Question About Babies Born at 35 and/or 36 weeks

Genny2118

Hi Ladies! I'm not a mom of a preemie or full term baby yet but there is a chance our little one will be born around the 35/36 week mark so I have questions. (I'm on bed rest for incompetent cervix and was told by my doctor today that I'm 100% effaced and baby's head is right at my cerclage. She will want to take the stitch out if I have more than 4 BH in an hour so there is a chance I'll be having this baby a bit earlier than planned.)

 What sort of things should I expect from a preterm baby born at 35 or 36 weeks? Should I expect NICU time? Is it possible that the baby won't need NICU time? My doctor told me that she thinks the baby will be able to go home with me if I deliver after I've hit the 35 week mark, but I wanted to hear some stories from people that have been there. Oh and I have had the steroid shots at 24 weeks.

 DH and I are praying that baby stays in and cooks a bit longer and we are trusting God to do that. However, I still felt the need to reach out to you all and see what you could tell me and hopefully put my mind at ease.

 Thanks in advance! And I have to say I'm in awe of you all. I've read some of your posts and I know that it takes a ton of strength and character to face all the challenges you are going through!

mrshenderson081807

I had my son at 35 weeks 1 day. ?He weighed 5 lbs even and came out breathing on his own perfectly! ?There were NICU nurses at my delivery in case they were needed and they had me prepared for the worst. ?Fortunately he needed no time in the NICU at all. ?We went home after 2 days in the hospital just like normal, however he was readmitted the very next day for jaundice where he stayed for 2 more days. ?His suck reflex was pretty much non existent but he was eating like a champ after about a week or so...maybe longer. ?This was my experience with my 35 weeker. ?I hope it helps. ?I should also add that I did not receive steroid shots at all, as I didn't develop any complications until the week before he was born. ?I am glad that you got them...that should help! ?I will be praying for your baby and I hope your little one stays cooking for a few more weeks atleast!

Genny2118

Thanks so much mrshenderson081807! That's really good to hear! I only have a few more days to go until I hit 35 weeks so that will really help me breath easy and stay relaxed.

 Your little one is so cute, BTW!

lstaylor73

I just wanted to say that you have done a great job baking that baby and I'm sending you more baby baking dust now.  Also, you will find that the book Preemies: The Guide for Parents of Premature Babies is by far the best preemie reference guide out there.  It is a large book with everything you could ever ask for and a lot you don't really want at all, but it's great to have. Keep cooking Mommy!

Genny2118

Thanks lstaylor73 for the book recommendation. I'll have to look into getting it!

userdeleted

My DS was born at 35w6d. He had trouble breathing at birth and had to be sent up to the NICU, he was on a cpap machine for a couple days until his breathing problems worked themselves out. After that he wasn't able to leave because he had basically no suck reflex and wasn't able to eat very well. He spent a total of 10 days there.

Now he's doing wonderfully, he's actually huge for his age (17lbs at 3 months) and has no lasting problems from being pre-term. Also, we didn't have any warning that he was going to be early, so no steroid shots. I would imagine that would make a huge difference.

Genny2118

Thanks Rach! Isn't your little guy the cutest?! I can't get over his smile! It's good to know that even if we have a bit of a rough start that this little one has a great chance of leveling out and not having any big issues. I'm also really hopeful that we'll be able to bring the baby home without a long NICU stay. Thanks again!

TheShellSeeker

DS was born at 36w1d.  Like you, I had the steroid shots at 28 weeks.  DS was an iugr baby so he was born very small at 3lb7oz so he was admitted to the nicu for hypoglycemia and to work on his feeding.  He never needed a feeding tube and did get treated for jaundice a few days in.  All in all, he spent 10 days in the nicu.  His breathing was just fine and no problems there.  GL and I hope you get to take your baby home! 

