Issues at 34 weeks

hollerjeepgirl · November 2010

I haven't delivered yet, I'm 29 weeks now, but the doctors think I'll make it to 34. I was wondering what kind of developmental/health issues can occur at that point? I know each baby's different. They were telling me that if I had delivered at 23 weeks like they thought I was going to he'd have brain hemorrhaging, possible retardation, speech delays, and a few other things I blocked out. I was just wondering what kind of obstacles I am going to be looking at. Thanks in advance!

ArvadaBride · November 2010

I'm the mom of a 33 weeker. I was not given any forewarning of her delivery or development other than being told "she may have some struggles". Therefore I am of little help But, I want to give you my support.

I would ask for a tour of the NICU, if you havent' already and see if there is a NICU support group and maybe ask questions there.

Keep in touch and I wish you and your DS the best of luck on this journey. Stay strong.

hollerjeepgirl · November 2010

ArvadaBride:
I'm the mom of a 33 weeker. I was not given any forewarning of her delivery or development other than being told "she may have some struggles". Therefore I am of little help But, I want to give you my support.

I would ask for a tour of the NICU, if you havent' already and see if there is a NICU support group and maybe ask questions there.

Keep in touch and I wish you and your DS the best of luck on this journey. Stay strong.

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm not allowed to have wheelchair privileges because of the AF leaking otherwise I'd go up there. I know we'll have struggles but I'm hoping I'm over the brain hemorrhaging and really scary stuff even though I know I'll be scared of everything. I might just ask my doctor in the morning when I see her. I know he'll be in NICU, that's going to be hard but I'm just glad I'm over the biggest hurdle

Heather1979 · November 2010

My dd was born at 34 weeks after I pprom-ed. I wasn't given the option of steroid shots, and once she was born she required surfactant for her lungs. She spent a day on the vent, about a half day on CPAP, and a couple days on a canula.

She had anemia which she still takes iron supplements for, and she had a hard time getting her bilirubin levels under control (jaundice). She spent most of the two weeks she was in the NICU under the lights, and needed a wallaby light for a week once she got home. She also needed an apnea monitor for 2 months after she came home.

She was also HUGE for her GA, she was 6lbs 1 oz and 18.5" (The doctors told me I would be lucky if she were 4lbs!)

GL cooking your LO for as long as possible!

chicky1231 · November 2010

I don't have a ton of info but my niece was born at 33 1/2 weeks and doing great at almost 1. She is actually advanced for a preemie and she spent 4 weeks in the NICU. She was home on an apnea monitor for about 2-3 months also. Her biggest issue was getting her to eat on her own.

ArvadaBride · November 2010

hollerjeepgirl:

Thank you, I really appreciate that. I'm not allowed to have wheelchair privileges because of the AF leaking otherwise I'd go up there. I know we'll have struggles but I'm hoping I'm over the brain hemorrhaging and really scary stuff even though I know I'll be scared of everything. I might just ask my doctor in the morning when I see her. I know he'll be in NICU, that's going to be hard but I'm just glad I'm over the biggest hurdle

I would then ask if you can have one of the head NICU nurses or the NNP (neonatal nurse) come to your room and explain everything to you! They did that for me before I was allowed into the NICU and it was a few days before we knew we had to deliver. Ask if they can bring pictures of the various peices of the NICU for you to see.

A book I'd highly suggest you buy from Amazon.com is the Newborn Intensive Care: What Every Parent Needs to Know, 3rd Edition . It is totally worth it and a good friend who is a NICU nurse loaned me her copy. It explains everything in easy to understand terms, not the medical terms that fly around you.

https://www.amazon.com/Newborn-Intensive-Care-Every-Parent/dp/1581103077/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1288981044&sr=1-1

krissyh21 · November 2010

My baby was born at 35 weeks and needed 2 weeks in NICU. If you can do the steroid shot, definitely get it, if you haven't already. I had it since the doctors didn't think I would make it past 32 weeks.

Anyway, my sons major issues were not feeding well, jaundice (mostly caused because of the feeding issues) , and having a low body temp. Once we got him home, I had to keep track of his body temp and dress him super warm, but he had no other issues.

He is now almost 1 and has no delays at all and is a thriving little boy.

