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Hi I am mom to 5, now healthy children. I had 3 premature babies, and preterm labor, bedrest etc for all of them. I read another message on this guestbook and wanted to add my thoughts. I was not premature, but I have many health problems, Multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, hashimoto disease, 2 heart problems and I am dyslexic. I stopped breathing at 6 weeks old and nearly died. I had a ct scan that nearly killed me-- the contrast dye did not agree with me, but they revived me... Life is a glorious gift!! Our bodies are a precious gift, more than we can possibly understand on this earth, no matter how well they function. My personal thoughts are, do everything you can to save that sweet baby! They all are miracles, just getting here. Pray and have faith. Raise that child, disabilities and all, to become everything they can be! The VERY best. To grow up and love and bless the lives of others... Never give up. :) If you like to knit or crochet and need patterns to make for your tiny one, I have spent 25 years creating patterns for preemies and others, and they are free on my site. The link above should go right to that page. I hope it's useful to someone on here. HUGS from a mom whose been there. :) Bev

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I would like to express my view about being the so called "miracle baby". I think it is in line with the nature of your website. You see I was born at 25 weeks and weighed 1 pound 11 ounces in 1956. I spent three months in the tube before being released from the hospital. Coupled with the usual hearing loss, dyslexia, and slightly below average intelligence and social skills, I would hardly call myself a 51 year old "miracle baby." I feel for the "Preemies" that will be born into a world filled with frustrations, setbacks, and disappointments. As they grow old and mature, life's struggles will be the norm for many of them. And to the parents--be patient, loving, and understanding with your preemie. For parents-to-be with preemies, please don't be selfish--let nature drive the course of life or death for preemies.

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My beautiful son Joey was born on 7/1/04. He came into the world weighing in at 3 pounds 10 oz large for a preemie and had Apgar scores that were perfect. Then the problems began as with par for the course with preemies. Joey suffered effects from trying to deliver him naturally, he was brusied and banged up quite a bit. He had to placed on oxygen and had feeding tubes and Iv's in him. the first time I looked at him I cried and cried thinking it was all my fault. The Doctors ran every kind of test on him and I and found no reason for the prematurity. Joey then began to suffer breathing apnea which is common among preemies. He had to have splints to hold in the iv's so his veins would not collapse again. He came home from the hospital one month later weighing in at a whopping 4 pounds 4 oz. Joey also had problems eating and taking a bottle. today he is a perfect almost 2 year old and shows no signs what so ever of prematurity. He is a normal monster.

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My daughter was born 3.1 lb at 31-1/2 weeks gestation. After having had 3 early miscarriages, I was lucky to get as far as I did! And boy did I! My daughter was born and changed my life forever! She stayed in the NICU 3 weeks, had a tiny start, but now at 19 months she is 29 pounds! I wrote this poem for her a couple months back. Maybe others can relate. hee hee. DAREDEVIL DANI Are you the same girl who was so delicate and small that's now climbing the furniture and even the walls? Are you the same girl who could fit in two hands that thinks chairs are a really cool place to stand? Are you the same girl I could have hid in my pocket that now zooms around our house like a rocket? I knew you were a fighter, but I had no clue of the courage and strength blossoming in you!

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MY DAUGHTER WAS BORN IN 1992 1 LB. 11 OZ. SHE WAS A TWIN. HER BROTHER WAS 2 1/2 LBS BUT ONLY LIVED 5 DAYS. SHE IS NOW 14 YEARS OLD (95 LBS) AND NO HEALTH PROBLEMS AT ALL.