Dr. wont stop labor after 34 weeks?

JuneBugsMommy · April 2011

At my 32 week appt. I asked the doctor I saw that day about inducing. Here's what she told me: they won't do anything to stop labor after 34 weeks, and they won't let me go past 41 weeks so around 38 weeks we would start talking about inducing. I thought 34 weeks seemed really early to not try to stop labor considering 37 weeks (well 38 weeks is what I learned in my birthing class) is full term! Does anyone else have a doctor similar to mine? Is this normal?

LexGator · April 2011

At my hospital orientation, they said that if you come in before 37 weeks (unless you're like 36w6d or something), they try to stop labor until you are full term.

DowagerCountessofNJ · April 2011

My doctor made mention to being prepared starting at 36 weeks which I would assume would mean they wouldn't stop labor if I started at that time. We haven't even talked about induction yet...I refuse to even broach the topic until I'm "overdue".

MommaA117 · April 2011

my Dr hasn't mentioned it yet but I think I would want them to stop it until about 36ish weeks.

MrsEmilyS · April 2011

LexGator:
At my hospital orientation, they said that if you come in before 37 weeks (unless you're like 36w6d or something), they try to stop labor until you are full term.

this

Nickiechan · April 2011

They are lifting some bed rest restriction for me around 36 weeks. They told me that they won't stop labor after 36 weeks and will schedule an induction at 42 weeks. I can refused up to 1/2 weeks... but then it gets into the serious consistences of higher chance of c-section and stillborn babies.

Mom_E224 · April 2011

LexGator:
At my hospital orientation, they said that if you come in before 37 weeks (unless you're like 36w6d or something), they try to stop labor until you are full term.

This is exactly how my Dr. and hospital are. Anything before 37 weeks gets stopped...unless of course it was just a few days before.

justme04 · April 2011

Wow that is really odd. My cousin's wife was having contractions and pre-term labor brought on by kidney stones and they kept her on the anti-labor meds until 37 weeks. And the poor woman was just miserable! I think she managed to go until 38 weeks and was delivered by c-section.

Although I can say as a mommy of a 34 weeker that they are pretty well developed at that stage...breathing on their own and all. He had a 2 week NICU stay to work on feeding skills. Its not an ideal situation but its manageable. I don't understand a doctor being encouraging it though...if one were to go into pre-term labor.

JuneBugsMommy · April 2011

Hmm maybe she meant to say 36 weeks? I see her again next week but then I'm gonna go back to seeing the doctor I saw most often so I'll ask her about it. 34 weeks is way to early for my liking!

tdeddington · April 2011

My OB---who is amazing!-- told me the same thing She said the reasons they don't stop labor are :

1) The medications they have out to "stop" labor are not incredibly effective

2) The medications often have negative side effects (mainly making the momma sick)

3) That by 34 babies will probably just need a few days in the NICU to "fatten up" not necessarily a life threatening situation for the mom or baby.

That was again just my OB & her opinion but it made sense!!

Ambeerose · April 2011

My dr said they wouldn't stop labor at 35wks, I had ptl at 29 wks and he said they would feel comfortable if I went into labor then and wouldn't stop it, but would feel most comfortable at 36+ wks.

lindzed · April 2011

I think it depends on the situation so I wouldn't worry too much. I know my doctor has let a friend of mine go into labor at 33 weeks, but the poor girl had been in PTL for weeks and the baby was measuring like 2 weeks ahead. He didn't even have to spend the night in the NICU. I think they probably take more things into account than just the weeks when making those kinds of decisions.

cfisher2008 · April 2011

My doc said they won't stop labor after 37 weeks

TessieF · April 2011

My hospital also won't stop you after 34 weeks - it's a big teaching hospital in a major city with a well regarded NICU. I think that's when the risks of the drugs associated with stopping labor outweigh the negatives of having a preterm delivery. They still might take preventative measures to keep you cooking until 37 weeks (bedrest, procardia, etc.), but if you start to go despite these efforts, they are going to let you do your thing.

EmilyJBrown · April 2011

My doctor said after 34 weeks they don't do anything to stop labor if it arises naturally (i.e., not caused by other health concerns). Most likely if you went into labor at that time they would give you 1-2 steroid shots to prepare the baby for breathing on its own, but most babies lungs are matured at that time. Sometimes the meds to stop labor, or slow it down, are actually harder on you and the fetus so they prefer to let nature take its course. After all, they can be as much as two weeks off on predicting date of conception since not all women are the same, and they feel that if you go into labor at 34 weeks, you are probably actually closer to 36 weeks and the baby is just ready to come out. I work in the hospital, and I can tell you from what I've seen, lots of 34w babies are born perfectly healthy and are ready to go home soon after delivery, if not right away (normal stay, I mean). Hopefully that's some reassurance!

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