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planned preemie - how did you deliver

TAGoldenTAGolden
in Preemies

Hi ladies -

 My doctor wants to deliver me in two weeks because the baby is so small and she's not growing much.  I'm currently 33 weeks and she's just barely over 3 lbs.  My question is, if anyone had a "planned" preemie, how did you deliver?  My mom wants me to have a C-section so there's less stress on the baby, but DH doesn't want me to have major surgery if I don't have to..

 Thanks for your responses!

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Re: planned preemie - how did you deliver

  • SWMcFarlandSWMcFarland member

    That is a better question for your doctor.  It depends on a lot of factors...There has been research that has shown that the "stress" on the baby during a vaginal delivery is actually a good kind of stress, as it squeezes the extra fluid out of the lungs, etc.  But sometimes a C-Section is necessary for a variety of reasons.  But it is major surgery.  I was begging for a C-section and my doctor refused--she said I wasn't a candidate.  If your doctor is telling you they are delivering you in the next 2 weeks, I would ask a bunch more questions and work with him/her to develop a game plan.

    I had preeclampsia for over 8 weeks and was on strict bedrest.  I knew I could deliver at any time and it could go either way, depending on how stable I was.  I ended up developing HELLP syndrome after we had already started the induction process...my BP's were 235/120s and that was what prompted delievery.

    Whatever happens, I wish you the best luck.

    3/22/09 - Lily Grace, born at 33 weeks, 2 days
    9/12/14 - M/C @ 7 weeks, 1 day (ectopic)

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  • SoonToBeTaborSoonToBeTabor

    I agree with the PP. I had my daughter via c-section because my Dr. didnt want me pushing with how high my BP was and because I had a failed induction with my first daughter where I almost died...yikes.

    My guess is that there is a reason your Dr. is recommending a c-section, you just have to ask. A vaginal birth can cause stress but it could be helpful or hurtful. My DD was born with respitory distress which could have been prevented by a vaginal delivery because that excess fluid might have been squeezed out. On the other hand, we later found out that she might have had an adrenal glad disorder and a vagina birth might have killed her.

    Its a toss up. I understand not wanting the surgery but maybe its the best, ya know? Just ask and see.

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  • Waiting4baby08Waiting4baby08
    Mine wasn't "planned".  They decided at my MFM appointment that I needed to deliver that day.  I did not have a choice, however, of a c-section.  They induced and said that they would only do a c-section if induction didn't work or something went wrong.  I'm so glad because the induction was quick and relatively easy (epidural) and it didn't take long to recover from.  Good luck.
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  • lemen99lemen99 member

    I would ask your doctor - they knew I would be delivering soon but said they'd rather me deliver vaginally because I'd be going through enough stress by having a baby in the NICU, and a c-section was unnecessary and had no evidence of better outcomes in my case. 


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  • KellyMichelleKellyMichelle
    Like the others have said, this is a conversation to have with your doc because everybody's situation is different.  The docs will monitor your baby and tell you if there is too much stress and a c-section is needed.
    Kelly, Mom to Noah 8.27.05 (born at 26 weeks)
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  • lstaylor73lstaylor73

    It sounds like your Doc is saying your baby my be an IUGR baby (Intra Uterine Growth Restriction) which is unfortunately common and while many people go on to have healthy but small full term babies, many of us need to deliver early.  It is the exact reason why I always knew I would have preemies and why my son Evan was 1lb 7oz at almost 29weeks. 

    If your Doc is saying it is IUGR then it is a very tricky situation that requires close monitoring and a very quick delivery with as little stress to the baby as possible.  The way that IUGR works is important to understand so you know why your Doc is telling you to do a c/s and why it is beneficial for you and your baby.  Your heart controls the force of the blood flowing to your baby through the placenta and umbilical cord and when it reaches your baby the baby's heart then controls how the blood is administered to the rest of its body.  When a baby has IUGR this means that for some reason there is restricted blood flow somewhere between your placenta and the umbilical supplying all the nutrients and oxygen your baby needs.  Basically it's like your baby is eating/breathing through a straw and why the baby is growing at a slower and slower rate.  At some point the baby's heart may become too weak and exhausted and not able to keep working at the proper pace.  Your heart however is still working at its normal pace and is so strong it can work like a valve and cause the blood to flow back out of the umbilical cord and then the baby may go into distress called End Diastolic Reversal of Blood Flow.  This can happen very quickly and you will not feel anything to indicate a problem and the only way to know that the baby is in distress is very close monitoring through a Doppler ultrasound. 

    The reason you have to have a c/s and why a vaginal delivery is typically not done for IUGR babies because of A) the speed at which a baby can go into distress and  B) the vaginal delivery is likely too slow and to risky for a baby that is in full end diastolic reversal of blood flow.  So in the case of having to deliver because of the condition of IUGR you absolutely don't want to wait through a vaginal delivery because the risks to the baby are just too great.  Usually if you are diagnosed with an IUGR baby you should be seen by a Perineonatologist Maternal Fetal Medicine specialist for the Dopplar ultrasound. 

    I apologize if all of this sounds scary but that is the worst case scenario on how IUGR works, and not knowing what your Doc has told you of the situation I'm making the assumption this is the case. Like the pp said, you definitely need to speak with your Doc and make a plan that you are comfortable with.  I would also suggest you talk to him about the steroid shots to help the baby learn to breathe.  Hands down that is what saved my boys lives before after having our "planned" emergency c/s.

    You can read my story on my blog (see link in siggie) starting with the post titled "Introducing Cameron & Evan".  If you have questions you can feel free to email me at Taylo2Babies at gmail.com.  

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  • mommamorrismommamorris

    i had my daughter (27w) via emergency c-section... and my platelets were too low to get any anti-inflammatory drugs... it was TERRIBLY PAINFUL! i would have loved to have had vaginal delivery instead. (i was previously induced and had vaginal delivery... the process was no piece of cake- but recovery was SO much faster!)  but we only had about 3 hours warning for my daughter. now, due to the classical incision on my uterus i can only have c-sections. i believe you're far enough along, and she's big enough now to have the horizontal incision- but that's definitely a question i would ask! 

    vaginal delivery does have many benefits, and the MFM's at the hospital i was at almost always advocate for vaginal delivery.. even in cases like gastroschisis (organs on the outside) -that really surprised me.

    i would listen to your docs, do research and find pros and cons to both in your situation... and make the best decision you can. 

    good luck! i'm glad your little girl has made it so far! being so far along will give her great advantages. (in the world of preemieness. :)

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