my son was born at 27 weeks + 5 dys, weighing 2lb 2oz. he is now 6 and still a really stronger fighter, he has cerberal palsy and is awaitin a study to be done on his feedin. when callum was 3 weeks old he also had part of his bowel removed and had a stomina and a colostomy bag fitted, he had this for 6 months, he had trouble keeping my breastmilk or any other milk in his system for a while and we still have trouble with certain foods and milk now. he was such a fighter when he was born and even thru everything else he has been thru he has never given up. i was only 19 when i had him and didnt have a clue i was lucky enough that my parents helped me a great deal. it is a lot of hard work but each time i look at callum i wouldnt want it any othe way. i also hav a 2 year old who is fine and am 22 weeks preg again. 

Hi,my ds was born at 26wks exactly but they think he was 25wks, he weighed 1lb 8oz, he is now 20 wks (6 wks corrected) and after 12 weeks in hosp, 7 blood transfutions, 6 infection screens, hernia surgery and life threatening apnea event ... he is home, fully breatfed and has no problems at all. Just wanted to give you some hope - the time in NNU is the hardest thing I have ever done, keep your strength. xx

Sorry for gate-crashing but this thread gives me hope. My sis is currently 27 weeks and been told that they might have to deliver her baby. She has a very serious heart condition and docs have kept a close eye on her from the start. They have told her that the baby is very small but very active. She is being scanned daily and hopefully they can delay delivery.

Hi Natalie, my little girl was born at 26 weeks by my dates but we now believe she was more like 24 weeks, she was 1 pound 5 oz (down to 1 pond 3oz at lowest) and is now nearly 1 and an absolute star. These babies are real fighters and as one other post said the first week is normally the critical one. It will be such a rollercaster ride of emotions but it is worth it all in the end when you bring your little one home and you relise how special theses little premmie are.  XXX

Hi,my twins were born at 24 weeks.(My dates say 26) but the docs have them down as 24 weekers.Anyway,My daughter is now 3,4 in September.These babys are such fighters,and so so strong.She came through sepsis,NEC 3 times,Rop and capillary leakage.She was ventilated for a massive 14 weeks,and came home on 2L of oxygen.Shes a little gem,always smiling.Shes just started main stream nursery 5 days a week,when i look back to when she was born and all that she went through it amazes me.They are stronger than we think.Thinking of you.

hi i just had to comment on this because i had a little boy 9 days ago at 24 weeks + 1 day.  he weighed 1 pound 7.5 ounces and thank god he is holding his own in scbu.  i had him early due to incompetent cervix and and emergency stitch only held 3 weeks.  what about you?  it's a very difficult time now. i can't even begin to describe the emotions ranging from full of hope and love to total shock that this has happened and staring at his tiny body wondering if he is in pain, although everyone assures me he is comfortable.  if you don't mind my asking, why did ur little boy need his bowel surgery?  the hospital we're in uses donor breast milk and said they haven't had any cases so far of that necrotic bowel condition or whatever it is, sorry i don't know much about the terminology.  i know their organs are not mature and so many things can go wrong, but it's true we have to take each day as a blessing that they are still here with us and stay hopeful and they are so remarkable in how they cope and manage to be happy, content children despite having physical problems.  i will pray for your little boy that he gets stronger and stronger and one day we will all be looking back on all of this in amazement at how well our little miracles have done.  take care and all the very best to you.  love, michele 

Hi Natalie

My little girl was born last year at 23 weeks as well weighing 1lb exactly. She went through countless ops and fought infection. Each time, docs would tell us it didn't look good and to prepare for the worst but she fought back each time. She's had heart surgery and eye surgery too and amazed medical staff with her resilience.

I know it must seem like all the odds are against you right now but keep strong for your wee lad. These wee ones ability to fight is amazing and it's hard to stay positive when docs tell you all the things that are wrong. But look at the big picture-he's still alive and fighting after 5 weeks and that's something. From what we saw in the NICU, if wee prems are going to pass away, it's normally in the first week of life!

My daughter was 1 last week and although very small and delayed(only 12lb and not sitting up yet!) she's a wee honey. She's the happiest most content wee thing and I think that's all down to what they go through when they're born so early.

I will be thinking of you and hope he stays strong. Feel free to PM me if you want to chat and ask me anything or swap expereinces.

Hugs to you both

my baby was born at 23 weeks weighing 1 1b 2 oz when he was 5 weeks  old he had an operation which they removed 60% of his bowels and hes still fighting any one else been through yhe same?