[timni]

Well pbmom asked me to go with her to the ultrasound today, she is 27 weeks along. It is our first dr's visit together. I was waivering between crying and laughing the whole time. we got to see her face and hands and I just can't believe this is really real. Then the Doctor comes in and begins to be serious... Our little girl is pretty small and her placenta is bleeding around the umbilical cord. They have begun talking about a very early preemie birth. I am so happy about the reality of this placement and yet now that I finally feel like I am going to be a mom I am faced with this danger for my little girl. I am just a giant ball of emotions right now. The dr. wants her back every week now for ultrasounds. Keep us all in your prayers. I have no idea how to care for a preemie I guess I need to go to the library.

[Nevada Jen]

Welcome to parenthood. I am so sorry that your incredible day had to be tempered with bad news. I hope you find that the doctor was being overly pessimistic and that all turns out well. If you want support from people who have been there done that I just discovered a very active board today. It is ezboards.com. It has a bunch of boards. I did a search for adoption and a board for people dealing with premies and possible premature birth and adoption of premies was one of the boards that came up. The board is very active because they kick you off if you do not post once every two weeks.

Good luck. You are in my prayers.

Jen

[redhedded]

Timni, I do not have any advice. My precious son was born at 35 weeks, though his birthmother went into premature labor at 29 weeks; they were able to prevent her from delivering for 6 weeks. I began reading voraciously on prematurity.

My dearest friends babe was born two months ago at 24 weeks gestation. It has been a stressful time filled with prayer and worry, but he is doing so well, having reached the 3 lb mark, breathing room air and eating orally with tremendous success.

You are all in my thoughts and prayers.

[SadieAnn]

Timni - Hopefully the doctor is just be very cautious and suggesting the toughest case scenerio. (((hugs)))

[mumofone]

My son was born at 34 weeks and was small. In fact, he is still small, but both of his birthparents are small. He was in the hospital for 20 days. There is so much more technology today to help with preemie babies. I am sure your new babe will be fine.

Will keep your little blessing in my prayers.

[timni]

Thanks everyone. I wrote my post shortly after arriving home from the doctor's office. So i think I was a bit emotional . After I have read your thoughts and good wishes, and spoken with my dh and my mom and sisters, especially my older sis who is pg and due in 8 weeks, I feel like I have a little more perspective. So I think I will try again
The most incredible thing happened today. I got to have a glimpse of my future. I went to the doctor with our pbmom and saw our little girl. She is still cooking and is a little small but she looked great to me, well that is after I decifered the ultrasound I have seen many ultrasound pics and I have almost always felt a little jealousy and grief that I didn't have one myself, BUT NOT TODAY!!!! E kept introducing me as the other mommy, she was so sweet I was in tears almost the whole time. We laughed together and cried a little together. E asked me to be in the delivery room at the birth. I am truly blessed. I have one more request from the big man upstairs though..... I would like this little girl to have everything she needs to come into this world and I will help her with the rest after she is here! We are going to be prepared for anything, but most of all we are going to be prepared for her, finally.

OK so now I am crying again. I guess tears are just the theme of today. Happy tears are so awesome

Elaine

[icunurse]

I used to work in a NICU with preemies, so if I can help you with anything, let me know. Every day at this age makes a difference, so I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for all of you. Like someone else said, it's good that the doc is being cautious and keeping a close eye on things (plus you'll get more pics!).

[LisaCA]

what a happy and emotional day for you and pbmom! you get the pictures to keep-how sweet. No words of wisdom (dd was fullterm one week early), just positive thoughts sent to you, pbmom and baby .

take care,

Lisa

[momofmykids]

I have a cyber friend from another board who's adaughter was born at 26 weeks. She has done beautifully, is ahead of schedule and was discharged yesterday.

Don't wory...you'll be fine!

[danhanan]

My oldest daughter was born at 29 weeks. She did fine and actually left the hospital before my due date. That was 28 years ago. She's now a happy, healthy mother of two.

Nancy

[Casey677]

I just wanted to give you a hug!!! What an emotional (both ends of the spectrum) day you had yesterday. Dear friends of our just had their baby girl at 33 weeks a few days ago. She came out weighing a little over 4 lbs and not needing any oxygen. I will say a little prayer for you, pbirthmom, and baby!!!

Casey

[timni]

Just a quick update I got a phone call and the dr. has put pbmom on bed rest. Hopefully that will help a little.

Elaine

[MrsSmith]

Hi -

Our DD was born early (almost 35 weeks) and was born small for gestational age with some other minor complications as well. Prior to matching with our DD's bparents, we also were considering another match with a 30 week baby. At that time, we found a book that was very helpful and I wanted to pass along the title to you- it is called Preemies, The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies and is by Dana Wechsler Linden, Emma Trenti Paroli and Mia Wechsler Doron, MD. We actually read several books about preemies and this was the best of the lot - we wound up buying it and referred to it frequently after Emma was born, especially during the early days when she was in the NICU. (For the record, she is now an extremely active and healthy toddler who turns 2 on Thursday! )

I wish you peace, patience and the best of luck in the coming weeks. Bed rest by proxy can be as emotionally trying as actual bed rest. You, your family and the expectant mom and baby will all be in my thoughts and prayers!

Good luck to you in your adoption journey -

Heather

[Poolside]

Heather, you beat me to the recommendation of that book, it's truly a must! We actually named outr DD the name of the little girl on the cover.
Elaine: Congratulations on seeing your daughter and getting ready!! This book is awesome. I started reading it when we thought we would have an early delivery. DD arrived a couple weeks before the early date.. a little over 3lbs. How wonderful you are so involved in the early stages. They had to practically color on our ultrasound before I could see DD. It's a wonderful experience. Our Bmom was on weekly, then 2-days a week, then every other day visits for several weeks. Don't panic, but they even kept her in the hospital a few weekends. All is well. The doctors are going to watch very carefully, and do the right thing. I've read (and lived) that preemie girls are especially strong, and seem to make it throught NICU stay faster than boys. I cherrish those weeks visiting her, and getting ready for her to come home. They're so strong and perfectly small. If this is your first baby, you won't really even know how small she is until months later. I know I didn't. They sent DD home at 4lb 6oz and I thought thought that was perfectly normal.. To me it was, and is. I'll be thinking of you, and keeping up with this thread.
*** Sears, Dillards, and Baby Place have clothes for <5lb babies.
Hee hee aren't you exicted?

[Bassette]

A warm hug to you. I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers.