37 vs 38 weeks?

missfire

My 38w3d C-section just got moved up to 37w. The peri doesn't want to wait so long, since my baby girl is measuring small and her growth is starting to slow down. And my OB is gone between those dates, so any "compromise" date would have been with a new doctor.

I'm nervous to deliver at 37 weeks, even though I know we're so lucky to have gotten so far! Baby girl was 4lbs 3oz at 35w4d, so I don't imagine she'll be more than 5lbs when born. I did have steroid shots last week, though, to help their lungs develop faster.

Should I expect much difference between 37 weeks and 38 weeks? My OB had no guess on whether baby girl would need to go to the NICU or not, at that weight.

 

IAM4UK

My girls were delivered at 37 weeks exactly. Abby was 5lbs. 7oz. and Emily was 6lbs. 2oz. at birth. Abby went as low as 5lbs. 3oz. while in the hospital.

We had ZERO NICU time and brought the babies home with us after 3 days in the hospital. I didn't have any steriod shots either.

Also, with DD#1 we brought her home from the NICU at a little under 4lbs. So, if your LO is doing well and with no problems, you may just bring home a 4lber. Also, keep in mind that ultrasound weights can be off.

They were estimating Abby at only 4lbs. 13oz. the day before I had them and she came out as 5lbs. 7oz.

Good luck as your c-section approaches.

lgurian

my boys were born at 36 wk 3 days, no steroid shot. they were 5 10 and 5 11. J came home with me after spending one night in the NICU, M spent an extra day for eating too slow (turns out he was stuffed with snot). 

this is obviously no indicitive of what might happen with your girls, but i wouldnt worry too much.  

kafunder

After I got to 35w, my dr. said that barring any unforeseen complications, most 35w can go home without any NICU time. I made it to 36w4d and my LOs were 5lbs 5oz and 5lbs 14oz, and they didn't any NICU or special care nursery time.

allabydreams

My guys were born via scheduled c-section at exactly 37 weeks. No steroid shots, no NICU time. They weighed 5 lbs 10 oz and 5 lbs 13 oz. Good luck!

nikinikinine

we have 38 weekers, only thing I've seen vs. my 37 and 36 week MoM friends are that our twins latched a little better initially. 

Temp159135562506975

griffin was delivered at 36w2d - i had the steriod shots at 32w b/c of PTL. He did great- no NICU time at all.

36w was my big goal with the twins- b/c i felt safe with that, since Griffin was fine at that stage.... 37w is considered term - lungs are generally developed by then - so i wouldn't worry - better to get them out and know they are safe than go longer in your situation.

best of luck!

ougrad1

Landry and Hudson were born at 34.6 weeks and Landry weighed 4.2 lbs.  She was in the NICU for 2 weeks for eating and growing.  She did great.

You're okay!!!!  How exciting that you're *right* there!!!  : )

 

Haven1

MIne were 34w5d, 4-9 and 4-13, and needed 10 and 13 days in the NICU growing and feeding.  My doc told me 35w is generally the unofficial "no NICU" time. 

You've done GREAT to make it this far!

missfire

Thank you, everyone!

doz&koz

The same thing just happened with me - I was scheduled for my c/s at 38w 3d, but it got moved up a week.  DD was 6 pounds and DS was 6 pounds, 8 ounces.  I did not have any steroid shots and both babies needed a little help breathing intitially. DD had a little oxygen (off it 2 days after delivery) and DS was on CPAP (he was off by the morning after delivery).   DD had a couple of apnea episodes that we quickly discovered was due to reflux.  Both stayed in the special care nursery 1 day after I went home.  Pediatrician wanted to observe DS's jaundice for 1 more day before releasing him.  He never needed phototherapy.  Good luck!

veronicacorningstone

I had my boys as 36w3d and they were perfectly healthy.   G weighed 7lb7oz and C was 7lb4oz.   At our last MFM appointment, which was at 35 weeks, they were only measuring close to 6 lbs, so that goes to show you measurements can be off.  I had no clue I was going to have two 7lb babies!

G, my bigger baby, had to spend 12 hours in the NICU just for observation.  We all left the hospital together after 3 days.

Good luck!