Good luck! Remember that just because the doctors think something does not mean it will come true. Follow doctors orders and you may just get a few more weeks time.

lemen99 · November 2010

Thinking of you and praying that you keep your little baby in until at least 34 weeks.

Hopefully longer!

kimberlyd546 · November 2010

My LO was born at 34 wks and 1 day...he spent that night with oxygen just as a precaution and that was removed the next morning...he had a little jaundice so he was hooked up to the blue light for a few days, but all in all our biggest obstacle was feeding from the bottle...he had the g-tube for a while cause he just didnt have energy to suck..we spent 11days in the NICU..he was born at 4lbs 6 oz and 19.5 inches long and is doing wonderful now....hope you are able to keep your LO cooking!!! good luck

MamaLBF · November 2010

My son was born at excatly 34 weeks. He was 3 pounds 9oz. He didnt have any major problems. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks and 4 days. He never needed to be on a ventalator. He was on a canula for a few days to just give him extra O2. It took a week to get on a bottle and off the feeding tube. Babys learn to suck and swallow in the womb at week 34- so he was just learning how to do that when he came out. Lukes personal biggest obstacle was getting outta the issolette. His tempature was good just not good enough to move into the crib until just over 2 weeks old. He is growing fast and is super healthy! Good luck to you!

hollerjeepgirl · November 2010

krissyh21:
My baby was born at 35 weeks and needed 2 weeks in NICU. If you can do the steroid shot, definitely get it, if you haven't already. I had it since the doctors didn't think I would make it past 32 weeks.
Anyway, my sons major issues were not feeding well, jaundice (mostly caused because of the feeding issues) , and having a low body temp. Once we got him home, I had to keep track of his body temp and dress him super warm, but he had no other issues.
He is now almost 1 and has no delays at all and is a thriving little boy.
Good luck! Remember that just because the doctors think something does not mean it will come true. Follow doctors orders and you may just get a few more weeks time.

Yeah, I've had 2 sets of the shots and magnesium to speed up his development. They won't let me go past 34 because of pprom and the chances of infection increase past 34 weeks but I'm sooooo thankful we've made it this far. That's awesome about your DS, it sounds like he did great so hopefully I'm just worrying for nothing

hollerjeepgirl · November 2010

MamaLBF:
My son was born at excatly 34 weeks. He was 3 pounds 9oz. He didnt have any major problems. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks and 4 days. He never needed to be on a ventalator. He was on a canula for a few days to just give him extra O2. It took a week to get on a bottle and off the feeding tube. Babys learn to suck and swallow in the womb at week 34- so he was just learning how to do that when he came out. Lukes personal biggest obstacle was getting outta the issolette. His tempature was good just not good enough to move into the crib until just over 2 weeks old. He is growing fast and is super healthy! Good luck to you!

Awesome! I said "AWW!" outloud when I saw your siggy, he's so cute!!

MamaLBF · November 2010

hollerjeepgirl:

MamaLBF:
My son was born at excatly 34 weeks. He was 3 pounds 9oz. He didnt have any major problems. He was in the NICU for 3 weeks and 4 days. He never needed to be on a ventalator. He was on a canula for a few days to just give him extra O2. It took a week to get on a bottle and off the feeding tube. Babys learn to suck and swallow in the womb at week 34- so he was just learning how to do that when he came out. Lukes personal biggest obstacle was getting outta the issolette. His tempature was good just not good enough to move into the crib until just over 2 weeks old. He is growing fast and is super healthy! Good luck to you!

Awesome! I said "AWW!" outloud when I saw your siggy, he's so cute!!

Thank you thank you about the siggy picture! Its a really special picture for me that I took yesturday. I was in the hospital for heart/ blood pressure problems again for 3 days and I missed him terribly. When I got home we just snuggled together for 4.5 hours. Which is amazing becaue he eats every 3 hours...so he didnt get hungry I think because he missed me too and just wanted to be in my arms. At least I tell myself that

lexismom1008 · November 2010

My LO was born at 34 weeks 3 days. I did get 2 doses of sterioids, but the second was only hours before I delivered. He was IUGR and weighed 3lbs 0oz and was 17 in long. He had very few breathing issues. He was on O2 for 24 hours and then went to room air. We had some issues due to the IUGR ,like low platelets and a low heart rate. He was in SCN for 3 weeks mainly for eating and growing. It took him about a week to start to gain weight and then he took off. They actually let him come home before he weighed enough because he was doing so well. He fed really well the first couple of days and then had to have his NG reinserted. He started feeding well again after about a week and did fine after that. It took him a while to come out of the isolette due to his weight. He is doing great now other than some torticollis and reflux. I hope you can keep your LO in there until 34 weeks. Good luck to you!

