[Chalky85]

Hi everyone,


I am hoping that its okay that I posted this in here. I was just looking for some people who may understand how I am feeling.

My DS was born at 36+3 2 years ago on Sunday and he was born with a lot of health issues related to a genetic disorder. I had a quick vaginal birth and he was born with no obvious signs that anything was wrong. It was not until day 3 that the paed on call came and was obviously very worried. We ended up being transfered from the private hopsital I was at to our local public that same day and then NETS transferred to Sydney the following day. DS had surgery that afternoon and we spent 3 months in NICU/PICU/HDU before coming home.

I am currently 35+4 with baby number two and I am feeling an overwhelming number of emotions. As I am getting closer to 36 weeks I am feeling very anxious about delivering early again. We know that this baby will not have the same genetic issues that my DS does and this is comforting to know as his condition is largely the reason why he was early. I just want to carry this baby to term and give them the best start possible. I just don't know how I will cope emotionally if I go early again. I was very relaxed during my last labour and it went really well but I don't know if I will be the same again this time if in fact I go early.


I am also worried about those early days in hospital. Although I know from genetic testing that things will be fine, I can't help but feel sick about something being wrong again and going through that whole journey again but having DS to worry about too. We were fortunate last time that we could just drop everything and live in Sydney at RMH Randwick and various hotels but we couldn't do it this time (financially or otherwise).


Am I being silly or are my feelings justified? I don't really have anyone to speak to about it IRL- DH is an optimist and just keeps telling me that everything will be fine and other people just simply don't know what to say

[BabyZ]

It is totally normal to be feeling anxious op, so don't beat yourself up about that.

I had pre-eclampsia so dd was born at 33 wks and was in NICU for 5 weeks. I was told by doctors that it could happen again if I tried for #2, so I'm absolutely terrified of having another baby. I think anybody who's had a prem baby is terrified of it happening again and what the outcome will be. Plus having a toddler to care for aswell does not make it easier.

Try to find comfort in the fact that all the tests show that this baby is ok so far and fingers crossed you make it to full term.

Otherwise, have you made arrangements for your ds to be with family/friends if you need to be in hospital longer than planned? Maybe having a back up plan might put your mind to rest. All the best, hugs

[Chalky85]

Thanks for your reply and kind words I do appreciate it. NICU is tough, I hope your DD had as smooth a journey as possible.

I keep telling myself that everything will be fine but I think with the Christmas rush I've become more emotional and tired and its slowly wearing me down. We have great family who will take care of ds should we need it, its just stressful as he has a lot of medications to take each day to keep him healthy.

My ultimate goal is 37 weeks so that I'd be technically term but at the moment I'm hanging out for Monday so that I'll be 36 weeks allowing me to birth at the hospital of my choice!

[zaacaa]

I understand how you are feeling. DS was born at 35 weeks due to preeclampsia and I am currently 17 weeks pregnant and also stressed about what might happen. I have a cs booked for 39 weeks but don't know if I'll even make it that far! I think it's normal when you've had a prem bub and spent time in SCN or NICU to be anxious about it all, I often wonder what we will do if it happens again. This time we have arranged to be closer to family so that we will have help looking after DS. I wish you all the best OP for a stress free term birth this time!

[MuminMtEliza]

Good luck OP. I know how you are feeling - my DS was born suddenly at 34 weeks and we endured the NICU/SCN journey. When I was expecting our DD I was just hoping to make 36 weeks so there was less chance of needing NICU/SCN. Unortunately I suffered pneumonia and pre-eclampsia at 33 weeks and was finally induced at 35 weeks. My DD although only 100gms heavier than her brother, was able to skip NICU and was only in SCN for a week. She was discharged from hospital at 36 week date. Although I would have loved to have had one of my babies in my hospital room with me rather than in NICU/SCN, I am eternally grateful to have taken healthy babies home. If you are nearly at 36 weeks, there is a good chance that your little one might not need much if any assistance. Fingers crossed your little one stays put for a few more weeks.

