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March 10, 2002, I found out that I was pregnant with my first child at the age of 41. Due Date: October 25, 2003. I refused any prenatal tests such as the Amniocentesis. Only blood tests were permitted. At 23 weeks, on Sunday, June 30, 2002, 6 A.M., while sleeping, my water broke. I was rushed to St. Agnes Hospital in Hartford, WI, where it was diagnosed that indeed the membrane ruptured. I was taken by ambulance to St. Mary’s Hospital by the Lake Front in Milwaukee, WI. I had to stay in bed at St. Mary’s until I gave birth at 26 weeks on July 18, 2002, to a baby boy. Luke weighed 2 lbs 1.5 (949 grams) and was 14 inches long. When I first entered the hospital the neonatologist that came in to speak to me was trying to talk me into terminating the pregnancy or to sign papers that said "do not resesitate". He was trying to explain to me all that could go wrong and all the unnecessary pain and suffering my baby was going to go thru. I would not agree. IT WAS THE WORST NIGHT OF MY LIFE. But we made a plan. If I gave birth within the next 2 - 3 days, they would not go to extreme measures, however, if I could hold on to him for 7 more days, they would do what ever it took to keep the baby alive. The 4 - 6 days in between were a "gray" area. I held onto my baby for 19 more days! I owe that to God and to prayer only. It was God's will. This is all God's will. Though very small, Luke was a fighter. He had problems along the way. And a lot of blood transfusions. I lost count at 12 and he had many more than that. However, very important, his brain scans all came back normal! Luke was given my breast milk by NG tube around his 2nd or 3rd week of life. Around his 3rd or 4th week of like the oxygen tube was removed from his lungs and a CPAP was inserted into his nose. On the same day the CPAP was inserted, the nurses added a protein to the breast milk. "They didn't know what was in the breast milk" which I believe to be ridiculous. Within 24 hours of having this protein additive and the CPAP inserted Luke was diagnosed with NEC. Luke was re-intubated and was treated with 3 different types of antibiotics, and watched very closely with bi-daily x-rays. He recovered after about 10 days. But was intravenously feed for another month or so. Then very slowly NG fed breast milk again…. this time I insisted "NO Protein Additives" and that they would not use the CPAP--which they did not use again. Luke also was diagnosed with ROP, a condition were the blood vessels in the eyes over develop. “They” think it is due to too much oxygen in the isoletes, but no proof of this is available. The only thing that could be done was frequent eye exams held right there at the hospital. First every two weeks, then Luke’s eyes seems to be getting worse, so then it was once a week. During his last few days in the hospital,the doc gave him an exam and indicated that his eyes were showing improvement. That the ROP was regressing! His appointments went back to a two-week exam in her office. There she indicated that the ROP was still regressing, “come back in 4 weeks”. Then it was 3 months. Now we don’t have to go back until September…that is 6 months from his last appointment in March. And all she is looking for now is crossed eyes or lazy eye, which Luke shows NO signs of. Then his next eye appointment will be in one year. If all keeps going as well as it is he will have 20/20 vision. Luke was also diagnosed with Chronic Lung Disease. It was explained to me that Luke’s condition was due to the tube that was in his lungs, scarring the lungs. Luke was intubated for much of his hospital stay. And came home with a Canula and oxygen set a .25 liters. The lowest possible setting a home devise could be set at. However, as of April 29th Luke was given a clean bill of heath from his pulmonary doctor. Luke is no longer in need of the extra oxygen. Luke was transported to another hospital on November 5, 2002. There he had surgery for a double hernia. A condition that is also very common in premature infants The only reason they transported him there is because St. Mary’s did not have a Neonatal Anesthesiologists. That surgery went very well for Luke. For me, I was out of my mind with worry for him. I even hurt for him--unbelievable. But Luke was released to go home on November 9, 2002. I couldn't get out of the hospital fast enough with him. I cried all the way home. We were there for 115 days. Luke is on his way to being a normal healthy boy. He is eating well, learning new things every day; he is a very happy and healthy baby. Even though Luke had a rough start he has been given a clean bill of health. He is on schedule for all his vaccinations. Luke had received 7 (monthly) Synegis shots to prevent RSV. Luke also was given 2 Flu shots as prescribed by his Pulmonary Doctor. Luke has not been sick at all since coming home on November 9, 2002. Luke now weighs in at 16 lbs and is 27” long. His corrected age is 6 months 2 weeks and the doctors say he is right on schedule for his “corrected age”. Birth to 3 is probably a very good system, but I hated them. All they wanted to do was come into my home and look for things wrong with Luke. I cried after their visits. I finally told them to NOT come back anymore. There is nothing wrong with Luke nor his development. I have to say that without the doctors, Luke's chances were so slim. BUT Besides his primary Neonatologist, who by the way was sent from Heaven. The other doctors were quacks. They wanted to insert a GI tube where they would feed him directly into his stomach. I was furious and refused. Dr. Mounts, (the angel doc) stood by my decision and Luke learned to breath,suck,swallow just fine. I learned how to insert the NG tube just in case tho. That was our agreement. I can't expalin how terrible and wonderful those days were. Some days where so happy and so good. Other days, I didn't know how we were going to make it. I got to stay with him in his room once they moved him from the NICU to Peds. Because of Dr Mounts and the hospitals new policy of letting moms stay. Well, I said to much. Even if no one reads this, it was very good therapy to just get some of it out. Just one more thought: I never thought I could love so much as I love that little boy. He is the reason I survived, he is the reason I want to live now. He is such a wonderous miracle baby. Luke, your mommy loves you more than life itself.

