can look back and read the day to day and also make it into a book. I did one during my high risk pregnancy and my DS's NICU stay. We posted pictures and gave updates. Now that we are 2 years out from there, I am having a book made to give to DS when he can understand.

The other suggestion would be to start a calendar online for meals. Two websites I like are www.carecalendar.org and www.mealtrain.com. This would coordinate meals from friends. You would set what days you would like and also give likes and dislikes or allergies. You can pick the nights you would like to have meals and people would go to the site and sign up to bring your family a meal on a specific night. A nice thing about this is the person usually writes in what they will be making/bringing which cuts down on doubles or triples of something in the same week.

My family survived 7 weeks of hospital bedrest for me and 7 weeks in the NICU for DS. We had 3 other children and were in the middle of baseball season for 2 of them at the time. I believe carecalendar saved us then and carepages made it possible for me to remember what all went on in those early days.

I am really sorry you are going through this. I wish you all the best and will be thinking of you!

[egishere]

Sorry to hear that . I agree with getting a NICU tour and meeting the NICU dr's if possible. That is also good you are getting the steroid shots.

[starlily]

Sorry to hear you're going through all this.

My DD was born at 35wks. There weren't any signs that I'd deliver early. If I had known in advance, knowing about NICU procedures & policies would have been nice. I already knew the doctor who heads up the department socially; I just didn't expect to be seeing him so soon after delivery!

But there is a good chance your baby won't even need NICU. When I was in labor, they told me it could really go either way - they wouldn't know until they could evaluate her.

[ohgillian]

Mom to a 35 weeker reporting in -- he needed no NICU or Special Care Nursery time.

[KaraOrNot]

Hugs toriwc. You will be in my thoughts.

[HoneySpider]

Sending good thoughts your way.

::hugs::

[Deleted]

I went into PTL w/ my girls at 31 or 32 weeks. I got the steroid shots and spent a week in the hospital on bed rest (I had a catheter even, they didn't want me moving at all). I had a 22 month old at home at the time and my hospital was about an hour and a half away. DH stayed at home w/ DD and we all were fine. It was boring for me and I'm sure stressful for him, but we survived. I did a NICU tour one day and talked to a few of the specialist. After 32 weeks things are good, 34 weeks is even better. My girls ended up being born right at 36 weeks, one was 5/12 the other was 5/15. They didn't need NICU time at all and were ready to go home as soon as I was discharged.