I just wanted to update everyone. Last week on Monday the 19th, my water broke, I was 31 weeks pregnant. I ended up having to deliver the following day via c-section(my first) and my little Elijah was born 9 weeks early. He's going to be in the NICU for 5-7 weeks is what they are saying, so we are down one week now. He weighed 3 lb 7 oz and is almost back to his birth weight after loosing down to 3 lb 2 oz. Other than his size he is doing really well, he was on his respirator for less than a day and has been breathing room air on his own since. We could really use all the prayers we can get though for him, and for our 3 other children who are having a hard time with mommy being gone so much to visit their little brother.
Thank you,
Becky

*Our little guy is doing amazingly well. They've upped his feedings to 30cc which is 1 oz, so exactly what he should be getting at this point to sustain his own weight and grow appropriately. He's maintaining his own temp so far, they just took off his little body thermometer(they would stick it to his back and then when they had to change it, pull off his little back hairs!) and have him swaddled and in a cute little outfit. He also got his IV out yesterday, so we've made great strides in the last 10 days! In about another week or 2 I'll get to start nursing, so hopefully that goes well. Thank you for all your prayers, they are definately being answered.
Becky

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Congratulations on your new baby boy. I'm glad he is doing so well. He was also a pretty nice size for being only 31 weeks.

Oh, that is amazing. I'm very excited for all of you! Congratulations, Becky!

I'll say prayers that your little Elijah gets stronger and stronger each day!

Prayers for your family that this time without you passes quickly, and that you're all home together soon!

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family also. Congratulations on your new baby boy.

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Brenda

GO #24 JEFF GORDON

Congrats~

My first baby was a 31 weeker...biggest of the lot since (95% percentile). We were told 5-7 weeks, and after 2 he got to come home. Do lots of kanagroo care when you can! (Skin on skin contact).

Hows the little guy doing on suck, swallow and breath?

The first weeks are hard, balancing the hormones, work, hospital etc...hang in there. I will be thinking of you!

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saraedawson@yahoo.com

Mommy to Jake, Alexis, Abigail and Joshua, Wife to Matt

Am I having a senior moment -- if you were 31 weeks pregnant, isn't Elijah only 5 weeks early?

At any rate, congratulations on his entrance into the world and I pray he will be home with you very, very soon.

Congratulations on Elijah! I hope he continues to improve and gets to come home soon. I'm sure it's stressful on the whole family not having him at home with you. Take care of yourself, stay strong and know you have lots of support here!

KellyJef, I'm not OP but a pregnancy is 40 weeks long, usually. That's why she said he was 9 weeks early. 36 weeks may not be considered premature though. I'm not positive on that but I'm sure she's counting the 9 weeks until her original due date.

Well, don't I feel dumb -- I really thought that a pregnancy was 9 months (or 36 weeks). I had no clue that pregnancy is 40 weeks.

Geez. And I've had a baby, too.

hang in there my youngest was born 3lbs 8oz 37 years ago and is great! ,a little behind the first year unless you counted to her original due date from then on she was great!

Congratulations to you and yours Becky. I hope the weeks fly by until little Elijah can join your happy family at home. Ask for help with the other kids from friends and family!!!!!!! Take care of yourself as well!!!!

Congratulations to you! And sending big "growing" wishes to Elijah. Your family is in our prayers.

Congratulations! Our twins were just at 4 lbs each when they were born by C-Section 25 years ago. They're strong, healthy young men now.

Your little one is already breathing on his own. He'll reach his weight in no time and soon will be home! I know it must be hard on you traveling to and from the hospital just having a C-Section. I remember holding a pillow to my stomach always helped.

Enjoy your new little boy!

I am so out of the loop; I didn't even know you were pregnant. Praise God that everything went well and Elijah is doing so well. I will pray that he grows stronger each day and that your little ones at home have peace and understanding with this situation. Congrats!!

I will tell you what the doctor told me when my water broke early.
"You did nothing to cause this."

That really helped me deal with the guilt. I know you want to be at the hospital all the time and once he is on a bottle you will want to be there for every feeding. But you have to take care of yourself. Those nurses are paid to take care of those babies. When he comes home it will be exhausting, preemies have to be woken up to eat every three hours around the clock. Get your rest now so you will be ready. I know it sounds bad to say take advantage of this time, but you need to because you will need all your energy when baby boy comes home. My mistake was not getting rested to be ready for taking care of her at home.

My preemie is now 14 months old and isn't walking or talking yet, but has gotten big and strong.

I know you want your baby home with you but he is in the best place for him right now.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

My goodness!! I didn't even know you were pregnant!! Congratulations!! My angel baby was a preemie also. He had to come home on a bili light, after one week in the hospital.. Home health nurses came out every other day and weighed him and checked his bili level. He had to be woke up every 2 hours and force fed 20 cc. That sounds like nothing, but it was a major undertaking. I look back and just can't believe it's over!! He's now 1 year and 8 months, and thriving!! He never stops eating, is so smart, I just can't say enough!! He's putting words together, dancing, so happy, eats constantly, he is so wonderful!! Just hang on!! This is just something you have to go thru!! Love that baby, that is the best thing you can do!! The more you can hold him, talk to him, the better he will do!!!

If you delivered a little, living baby, and he's breathing on his own, that's happy news, and that's as far as you need to go. 31 weeks is early, but it's survivable, and not needing a respirator is really hopeful. Prayers for you and yours.

I actually read somewhere (babycenter maybe??) that a woman is preggers for 10 lunar months.....whatever that means.

Congrats Becky and I will keep you and Elijah (I LOVE that name btw) and the whole family in my thoughts and prayers. Please keep us updated on his progress!

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

Congratulations Becky! My Prayers will be with your Elijah for a fast weight gain and no complications.

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Mary

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I hope time flies by and you are all home together and enjoyin sleepless nights and endless diaper changes.

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~*~Live life to the fullest*~*

Congratulations! What a nice name!!!

Congratulations!! (I copied the spelling from kathythe shopper)....
Please keep us updated!!

3 pounder! I bet his looks like a heavy weight champ in the NICU! Congrats on having a nice healthy boy- if has regained his birth weight, breathing on his own--yikes, what else could you ask for? He is a champ!

Yes, pregnancy is designed to last 40 weeks. A pregnancy lasting less than 37 weeks is consider premature.

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Lyn Clarke

I'm so happy to read the update. It sounds your little blessing is making wonderful strides!

Yeah for little Elijah!!! Sounds like he'll be home in no time!!!

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Friends are like butt cheeks.
Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

I'm very proud of you, Becky!

Keeping those prayers going for the family - what a homecoming Elijah's going to have!

Such good news! Just my 2 cents on the nursing, my little one was not strong enough to nurse until her actual due date. The NICU nurses and lactation consultant kept trying to get me to nurse and it was so sad and frustrating for me. After she came home I stopped trying and just kept pumping, then when she was bigger she latched on like a champ. I did hire a LC to come in and make sure we were doing everything right. So don't be discouraged if he can't nurse right now. He is so small and knows he needs to conserve his energy, that is what my ped told me.


DD ended up nursing for 12 1/2 months.

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Raising my baby RIGHT!!!!!!

All the cool babies are wearing cloth!

Congrats on the new baby.........sending you tons of positive growing thoughts and lots of prayers!

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Nicole

Thank you for the update. I am so glad things are going so well. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers.