Re: Latest U/S Update. (child ment)

November 24, 2005

hi aminah

i'm gabi, SU resected x2, and i had a preterm baby (with septum still

in place) in 2001 - he was born at 33 weeks via c/section because i

had a placental problem. he was tiny: 1.900 kg (4lbs 3oz) and measured

16inches (40cm) - he had to stay at the hospital (NICU = neonatal

intensive care unit) for 2 weeks and then he spent 6 more days in the

pediatric floor -

my physical recovery from the c/s was not bad - i had surgery on

saturday at 4pm and i was out of the hospital on monday morning and

commuting from home to hospital to be with my son (my husband would

drive me b/c i think i couldn't drive for a few weeks). i wore one of

those 'shapewear' underwear things that helped keep my belly in place

and my surgical wound from pulling or tugging too much - it helped me

walk and be up and down the hospital while pumping milk for my baby

and helping the nurses care for him. i got a hospital breast pump as

soon as i 'woke up' from the c/s ( i had only a spinal but may have

been sedated some more because the whole thing is a little blurry -

but i was definitely awake when the dr pulled my baby from my belly

and i remember seeing him for the 1st time ). i pumped milk from day

one b/c they would feed him with my milk preferably and a little bit

of formula so he could gain weight fast - he only needed some help

with breathing: he had CPAP - a tiny tube at the tip of his nose where

he would get oxygen - he was with that for only 3 days -

basically babies 'graduate' from the nicu when they are able to:

- breath on their own continuously and with no interruptions (apneas),

-eat on their own (nurse from breast or bottle)

- keep their temperature stable.

if your baby is already 36 weeks his lungs may be ok and maybe he's

only tiny - don't be afraid - he'll sure catch up -

my son has been doing great ever since he left the hospital and he

just turned 4 and you can't tell he was a preemie.

please feel free to email me if you have any questions

i can also send you a few links to pix so at least you'll know what

the nicu looks like - maybe you can see it in person at the hospital

where your baby will be born?

as for the c/s mine was sort of an emergency one so i was not prepared

emotionally - my son was breech and he was also very inmature to

attempt a vaginal delivery - plus i was bleeding and maybe my waters

were broken - i never had a single contraction - c/s was the only way

for me -

if your c/s is planned maybe you can accept the fact that that's the

way your baby will be born and it will be easier for you to go on ....

again, please feel free to email me directly as many times as you

want -

i wish you all the best and may you have your baby in your arms safe

and sound real soon

take care

gabi

November 24, 2005

Hi Gabi..

Thank u sooooooooo much.. u really have given me hope.

My doctor has said, Seen as he doesnt seem to be doing to well in the uterus

i.e not growing so much he's better out.. but am not so sure.

She seems to think that having a BU wouldnt affect his growth where as i have

read on the internet that BU's etc can affect the grwoth of the fetus.. what did

your doc say about this.

She is only making a refferal to the hospital so hopefully i'll get a 2nd

opion.

After 37weeks his lungs should be developed. But even next week by her dates 2

weeks by my dates (making it 37weeks) he's still tiny.. ie head comming in

3weeks late etc.. maybe his lungs would be the same? what you think..

ooh its all so confusing!!!....

In the US i think you guys are dealing with proffessionals here ive just got a

doc who is a general ob/gyn.. not specialist.

But the hospital i'll be going to is the major maternity hospital and rated as

1 of the best in the world.. has over a 100 ICU's..

So hopefully i might start getting some more substantial answers.

When i quizz my doc on the Femur etc being so small she seems to just say its

" Constitutional " and that it might be nothing.. its like pinning jelly to the

wall u cant get a straight answer. If he has some abnormailtys i want to no.. i

need to prepare myself for that. He's been small in the femur/humerous since my

1st scan's.

Last few months he's been 5 weeks behind on it.

Am trying to be positive and she is always saying that the U/S are not always

correct.. and that its her duty to tell me as this is what the formulars are

comming in at.. ie head mass, body mass etc..

But you mentioned you had some link's i would love to read, hopefully learn

some more..

There was another ladie on her who had her baby at 33 weeks and another at 35

weeks i think..

If you could email me your story and there weight sizing mass etc.. i would

love to hear your story. Also what the doc said about why his weight was less

was it due to your MA...

Thanks all, and take care

Aminah xxxx

Gabi gabi151@...> wrote: