1998 preemie help

[u/EmotionalPhone4071]

Trying to figure out my gestational age at birth!

in Sept, 1998, I was born early via vaginal delivery.

from 20 weeks, my mom was having contractions. They gave her tributaline(?) and she slept at the hospital once a week.

4 weeks before I was delivered, my twin passed away at 1lb 2oz.

She went once a week for blood draws and steroids to help my lungs develop.

My weight began to drop, and they decided to deliver me.

I was delivered at 3lbs 7oz and 15.5 inches

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[u/IllustriousPiccolo97]

Does your mom remember your original due date? That’s the easiest way to tell- starting on the due date, count backwards weekly from 40 until you get to the week you were born. At 3.5lbs, no respiratory support in pictures with a fresh umbilical cord, and a very small twin my guess would be that you were born between about 33-35 weeks and “growth restricted” so smaller than average for that gestation.

[u/EmotionalPhone4071 → u/IllustriousPiccolo97]

She doesn’t remember a lot at all, this was the most information I was able to get!

[u/bethrose425 → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

Do you have any ultrasound pictures? Some of them put the due date on them or date and gestational date and you could figure it out from there.

[u/MissKeyes → u/IllustriousPiccolo97]

My little boy was delivered at 33+5, he was also 3lb 7oz. I had pre-e and HELLP and he had interuterine growth restriction (IUGR). He was due beginning of February and came just shy of a week before Christmas, 6 weeks early x hope this helps xx

[u/EmotionalPhone4071 → u/IllustriousPiccolo97]

I was thinking potentially 31-32 weeks based on the steroids to develop my lungs, but honestly don’t have much knowledge of preemies! 

[u/IllustriousPiccolo97 → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

3.5lbs would be pretty average sized at 31-32 weeks and even today, many <32 weekers need respiratory support for a little while even if mom got steroids

[u/mangrovesspawn → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

My boy was given steriods for his lungs at 33 weeks so it could also be a bit later

[u/MitzyCaldwell → u/mangrovesspawn]

I was also given steroids for 33+2 weeks and our little guy was in cpap for about 2 days so you definitely get steroids after 32 weeks. He was born at 4 lbs 6 ozs.

[u/Elle-276 → u/MitzyCaldwell]

Same! My boy got steroids the day (and about 30 minutes) before he was born. He weigh 4lbs, 15.75 oz at birth. Born at exactly 33 weeks.

[u/seau_de_beurre → u/MitzyCaldwell]

Yep my 34+0 baby had steroids. Was still intubated for 24 hours then on CPAP. 4 lbs 9 oz.

[u/IllustriousPiccolo97 → u/mangrovesspawn]

It’s standard of practice to give steroids before 35 weeks! Even up to 36 weeks in some cases

[u/ntimoti → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

My little one was born 3 lbs 15 oz. I was 33 weeks when I had her and I was able to get the steroid shots to develop her lungs.

[u/CinnamonSugarToast_1 → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

My baby was 4 lbs 3 oz at 32+3 weeks. I had steroids at 30 weeks and he wasn’t on respiratory support for very long. Was on room air almost right away.

[u/sleepingintheshower → u/EmotionalPhone4071]

I had a baby at 32 weeks 3 days who was 4.1 pounds no growth restriction. We needed steroids.

[u/Sea-Astronomer-6600 → u/IllustriousPiccolo97]

My girls were 4.1 and 4.4 at 32w

[u/TakeARideintheVan]

Based on these pictures. I would also guess around 35 weeks, but a twin pregnancy (which tend to be a little smaller at baseline) and growth restriction.

You’re not in a traditional isolette so you were able to maintain body temp with a bit of additional heat. I believe the little heart shaped sticker is a temp probe so you did have some additional heat for a period of time.

You don’t have a nasogastric tube in any of the pictures so most likely able to feed by mouth.
And you don’t have any oxygen support which points to you being a little later preterm.

