preemie born at 33 weeks

[London_panda123]

4 years of trying

4 miscarriages

3 IUIs

3 IVFs

Conceived sept 22 Baby due June 23

Suffered placental abruption at week 33

Baby delivered premature via emergency c section

Now in a transitional care unit baby doing well but here till he develops ability to breast feed

anyone else had this kind of journey? Unique eh? Infertility + miscarriages + preemie

Seems to be a pretty rough journey for one human being to go through? Can anyone relate and send some positivity my way?

Obviously overjoyed baby is here! But still it’s a tough time to go through

[AuroraXen]

Wow, that must have been very scary 😨 You've had a very tough journey but you've got this 💪Baby is here! I know it's not what you wanted, but the key thing is he's doing well and he has a strong mummy to support him.

I haven't experienced this but I'd say it's very natural to feel overwhelmed and bruised (in every sense!) - your feelings are valid so don't ignore them. You can still seek counselling or other support if you feel you need it, don't hesitate! Sending you lots of love xx

[London_panda123 in reply to AuroraXen]

thank you I think I need to seek some counselling after as I deffo feel detached from society as let’s face it most people don’t go through this so how can they relate to me and how can I relate to them. Without scathe and judgment and jealousy of others having a so called normal journey.

I don’t have thoughts of self harm at all as im so in love with little man so it’s not post natal depression but it’s I think as you say a very normal reaction to the situation, im not keen to talk to anyone yet as im ok today and holding it together genuinely and feel calm in my waters so to speak (with quiet angry embers) and other days I just cry to my husband and let it all out, but I don’t know about delving into the deepest crevices of my mind about it yet through therapy as I fear it will send me into a spin/ stop milk production and have potentially more detrimental effects than good. I think there’s a time and place for the counselling but I’m not sure now is it. Maybe once hopefully things are stable and I’m back home. I’m not denying I’ll need something as this has been an extra ordinary life event

[ButtercupGarden]

That must have been such a shock for you! Hope you and baby are doing well now. Congratulations on baby's arrival even though they came early! Make sure you are looking after yourself, you've been through a really tough time! Sending hugs xxx

[London_panda123 in reply to ButtercupGarden]

thank you xx

[Livinginhope101]

Hiya. Congratulations on your boy, so pleased for you. I had twins born at 34 weeks so similar to you. I was in transitional care for 10 days with my babies. One needed 2 days in the NICU with extra oxygen which was awful as he wasn't even with me! and they both needed time under the UV lights for jaundice and to establish feeding. They were too weak to breastfeed so we were bottle feeding expressed breast milk every 2 - 3 hours at first. They even needed feeding tubes at points because they weren't finishing their feeds and their weight was dropping too much. It was a scary time and I cried a lot at point with the worry and hormones! But the staff were brilliant at helping me cope and learn how to look after my babies. I totally get how you must be feeling. Take all the help you can get at this stage and try not to worry. If the doctors had any doubt about your boy they'd have told you already and he'd be in the NICU. Babies are born as early as 26 weeks and go on to thrive so he will be okay. My boys are now a very happy and healthy 5 months old and you'd never know they were prem. This time will go quickly and before you know it you'll all be home. Sending love x

[London_panda123 in reply to Livinginhope101]

yeh I’m calling myself 1%x1% club as odds of all this are literally that low if not lower

Great to hear your babies are doing well at 5months and you wouldn’t even know it

I’ve psychologically built myself up to have to worrry till 2-3y as they say adjusted age differences iron out then

Babies got an NG tube- my milk is slowwww to come through, and he’s not quite grasped the reflexes required for BF but is getting there. So we’re just awaiting for us both to move into full on BF. Fingers crossed.

Yeh you’re the second person to say I’m strong so I find that interesting. I guess you have no choice but have to be.

Thank you for replying with your positive experience means a lot x

[Livinginhope101]

Forgot to add, we had 5 years of TTC and ivf, and 3 miscarriages. We are made of tough stuff and you got this x

[sj482]

hey! My little one was born today at 34+4 after pprom I have gbs so was risky to wait to 37 weeks! I totally feel the same as you! Unique is one was of putting it!!!

[Star3129]

Hey don't have any advice here just wanted to say I hope everything goes well with you and the baby, All the good wishes and I hope this time passes soon for you and you take your munchkin home soon with you.You and the baby will be in the prayers and I wish you great motherhood,God bless the little one

[Eternalwarrior]

Hello lovely

I can relate to you. We had a hard journey, 5 years actively TTC with different treatments and IVF. One baby born sleeping, 4 first trimester miscarriages and a very high risk pregnancy and in and out of hospital pretty much throughout the whole pregnancy. We were told there was a very high risk the baby had Down Syndrome, I got COVID, thyroiditis due to Graves’ disease, my autoimmune system went into overdrive, got a rare pregnancy condition called pemphihoid gestationis, an infection, risk of pre-eclampsia with uterine arteries not working well and IUGR. Baby was born just a few weeks early on 3rd percentile and spent nearly 3 weeks in NICU, with a few complications. I really wanted to breastfeed and had to persevere a lot, as he was so poorly I couldn’t breastfeed him when he was in the incubator. The good news is that he is 13 months today and I am still breastfeeding my lovely healthy son. I still cannot believe he is here to stay with us! I have to pinch myself every single day.

The trauma of infertility, loss and all the complications during pregnancy hasn’t left me but I realise every day what a truly miracle my rainbow baby is xxx

If you need someone to talk to who understands, I am here for you. Please feel free to PM me. Take care of yourself xxx

You are truly brave and amazing and a wonderful mum 💕💕💕💕❤️❤️❤️

[London_panda123]

oh wow that’s such an inspirational journey and how lovely to hear such a positive outcome

Thank you for reaching out and sharing that with me.

Its 3 weeks today and I’m still on the transitional care ward. They have him on 3 hourly change feed cycles and my milk is slow to come in/ output isn’t great. I’ll PM you when I’m more awake to chat to you about how you managed to breast feed after such a difficult initial start.

Thank you For your kind words xxx