34-weekers- typical length of NICU stay
chicagobride_07
member
Hi ladies!
I have some complications with my pregnancy, and will need to deliver no later than 34 weeks. I saw my high risk doctor yesterday and everything points to me being able to hold out until 34 weeks, but I am being hospitalized in case this needs to be earlier. Baby is now 3 lbs, 11 ounces at 31 weeks.
I know that this can vary dramatically, but DH and I are just trying to get an idea of what to expect. I've asked various physicians on potential length of NICU stay at 34 weeks and get really different answers- from 1 to 6 weeks. My MFM doctor yesterday was saying that after my c section (3-4 day stay), the baby could potentially go home with us. (!?!).
We won't know for sure until the birth, but what have your experiences been with 34 weekers? Also, we've been stocking up on preemie clothes and diapers- but just today my friend (who had a 26 week micro-preemie) was saying we should be buying newborn, instead.
Thanks in advance for any insights you can provide.
DOR and AMA
2/12-5/12: 4 IUI cycles = all BFN;
7/12: DE IVF # 1 (with ICSI)- 20R, 16M, 14F, 5DT of 2 blasts; 6 frosties = BFN;
Lupus anticoagulant initially high, then found to be normal on hematology consult;
Follow up testing in September all clear;
Started synthroid for "high normal" TSH;
FET # 1- late October 2012- BFP on FRER; beta # 1- 21(low), beta # 2- 48 (still low), beta # 3- 132, beta # 4- 1,293; beta # 5- 5,606; last beta- over 100,000. First u/s 11/21- heard heartbeat
12/12- Officially an OB patient!
Level 2 ultrasound at 20 weeks shows vasa previa and VCI
Referral to MFM and mandatory c section for delivery
Beautiful baby girl born at 34 weeks
Finally home after 15 day NICU stay!
Trying for sibling: FET # 2- May 2014; beta 5/31, BFN
FET #3, early July 2014; beta 7/14, BFN
DE IVF # 2- August 2014; 14R, 13M, 11F, 5dt of 2 blasts (3 AA), 5 frosties = BFN
FET #4- December 2014, yet another BFN
Dr. KK work up shows borderline uterine blood flow, elevated NK cells, and MTHFR mutation (homozygous for c677t)
Added baby aspirin, prednisone, supplements, Metanx, and intralipids
Switched to large clinic for final attempt; had endometrial receptivity testing in January; FET March 2015 = yet another BFN
Likely OAD- NBC
Re: 34-weekers- typical length of NICU stay
I delivered at 34 and 4 and our son was 4 pounds 2 ounces. He was in NICU for 12 days. He was doing great and was ready for discharge after 5 days then had a few bradycardias, so he needed to stay longer. He scored a 9 on his Apgar and other than the few As and Bs he was thriving.
We're still in preemie diapers - he'll be a month tomorrow and was 6.1 pounds at his 3 week appointment. He's a long baby, so he's between preemie and newborn clothes right now.
Good luck with everything!!
We also delivered at 34 and 4. Our kiddo was 5lbs 6oz. His NICU stay was 10 days. He hovered around jaundice for nearly a week. He had oxygen, an IV, and feeding tube in his nose. The skill he needed to learn the most was eating. He went back and forth with doing well at one feeding, then not at the next. Then one day he just got it, and 2 days later he was discharged. He was discharged at 5lbs 9oz, 19", and on oxygen. He was in preemie clothes for maybe 2 days after he got home, and then the newborn clothes were fine. Same with diapers, he was in newborn dipes when we got home. At a month old, he was 8lbs, 3oz. It's all going to vary so greatly, just my and bdifazio's experiences vary a lot, and our kiddos were born at the same gestation!
Lots of good thoughts your way!
My LO was born at 33 weeks, and stayed for 33 days (although he had other health conditions going on as well) He's home on oxygen right now (although that's mostly for his other health condition, and not directly associated with being a preemie)
Born at 5 lb 10 1/2 oz, he's 2 months tomorrow and is 7 lbs 15 oz now. He's in newborn clothes and newborn diapers (pampers level N) fit him perfectly.
