Could anyone reassure me about baby in special care?

LL30

Love the McDonald's story!

margaretclare

As a former midwife, the problem is not so much the weight - 5 pounds is not the worry. I had a baby born at full-term and she only weighed 5 1/2 pounds! It's not the weight. The problem is, in the last few weeks before birth the lungs have to mature and this is the reason why 'they tried to stop the labour'. The lining of her lungs secretes a substance called surfactant and this is missing in a baby who is born too early - it hasn't had time to develop. Without surfactant the lungs don't expand to let in enough air. This is the reason for all the help with breathing that she's being given.

Don't worry too much - she is in the best place and is getting the best care.

HTH

durham_girl

My son was born 6 weeks early too and he weighed 5lb1. He spent a week in special care in an incubator. When he first went in he had help with his breathing for a few days. He also had a line in his hand and a feeding tube in. The help with his breathing stopped after 3-4 days and came home when he was 8 days old with a totally clean bill of health. He hasn't suffered any problems since and is now a very lively 18 month old.

She is in the best possible place, the scbu nurses are fab. I'm sure you will soon be getting baby cuddles!

lipsthefish

durham_girl wrote: »

My son was born 6 weeks early too and he weighed 5lb1. He spent a week in special care in an incubator. When he first went in he had help with his breathing for a few days. He also had a line in his hand and a feeding tube in. The help with his breathing stopped after 3-4 days and came home when he was 8 days old with a totally clean bill of health. He hasn't suffered any problems since and is now a very lively 18 month old.

She is in the best possible place, the scbu nurses are fab. I'm sure you will soon be getting baby cuddles!

Was your little one born in Durham hospital? That is where my niece is xx

Kitten_Pie

My sister was born 16 weeks premature and weighed 1.7lbs, she is now 21 and has no health issues (physically or mentally)

durham_girl

lipsthefish wrote: »

Was your little one born in Durham hospital? That is where my niece is xx

Yes, that's where he was. The nurses and doctors there were great with him. Nothing was too much trouble. They have a family room too, just off the scbu where I stayed for a couple of nights before he came home. It was nice to know that I was looking after him, but there was somebody close by if I needed help. If your niece asks, they probably would do the same thing for her

starnight_2

Just popping in a for a hug as well

I was born 6 week early in the 80's, weighed 6lbs, I'll be 30 this yr and have a son of my own. Also have a friend who's nephew was born at 24 wks, weighed barely a 1lb and he fought his little heart out. He was the size of your palm and his skin was translucent. Still bouncing around today at 5 yr old and started P1, a little tyke too.

Just keep positive.
xx

CallaLily

My little boy was born at 35 weeks and was in SCBU for several weeks. He had jaundice, wouldn't feed, needed oxygen and had a few other problems. On Sunday it will be his 5th Birthday :bdaycake: and other than a small problem with one of his eyes he is a determined, strong minded, healthy little boy .

The thing that helped us most at the time was my mil having our other 3 children so we could spend time in the SCBU with him, may be worth offering to do some babysitting if the have other children to look after? Other than that just some practical support like shopping for food for them, and emotional support when they feel down.