# Emergency C-section and a 23 week old infant. Ugh. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [February 16, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358 "2005-02-16T15:16:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**Author:** ![furthur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecccb3/32.png) [@furthur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furthur)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/201 "2005-03-29T17:25:45Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > So, guess who self-extubated herself again. (Is “self-extubated herself” redundant and repetitive? I think and suspect so.) Yep. Yesterday morning. She’s back onto the CPAP and as of last night was doing much better on it. But boy does she hate that little plastic mask smashed around her nose. Yesterday she was pulling at it with one hand while fingering the velcro strap that holds it in place with the other. Smart kid. > > She’s up to eating 1/2 an ounce every two hours and growing like the proverbial weed. She’s at 2 lbs, 10ish ounces now - twice her birth weight! She’s still having some of those darn apnea and brachycardia episodes, though. The apnea and bradycardia are pretty common for early preemies – even ones older than Cayleigh. Especially since she’s hooked up to the monitors, they’re probably not too much to worry about. That sounds counter-intuitive, I know, but my daughter was born at 32 weeks’ gestation and had apnea and bradycardia as well. She went home on a heart-lung monitor but had no major episodes and was off it in about three months. You may end up taking Cayleigh home with a monitor, too, but the nice thing about them is you can end up worrying _less_ since you know the monitor would go off if anything was wrong with the kid. Cayleigh sounds like she’s doing really well for her early start in the world. With luck, they’ll get the apnea and bradycardia ironed out before she goes home. But if not, chances are decent that she’ll still grow out of them just fine. Good luck to her and your family, too. Mrs. Furthur ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2005, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/202 "2005-03-29T23:09:49Z")
WhyNot, this is just great. It sounds like everything is going wonderfully! I’m worried about the new Hampshires, though. It has been a week with no news, and that can’t be good. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/203 "2005-03-30T00:07:49Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just this week, she’s developed a fondness for her pacifier, which has us excited. She’s beginning to get her suck reflex working, and in another couple of weeks will begin trying a bottle and breast. She doesn’t have the rooting reflex yet, which is the one where, if you stroke a baby’s cheek, she will turn her head and open her mouth wide, “looking” for a nipple. It’s really neat watching the development of all this stuff most babies are born with. Today’s _For Better of For Worse_ was about [rooting](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/cx_fb_uc/latest). As a former 3 pound, 11 ounce 28-weeker born in 1973 :eek:, I say **GO CAILEIGH!!** I too am worried that we haven’t heard from the **Hampshires**. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/204 "2005-03-30T00:14:00Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just this week, she’s developed a fondness for her pacifier, which has us excited. She’s beginning to get her suck reflex working, and in another couple of weeks will begin trying a bottle and breast. She doesn’t have the rooting reflex yet, which is the one where, if you stroke a baby’s cheek, she will turn her head and open her mouth wide, “looking” for a nipple. It’s really neat watching the development of all this stuff most babies are born with. Today’s _For Better of For Worse_ was about [rooting](http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/uclickcomics/cx_fb_uc/latest). As a former 3 pound, 11 ounce 28-weeker born in 1973 :eek:, I say **GO CAILEIGH!!** I too am worried that we haven’t heard from the **Hampshires**. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/205 "2005-03-30T06:20:47Z")
sorry I haven’t posted in a while… Last Wednesday night we left the girls doing good at almost midnight. The next morning we were called because Emma had developed a severe infection. When we arrived they had to rush her by ambulance to the Children’s Hospital NICU which has a special oscillating ventilator for her. They were unsure if she would survive the trip even though it’s only a 20 minute drive. She arrived and remained in critical condition mainly due to the infection. On Friday they okayed a transfer for Ally to join her sister over at Children’s. Then on Saturday Ally needed her PDA surgery to close the valve between her heart and lungs. After that her vitals started to drop, she also developed an infection, and joined her sister on an oscillating ventilator. On Sunday Ally received had another operation to place an IV line in her chest since the others weren’t taking. On Monday we were called in to talk to the doctor about Ally’s condition. Her kidneys had stopped working and she had a stroke on the right side of her brain. The doctor wanted to discuss if we wanted to keep her going or not since she was having such a rough time. However, before we had to make such a horrible decision that I wouldn’t wish upon anyone, Ally answered for us as her signs began to slow for the last time. They took her off the machines and let us hold her for the first and last time. Her breathing stopped and her heart slowed to a stop while we were holding her. Emma is still fighting some injured lungs and her infection is receeding. I don’t know if I can go through losing another daughter. Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/206 "2005-03-30T06:47:03Z")
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss of your little Ally, and my thoughts are with your other precious daughter Emma. I hope good news on her condition is not far away. ---
