We are adopting a

goruncole · September 2009

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little one but he/she has decided to come early. The mother is in labor and the ultrasound said she is 34-36 weeks and weights about 5lbs. They gave her a steroid shot and they are hoping she won't deliver for another 24 hours. What should we expect?

Thank you,
Nicole

TriciaJoy · September 2009

Congratulations!

34w is sort of a magic mark in development, so that's great that she's that far. Hopefully she can hold off long enough for the steroids to have some effect. You can probably expect some sort of breathing assistance right at first (I'd *guess* probably C-Pap but she could need to be intubated (on a ventilator)

Then it really depends on how the baby does. She could be perfectly healthy, and come home very quickly, or she may need some help with her breathing at first and need some time to learn to eat.

If you're waiting for her to be born, you might ask the birth mother's hospital if it would be possible for you to tour the NICU. They can probably aquaint you with some of the monitors and how things work before you're even more overwhelmed than you are right now.

Kim777 · September 2009

My boys were born at 36 weeks, 3 days. One was able to be with us the whole time - no time in the nursery at all. The other was in the NICU for 12 days because he was having trouble breathing. He was on a nasal canula. He didn't have any other problems, so once his lungs matured and he was able to get off of the oxygen and take all of his feedings by bottle/breast he was able to come home with us. Congratulations on your adoption!

SWMcFarland · September 2009

I have a 34 week, 4 day LO! Her apgars were 9 & 9. I did have the steroid shots at 27 weeks, so that very likely contributed to her lung maturity. Our neonatologist said she acted more like a 39 weeker than a 34 weeker (he said this right after he told us to expect her home around her due date!). She never required any sort of medical assistance (no breathing, no eating help, etc.) but she did have severe jaundice that rebounded 3 times. The jaundice is a tricky cycle...it makes them sleepy, being under the bili lights makes them sleepy, but they have to eat in order to poo the jaundice out, so it made for an interesting almost 2 weeks. We were set to take her home 2 times but then her bili counts "rebounded." That was a major disappointment!! When they told us Friday, April 3 she was coming home the next day, we were both like, "Yeah, right!!" and weren't even going to room in (we'd already done it 2 other times!!) but she did come home!! She was born 4 pounds, 6 ounces and was 19.5 inches long! She ended up leaving the NICU weighing 5 pounds exactly.

There was another 34 weeker in Lily's pod who was on CPAP and then a nasal cannula. She also was gauvaged for feeds (feeding tube) because she just wasn't ready to bottle feed.

Our NICU's requirements for discharge sound something like this, but it truly does depend on the baby.

--Baby must be able to maintain body temp in open air

--Baby taking feeds via bottle or breast

--Baby breathing without help (again, this is different for some babies!!)

--No apnea/brady spells

There are other things, but those were our main issues. Of course, jaundice is normally something that can be treated outpatient, but it is very common among newborns and extremely common in preemies.

I hope this baby does wonderfully and has no NICU time at all! Congrats on your new arrival! You already are a great mom and will be the perfect mom for this LO!

Let me know if there is anthing I can do for you, or help answer, etc. The gals on this board are FANTASTIC. They are a plethra of knowledge and are always willing to help!!

goruncole · September 2009

Thanks Ladies!! It looks like we made it for the first shot (right 24 hours?) but does not look we will get a second one. She is due to go into for a C/S at 10 CA time. We are from UT so we are hoping the baby does not have too stay too long. I will let you know. I am sure there will one hundred questions once we get to the hospital. I will ask if we can have a tour of the NICU. Thank you for that. I would have never thought of it.

Thanks again ladies for all your help!

Nicole

lstaylor73 · September 2009

Please let us know how everything goes! This board is amazing and everyone here has loads of experience and plenty of empathy to help you through this. Your LO is at an amazing time for development and hopefully will have very minimal time in the NICU. Either way, we're all here to help. Congratulations!!

crystalpopcorn · September 2009

How exciting! It's hard to say what you should expect, since every preemie is different. It will probably also depend on what, if anything, the baby has been exposed to in utero. However, it should be a fairly easy NICU stay--relatively speaking.

My little man was born at 31 weeks and did not require a Cpap or vent. He had a nasal cannula for a few days, but that was it. Steroids really can make a big difference.

Good luck, and let us know how it goes!!

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