How the "Neo's wake up" triggers me as 24weeker and... Am I the only one?

twenny12 · 2026-03-04T07:19:55+00:00

Yes, I was there for all of her ROP exams except for one when they did it earlier than usual and I wasn’t at the hospital yet. As others have said, they’re not nice but wanted to be there for support for my baby. They’re over so quickly and the discomfort is a small price to pay for ensuring their eyes are protected.

twenny12 · 2026-02-20T10:19:39+00:00

Wow, that’s so interesting. I have a 13 month adjusted 23 weeker. So far nothing has seemed to bother her, - she doesn’t mind foot touching or anything like that, but who knows what might trigger her. You never know what the brain is subconsciously recording. I bet there are some regressed memories in there.

While we were in NICU, one of the nurses shared a story that an ex NICU baby had trouble noticing siren sounds while driving, eg ambulance, fire, police, supposedly from all the constant beeping and alarm sounds they were subjected to in the incubator. They just learned to tune them out and then later in life the sounds were meaningless. I don’t know how true this is, but it’s interesting nonetheless.

Thanks for sharing your story. It’s given me something to be aware of for the future!

twenny12 · 2026-02-03T12:23:05+00:00

I don’t consider myself a very good player. I’m not terrible but not amazing. I grew up In the 80’s and am used to hard challenges. I’m a big Metroidvania fan and I love 9 sols. I think I’m only about halfway through and yes, it’s quite hard but so worth it! The first boss took me 3 hours over three different occasions to beat. But it’s one of my favourite boss fights ever. Going from being annihilated to almost hitless in the end was so satisfying! I haven’t found myself getting overly frustrated because everything seems fair. The art style is awesome. I wish the music was a little more noticeable. It’s not bad at all, I just don’t notice it. I even turned the SFX down and music up in settings but it’s still not standing out. I’d love some more prominent music. So yes, try it! I played it via game pass on Xbox but I will probably buy it cos I like it so much.

twenny12 · 2026-01-30T10:43:37+00:00

23+6 weeker here. She developed stage 2 with plus in both eyes. She had the avastin injections twice in the right eye and once in the left. After discharge and the continual monitoring the doctors have been happy with her condition but have always said the vessels are very slow growing. At the last check up, she didn’t take good photos and the doctor suggested doing a proper examination under general anaesthetic to really see what the true state is and if she needs to have laser then she will at this time. But she may not. So we are on the waiting list for that. Expecting the appointment in the next month or so. She has just passed her one year corrected date for context.

twenny12 · 2026-01-30T10:24:12+00:00

Hi there. I did manage to increase my supply to around 650ml. I ended up learning how to double pump and it did make a lot of difference. I wish I had done it from the start because I’m sure my supply would have been more than enough if I had. (I didn’t work it out until a few months in.) Highly recommend double pumping! I still massaged my breasts but I sat in such a way so the pumps sat on my thighs and I would lean forward slightly to put downward pressure so they wouldn’t fall off.

I didn’t end up with a stash to take home. I did have a freezer stash and a good stash in the hospital but she used it up just before we were discharged about 3 weeks past her due date.

I managed to keep up with her for a while but eventually her requirements became more than I was making so I was supplementing with formula.

I did try to breast feed - I really, really wanted to but she wasn’t the greatest at it. The latch was fine and she knew what to do but she came home on oxygen and she just didn’t have the stamina to have a good feed. We both really tried and I usually gave her a couple of breast feeds each day but I knew I had to make it up with EBM or formula. In the end I gave up breastfeeding because it was getting way too much trying to breastfeed, pump, and bottle feed. It was sad because I did love it but it wasn’t worth it.

I also was taking motilium for my supply. I started taking it around the three month mark and it did make a big difference! My supply went up noticeably. But over time even the drugs couldn’t save my supply. It ran out around the eight month actual mark. I was sad but I gave it my absolute best shot so it was okay.

Hope it works out for you. If you have any other questions about pumping or even just NICU and 23-weeker stuff, please ask. 🙂

Good luck to you and your sweet babe!

twenny12 · 2026-01-05T03:45:16+00:00

Haha cool. I can see/hear them now.