erikaja6 · November 2010

My son was born at 33 weeks and 3 days. He weighed 5 pounds and 4 ounces. His biggest issue was jaundice and he had to spend a couple of days under the bili lights. He went home on his 11th day in the NICU and he's doing great. Good luck!

luvdv8 · November 2010

DD was born at 34w5d. She was HUGE for her date (5lbs10oz). Her major issues were jaundice and sucking/feeding issues. She dropped 1lb very quickly and it took a while before she was the 5lbs required for them to be discharged. Once we sorted out her eating issues though, she thrived and is doing very well (on par with her actual age in all areas except gross motor which is only slightly behind her adjusted age).

34 weekers are strong babies, and if you can keep LO in there then you'll be surprised how well he'll do. Try not to worry about it too much, because every baby is different and you might wind up worrying about problems you don't even need to face. Take it day by day and when the time comes work closely with your dr's to make sure that you really understand the special attention your little man will need.

Shelley-Bean · November 2010

My boys were born at 34 weeks 5 days. Both were big (5 lb 5 oz - baby A and 5 lb 11 oz - baby , and I delivered early because of PROM. Baby A came out screaming, and has just been trying to figure out how to eat. Baby B had very immature lungs, needed surfactant x 1, was vented for 36 hours, was on CPAP for 4 days, and nasal cannula for 1/2 day. They have been in the NICU now for 15 days (still there now) and they are just trying to figure out how to eat their whole bottle at every feeding.

From what I understand, there are no common long term problems with 34 weekers being born - it's more short term (breathing and eating) and they do very well. Good luck, and I hope your NICU stay is short.

Mrs.Kristen · November 2010

DD was a 33/34 weeker and had no major issues when born. I had the steroid shot for lung development and the doctor said a lot of the lack of breathing issues was because of that. She was 4'10 oz She spent 5 days in the NICU for temp maintaining issues only which is typical for a preemie i'm told. She's had no issues since being home dealing with breathing etc. We had some issues with her formula but once we changed her she eats like a champ...at almost three months she is already at 11lbs. Every baby is different both of our preemie babies did better then expected.

xporcelainangelx · November 2010

My daughter was born at 34 weeks exactly. I went into pre-term labor so they gave me the 2 shots of steroids to help develop her lungs more. She weighed 7 lbs & was 18.5 inches long. I have had Cystic Fibrosis related diabetes since 2004 so my Dr. assumed this caused her larger size. She had no problems breathing on her own, regulating her sugar or her temperature but she did spend 9 days in the NICU/Special Care Unit because when she ate, occasionally she would stop breathing during feedings. She was sent home on an apnea monitor which was actually a sort of blessing because in the middle of the night we always knew she was alive if no alarms went off. She stopped having apnea episodes a little before 2 months but the Dr. kept her on it just at night until 3 months to be safe. As far as developmental delays, she was a little late to smile & start eating solids. But she learned to roll over a little before 3 months, started crawling at 6 months & 3 weeks later she was pulling herself up to her knees & feet (which she does ALL the time now) & she could tripod sit. At about 7 1/2 months she started completely sitting on her own. She's been holding her own bottle since about 7 months & can imitate faces & noises we make.

I don't know if DD is the norm for a 34 weeker, but I wanted you to know that not all preemies have severe problems or delays. Good luck!

MandieLyn30 · November 2010

I gave birth 14 years ago to a 4lb 6 oz girl at 32 weeks...She spent 4 weeks in nicu and required a blood transfusion at 4 days old..other than feeding problems the first few weeks we didnt have Many problems with her she is Now an Honor Roll student in 9th grade and Is 5ft 6 The most beautiful girl I know of course I am bias..

but Now at almost 30 weeks with a Son I have had 2 steriod shots and am on bed rest due to preterm contractions and slight dialation Doc doesnt think He will will go past 35 weeks...Having already had a premie you know I am Worried but I know God has his hand in all things and every thing Good or bad serves a purpose some how some way..Good luck to you

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