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My twin daughters, now 14, were born at almost 26 weeks. I wrote their story in a case study for an introductory special education textbook that I write (I'm a professor of early childhood special education). To read it, go to: http://college.hmco.com/education/hunt_marshall/except_child/3e/students/lucynell.html

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I'm the mom of 5 Preemies, so far. I've had so many Happy Days, as well as "delayed" post-partum depression, not the full one , just "baby blues" and Infant security, folks just don't want to "stay away from" other people's babies. As well, one shouldn't be so quick to "lose the hospital ID bracelet".try Hollister, "Ident-A-Band"/OB four - part, I highly reccommend it. IE: keep it on, especially before one gets the birth certificate. Also, Drink "Coke" when breast feeding, I found that it decreases the amount of bouts of apnea. (You drink the coke, and baby feeds from the breast.)So, good luck to all those Preemie Parents out there, and hall me a laugh, to at: indilovesbikki@yahoo.ca luvya lotsa; Indi.

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I'm the mom of 5 Preemies, so far. I've had so many Happy Days, as well as "delayed" post-partum depression, not the full one , just "baby blues" and Infant security, folks just don't want to "stay away from" other people's babies. As well, one shouldn't be so quick to "lose the hospital ID bracelet".try Hollister, "Ident-A-Band"/OB four - part, I highly reccommend it. IE: keep it on, especially before one gets the birth certificate. Also, Drink "Coke" when breast feeding, I found that it decreases the amount of bouts of apnea. (You drink the coke, and baby feeds from the breast.)So, good luck to all those Preemie Parents out there, and hall me a laugh, to at: indilovesbikki@yahoo.ca luvya lotsa; Indi.

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We had a 1lb 6 ounce little boy named Delaney. He had grade 3 bleeds and a grade 3 ROP, 5 blood transfusions, BPD, a bad septic blood infection, collapsed lungs, countless drugs, too many untrasounds, too many blood samples, an operation to close a vessel near his heart and was intubated for 2.5 months. After 119 days in the hospital we brought home our little boy and lived like hermits for 6 months. He is now over 2 years old, 20 pounds, full of life and is an accomplished climber. We think that most of those traumas have healed themselves. Other than moderate hearing loss and soon to be hearing aids he is pretty good. It was tough keeping it all together during those 4 months in the hospital, but we made it. My wife and I are absolutely astounded by the strenght of those tiny little people and I marvel every day at my little boy's accomplishments.

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I am 36 years old and just had my first child in April. Anna was born 9weeks early due to an abruption of the uterine wall. I was supposed to be flown to a larger hospital but because of lack of time, I had an emergency C-section and saw Anna for @2min. and she was flown 2hrs away while I stayed in the hospital. She was 3lbs 12oz and full of hair. Seeing her on a ventilator was the most pitiful thing I have ever seen. I felt so helpless. She spent 1 week in Rochester and 3 more weeks near home in a special care nursery. Frustration is a mild word for what my husband and I felt while she was in the hospital near home. They would limit how much we could touch her or be near her and Rochester wanted us to be near her and touch her as much as humanly possible (we were taught how to not overstimulate). My suggestion to any parent with a baby in nicu is respect the nurses, but also do some research on your own. We had an overprotective nurse who still did things the "old way". We finally consulted Rochester again and talked to the doctors ourselves instead of relaying our concerns thru the nurses and got some more time with her. Anna was in Eau Claire mainly just to gain weight and learn to eat. She was only on a vent for 3 days and never needed a C-pap or monitor. Anna is 11lbs 9oz now and almost 5 months. She sleeps all night and very seldom cries. We heard such horror stories about preemies crying endlessly for no reason. I guess we were lucky. We were so happy when she did cry because we knew she was ok. I think we are very lucky and truely blessed to have Anna. Please don't be frustrated with your preemie. They are God's little gifts - just early.