**Author:** ![Mame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/858c86/32.png) [@Mame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mame)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 7:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/207 "2005-03-30T07:51:08Z")
Oh **Hampshire** , I am truly so sorry for your loss. There have been so many positive outcomes for Doperbabies on the Boards one can’t help but hope they all will be. There are organisations such as [SANDS](http://www.sandsvic.org.au/links.html#sandsaustralia) who can help people with your special grief. Please, when you are ready, think of contacting them. There will be social workers and counsellors attached to the NICU who can give you local contacts too. Much strength to you, Mrs Hampshire and Emma. ---
**Author:** ![Carm6773](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/2bfe46/32.png) [@Carm6773](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carm6773)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/208 "2005-03-30T09:47:45Z")
**{{{Hampshires}}}** ---
**Author:** ![irishgirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/8edcca/32.png) [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/209 "2005-03-30T10:25:04Z")
**Hampshire** , I am so sorry for your loss. You and your family will be in my thoughts and prayers. ---
**Author:** ![China\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/779978/32.png) [@China\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/China_Guy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/210 "2005-03-30T10:35:42Z")
Hampshire, sending good thoughts to you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/211 "2005-03-30T11:28:46Z")
oh, **Hampshire** , I’m so sorry. Unfortunately, no words are adequate at times like this. Please know that my thoughts are with you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/212 "2005-03-30T14:55:47Z")
Oh God. I can’t think of a way to help, but you know all of us would if we could. You have my prayers. ---
**Author:** ![SlowMindThinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@SlowMindThinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlowMindThinking)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/213 "2005-03-30T15:18:03Z")
Oh God. I can’t think of a way to help, but you know all of us would if we could. You have my prayers. ---
**Author:** ![AbbySthrnAccent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@AbbySthrnAccent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbbySthrnAccent)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/214 "2005-03-30T15:35:38Z")
I’m so sorry **Hampshire**. Living through the death of a child his the hardest thing we’ve gone through individually and as a family. You have my sincerest condolences during this awful time. Hang in there and take care of yourself too. Abb ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/215 "2005-03-30T16:36:07Z")
**Hampshire** , words fail. I’m so very, very sorry for your terrible loss. koee ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/216 "2005-03-30T16:51:24Z")
**Hampshire** - I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ll keep your family in my prayers, if that’s okay with you. StG ---
**Author:** ![biddee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/839c29/32.png) [@biddee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/biddee)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/217 "2005-03-31T01:34:17Z")
I’m so sorry **Hampshire**. I will be keeping you and your wife and Emma in my thoughts and prayers. I pray you do not have to go through that again and that you will have a positive outcome with Emma. **Whynot** I am so glad to hear that Caileigh is doing so much better. Please keep updating us. ---
**Author:** ![Jillyvn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecb155/32.png) [@Jillyvn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jillyvn)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/218 "2005-03-31T06:48:31Z")
Hampshire, my prayers are for you tonight. A message board seems such an impersonal place to express sympathy… but, my deepest with you and your family. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/219 "2005-03-31T07:15:51Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > Just this week, she’s developed a fondness for her pacifier, which has us excited. She’s beginning to get her suck reflex working, and in another couple of weeks will begin trying a bottle and breast. She doesn’t have the rooting reflex yet, which is the one where, if you stroke a baby’s cheek, she will turn her head and open her mouth wide, “looking” for a nipple. It’s really neat watching the development of all this stuff most babies are born with. Rooting reflex really really helps. Tinkleberry didn’t have one at birth. :eek: This added exponetionally to my nursing woes. To feed him we had to pry his little mouth open and press a finger or Avent nipple firmly to the roof of his mouth to engage the suck reflex. One day around 6 weeks he suddenly “got it” and started rooting. You’d think he would have outgrown it by now, but nope, at 4 months he still roots if anything brushes his cheek. :shrug: He’s an odd duck. ---
**Author:** ![inkleberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/f17d59/32.png) [@inkleberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/inkleberry)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2005, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358/220 "2005-03-31T07:18:01Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Emma is still fighting some injured lungs and her infection is receeding. I don’t know if I can go through losing another daughter. > Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts. Hugs. :sad: I am so, so sorry to hear, Hampshire. This must be absolutely devastating. I hope you get to hold and love Emma soon, under better circumstances. Hugs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/emergency-c-section-and-a-23-week-old-infant-ugh/290358.md?page=12)