Parents of Preemies?

my daughter was 5 weeks early but never had to be in the NICU...we weighed 6lbs 9.5 oz at birth and went down to 6lbs 5oz when we left the hospital...she's now 17months and healthy as a horse..she's 27lbs! But i work in the maternity ward and seen a baby born that was 1lb 6 oz...and was there for a month and a half before i had my daugthter and was still there when i left..but she was doing good...to find out it was the daughter of the man who sold my husband and I our car!

My daughter, due to severe preelampsia, was delivered via emergency c-section at 34 weeks gestation. She weighed 4lbs. 7oz. and was the smallest living creature that I have ever seen!

She was on C-PAP for 24 hours and under the billy lights for jaundice for 24 hours after that. She spent a total of 8 days in the NICU and weighed 4lbs. 14oz. when she came home. At three months, she developed torticollis and was placed in physical therapy once a week. Now, at 12 months, she has little to no side tilt. :)

She's now 12 months, 20 pounds, and 29 inches long. She's almost to the point where she's pulling to stand (she will stand with help) and is in third gear while crawling. She didn't sit unassisted or propped up until 10 months. We're still working on the pincer grasp with her as she's yet to learn how to self-feed. Other than that, we have been extremely blessed!

My daughter was born at 25 weeks, weighing 1 pound, 11 ounces. She spent 79 days in the NICU. 19 days of those on the vent, 39 on C-PAP, and 2 weeks on Nasal Cannula. She had a PDA that closed with meds. She suffered from a Grade III IVH. She had Stage 2 ROP in both eyes. We were very blessed, as our daughter never had an infection nor any surgery while in the NICU. She came home weighing 4 pounds, 14 ounces.

My daughter is 4 1/2 now and doing wonderful! She does have Spastic Diplegic Cerebral Palsy and wears braces to aide her in walking. However, she is able to walk without them. She needs them for ankle stability and gait control. She is not effected cognitively at all. My daughter is medically healthy, for which I am very thankful.

How old are your twins now? Are they in Early Intervention Services? I'd like to pass along information for a support forum for parents of children with special needs and disabilities. There are a lot of preemie parents there, and one of them has a child that is blind in one eye from Stage 5 ROP. I thought you (or anyone else who replies to this question) might want to seek out other people who are "in your shoes". The address is:

www.specialparent.org

I wish you and your family the best of luck!

My son was 5 weeks premature, weighed 4# 2ounces and stayed in the NICU for 17 days. Was on the vent for 10 days, c-pap for 12 hours, and cannula for the 5 days.

Right now he's 10 months old, running around, and more strong than kids his own age. He's a determined little fellow!

My son was born 5 weeks early and he weighed 3lbs. 11ozs at birth. He stayed in the hospital for 2 weeks and when I brought him home, he weighed 4lbs.2ozs. He is completely normal and has no delays.

all 3 of mine were premie. my first was born at 33 weeks weighing in at 4lbs. 5 oz. she died three times in NICU. she couldnt breastfeed and had eye problems. she is 4 now and extremly smart. she has had 2 eye surgeries and is going in for another. my 2nd was born at 34 weeks and weighed 6lbs.9 oz. he is fine. and my last was born at 35 weeks and weighed 5lbs. 5oz. she is 7 weeks now and so far so good. my first came home at 6lbs. about 2 months later. the other two came home the next day.

my preemie weighed 4lbs 4oz he stayed in the NICU bout three weeks. coming home at 5lbs 2oz. now he's 7 lbs 2oz. he's a breast-feeder, but not getting enough, we are supplementing with formula.

I have a daughter who was 10.5 weeks premature, born at 3 lbs 9 oz and 14.5 inches long. she came home 60 days later at 6 lbs 1 oz. she had apneumothorax, PPHN, Chronic lung disease, grade 3 IVH (brain bleed), hydrocephalus (resolved), feeding difficulties and a bout with meningitis while in NICU. She is now 3 years old and perfect in every way :) my earliest talker, very smart :)

Myself and my younger brother were both premature. I weighed just over 4 pounds and he weighed 3 something. We were both born at 7 months. I had asthma as a child but outgrew it. He has had no problems.

I dont have preemies, but u answered my question and said that ur hubby will get deployed soon. I no how hard it must be. I jus wanted to wish u the best of luck to you and ur children.