SBMBride406

When my son was in the NICU, we were told that most babies leave the NICU between 35 and 37 weeks gestational age. My son was very low birth weight, had underdeveloped lungs, IVH, etc and he still left the NICU at 36 weeks without monitors. Hopefully your baby will get to come home with you!

hmms

My DS was born at 35 weeks 3 days, I also had the steroid shots.  We had extra support in the delivery room - none was needed.  He came out breathing and crying, and was set on my belly right away (they prepared me they'd take him if there was a problem).

DS had no NICU time, and spent one extra night at the hospital to be under the bilirubin light for jaundice (I was discharged but got to stay as a "boarding parent").  We returned to the clinic every 2-3 days for two weeks for a weight-check and jaundice check.

DS was 6 pounds and 18 inches long, about 5# 10oz when he came home; he's never had any health problems.

Our only minor issue - he failed the car seat check.  He rode in a "car bed" until our due date, then passed with flying colors.  I'd never heard of a car bed before.  Our hospital tests all babies born before 36 weeks or with low birth weight.

GL!

TnP102304

Our DD was born at 35 w 4d due to IUGR.  I got the steroid shots at 27 weeks and was on bed rest from that point.  DD weighed 4 lbs 3 oz and was 16.5" long.  She had no lung issues, was breathing on her own immediately.  She did go to the NICU, and had a 6-day stay, though, basically she was jsut a feeder-grower (her suck reflex was awful, nursing was difficult). She had trouble regulating her body temp and blood sugar due to her small size, and she developed jaundice (she got quite bruised during the C-section, as the doc had to really grab her to get her out...she tried to climb up higher into me!!) so she spent a couple of days under the bili lights.  She came home at 3 lbs 15 oz.

 

Best of luck to you!!! 

mommyof4boys

My youngest son is a 35 weeker.  He had a 7 day NICU stay where he recieved CPAP from 1am until 8ish in the morning, antibiotics for an infection, phototherapy for his jaundice and had a sleep study done since he was doing apneas and bradycardias.  He came home on an apnea monitor for 2.5 months.  He's not our first premiee so we were "used" to things.  He was about 3 weeks later than our twins and he had more issues than they did.  They were 32 weekers and had CPAP for a few days, phototherapy for jaundice and were feeders and growers.  They did take longer to "get" the suck/swallow/breath thing and were in the NICU for almost 3 weeks.

stormyjax

my dd was born 34 weeks 4 days....she spent 5 days in the nicu....basically to watch her....she was on an iv for 2 days under heater for 1 day but then she was there on monitors only....i got steroid shots and she came out screaming and never had any problems breathing or eating.  My drs goal for me was 35 weeks.  He said if i had made it to 35 weeks she probably would not have needed any nicu time.  Good luck....you've made it far already!

Genny2118

Thanks to all of you for sharing your stories! It's so good to hear that things will most likely be fine and if there is a NICU stay it will likely be a short one. Other than my IC there aren't any issues. This baby has been growing fine, etc. It gives me hope to hear that even with other complications that your babies are healthy and had short or no stay in the NICU. I'll be sure to come back and update you all once my little one is born. Thanks again!

RRHsMom

I had a super scary experience and almost hesitate to post my story when people ask bc it is so rare but I then think that I wished I had known of something like this so I could have been more prepared.  So... sorry in advance to frighten you. 

I have a 36? 37? weeker.  My OB feels I was 37 weeks according to ultra sounds but the ped said DS showed definate signs of being only 36 weeks and therefore misdated.  I was induced because I was swelling severely (10 lbs of water weight in 2 days!) and because I was "term" I was not given steroids.  Since you have had them, I doubt any of my experience will be yours.  My DS came out grunting, was wisked away, put on oxygen, diagnosed with respiratory distress, moved to cpap, then a ventilator, and finally an ocillator.  He was on life support for 12 days (he was heavily sedated for most of it and even medically paralyzed for some of it) and came home after 17 days.  He is now doing amazing and is healthy and huge! 

I truely hope you have a great labor and delivery and will pray for your little one.