24 week preemie

Specialties NICU

Published

Hey Nicu Nurses..

My sis just delivered a 24 week and 2 day baby on Jan 1st... she had an infection that caused her to go into preterm labor.her baby was 751 grams at birth.. . today her baby is a week old... she asked the doc when the baby was 4 1/2 days old about what the survival odds for the baby were.. and he said 50/50... .. the baby is doing good so far.. he is on cpap.. therefore hes breathing on his own... although he forgets to breath sometimes, and the alarms go off... once hes stimulated he starts to breath again... docs said that every day is a new day... what does that mean?... how do 24 weekers do on your units... do all survive? if not... what are causes of death... ... ?.. im so worried for my sis... i hope her baby makes it.. but it scares me that the doc says that every day is a new day..

so far.. he had a grade 1 IVH.. i dont know how thats doing.. he had a PDA trying to close with meds.. and now they are doing blood work to see if he has any infection... he is on a cpap.. and is getting some breast milk ...docs say he is doing good on the respitory side.. he has jaundice... therefore hes on phototherapy...

how does the picture look to you guys?

Yes you are right Janfrn, they are giving him cafeine to help with the apnea.. and as you said, the blood transfusions are because of so many labs he gets drawn which are making him anemic.. So far the baby's hanging in there.. but my sis told me that his grade 1 IVH turned into a grade 2 IVH.. so they are monitoring it.. .. we are worried about that.. hes a little fighter.. he is off of phototherapy.. and he is only on 21 percent oxygen on his cpap.. which means he is doing excellent on the respitory side.. i hope all stays well.. i will keep you guys posted..

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Specializes in CICU, NICU, Advice Nursing.

that is amazing and it makes me happy to know that there are healthy people "out there" who were born severely so premature. i worry and wonder so much about what kind of life awaits the little ones..

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Specializes in NICU.

I know it is hard to hear but really ever baby is different. Especially when they are that small they can be doing great one day and then get sick really fast. They are really prone to infection and just very fragile! Things can change fast so we are always keeping a really close eye on these little guys. I have seen both ends of the spectrum where babies that small dont make it or have multiple chronic problems- then there are others than turn out perfectly fine and a few years later you would never know they came out 3 months early! I hope your nephew is one of the lucky ones!

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Specializes in NICU, adult med-tele.
I just wanted to throw my own 2 cents into the discussion.

I was born at exactly 24 weeks, back in 1981. I had an identical twin sister that didn't survive, but I did. I had to have open heart surgery at 3 days old because of a mitral valve problem. I survived, and I am not developmentally slow, blind, or deaf. The doctors that cared for me told my parents that I had less than a 3% chance of survival, and I made it. At birth, I weighed 1lb 13oz. I have been in perfect health ever since (never even needed routine cardio care).

I pray that your family has the same outcome.

Now that is great to hear!

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Specializes in none yet!.

I, myself had a 24 weeker. She's doing FANTASTIC now! She weighed 1lb. 1oz.. She was on the vent for 67 days, had several feeding intolerences, several infections, and ROP.

Tell your sis to hang in there!

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Specializes in NICU, Telephone Triage.

Premies will need transfusions because they get a lot of blood work done for labs, blood gases, etc. The loss of blood will then, in turn, usually cause apnea spells. The blood will usually help with the anemia and will then improve the apnea spells.

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Thank you everyone for replying to my thread with your assurances and well wishes. My sister's baby is doing excellent, he is almost 37 weeks, and is catching up to his due date which was April 20th... he is out of his isollete and is in a crib..they are increasing bottle feeds slowly day by day... his IVH stayed where it was and is not causing any harm... the picture looks perfect ...this is because of everyone's prayers... thank you so much again!!

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Great to hear!!! :heartbeat:D

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Specializes in Psych, Med/Surg, LTC.

Woo-Hoo!

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Thanks for sharing it. I'm a parent to a 24 weeker who had perf of intestine,Grade I IVH, ROP and is now needing glasses at 15 months. I'm always worried about the developmental delays (fine motor, gross motor)

Any info, tips are welcome.

I just wanted to throw my own 2 cents into the discussion.

I was born at exactly 24 weeks, back in 1981. I had an identical twin sister that didn't survive, but I did. I had to have open heart surgery at 3 days old because of a mitral valve problem. I survived, and I am not developmentally slow, blind, or deaf. The doctors that cared for me told my parents that I had less than a 3% chance of survival, and I made it. At birth, I weighed 1lb 13oz. I have been in perfect health ever since (never even needed routine cardio care).

I pray that your family has the same outcome.

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