35 weekers...

ISBJN

This is my second pregnancy, and I carried our daughter to 39 weeks with the first.  I've been having contractions, pressure, low back pain, etc. since last week and have been to labor and delivery twice for brethine shots and monitoring.  As of last Wednesday, I wasn't dilated at all and they told me my cervix was very "un-ripe". 

I'm on terbutaline around the clock now, and it has helped to calm down the timeable contractions.  Yesterday, I lost a bit of my mucus plug, and with that came an increase in the pressure I've been feeling and a return of some of the contractions (although not timeable).

Does anyone have any experience with preemies born at 35, almost 36 weeks?  Has anyone had any luck nursing a baby born prematurely?

Thanks in advance!

SarahTx5701

My ds was born at 35 weeks.

He had respirtory distress syndrome and was on a vent I think for a few hours after brith, then on a cpap for a day and then room air.(I didn't see him for 3 days, so I really dont know everything that occured. He had to be transported to another hospital)  He had very high jaundice levels and that took a while to go away. he also had issues feeding and maintating temp. Normal preemie stuff.

He had a very awful time nursing because the jaundice made him so tired, plus those last few weeks are when they develop suck, swallow, breathe. So I pumped, but ultimatly he had to be supplemented to gain weight and I had trouble producing, so it didn't work for us.

he spent 17 days in the nicu and other than being a pokey little puppy ( always a little behind developmentally) He's great!!

It felt awful during the time, but in general, 35.36 weekers do well. Girls do better than boys, and some 35 weekers go right home with no issues! It just depends!

 

maggielw

My  LO was born at 34 weeks 5 days, and even though she had to be in the NICU for 10 days, she still nursed great. While she was in the NICU I pumped for her since I couldn't be there around the clock, but since shes been home (shes 7 weeks now) she only nurses. I got two different rounds of the steroid shots for her lungs though at 24 weeks and 32 weeks-and I know those really helped her development and ability to breath suck swallow. HTH!

luvdv8

DD was born at 34w5d. She had jaundice and poor sucking- I pumped until I got a breast abscess at 6 weeks postpartum but we were supplementing all along. She was at the hospital just shy of a week. She's doing well now and is only slightly behind in communication and gross motor (still waiting on standing and walking).

While there's no guarantees, 35 weekers do very well in general and hopefully your LO adjusts to life on the outside quickly. Best of luck to you. You can PM me if you have any specific questions.

CandiceandRyan

My little one was 35w2d. She spent 10 days in NICU for breathing problems (2 days on the vent because of a collapsed lung), we never did get nursing down.... nipple confusion and severe PPD and (PTSD?). Pumped for 2 months.

She's doing great now!  A little healthy chunky monkey!!

lisa&andy

My twins were born at 35w2d, DD came home with me and DS spent 26 days in NICU for RDS. I had no problem nursing DD, I tried a few times with DS when he was a few weeks old and gave up; I ended up pumping for 6 months for them.

lexismom1008

My DS was born at 34w3d. He had very little respiratory issues, but many other issues related to his IUGR. He tired very quickly at the breast and eventually started to refuse to breastfeed. I am still EPing for him. GL with your LO. Hopefully you can keep her cooking a little longer!

Temp984666312503071

My DD as born at 35w4d.  Aside from being little and having some jaundice she was good as gold.  I delivered her on a Friday and we were released Monday.  The extra day was for lights treatment for the jaundice. 

I nursed her exclusively for 7 months.  Getting started was a little challenging because she had a weak latch and was very lethargic.  I had to pump and finger feed her with a dropper for the first few days.  Then we moved on to a nipple shield.  At 6 weeks she was finally ready to nurse without the shield. 

Also.. FWIW...  I just delivered my son at 39w4d and walked around 5cm 80% effaced with contractions for almost a month.  When she told me that I was that advanced at 35 weeks I cried because I thought I was going to have another preemie (I had been on Procardia and 17-P to prevent contractions).  I ended up needing to be induced because he was getting so big (he was 9 pounds 11 ounces even though we induced before 40 weeks) and my body wasn't doing it on it's own.  So you never know!!  You might make it to your due date.

MarriedBestFriends

DD was born at 35w3d; I pPROM'ed at 34w3d and was on bedrest at the hospital until she was born. She had no issues whatsoever beyond not wanting to nurse properly- so, no, we had zero success after weeks and weeks of trying and multiple LC visits and I EP'ed for a year (and froze a ton so at least she was on BM until 18 months). 

BreeGee

My DD was born at 35 weeks and was discharged normally.  She did have some jaundice and we had her on a billi blanket at home.  Other than her being tongue tied, she nursed just fine and had no issues gaining weight.  Good luck!

kar5162

DS was born at 34 weeks and spend just over a month in the NICU/ISCU learning to eat and breath properly.  He was on CPAP for 1.5 days, but took his time to not brady occasionally and finish his bottles.  (Girls usually do better then boys).  We practiced breastfeeding once most days while in the hospital and I pumped the rest of the time.  About 2 weeks after his due date he was able to breastfeed more successfully and was pretty much fully breastfed other than the occasional bottle (since I was going back to work in a few weeks) by 2 months old.  We did use a nipple shield until he was 8 months old - he was pretty tounge-tied in the beginning and then used to it.  He is still breastfeeding at 14 months (I'm ready to wean, but he is not) so it is possible.

mrsblueeyes

DS was born at 35w3d after PROM, he did great and required just a few hours in the NICU for low blood sugar, and feeding was a little rough for a few days given lethargy and jaundice issues.  He went home after 3 days in the hospital and is a healthy little guy with no delays. 

lax15bsu

My LO was born at 35w5d. He spent seven days in the special care nursery. When he was born, he had respiratory distress and an infection. The first two days, he had to be under this plastic bubble helmet that supplied humidified oxygen. Then he started getting jaundiced, so he spent two days under the lights. I didn't get to hold him until he was three days old. He had an IV for antibiotics and had to be on those for seven days.

I pumped the first few days. They didn't let him eat anything until two days old. When they did introduce food (my breastmilk) they did through a feeding tube. Because of his respiratory concerns, that's why we started with a feeding tube. But at three days old we tried breastfeeding and (with the help of a nipple shield) he did great. We've been nursing ever since.

Wally3

I had ds at 34w3days.  He was in the NICU for a week.  IV for 2 days started bottle feeds of bm at 2 days - started nursing at 5 days - alternated with bottled bm and bfing for about 2 more weeks.  At my hospital the rule was if less then 35 weeks then the baby was automatically admitted to the NICU not matter what.  After 35 weeks it depended on how the baby was when he was born.  DS was doing well (breathing on his own) and they did let me hold him for about 20 mins after he was born before taking him to the NICU. Good luck hope all goes well for you and your baby.