32/33 Week Update with birth story - VERY LONG

"Missy" wrote in message
ps.com...

It's just
so hard being without her and feeling helpless. I also feel as though
I failed. But our girl will be home in the near future, and yes, I am
so truly blessed.

-- Missy

Missy,

You did NOT fail- you need to stop blaming yourself right now! I know you
didn't want to have a C-section, and it sucks really bad that things didn't
work out the way you had hoped, but the fact is that C-sections are there
for a reason, and those reasons are for situations like the one you were in.
You didn't "wimp out" or choose the easy route- your baby was in distress
and it was a medical necessity. You absolutely did the RIGHT thing for your
baby.

You say your baby can't take a bottle yet, is she receiving formula via a
tube in her nose? Thankfully her lungs are doing well, the fact that she
hasn't required any extra oxygen is a good sign. Is she able to maintain
her body temperature ok?

Hang in there and take care of yourself- you will get through this. Lean on
your family, don't try to handle this all by yourself. And, keep an eye on
yourself if the depression doesn't lift after you and your baby are reunited
and seek help from your doctor if you need it.

Congrats on the birth of your baby girl,

--
laurie
mom to Jessica, 5.5
Christopher, 3,5

I've been pumping since five hours after my c-section. I pump every
two hours. At a certain point if there is room on one of the empty
floors of the hospital (they use it for overflow) I will stay at the
hospital. Once she is able to take a bottle I will stay there so that
I can come down for all or most of the feedings and breastfeed. I was
told by lactation that once she can take a bottle she can breastfeed,
so that is my plan.

good for you Missy! I don't know if you were around on here, around 4 mths
ago, when cjra's full term baby had severe meconium aspiration? well she was
told similar, as soon as she can take a bottle she can breastfeed and when
it came to that point, they were then insisting they give the baby a bottle
so they could measure input, which then put breastfeeding at risk and there
were heart wrenching posts when she feared she would end up exclusively
pumping. I understand there are some cases where a bottle can be used as a
step to breastfeeding, but also that these are quite rare cases, certainly
not as common as nicu nurses like to make out and often the lactation people
they work with are pulled in to having to work with the nicus policy. If
possible, go straight to breastfeeding, without ever offering her a bottle,
though with a young preemie like yours, she's very very unlikely to be able
to go straight from just tube feeds to all breastfeeds, so there will be an
overlap period, where feeds start with breast, until she gets too tired and
then are topped up by tube.

Cheers

Anne

"Missy" wrote in message
ups.com...



I know this was long. I surely wasn't expecting to have my baby now.
We were supposed to have a full two months left. It breaks my heart to
be without her.

Missy
-- Baby Boo Novemeber 7th, 2006

Missy, I hope you are reunited with your baby soon. It sounds like you've
been through a pretty rough time.
Robyn

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I'm sorry her arrival
was so traumatic for you. I can imagine how shocking it must be to
think you have so much time left and then have none. You did a great
job making some very tough decisions for your little girl. You did the
right thing every step of the way. I hope she is home with you soon.

Elle

Congratulations on the birth of your daughter! I'm sorry her arrival
was so traumatic for you. I can imagine how shocking it must be to
think you have so much time left and then have none. You did a great
job making some very tough decisions for your little girl. You did the
right thing every step of the way. I hope she is home with you soon.

Elle