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This is a great site!!! I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa in August 2001 and my son was not due until December. The whole pregnancy was very stressful. At 17 weeks along, we thought we had lost him, but what had happened was I did miscarry his twin, which I did not know I was carrying. We had to relocate to Winnipeg - thank God for Ronald McDonald House!! Our son was born at 31 weeks and weighed 4lbs, 15 oz., but still had to remain in NICU for almost 2 weeks. The steriod shots prior to his emergency c-section helped tremendously. Even at such a small size, he was fighting the tubes being put in him, that he had to be settled by Morphine. I did not get to hold him until he was 6 days old, and boy did I cry when he was placed in my arms, tubes and all!!! I had read about Kangaroo Kare and NICU and Preemies, but never did I think it would/could happen to me! Dmytri was then placed in Intermediate Care until he was 6 weeks old. The breast-feeding was very difficult because he would fall asleep or only take 1 or 2 ccs, but my husband and I would not give up. I kept up with the pumping, while he was tube fed my milk and would even go try to breast-feed at all hours of the night. Very slowly, he gained weight and we applauded at each ounce gained. I thought we would never be able to bring him home as the Brady's would not stop! Finally, he passed the 72 hours of not having a Brady and I got room in with him, prior to his release. I kept my fingers crossed during the car seat trial, and he passed! The only problem he had was with Reflux for about 4 months, which Maxeran did wonders. Today, Dmytri is still small, weighing 23lbs(in the 25th percentile), but he is very active(climbing over gates, crib rails, tables, you name it). He is 19 months now and loves to give hugs and kisses and I cherish each slobbery kiss and choke(hug):). He loves to talk. Dmytri's brother and sister love him to death. I am very thankful for all the support from family, friends, NICU staff, IMCN staff and Ronald McDonald House(with whom we still keep in touch). I pray for all the other preemies out there, as well as their parents. We know what you are going through. We never gave up on him and we know you won't give up on yours.

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I'm a proud mother of a 27 weeker. Gabriel was to be born on Jan. 15, 2003 but instead was born on Oct. 17, 2002. He spent 11 weeks in the NICU and came home on Jan 4th with O2 for a very short time. In Feb 2003 he was back in the hospital with RSV even though he was taking the shots. Gabriel is now amost 7 months old and is doing just great "Thank God". He will be taking theropy for his neck since he was laying mostly on one side in the NICU. Other then that he is happy and lots of fun to be around. My 9 year old son is wonderful with him as well.

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My son was born at 29 weeks. I was in labour for three days and thought I had gastro!! I decided to got to hopsital as I thought it was Braxton hicks. I was feeliong great and running up the4 stairs to the maternity ward,l but when I got there I soon slowed down as they told me I was in labour! I was put on a ventolin drip and had a patch on also. The contraction stopped, then I was taken to another hospital which was a 2.5 hour ambulance ride. When I got to the hospital I was taken off all everything then the contractions came again. My husband was in another state so thank god for my mum! 6 hours later I delivered my son who was not breathing. They showed him to me then took him away. It was 4 days until I was even allowed to touch his foot. He weighed 2lb 12oz. He was like a text book prem... you name it and he got it. When he was 6 weeks old we left NICU and got sent back to our local hospital which had a SCN. There he had a blood transfusion due to low haemoglobin. A week after the transfusion when he was 38 weeks gestation we went home. He is now a whopping 9.5kg baby and you would never know he was prem. Most people tell me te send him to a weight loss clinic, but he's not overweight just very healthy!! Thanks this is a great site.