I have a thread kindly created by Tsia in 3rd Tri about this, so i guess i'll post the short of it!

I write this from my hospital bed. I had Alex on saturday, by hospital dates, i was 27wks 4days gestation. I had no obvious signs i was going to have her until the pains i was getting on friday night became worse. Turns out, they were contractions...

She was 2lb 4oz, and a fair size for her age. Shes now in neonatal. She started off on morphine and ventilation, and they've been able to bring the vent down and have stopped the morphine to see how she copes.

The major concern is that she has had bleeding on the left side of her brain. We have NO idea what this may bring.

We are taking every day as it comes.

So far i have heard some stories from people and they have brought hope for Alex. It breaks my heart i can't do much for her. I am expressing milk for her though. (i've got way more than enough for her!)

Hope this section can bring me some support and stories. I too was born at 29 weeks, due to placenta previa(i think, my mum tells me the story!) and i got myself wrapped round the cord. Back then things weren't as clever but i survived. So my parents are overly optimistic, yet they don't quite grasp the brain thing yet!

my daughter was born at 27 & 3days also 2lb 4oz (i was also prem n was 2lb 1oz) shes 15 now but things werent always plain sailing she had a few scares during her hospital stay a hole in the heart infection she had her final brain scan at over a yr untill then we were unsure what lasting effects she might have luckily for her it was clear but she has been left with severe hearing loss my only advise is as u say take each day as it comes its an emotional rollercoaster make sure u dont forget to look after yourself u probably no that already though n i wish u all the best to you your family n baby alex
btw when i had my daughter there was a tiny prem baby girl called alex next to us she was 1lb 3oz!!

Can't offer you any advice but just wanted to send some your way. I know it must be really emotional...but it sounds from your post like you are very level-headed about it...that's a wonderful thing.

Hang in there! Doctors are miracle workers! Alex will do wonderfully! Hope your labour went good, and you have lots of family supporting you in the hospital.

<3

Hi

Ive already told you my story but if you ever need any support or advice im here for you, hope little Alex is doing well sending you both .
Theres a premature baby group in bnb groups i set up some info on there as well also have a look at bliss website xx

Aww hun I just noticed in a post you put in another thread that you had had Alex. Congrats on her birth and hope she gets better for you soon. I work in NICU so look after lots of babies smaller even than this. And so many of them come back years later as perfectly normal toddlers. Fingers crossed for you hunni x

I just want to send you huge congratulations on your beautiful baby! and lots of prayers sweetie!Im sure she'll be a little fighter for you!when Aiden was in special care there was a little girl next to him who weight 1oz when she was born,she was so so tiny,but perfect in every way,I saw her mother not long ago and she said little sophie was doing fine obviosly she had lots of intense specialist care to start with,but,now 2 and a half,you wouldnt think shed come early at all,a normal mischevious toddler!
best of luck to you!

congrats on the birth hun! hope everything goes ok for you both. xx

A big congratulations to you! I'm pleased for you that so far Alex is progressing well. It's good news that so far there has been minimal intervention required.

Our daughter was 11 weeks early and was in Stirling NNICU. She was vented for 12 hours at first then just on oxygen for a couple days. She did go back on the vent when she picked up a wee infection a couple days later but came off it after 2 days. Apart from that she needed little intervention.

Her scans were initially clear but latterly showed a few cysts. We too have no idea what this will affect, and neither do the doctors, so we are playing wait and see.

With bleeding, it depends on the grade, and the area. You should have had a chat with the doctor who should tell you that. A little bleed may cause no problem. A large bleed may cause more problems - but may not. If you haven't had a chance to talk to the doctor, insist that you do. Do NOT ( and I can't stress this enough) trawl the internet looking for information about bleeding on the brain. You will find all the horror stories, conflicting information, worst case scenarios and people's sad reactions to those. Remember no-one generally posts a story on the internet saying "actually it was all fine and there was nothing to worry about" (I will caveat that slightly with the fact that this site is one of the very few where balance can be found) Arm yourself with enough information to ask the doctor questions, write a list and ask them to give you proper answers. "We just don't know" is not acceptable. Ask them best case, ask them worst case (preferably in that order!!) Ask them what will happen next. Ask them what you can do when she is home, what you need to look for, is there preventative steps you can take etc. It will be hard, but try not to be emotional, approach it as practical, otherwise you'll forget half the stuff they tell you. If you show them you are capable of hearing the bad stuff without falling apart, they will be more open to being frank and honest and not sugar coating it. But as I said, accept there will be some questions they can't give you a straight answer to.

It may not seem that way, but perhaps your parents have the right idea. To me there is no such thing as "overly optimistic" . Whatever else happens, you have hope. Understand there will be many unknowns and concentrate on the things you do know and the things you can do. There is a very long road ahead until you get her home and it will take strength to get through it. She will likely take a step back from time to time, but remember that is normal. If you start out at this stage thinking the outlook may be bleak, every set back will seem like the end of the world. Think positive and it will be so much easier to take.

Expressing milk, kangaroo cuddles, doing her care and looking after you are the most important. Make sure they know there is plenty milk for her and build up a good store in their freezer, it will come in very handy!

Fingers crossed she will get on fine. As many have said, smaller younger babies have come through it.

Congratulations hun. I hope eveything is ok with your beautiful little girl. Keep us posted and keep strong.

Poppy was 'only' 6 weeks prem and in SCBU for 2 weeks and it was a very difficult time, but also the happiest time in our life in many other ways. Every tiny bit of progress they make just makes your day

I hadn't actually thought about this, but looking back, you are so right. The day she came off the vent, her first full 5 mls of milk, her change to 2 hour then 3 hour feeds, every weight gain, going into the cot, going from nnicu to scbu, feeding tube out...... every single one of these was fantastic and brightened the darkest days!