ETA: Yeah, stop buying the preemie stuff. Like I said, my LO was 5 lb 10 1/2 oz and there is no way he would've fit into preemie anything!
My daughter was born at 34 and 5. She was in the nicu for 7 days and then the level 2 nursery for another 7 days. She had lost a lot of blood due to my hemmorhaging, and she needed a blood transfusion. They were unable to feed her at all the first couple of days as her stomach was full of swallowed blood. After that, she received tube feedings for 9 days, need bilirubin lights for 4 days, was on cpap for 5 days (even though I had gotten the steroid shots a week earlier).
Every baby is different though. When my LO was born, the nurses kept saying she seemed younger based on her development. (But, as we went through IVF, we knew her exact age).
My LO only fit into the preemie clothes for a couple of days after she was home. Then, she was in newborn which were too big for her, but we just rolled up the sleeves on things. She's just recently been growing out of newborn after being home for 2 1/2 months.
Good luck!
Me: 35 DH: 30 TTC since 1/2010 DX: 6/15/2011: MFI IVF with ICSI
IVF #1: Sept 2011: Beta 10/10- BFP!! 1st u/s 10/31/11 1 blighted ovum, 1 embryo 2nd u/s 11/14/11 stopped growing, no h/b D/C 11/17/11
IVF #2: FET 5/4/12 : Beta 5/16/12 BFN
IVF #3: ET 7/6/12 : 7/18 Beta #1 BFP at 246, 7/20 Beta #2 at 713, 7/27 Beta #3 at 9068. 1st u/s 8/7 with one lovely hb.
Mabel is here! 2/17/13!
First, best of luck. I was in the hospital with DD knowing I would deliver early, we were hoping for 36 weeks. I had prom at 33.5 weeks, I had been given 2 rounds of steriod shots and DD was measuring big (now DS is too). She was born 6lbs 4oz, screaming. She was a little "grey and floppy", had high APGAR scores, and her sugars were off. She also had some trouble eating and was jaundice. That being said, she was in the NICU for 48 hours, step down for another 24 hrs and came home, but had to do outpatient blood draws and nurse visits every day for 2 weeks (I think it was). Best of luck to you.
Edited to add -- she did drop down to 5.3, she lost too much weight was in premie clothes and diapers for a little bit, but once she "got the hang of eating" she plumped right up. The weekly pictures were amazing, one week her skin was hanging off of her the next she looked like a chipmunk!
I delivered at 34w 5d and DD2 was 5lbs 5oz, but she had a 14 days NICU stay. She had some issues with a's and b's and jaundice. Her desatting held us back for awhile, and by the end of the first week she gaining weight, but very slowly. Each baby is different, so it really all depends.My oldest was born at 33w 4d, 4lbs 10.5 oz and had a 13 day NICU stay because of feeding/jaundice issues.
Praying that you can stick it out a few more weeks. Definitely keep us posted.
As for preemie clothes, definitely don't need many. You can probably take some of them to the NICU for the last couple of days that they are there, but we hardly used them when they finally came home.
I had a 35 weeker and she stayed in the NICU for 10 days for her feeding issues. She weighed 5.2lbs.
As far as clothes went, we got some preemie clothes but only a couple things. She could wear newborn.. we just rolled up the sleeves. During her NICU stay, they suggested getting her sleep gowns that way all of the cords and machine wires could easily come out of the bottom of her gown.
I delivered at 33w 2 days and my baby was 4lb 2oz. I developed mastitis so I stayed in the hospital 5 days after my c-section (insurance covered 4 days) and my LO stayed in the NICU for 14 days before being discharged. Originally docs said they would keep her until 36w but she was feeding well and managed to maintain her temperature in an open crib, so they sent her home.
7/30/12 - B/G twins born at 33w4d due to PPROM