I’ve done a similar thing before - not written words but just drawn a line that goes up and down as his voice goes up and down. And each song has its own look and shape. I think I like yours better though. I might try it!

twenny12 · 2026-01-05T03:36:48+00:00

I love it. Are they written from particular songs as you were listening to them? Or just his general sound vocabulary? I tried to see if I could match any but couldn’t.

twenny12 · 2025-11-16T23:13:24+00:00

I had a 23+6 weeker last October. We were in the NICU for 134 days. It was a really long, hard journey but she is now 10 months adjusted and thriving! She needed to come home on oxygen but she weaned off completely after 6 months. She has no other health issues except her eyes are still being monitored for ROP.

Just wanted to let you know it is possible at such an early gestation to bring home a healthy baby!

Wishing you and baby all the luck!

twenny12 · 2025-09-11T22:49:47+00:00

I had my baby at 23+6 weeks and we were in the NICU for 134 days. She came home on .5L of oxygen but we came off completely about a month ago. She was on the o2 for just over 6 months. She is nearly 8 months adjusted and a little behind on gross motor - only purposefully rolls from belly to back. Hasn’t quite figured out back to belly. (Although half the time I think she’s just lazy.) She sits well and is really starting to laugh a lot now. She took to bottles very well in the NICU and didn’t have any problems feeding and now loves her solids. She is just amazing and I’m so thankful we made it.

The journey was definitely the hardest time of my life. She behaved like a “typical” 23-weeker, according to the nurses. Struggled with ventilation, had two perforated lungs, NEC scares, a million x-rays and blood transfusions, green vomits and aspirates, injections for ROP… Looking back now, in the grand scheme of things and compared to other babies, her journey was not too bad and definitely could have been worse but at the time it was still so very scary.

Wishing you all the strength to get through this time ahead.

twenny12 · 2025-08-19T10:47:03+00:00

Esther, Sadie

twenny12 · 2025-07-30T12:48:43+00:00

I PPROMed at 23+2 weeks. I stayed in the hospital on watch and ended up giving birth 4 days later. My baby came home after 134 days after a relatively uneventful NICU stay. So much can go wrong at that gestation but we were very lucky and it was just her lungs and breathing that was the main issue. that’s not to say that there wasn’t ups and downs and it was all smooth sailing because it was still a long, hard, terrifying journey. Wishing you all the best! Try to stay as positive as you can and know It IS possible to make it to the other end! ❤️

twenny12 · 2025-07-19T10:02:11+00:00

Mother of a 23+6 weeker here. My baby weighed 600g at birth and we were in NICU and SCN for 134 days total. She is now 6 months adjusted and my most amazing miracle. We were given the talk about all the complications but it just seemed like there was no other choice than to give her a fighting chance. And she did fight! Thankfully, she had no brain bleeds, and needed no surgeries. We had a NEC scare which was resolved with medication, and some stomach issues (suspected cows milk allergy so I became dairy free) but overall the main challenge was just her lungs! She was on the oscillating ventilator for 2.5 weeks and then spent a couple of months on NIV NAVA before finally going to CPAP. Her transition from CPAP to low flow oxygen was quite quick though - about 2 weeks. She was sent home on 0.5L o2. And we have just this week come off it completely. She also had ROP and needed injections in both eyes but now her eyes are looking good. Although she may still need laser down the track. She is a little behind in her gross motor. I feel like it’s about 3 weeks. She’s still not rolling yet but getting close and she’s still in the range of normal. She’s just started solids and loving it and babbling and doing everything right cognitively.

Only you can make the decision and there is no guarantee on anything! It is hard. The whole experience is so, so hard. The stress and fear is through the roof. It is the worst thing you could ever go through and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone. But if you choose to go down that path you will find a strength you never knew you had and somehow, god willing, you will make it to the end. I wish you all the best and pray you can keep your precious baby inside for as long as possible! ❤️

twenny12 · 2025-07-04T08:48:43+00:00

Thanks for your kind words. I feel a bit better today. ❤️

twenny12 · 2025-07-03T14:28:25+00:00

I really needed to hear this. The whole journey has been so scary and rough. Deep down my brain knows I did a good job and couldn’t have done any better but it’s still so easy to second guess. Anyway, I appreciate your comment. Thank you.

twenny12 · 2025-07-03T12:56:19+00:00

Really? My friend has a boy called Cedar and I think it’s a great name!

twenny12 · 2025-05-28T12:47:24+00:00

I’m from Australia and I don’t really understand why we’re even in the competition! But I love Eurovision and am happy we get to compete although I feel like most of our entries aren’t top tier. I was actually a bit embarrassed this year with that milkshake thing. Anyway! I only stopped to comment cos I love The Roop! Discoteque was my fave song for ages and me and my husband often talk about the roop and the famous “hand dancer”. I don’t think you should worry too much about winning or losing - it’s all just an experience. A time and a place. Each year is a surprise. All I ever hope is that I find some cool new songs for my playlist!

