preemie-l Introducing Glenn (34 weeker)

Todd, Suzanne and Glenn Palmer (tpalmer@indirect.com)
Tue, 4 Jun 1996 21:00:52 -0700 

Hi, everyone!  I'm Suzanne Palmer.  My husband, Todd and I have an 8 month
old, Glenn, who was born at 34 weeks.  I'm so glad there is a resource such
as this online now.  When Glenn was born, I was lost.  I had nothing but
"The Premature Baby Book" as a guide, and it, of course, offered a reserved
level of comfort!  Here's our story (I'll try to be brief).

At 34 weeks, my water broke.  They never determined why (or bothered to
speculate with me about it).  I'd had a sinus infection for nearly a month.
The erethromyacin (sp?) I was on (3rd 10 day course when he was born) did
nothing to clear the infection.  I'm praying that this was the cause.  My
grandmother had my Mom (term), a baby at 6 months which died, and my uncle
who was six weeks early and lived.  My Mom had me (3 weeks early) and my
brother (term, with undiagnosed preterm labor at 6 weeks).  I can't believe
I didn't piece together that family history before my experience.  I'd been
having menstrual like cramps 2 days prior, but read that this was a sign of
FALSE labor, so I just rested and didn't worry. The whole pregnancy had been
normal.  My water broke at 6.30 pm on September 26, 1995.  My first
contraction was at 7.00 pm.  At 8.00 pm I was 4 cm.  At 9.00 I was 8.  They
took me into the OR at 10.00 pm and at 10.10 Glenn was born (a hefty 5lb
8oz).  He was crying thinly, but managed to grasp the blanket over my legs
and drag it off me as they whisked him through the double doors into the NICU.  

He came so fast, that I didn't receive the steroid that would have helped
his lungs.  If this happens with my next one, I will be educated enough to
know to ask them to try and stop it for at least the 48 hours it takes to
increase the chances for the baby's lungs. He was retracting quite badly,
but they were hopeful he'd make it without CPAP.  He spent the next 3 days
under the oxyhood and nasal canula (which he hated).  I stayed with him from
8am to 9pm every day.  I couldn't bear to be away from him, and I think it
helped him in his recovery.  

On day 3, the RDS was too much.  They intubated, and he spent 72 hours on
the ventilator, and received the Exosurf, 2 doses.  When he came off, it was
the roughest day, wondering if he'd breathe or not on his own.  He did, and
it was a steady, slow uphill climb from there.

In retrospect, I realize Glenn's story is not severe.  It makes parents of
term only babies shudder in horror, but sharing it with preemie parents
almost makes me feel as if I don't quite belong, as I know we were not so
severe.  But I didn't know that at the time.  It was the end of the world.
I was so terrified my baby was going to die.  

He spent just over 4 weeks in the hospital and amazingly never suffered any
apnea or bradys.  Although he was big for his age, he was slow to keep warm,
and eat ( he wouldn't take a bottle until the day before he came home).  I
thought he was right on track for his age, right now, but lately I'm seeing
that he is a little more uncoordinated than most 8 month olds.  He's a happy
baby though, and generally healthy.  It seems he's always got a cold,
though, but nothing ever severe.  As a matter of fact, he was exposed to RSV
in April (his cousins (a 4 yr old and a 4 month old) both had it (we didn't
realize it at the time) and exposed him for FOUR FULL DAYS!!  I was
terrified, but the tests came back negative.  

If I'd had a support group such as this one, I'd have been in a much better
state of mind.  I have one thing to pass along to Moms & Dads of preemies
still in the NICU regarding breastfeeding:  I pumped through Glenn's stay in
the hospital, and for one month following his homecoming.  We worked and
worked at breastfeeding, but he wouldn't catch on.  I quit pumping in
November.  It wasn't until January that he started eating aggressively.  I
have no doubt that he would have caught on then, if I'd kept pumping.  The
breast milk is so much better than the formula for them, but not only that,
renting a pump will cost you less than formula in the long run, so keep it
up if you can bear to!

I'm so glad to find this site.  I have much support and understanding to
share with others, and will undoubtedly need the support of this group in
the next year as my husband and I plan to have another child in 1997.  

Our address is tpalmer@indirect.com

Thanks for your welcome and attention!  Suzanne, Todd and Glenn Palmer