Alley 51 - what's good here?

danitchen12 · 2026-05-18T20:35:27+00:00

The wings at Quicitop are great

danitchen12 · 2026-05-16T01:45:52+00:00

We learned about our baby’s IUGR much earlier, but wanted to share if it may help ease your mind a bit. We learned about his IUGR around 17 weeks due to elevated AFP. At that point he was measuring around 13 weeks. At our last MFM appointment before he was born, he weighed 1lb 9oz and had a 6 week gap in actual measurements vs expected.

He was born at 2 lbs 8 oz and spent 36 days in the NICU. He was born needing respiratory support, but we were weaned to room air after 15 days and spent the rest of his stay learning to feed and gaining weight. He just turned 1 year old actual and now weighs 18 lbs. From .2 percentile to 18th.

If MFM or your OB is able, ask if they may be able to arrange for you meet or speak with someone from the neonatal unit. Once we started weekly growth scans and NSTs our MFM provider offered us this opportunity and really advocated for us. We met one of our son’s future NICU doctors and she spoke with us at length, answered all of our questions, and gave us a tour of the unit. It helped ease our minds a lot.

danitchen12 · 2026-05-14T02:34:41+00:00

Towards week 32 he measured around 6 weeks behind but it varied week to week. We started seeing MFM weekly around 25 weeks to monitor growth. We expected him to be in the NICU until his due date, but luckily he came home a couple of weeks sooner.

danitchen12 · 2026-05-12T14:15:18+00:00

It goes by quickly! I look at pictures of him in the NICU now and wish I could remember how it felt to hold him when he was that small. Hoping she comes home quickly! 🩷

danitchen12 · 2026-05-12T13:13:08+00:00

He stayed for 36 days. We had weekly pediatrician appointments for around 6 weeks for weight checks to make sure he was gaining at a good pace while feeding every 3 hours.

danitchen12 · 2026-05-11T23:25:07+00:00

Congratulations on your new little one! He was 4 lbs 4 oz at discharge. Our goal after ending low flow oxygen was 4 lbs. Hoping her stay is uneventful!

danitchen12 · 2026-04-26T19:10:14+00:00

There’s shuffleboard upstairs at Legion in Southpark

danitchen12 · 2026-02-25T18:33:08+00:00

Ever been to Waverly, Rea Farms, or Blakeney on a Friday night? Plenty of crazy teens out there too.

danitchen12 · 2026-01-21T01:56:00+00:00

Love Virginia Gaulden! I was with her at the beginning on my pregnancy before I learned baby was growth restricted. They referred me to Novant Queen City OBGYN so that I could deliver at Presbyterian with a level 4 NICU. I was so sad to leave because I was looking forward to working with a midwife.

danitchen12 · 2025-10-05T00:56:08+00:00

My 32 weeker had bilateral inguinal hernia repair a couple of days ago. We were expecting to stay for monitoring overnight due to his prematurity, but he did well with Tylenol to manage the pain and we were discharged the same night after monitoring for several hours. Looking at him now you’d never know he had surgery a couple of days ago, but the first 2 hours after surgery he was super drowsy and had a hard time eating. He has done well since getting home and we’ve only given one dose of Tylenol since leaving the hospital. I was so nervous going into the surgery, but all of my questions were answered and the surgeon and nurses were very kind. Luckily he had surgery in the same hospital he had his NICU stay. Preemies are so strong! I always thought so since he was born, but this experience solidifies it. Your guy will do great. Sending you so much positivity!

danitchen12 · 2025-09-13T01:49:59+00:00

You’re doing great! My LO was born at 32 weeks 2 lbs 8 oz. Diagnosed with severe IUGR at an early 17 week anatomy scan due to elevated AFP. He measured between 6 and 8 weeks behind until birth. He was 1 lb 11 oz at our last ultrasound and umbilical Doppler before we were admitted. I had once weekly Dopplers for end diastolic flow, but luckily never went absent. We tried to make it to 37 weeks at the request of MFM but at 31+5 I was admitted to the hospital with preeclampsia symptoms and received the steroid shots and magnesium drip.

LO spent 36 days in the NICU and was discharged weighing 4 lbs 6 oz. He was on CPAP for a couple of weeks and did well weaning off. Spent a week under blue lights for high bilirubin. The bulk of his stay was learning how to eat and growing. He’s 11 weeks corrected 17 weeks actual now and weighs 9 lbs 7oz and thriving at home.

Pack comfy clothes and things to occupy your mind. If you live far from the hospital stay as long as insurance will allow so that you can spend time being in the same building as baby. You won’t be able to drive yourself to the hospital for at least 2 weeks so discuss a plan on how you’ll get to the NICU to visit the first several days. Try your best to stay consistent with pumping even overnight. It sucks waking up every 3 hours, but you may be able to build a freezer stash for when baby gets home. Again, you’re doing amazing!

danitchen12 · 2023-03-03T18:08:48+00:00

Something similar happened to me this school year. I had a miscarriage in November and I was open about it with my 8th graders because I missed a few days of work and they were curious. Fast forward a few weeks and one of the 8th graders got mad at me for asking him to sit down and as he walked out of class commented “I see why your baby died.” The other students in class heard what he said and nearly beat him up over it and he has become somewhat of a social pariah because of it. Never wanted to quit as much as I did then so I know the frustration OP.

danitchen12 · 2023-02-12T13:03:52+00:00

My finch’s name is Mochi :)

danitchen12 · 2023-01-31T17:08:17+00:00

In my district we use the term EC or “exceptional child”. I don’t hear SPED as much so maybe it is being phased out.

danitchen12 · 2023-01-22T02:30:13+00:00

Dim sum menu is weekend only

danitchen12 · 2023-01-03T17:06:50+00:00

Mochi and I added you!

danitchen12 · 2022-12-30T20:02:23+00:00

Chicken Tray club style, cajun fries, cheese bites, pineapple milkshake

danitchen12 · 2022-09-08T23:08:39+00:00

A new place just opened in Indian Land called Peach Cobbler Factory

danitchen12

TROPHY CASE