Premature Birth

Jyllie63 · #1 05/25/10, 03:06 PM

Hi....I just had a premature birth (I'm guessing about day 140). She's definitely weak, but fully developed...WHAT DO I DO to try and save her? Gotta get my dd off the bus...I'll check back soon for advice..thanks!

shiandpete.1 · #2 05/25/10, 03:28 PM

Does she gave a sucking reflex? You need to get colostrum in her of course and keep her nice and warm. If she doesn't suck then you may need to tube her.

Jyllie63 · #3 05/25/10, 03:32 PM

Hi...she does have a sucking reflex...got an ounce of colostrum in her. It looks like she had meconium at birth so I'm not sure about what to do for that. Her temp is 98.6. Her legs are very stiff..won't bend at all except one of the back legs. I will try and save her, but I'm not holding out much hope at this point.

dragonchick · #4 05/25/10, 04:10 PM

At 98.6 her temp is way too low to be feeding her anything. Get some towels warm from the dryer and wrap her in them to help get the temp up. I would also try a different thermometer to make sure that is correct. After you get her temp up I would try to feed her, if she refuses I would tube her.

Jyllie63 · #5 05/25/10, 04:31 PM

Her temp is up to 101.3. She has great sucking reflex and will take as much as we will give her. I don't want to give too much at a time though so we're spacing it out. Any suggestions for the possible meconium at birth? The back legs seem to be relaxing a bit, but the front legs are still stiff and straight.

dragonchick · #6 05/25/10, 04:56 PM

If you have some Bo-Se I would give a little, 1/4 cc. IF you don't I would give her the contents of a vit E cap squirted in her mouth. Work her legs to loosen them up. Sometimes babies get squished in the womb and don't get to exercise the legs. Is she trying to walk around?

dragonchick · #7 05/25/10, 05:00 PM

As for the meconium, it happens and doesn't normally cause a problem. The meconium may also have been what triggered the premature labor and subsequent birth.

Jyllie63 · #8 05/25/10, 05:31 PM

I do have some Bo-Se...do I give that SQ? She is too weak still to walk around. If she didn't have such a good appetite I would say she is a gonner...but I will try as long as she will

nehimama · #9 05/25/10, 05:36 PM

BO-SE IM (intramuscular) is how I'd do it. 1/4 to 1/2 cc depending on her size. She sure does sound like a fighter - good luck!