Maternity leave with a premie (34 weeker)

[Anonymous]

My 34-weeker is now a happy, healthy, and very tall 8-year-old.

Our NICU (Georgetown) set up all our early appointments for us so all we had to do was keep them and follow the advice of the developmental pediatricians and other specialists. Check with your NICU about those services after discharge. On their recommendation, we had our baby evaluated by DC's early intervention program. They recommended and arranged for PT and OT for our baby and by the time she was 9 months old, they determined she had graduated and no longer needed their services. Our last scheduled appointment with the developmental pediatrician was when she was a little over 2-years-old and they declared her completely caught up to her peers with no lasting developmental delays based on her early birth.

Premies look so small and frail but they are amazing! Before you know it, you'll have a rambunctious toddler on your hands!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I had an emergency delivery (vaginal) at 34 weeks. Baby was healthy but needed 10 day NICU stay to put on weight. I started my leave right away (8 years ago WFH wasn't an option) and it wasn't TOO bad because it was only 10 days. (I was discharged after 2). And honestly I needed to start pumping and all I wanted to do was stay in the NICU with her for feedings etc. You should at the worst only lose 2 weeks.

Thank you - how is your 34 weeker now? Anything I should expect in terms of developmental delays or other issues?

Nope! She’s an active, bright and super social 2nd grader. We did have an issue with GERD and reflux the first year (its common w preemies) but she hit all her milestones and was walking at 10 months! (Not adjusted).

Just made swim team. Good luck OP.

[Anonymous]

Good luck OP! Im a previous poster who delivered at 32 weeks and was noting that you will not be in a state to work. Im so glad you have extended leave.

My nicu premie is now almost 9, and is very tall, very bright, very athletic, and you would never know he was 4 lbs at birth. He does have adhd, which is correlated with premature birth. He was behind milestones the first year but caught up perfectly after that.

You will probably find a community of support. Its very hard at first but does pass! I wish you the best.

[Anonymous]

OP, thinking of you and hope your pregnancy is going well and that you and baby are healthy.

[Anonymous]

I remember wondering that too but you’ll be busy with the baby and your healing. Most people would get to hospital in am and keep up with pumping and doing the feedings every three hours so I can’t imagine handling work then. I ended up negotiating a little extra time off after the 12 weeks where I worked half time at home for another 12 weeks due to the preemie situation. Good luck - my preemie is going on 16 years old now and doing great!

[Anonymous]

I had a 33.5 week baby who spent 12 days in the NICU. There is absolutely no way I could have worked while he was in the NICU. You will need to rest, recover, and spend the majority of your time at the hospital. It will take up all of your mental and emotional bandwidth.

I took 12-13 weeks off total before going back to work and hired a nanny. It definitely helped reduce germ exposure.

Good luck! My “baby” just turned 11 and is very smart and healthy. He took longer to walk and talk but caught up over time. Feeding was the biggest challenge in the first two months but he did finally master it over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Won’t you need time for physical recovery right away? I would at least start your leave.

Yes this. depending on how you deliver usually you are considered disabled for 6 or 8 weeks, then bonding time will kick in. So I would at least take that and then think about working until the baby comes home and taking the remainder of your leave.

You will get 8 weeks of STD if you have a c-section... that is standard. No? You will want to be with your baby. Start you leave on the day of your schedule c-section if you want to save all your time for after the baby is born. You and your husband (if possible) or other family will want to be there as much as possible until your baby goes home.

No that is not standard. There is no guaranteed PAID leave through any employer state or fed - disability or otherwise . Please know this !!!!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi OP!
I had a 34 weeker (born at 34+3) due to be developing severe preeclampsia. I had a c section due to him being breech. He came out weighing 4 lbs 7 ozs and came out screaming and needed no oxygen support at all. He did go to the nicu and spent 15 days there strictly as a feeder and grower. He never needed any oxygen at all and besides needing 2 days under the bilirubin light, he was healthy. I personally own my own business and work from home so I had a lot of flexibility but ultimately ended up “closing” for a month. I tried to work while he was in the nicu but my head wasn’t in it. I was recovering from a major surgery, pumping every 3 hours around the clock, and dealing with the major emotions that come with having a preemie in the NICU and no part of me could focus on work. Luckily I had amazing clients at the time who understood my need to “close” for a month and focus on my baby. If I were you, I’d absolutely start your leave when baby is born. Trust me, you won’t be able to or focus on work dealing with everything that comes with a preemie and Nicu baby.

Also to answer your question you asked another poster, my son is 20 months old now and the happiest and healthiest little boy. You’d never know he was a preemie by looking at him and at his 1 year appt, his dr said he wasn’t on the preemie charts anymore. He rolled over on time, sat up early, etc. He was a late walker (15 months) but other than that, not delayed in anything. He says over 50 words now, can count to 5, can point to certain letters and numbers when you ask, etc.!

15 months is not a late walker. Walking within 18 months is considered on time. I walked at 17 months and so did my oldest son. We were both full term as well. Believe me, I asked! If anything, it's a temperament thing...we both tend to be very cautious and overthinkers, haha.

[Anonymous]

Your preemie will be in the NICU for a reason. Focus on the baby and not on work. Mine were born at 32 weeks (twins) and in NICU for only 2 weeks, not the 8 that was predicted. That said, there were touch and go and scary moments, as well as pumping, skin-to-skin, taking changing diapers/cleaning, etc.

[Anonymous]

My baby was born at 32 weeks and 3 days. He was in the NICU for 6 weeks. I took some time off while he was in the NICU and went on full maternity leave when he was out. I work overnight so it's a little different. I spent all day with him and family spent all night with him so he was never alone.

[Anonymous]

OP, do you know the sex of your baby? That factors into how developed a baby's lungs will be. 34 weeks gestation girl, probably won't need much time in the NICU. A boy would likely need more. I think I hear race is also a factor, but not sure of the details.