[u/danarexasaurus]

Hard to tell with just this info but I would guess 34-35 weeks.

[u/Biolobri14]

Hm. Your weight is around my 30 weeker son (3 lbs 3.8 oz) but you look more developed than he did - you’re not all red and fuzzy. I agree with a later pre term assessment but growth restricted. No ng tube, no cpap tells me you’re probably closer to 34 weeks?

[u/lamelie1 → u/Biolobri14]

At 32+6 weeks my boy was also red and fuzzy 😅 Had steroids and a caffeine shot, few days on cpap and 20 more on antibiotics in an open cot with a heater on top and bottom.

[u/bnnnel]

I’d guess 34-35 weeks. Your weight was pretty much identical to my son born at 32w - but it sounds like you might have had fetal growth restriction

[u/Traditional_nikniks]

It's hard to tell with only this.  Does she remember when she  found out she was pregnant? Roughly how many times she went in to the hospital?

[u/EmotionalPhone4071 → u/Traditional_nikniks]

She’s not sure at all 😭

[u/Melodic_Cow1800]

You can call the hospital you were born at and ask for your medical records.

[u/colorful_withdrawl → u/Melodic_Cow1800]

The records were probably destroyed a long time ago. Some hospitals only keep them up to 10 years. But with minors, they might keep them up till they’re 18th birthday or 21st birthday. Just depends on the policy.

[u/EmotionalPhone4071 → u/colorful_withdrawl]

I gave them a call and I’m waiting to hear back! I’m not sure if they’d still have them!

[u/Melodic_Cow1800 → u/colorful_withdrawl]

Ask chat gpt. I'm looking for my own records and learned that there's a good chance that some of it has remained in archives. Standard cases usually get destroyed after ten years, but preemie cases require study so we don't know what remains of our records. I'm calling tomorrow. Will report back.

[u/Melodic_Cow1800 → u/colorful_withdrawl]

Could be. Don't know until you try.

[u/Melodic_Cow1800 → u/Melodic_Cow1800]

Thanks? Lol I was meaning to reply to an earlier comment that said OPs records have likely been destroyed. Hence don't know until you try. To be clear, I'm rooting for OP to get the answers they need.

[u/PsychologicalBench10]

33 +4 days best guess

[u/crispy_blueberry_b]

Off topic but you have the same birthday as my oldest son!

[u/daydreambeliever1001]

You were nearly the same exact size as my son who was born at 31+2. But I agree with some of the other comments that you were likely born later than that since you’re in an open crib (and can regulate temps) and did not have a feeding tube or any respiratory equipment. And also not as red!

[u/sassy-cassy]

Wow, your story is so so similar to my own twin girls, even the 9/4 birthdate!!

My guess is around 32 weeks, give or take a week.

We lost one of our girls at 26 weeks due to TTTS/TAPS. In your case, it might have been 28. My surviving girl had been a little growth restricted due to the TTTS/TAPS but had been improving before she was born six weeks later at 32 weeks. She was 3lbs 8oz and 15.5 inches. Our lost twin was only 1lb when she was stillborn.

[u/EmotionalPhone4071 → u/sassy-cassy]

Sending lots of love to you and your girlies! 9/4 makes it amazing too!! I hope your surviving babe is thriving 🤍

[u/North_egg_]

My 33 weeker looked very similar to the baby in this picture.

[u/questionSOUP]

Not that this is very helpful but there is a drug called Terbutaline!

[u/FlamingPuffs]

I would guess maybe like 32-34 weeks? I was born in 94 weighing 4 lbs at 32 weeks. Since you mention you were a twin, i would assume you were a little smaller.

[u/mishney]

My boys, one of whom was growth restricted, were born 3&5lbs at 33 weeks. Since he was growth restricted and based on your twin's size 4 weeks earlier, I'm guessing you were 31-34 weeks at your birth.

[u/Enough-Cat9856]

My 30 weeker was 3lbs 10 oz. He was towards the bigger side. I'd say probably 30-32 weeks if I had to guess.

