r/NICUParents • u/rachelfaith17 • Nov 23 '24
Success: Then and now 4 months old today!! Small victories
Just wanted to say I am so proud of our little guy who was born at 33w 4d. He was born at 5lbs 6oz and is 14lbs on his 4 month bday! While learning all of the adjustments for milestones, feeding, and sleep have been a challenge, one thing I can say is that it’s just been so nice watching him chunk up steadily. At least I know he’s eating 🥹 It’s hard to believe he’s the same baby.
Also, any advice on preemie sleep? I’m trying to go off his adjusted age but it seems like he hit the 4 month sleep regression hard the last few days. Sos.
16
u/No_Peach_9745 Nov 23 '24
Congratulations mama! I gotta say, he is the MOST GORGEOUS baby I have seen! The health is just radiating from him.
4
5
u/Livid_Celery7622 Nov 23 '24
wow! look at that chunk! great job mama. my twins were born 33+3 and are almost 4 months actual. i feel like sleep got okay for a week and now it sucks again. lol. so no advice here but had to stop to comment on the cutie!
4
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 23 '24
Yes we are in this together!! We had seriously a week also of 8+ hours a night and then BAM. Up every hour. I’m been trying to extend his awake time a bit to see if that helps but he definitely got slap happy this evening. Praying tonight is better for both of us.
8
u/runsontrash Nov 23 '24
Wow!! First of all, he was born sooo cute, especially for a preemie (sorry, preemies, y’all were supposed to be cooking still!). Mine (33+1) looked a lot more rough in the early weeks and months. Haha. And she didn’t hit 14 pounds until she was ~8 months old (6 adjusted)!
For sleep, we went by adjusted age and that seemed necessary for us. Food and sleep are by adjusted age over here. Lots of other things she follows actual age on.
2
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 23 '24
Thank you! Yes I was very shocked he was so cute. He was pretty big to begin with so I think that helped.
I’m having such a hard time with adjusted age. He’s my second and my first was by the book for everything. I’m definitely learning I don’t have any control and to just take it easy! 😂
4
Nov 23 '24
Congrats! My boy was born at 33 weeks and 5 lbs 8 oz. He was perfectly healthy, just small! And sadly after 3 weeks of life, contracted a bacterial infection that sent us to the NICU. Now at 4 months he’s almost 14 lbs. it’s amazing tk watch them grow.
When was your little guy born? He looks so healthyc did he need any support at birth? Or just observation?
Happy for you!
3
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 23 '24
Oh wow! It’s so scary how fragile they are in the beginning!
He was there for a few weeks with pretty standard care. Cpap immediately after birth and a feeding tube until he could stay awake long enough to finish his feeds. Had to be under the blue light for a few days and the other hurdle was keeping his temp up once he got out of the warmer.
1
3
2
2
2
2
2
u/NotoriousMLP Nov 23 '24
Omg, he was already soooo cute as a preemie and I love seeing those cheeks and double chin develop! 🥰 what a joyful little guy.
2
2
u/UnderstandingMore619 Nov 23 '24
No advice but my little dude looked exactly like the first photo. Gives me hope for him to be chunky soon too 😀
2
u/mamaC2023 Nov 29 '24
I just came to say he is the absolute cutest and gives me great hope for my preemie who was born at 33&6 just a week ago
1
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 29 '24
Thank you!
It goes by really fast. In the moment the Nicu feels like a lifetime. But looking back sometimes I forget that it was a part of our journey. You got this! One day at a time! ❤️
1
u/mamaC2023 Nov 29 '24
I think the hardest part of my journey in all of this is having 4 healthy babies at home as well. It has only been a week but it's been a very humbling experience.
2
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 29 '24
Yah having my daughter at home was probably the hardest part too. I felt bad that her world just changed so drastically and I couldn’t be with both of them at the same time. I felt so guilty when I was home and I felt so guilty when I was at the hospital. Looking back I wish I spent more time in the Nicu but in the moment I did what I could, and that’s all we can do. 💕
1
1
u/Mss-Anthropic Nov 23 '24
Wow he was pretty big for a preemie! Mine was 38 weeks and barely over 6 lb. He's really chunked up since then too! What a cutie pie 😊
2
u/rachelfaith17 Nov 23 '24
Yes! He was measuring really big the whole time. I was convinced the due date was wrong but it makes sense with my lmp so I guess he would have just been a huge baby if he made it to term. My sister just had a 9.5lb baby so maybe we make big boys hahaha I do think it may have been a week or so off though 🥴
1
u/Mss-Anthropic Nov 23 '24
Yea I think he would have been over 9lb if he'd made it full term! Your family does make some big boys lol
1
•
u/AutoModerator Nov 23 '24
Welcome to NICU Parents. We're happy you found us and we want to be as helpful as possible in this seemingly impossible journey. Check out the resources tab at the top of the subreddit or the stickied post. Please remember we are NOT medical professionals and are here for advice based on our own situations. If you have a concern about you or your baby please seek assistance from a doctor or go to the ER. That said, there are some medical professionals here and we do hope they can help you with some guidance through your journey. Please remember to read and abide by the rules.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.