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What about all those scars?

Preemie-l discussion forum       http://groups.yahoo.com/group/preemie-list

Jennifer remembers, "Jonah, my 3 year-old 26-weeker has a chest tube scar that is also growing with him. So no, physically, scars will not completely go away without surgical/cosmetic intervention.  However, his scars don't bother me as much as my own chest tube scars do! I had a disease known as empyema (effusion of a pneumonia into the chest cavity) while I was 6 months pregnant with him, and had to have a surgical thorocoscopy w/ 3 postural drainage tubes left in for 6 weeks! I went into unstoppable premature labor the following day. Anyway, the tubes left pretty nasty scars. . .but after 3 kids I'm not in much shape to wear a bikini anymore, anyway.  But I wanted to comment about your association of the scars with your NICU experience. It has taken me a long time to not dwell on what we endured during that time. Actually, our scars are kind of comical as we had matching chest tubes for awhile. . .
Your baby is still young, and you are still close to the experience. As time passes, so the memories will fade and become less traumatic. As for the scars, I would wait until your daughter is old enough to decide for herself whether or not they bother her. I would guess a surgeon would want her to be quite a bit older before they'd operate, anyway."

Suzanne advises, "John Henry had heart surgery and hernia surgery and those scars are truly almost invisible. The scars that show up are the ones from the chest tube during heart surgery, the CVC cutdown scar on his arm, and from being burned?? by the CO2 monitor.  I just took a look, and the one from the chest tube just looks like a lighter patch of skin now (it used to be rather *gathered* looking), and the one from the CO2 monitor is now practically invisible (it was sort of a puckered scar). I think filling out with a little fat helped a bit, although he's only in the 5% -- but that's a jump from last year. The one JH notices is the CVC cutdown on his arm, he asked me *Mommy, how come I have a wishing star on my arm?* I told him because he was very special. He then asked me *Did you scratch me or something, why did you do that?!* (He's way too smart!) So I told him Dr. V (who he knows) put it there when he was in the hospital. JH knows he used to live in the hospital and understands he was born early. He asked me about that when we watched about the septuplets on TV recently -- *Was I born 10 weeks early like they were, is that why I was in the hospital?* There is something that helps get rid of scars, its like silicone sheeting I believe. From what I heard, it works most obviously on large scarring. I can't remember one of the companies, but if you do a search for 'silicone to remove scar' you should come up with something. Maybe Kylie's scars will end up like JH's chest tube scar, just a slightly lighter patch of skin."

Theresa adds, "Hello, well I know exactly how you feel. Kaitlynn has been home since this past New Years Eve. She was born at 24wks and she was a twin. Her brother past away due to PROM. Being a twin made her lungs extra bad. She had 2 chest tubes on her left side but 6 on her right. The scaring is really bad. They are going to do surgery on them because the scar tissue has adhered itself to her ribcage. So as she grows her scarring gets worse. It looks like giant dimples. When she was born she weighed 1lb 10oz. She has so many scars. Everytime I see her arms, legs or feet {I play alot with her feet} I see so so many scars. As she grows her scarring gets more noticeable. Her heals are really looking bad because of all the heal sticks during her 4month stay in NICU. Kaitlynn is 9months actual age this Thursday. And she is only 5 months corrected. I wish I could tell you, the bad memories will pass, but I think they will always be in the back of our minds. Everytime I look at Kaitlynn's little face I think how blessed we are to even have her after 13years of trying. Just remember how much of a miracle Kylie is."

Judi notes, "My son Max had one pneumothorax while in the NSCU. He is now 3 years old, and his scar is kind o fin the fold of his armpit, and barely visible. I often talk with Max about his stay in the hospital, in positive ways, about how the hospital and nurses and doctors helped us. I do remember that those first months after the NSCU were still raw and painful for me. Three years down the road is a different story. We are all happy and healthy, and Max would like us to bring a new baby home to live here. I am almost ready for that! I think!! :)"