I have browsed your threads a few times, but I work in adult ICU so I'm not in the know about the teeny babies. I have a family situation though that I'd like your thoughts on. My sister in law is pregnant 27 weeks gestation. She started leaking amniotic fluid about 22-23 weeks. She's been seeing high risk OB weekly and has been hospitalized twice so far. About two weeks ago, she got put in the hospital until she delivers b/c she continued to leak amniotic fluid so she and the baby could be monitored more closely. The started her on prednisone to help the baby's lungs, his chest is growing, HR is strong and a good rate, he's active and gaining weight, so all seemed to be going well. Her leaking had also slowed down. Now, a couple of days ago she started bleeding, and the docs are talking a C-Section. I have already started trying to prepare the family for the possibility that the baby will be very sick b/c of lungs/organ/immune system not being fully developed plus the stress of coming out of the uterus so early.
My question is based on everyone's experience, how do these early ones usually do? I know it probably varies widely in respect to mom's history (healthy 1st pregnancy no medical hx on mom or family to complicate things), how delivery goes, unusual complications sometimes after birth, etc. I'm just trying to get a feel for what to expect. I've been anticipating he'll be in NICU at bare minimum for 2-3 months-is this about accurate? I also think if I remember correctly that 24 weeks is considered viable, but I know the longer she can be held off the less the risk of morbidity/mortality for the baby. I think part of the concern also is that the docs can't agree on exactly what it going on. One says possible infection-but blood work supposedly not showing any infection is what they told her, one says he thinks she's possibly abrupting her placenta-makes most sense to me since she's had lot of bleeding/abdominal pain, and the nurse says she thinks it is just plain old pre term labor.
I would really appreciate hearing any experiences you've had with these babies either good or bad. Thanks!