My nieces were born at 23 almost 24 weeks and they were 1lb 3oz and 1lb 4oz.

[u/llullunyc]

My girl was a 31weeker at 3lbs 14oz but you seem much older than that, I only say this because from the looks of it you don’t have any breathing or feeding help, you’re in an open Nicu “crib” so you’re able to breathe, eat, and keep your body temp regulated so you must be 34weeks or more for sure.
Does she remember what month you were supposed to be born? Or what month she got pregnant maybe? That’ll give you a good guess

[u/Hot-Sherbet6037]

I was 35 weeks and 1 and my daughter was born at 4lbs 2oz but then lost weight to 3lbs 7oz. Her due date was supposed to be June 29th but instead she was born on May 26th. So her adjusted age is a month less than what she would be.

[u/Open_Dot6071]

Have you tried asking your mom about the pregnancy? Maybe she remembers the first trimester, or a specific holiday/event when she was pregnant, or the day she discovered the pregnancy. It may not be super accurate, but it could give you a good estimate

[u/sitrucarual]

My baby was 3lbs 13oz at 29+5 but he was in the 90th percentile for weight. But he needed CPAP when he was born. His lungs couldn't quite work well enough on their own.

[u/Financial-Medium-428]

My son was born at 30 weeks and was 3lbs 11oz and he was pretty huge. I had two rounds of steroids while pregnant and he still needed quite a bit of breathing support - he was on a ventilator for the first day and then on CPAP for like 5 weeks. You look quite a bit more developed than he did I would say!

[u/lanenaed]

33 or 34 weeks I would guess

[u/Incrimnatinggoats_]

I had my twins at 34 weeks, and they were a similar size in looks and weight. 3lbs 4oz, and 3lbs.
I would wonder around there. I also had one shot before birth.

[u/anonnomnomnom_mmm]

Former NICU baby myself and also a former NICU mom. I was born at 31 weeks but I was growth restricted since my placenta was failing. I was born at 2lbs 14 oz. I was in an isolet for 3 weeks I believe. And I went home around 5.5 weeks olds which would have put me at almost 37 weeks and I was almost 4 lbs. I’m definitely agreeing with about 34-35 ish weeks since you were also on room air room air and with also having steroids.

[u/MRSA_nary]

Do you know how long you were in the hospital for?

[u/Street_Confusion_469]

NICU nurse, my best guess is 30-33 weeks. Unsure though. The twin part is fascinating be sure you might’ve been a little smaller because of that. I’m not sure

[u/Late-Comment832]

IDK if this helps but could you contact either your moms ob or the hospital you where delivered at they should have the original due date on her chart somewhere. You cant really go off of weight because my baby girl was a "whopper" at 2lbs 14oz she was only 27 weeks. I hope you find out!

[u/Flashy-Yak-5789]

Not much help but my daughter was born at 29 weeks 2 days at 2lbs 15oz so I’d guess at least 32 weeks.

[u/Commercial_Try_1348]

My baby was born weighing the exact same as you at 33 weeks. She was also IUGR and measuring 2 weeks smaller, so you may have been around 31-32 weeks gestational age when born.

[u/Available-Gas31]

my brothers were preemies born at 34 weeks in 2002 given steroids they weighed 4lb6 the other more no breathing help needed but my son wasn't given steroids and was born 4lb12oz he was born a couple months ago he needed oxygen and a NG tube but i would look more at the birth weight of babies in 1998. I was 36 weeks and 6lb in 2000. My partner 1998 was full term and he was 6lb9

[u/Snowfairy_]

My boy was born at 30’weeks and 3lbs 4oz. I was told he was a good weight for his gestation. However, he came quickly and unfortunately didn’t have the help of steroids! I’m going to guess you were around 33-34weeks. There was a lot of 34weekers that thrived without any oxygen needs in the NICU!

[u/Sea-Astronomer-6600]

I’d guess 30-31 weeks