Premature Babies

[Spottedleaf]

Ok, all the staff know about this....cuz I just told them, but here it it.

I was 4 months premature, I was 12" long and 1 lb, 3 oz. So yea, even normal sized babies are huge to me. I don't even know what a normal sized baby is actually...I think it's 6 pounds...? Anyway, some members and I started talking about it in the c-box, eventually I just decided to make a thread.

From being a premie, I have a bunch of scars from where the tubes and cords were put....that I pulled out...lol. I have a very easily recognized one on my leg. I have one on my chest where I think the tube was used for feeding...I think. Then I have one that is along the side of my neck, from my ear to my chin that some people think that someone slit my throat. That one was used for breathing. I had to be in an incubator for a very long time. I was also in the hospital for 180 days.

[Destiny]

So the tubes they used on you kept you created scars? *shivers* that'd be scary. I guess I'm glad I've always been chubby. You should see my baby pictures. So... when a baby is born prematurely, do they need some specail care or something? Is that why you had the tubes?

[Spottedleaf]

No no..only the tubes that I actually pulled out created the scars. But the needle pricks on my wrists and ankles were so that the doctors and nurses always knew if I was doing ok (blood samples and tests)

Depending on how premature the baby is, yes they need care. If a baby is about 2 weeks premature, then no they do not need extra care, except maybe to stay at the hopsital a few days. Though a premie that is over a month premature does need extra care, that much I am sure.

The hospital I was born at had no experience with babies as premature as I was. (niether did the other hospitals around us) I was the first 4 month premature baby that they had. They had to keep me in aluminum foal to keep my body temperature correct. I was told that my skin was also translucent and that my parents actually saw me develop.
I was put in an incubator to also make sure that my body temperature stayed the same. Though there was one draw back to that, there was constant light. So even today, I am terrified of complete darkness and I needed a light in my room until I was 10.

Here is basically how you can figure how small I was, my whole body could fit in a hand. And my arm alone was smaller then a pinkie finger. You basically need to make sure that the baby is in an envirorment as closly related to the mothers whomb as possible. This includes temperature, closed in spaces, room to grow, and food. I was given special formula to help me grow a little quicker to improve my less then 10% chance of survival.

One doctor told my mom that I was going to be (keep a count of how long this list is)
Blind
Deaf
Retarded
Not have the ability to walk
Have Cerebal Palsy
and a whole list of others.
My mom said that when I came out of that hospital, I would be just like a normal baby. I was....although still extrememly small.

But with that one doctor, came about 15 doctors and nurses determined to keep me alive. One was named Dr. Temple. My little brother's middle name is that doctors first name. That's how important he was to my survival. He was the only doctor who could take my blood in less then 3 tries. Any other, it took them about 20 and more tries. (result, a bunch of needle points on my wrists and ankles )


I have a lot more if you guyes want to know more...I have stories too. ;D

[Destiny]

Wow, Dapps, that's incredible that you lived through that! They must have really been determined! That's kind of cool that your mother gave your brother the doctor's name as a middle name, though. So you survived and had none fo those symptoms they said you would have? Wow *shakes head* that's incredible!

[Spottedleaf]

Well I believe that angles, God, Jesus, and my Grandma were all watching over me the day I was born. Along with horses (lol ;D) I have tons of angles placed around my room. I still believe that I have angels watching over me and that God allowed me to live for a reason. My parents think that it's because of my artwork.... but I disagree.

Yea I love art....and I know this is gonna sound crazy, but I love little kids. I don't think my calling is to do art. I think I was put on this Earth to help disabled children get better through riding horses. It's called Theraputic Riding...and I've had this feeling ever since I saw a show on it about 5 years ago that that is what I was destined to do. I love woking with disabled children, though in high school I don't get to help them anymore...but I really miss helping them, I love seeing the smile that comes across thier faces when they see someone they recognize or accomplish something as little as building a tower out of blocks. I truely do love that....and I miss it terribly.


But I know what I could have become, I know full well that I could have just one of those symptoms above, instead of just glasses. A girl, a few years older then I was, was born exactly like me. Same wieght, same premature age. Yet, she was blind in one eye, deaf in both ears, was in a wheelchair, and had Cereable Palsy...She had survived by using a machine of some kind, but the machine is known for possibley causing blindness. She was just a few years older... 3 in fact. They had a show about her on TV that we recorded about 3 to 4 years ago.

[Destiny]

Wow... God truly was in that room with you, I think. And I think the aspire to help disabled children is very touching. I have seen things about the Riding programs and I think it's great. The people who help those children are just so self-sacrificing. It touches me right here *points at heart*.