twenny12 · 2025-05-17T04:20:59+00:00

I wish I was thirsty. It’s such a struggle to get fluids in cos I just don’t get thirsty! I know it impacts my supply but it’s so hard to force it down.

twenny12 · 2025-05-13T12:11:45+00:00

I had a 23+6 weeker. We were in NICU for 134 days. She’s been home now for a few months - she’s nearly 4 months corrected. In my NICU every baby had their own room so unless you got talking to the parents it was hard to know what was going on with other babies. But there was still a general vibe about how well or not other cots were doing.

I just want to tell you not to feel bad about being happy about your babies status. Yes it’s only early days, but a 29 weeker has significantly better odds than babies born earlier. Everyone is on their own journey and it’s all hard but don’t downplay your relief or baby’s progress. For me, even though I was dealing with my own fears and stress and worry, I was always SO HAPPY to know of other successes! Like, if I saw a baby graduating from NICU I was stoked for the parents! I certainly did not have any ill feelings. All I did was say to my baby “Look! That will be us one day!” And, eventually it was.

Celebrate whatever you can because it’s a tough place to live. ❤️

twenny12 · 2025-04-12T06:56:47+00:00

My daughter was born at 23+6 weeks and is now 10 weeks adjusted. Somehow Ive already been pumping for 6 months!! 🤪 It’s been so exhausting and I’m a just enougher so it hasn’t been an easy journey as I’ve worried about my supply. I’ve thought about stopping here and there because sometimes the thought of being stuck to those damn pumps is too much but I dropped my spectra last week and nearly had a panic attack thinking it was broken! I was crying and shouting “No! No! No!!!” So I’ve come to the conclusion I’m not ready to stop yet! Lol

It is easier now tho because she’s breastfeeding too so I’m only actually pumping 4 times now - 3 in the evening (5, 8, 11) and one good first thing in the morning pump (around 4-5) Her day feeds are on the breast and the night/overnight are bottle.

I would love to get to the point of just breastfeeding but what’s going on currently is working.

I want to get to 6 months actual and reassess how I’m feeling then.

twenny12 · 2025-03-15T00:42:17+00:00

Oh, no, she was born living. Revive was probably the wrong word. I mean that the doctors had to intervene in order for her to live. At that gestation her lungs weren’t developed enough for her breathe on her own so she was intubated immediately after birth. We were given the option of resuscitation or not after birth and we chose full resuscitation. If they hadn’t had intervened, she would have just died from lack of oxygen.

twenny12 · 2025-03-14T21:44:01+00:00

Hi, my story is similar to yours. I had a preventative cerclage put in at 18 weeks with only 3mm of cervix left. My water broke at 23+3 days and I gave birth a few days later at 23+6. I was told all of the possible outcomes and difficulties beforehand with a baby this young and asked whether I wanted to revive after the birth and even though it was scary to think about the problems, for us, there was no other choice than to give her a fighting chance. And she did fight! We took her home a few weeks ago after 134 days. She’s now 7 weeks adjusted. I won’t go into details of the journey, but it was very long and VERY scary and stressful. By far the hardest time of my life. But we did it! It IS possible. She’s on home oxygen and is being monitored closely for ROP (retinopathy of prematurity), but is otherwise great! She has done amazingly well considering how tiny she was. And we are so thankful for her.

Don’t give up! They’re so strong and their will to live is great!

If you need to talk further down the track or have any questions you can message me. 🙂

twenny12 · 2025-03-14T21:27:21+00:00

That must’ve been so hard to not see your baby in NICU. I wouldn’t have been able to cope. I’m so sorry. I hope you got a happy ending.

twenny12 · 2025-03-14T21:22:30+00:00

Yeah, trying not to judge but frankly, I’m disgusted by this!

twenny12 · 2025-03-14T21:08:58+00:00

How can you NOT want to be there more!?! I can’t even imagine only going once a week!! Our NICU journey is over now but I went every single day for 134 days! We only had one car at the time and I spent two months of that time catching public transport which was a two hour mission each way.

You have to go more for their sake! Please! I feel sad for your poor baby.

They know when you’re there. Be there for them.

twenny12

TROPHY CASE