[Natttmumm]

I think it's understandable that you are nervous after what happened for you last time. Even if nothing happened I know my nerves get to me at around 33 weeks plus which is now.
I think you have to keep reminding yourself that this baby doesn't have that condition so its unlikely to be the same. 37 weeks is considered full term and even 36 weeks the baby would be fine. My waters broke at 37 weeks and the baby was fine. Second baby ended up induced so who knows.
I try to practice relaxation for half an hour every day and keep reminding yourself that all will turn out well. It's my mantra now.

Best wishes.

[FiFiLicious]

I understand where you are coming from, sort of. My dd was born 6 yrs ago ( today!!) at 36+3 with IUGR (34) she, however was not born with any medical condition. She was slow to grow and still is, but otherwise perfectly healthy. My placenta gave up - I had a massive bleed at 12 weeks which lost me a placental lobe and therefore unable to provide nutrician for DD to term. Dd was in SCU for 1 week and I was in hospital that whole time.

It took me ages to have # 2

Given DD was born early ( defo not Premmie!!) due to placenta issues, I did not expect problems with # 2. New placenta = no issues?? WRONG! My baby was born@ 32 weeks. He had cleft lip but this was unrelated to the Premmie birth. Once again, my placenta failed us, I would never consider # 3, I clearly don't do placentas!

Don't fixate on term, 34 weeks is " considered" out of severe danger assuming no medical issues. 36 weeks is good as term as far as I understand so unless you have issues, you will have a very compact baby for a short time! I am assuming you are considered "high risk" this time so rest assured, should anything happen, the drs/nurses will be by your side the whole time. Well done! 34+5 with your history is awesome! And whatever happens, your baby will be another light for you. My clefty was soooooo gorgeous, I fixated for too long on his issues per birth, I wish I had enjoyed my pregnancy more. He has had his repair now and despite the amazing repair job, I miss his wide smile .
Update when you know!
F

[seepi]

You poor thing you sound stressed already.

My first was ok at birth, then got sick the first night, and was very sick for a week or so with an undiagnosed problem with lots of possible very bad reasons for illness.


anyway - with the next two, I did not fully relax until they got through their first night and were still healthy the next morning.

It seems like your mind knows your second will not have the genetic issues, but your emotions can't believe it til they are actually here and healthy.

[libbylu]

I don't belong in this section but my bestie had her little girl at 34+3 a year ago. She also had an easy delivery and her little girl was healthy, so was able to go home after just a week. She is a gorgeous 1 year old now and has been totally healthy despite her early start.
I think most babies born past the 36 week mark are pretty fine and don't need much extra help - maybe only a few extra days in hospital than a normal full termer. Your first little one's issues were likely related to his condition, which you know your next bub doesn't have.
I wish you the best of luck with your new bub.

[Bek+3]

I hope everything goes well for you OP.

My second baby was born by emergency C/S no labour after I had been in hospital for 4 weeks then had an eclamptic fit. We didn't know before birth there was anything wrong with bub but it turned out he didn't cope with life outside the uterus and within 6 minutes, sirens were ringing, people were running and he was ventilated. Before I met him, he was flown 700km's to Brisbane and was diagnosed with a complex condition incompatible with life unless he had a series of urgent heart surgeries. His first was at 15 hours, second at 7 days and 2 more afterwards. It was awful. He was critically unwell and had many ups and downs before we brought him home.

I knew my second baby had a good heart but the pre-eclampsia was back earlier and much more aggressive. I anticipated DS3 would come early and he did unexpectedly at 32 +2. He didn't have a bad NICU journey, but it could have been better. He had chromic lung disease, a partial collapsed lung and ROP with the usual apneas etc but at no point was his life EVER in question. To be honest, after what we went though with our second, having him at 32 weeks was easy and now 12 months later, it really was just a blip on the radar. He's absolutely fine.

The moral of that story is that no one can say whether you will deliver early or not. If you do though, after everything you've been though with your first child, you may find some relief in that it will be absolutely nothing like the first time, even if the things don't go exactly to plan.

I found that the panic/stress/worry/intensity bar was raised so high by DS2 that our premmie journey with DS3 was really in fact quite stress free.

Good luck OP. I'll be thinking of you. I hope your first little one is as well as can be. xx

This post has been edited by Bek+3: 28/12/2012, 11:22 PM