As it says really! My brother's girlfriend had a little boy this morning at 28 weeks after several weeks of on/off bleeding and labour starting this morning. Low lying placenta meant emcs but she is fine (relatively) just knackered! He's a good weight (2lbs 6oz) but needed resucitating a couple of times in theatre.
I'd love to hear positive stories of 28 weekers as well as advice about what I could do that would be helpful. My brother has asked me to visit his girlfriend this evening and I've asked if she needs / wants anything.
Should we get preemie nappies or will the hospital have them? Photos I've seen of premature babies never show them wearing clothes, so not sure if he will need them or not. I'm so excited for my baby brother becoming a Daddy, but also worried about the baby being ok and the heartache they will both no doubt go through over the next few months.
Connect with others and find premature birth support.
Premature birth
DNeph born at 28weeks, would love to hear your good news stories!
Truffkin · 09/06/2012 15:37
dd was born at somwhwere between 27 and 28 weeks
Shes a happy healthy 5 year old now 
they will provide stuff to start but expect the parents to provide them once things are settled
Hi there, congratulations on being an Auntie! I had twins at 27+6 7 years ago now, both weighing the same as your nephew (2lb 6oz). They are now 7 year olds with no sign whatsoever of their prematurity - very bright, active, cheeky monkeys . They had caught up with their peers by about 18 months - still walked, talked, etc at the same time as other babies born at the same time but were just a little bit smaller.
In my case, the unit supplied all nappies and bits (cotton wool etc), and he won't need clothes for a while as they'll need to see his body. The Boots range is good, but he only needs the absolute basics. At our hospital, the babies were allowed a blanket which went over over part of the incubator at night (as the lights are on pretty much all the time).
In terms of your SIL, a few things were really useful. A notebook first of all - I basically kept a diary of how things were going, positive comments the doctors had said, how much milk they were having, when they opened their eyes etc and it was so useful on the bad days (and there probably will be some 'bad' days when she'll think he's not progressing as quickly as she'd like) to look back and see how far he's come. Also, as others have said, a breast pump (although the hospital supplied mine), snacks and magazines as she'll probably be getting up during the night to express.
Also, can you make a few meals or perhaps go round and do a load of washing - all the day to day stuff that your brother won't be thinking about because he'll be at the hospital at every opportunity?
I think perhaps too just try to be there for them in whatever way you can. Its difficult to explain - part of me felt slightly detached from them, and was therefore happy for nurses to step in (as I also felt they knew what they were doing) but at the same time was fiercely protective as they were so little so hated other members of my family "distracting" me from my job sitting at the side of the incubators! Just be understanding / patient - they'll probably be all over the place emotionally. You do have to take each day as it comes but rest assured that neonatal staff are generally amazing and your nephew will be getting the best care.
There is a charity for premature babies called BLISS (www.bliss.org.uk) which has lots of useful info and a forum for questions.
My babies came home at exactly 2 months old - so the equivalent of 36+5 (they were still only 4lb 9oz) but it seems such a long way away to start with.
Best wishes to you all.
Hi congrats on becoming a auntie my ds was born at 26 weeks following a car crash, I nearly died and my placenta ruptured. He needed some operations and months in nicu but he's now a healthy 4 year old and no one would ever guess he weighed just a pound. I second the diary and also maybe make sure their camera has batteries etc. I kept a diary of everything the drs said, how he was doing how much he ate etc. now he loves to look at it now. Soft blankets are nice I used to sleep with one then put it in the incubator calmed ds a lot when I was too ill to be there. Other than that I second everything the others have said and you are very right food for mum and dad is very important and often the thing they least want or feel like having. Oh and don't forget to eat/rest yourself xxx
Congratulations!! My gorgeous DD was born at 26+5, is now about 8 weeks corrected (so 22 weeks ish actual), she is perfect, she spent 93 days in the NNU but is now home and thriving and at weigh in this morning was 9lb 6oz 
she was only 1lb 10oz at birth.
It's crap and hard but it was so worth it.
I just noticed this in my app and didn't realise there were a couple of posts I didn't reply to. It's a wonderful feeling to read back now, safe in the knowledge that my now nearly 10 month old fighter nephew thrived in NICU and was through transitional care and home 3 weeks before he was due to have been born!
The advice was great and the practical help I was able to give (lifts, food, place for my brother to come 'home ' to when they were still in hospital etc) was just as good as the nappies and clothes I bought. Baby is great and although he's small for his age he is a little character
Thanks for great advice and the motivating positive stories, exactly what I needed at the time.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.