Small Babes

Our little boy was IUGR, I was induced at 35 weeks 5 days because he'd pretty much stopped growing - I went to the hospital just for a scan and had him at 9.47 that night He was 2.08kg (4lb 6oz) but was breathing on his own with apgars of 7 and 10. They had a SCBU nurse in the delivery room and I only got to give him a quick kiss before they took him to SCBU and was put in an incubator with monitors and a drip and feeding tube in his nose. DH went with him while I got cleaned up then I got to visit him in a wheelchair cos of the epidural I'd had. He was in SCBU for 13 days, had 1 day of phototherapy for jaundice and quite a few heel prick tests to check his blood sugars. We managed to get breastfeeding about day 10, prior to that he'd just been too tired to suck and I think it took that long for his sucking reflex to kick in so I was expressing and taking milk into the hospital. It was a pretty stressful and tiring 2 weeks, very hard to be discharged from the hospital and come home with no baby But I also got great one on one help with breastfeeding, bathing, infant CPR and changing etc (I knew absolutely nothing!) and most of the nurses were just lovely.

Blake is now 8 months and doing great, he's gone from being below the 5th percentile to about the 25th and you would never know to look at him that he was prem and we've had no problems since bringing him home. And small isn't so bad, all his clothes and hammock and bassinette lasted a lot longer!

All the best, I'm sure you will be just fine especially with how far along you are

I had twins delivered at 35weeks due to Aoife being IUGR. We were under close monitoring from 28weeks as she was measuring small and there was reduced blood flow through the placenta.

She was 3lbs 10oz (1.64kgs) when born while her sister was 5lbs ( 2.2kgs). Aoife had apgar score of 9 and 10 while Eimear had 7 and 8.

Eimear required resuscitation after birth and needed breathing assistance (CPAP) for 3 days.
The doctors had told us that due to Aoife being under stress in the womb she would be more prepared for the outside world.
Meanwhile Eimear was cruising along and not expecting to be extracted for another 3 weeks at least

Other than this we all spent went home after 10 days in NICU once feeding was established.

The girls just turned one at the weekend and both of them are walking about.
They have been sharing the honour of different milestones. Aoife commando crawled first while Eimear started walking first.

Also at plunket last week Aoife weighed 9.42kgs while Eimear weighed 8.84kgs.

My girls shared a placenta and towards the end greedy little Hazel started taking more than her fair share. Luckily they weren't to bad certainly not as rough as some of the other twinnies in this forum but Esme was 2.2kg and Hazel was 2.7kg. I look back at photos and can't believe they were that tiny! Thankfully they didn't have to spend any time in NICU like we were told they probably would. They were healthy happy little girls from the get go despite being so little. They have done nothing but thrived at the moment Esme is just 7.8kg and Hazel is about 8.5kg if I remember correctly. They are both developing right on track. Esme has just started crawling forwards and Hazel can pull herself into a sitting position from her belly.

I hope everything goes well on the big day chic! Best of luck I'm sure she'll be just a perfect wee poppet

Hi, I had a similar experience to tishy, we got to 35wks with weekly scans every week with Jacob always measuring 2 to 3wks behind the norm & Eli pretty much on track (for twins that is). Jacob was 1.7 & Eli 2.2kg. Jacob was the stronger of the boys at birth & managed to breath on his own straight away with an Apgar score of 6 (while Eli's was only 2...eek). Jacob had a few issues with feeding & gaining weight (was crap at the Breast). He has nearly reached the 25th percentile for his actual age & nearing the 50th for his adjusted age & is thrieving now & slowly catching up to his brother.

It really doesn't mean they are weaker! Jacob's always been a real fighter & is really thrieving now.

Hi Everyone,

Thanks so much for all your comments and support.

I had my ultra sound today and its seems that she is continuing to grow just enough for doctors to keep her there till 3rd March when we booked in for c section.

She has gone from the 10th centile to the 13th centile in 4 weeks, so thats great news and weighing a estimted 4 and a half pounds.

Thanks once again, your comments, experiences and support has really helped.