Addt'l q related to my earlier post on CS before 39w

solnyshko79 · September 2011

Ladies, you told me that the main reason for not scheduling CS before 39 w is lung maturity. Ok, but how does it make sense that my ob told me that if i go into labor anytime after 34 weeks, they will not try to stop and deliver the baby? It is clear that at 34 w, baby is not fully developed, so why not give me meds to try to stop labor? i am just trying to understand a few things here:-). Thanks!

pepomntpat · September 2011

There is a difference between your body going into labor spontaneously and being cut open for no reason. There are risks to the different drugs that are used to stop labor. Have you asked your OB these questions?

Sundrup23 · September 2011

All doctors have thresholds for when the will stop labor, start labor and such. Most doctors won't stop PTL if it is before 24 weeks but will if it is after. The same thing here...that is your doctors threshold for stopping labor. It is hard on your body to stop something this is supposed to be natural responses to having a baby. The baby is mature enough to handle most outside influences at that point but will probably still have to go to the NICU for a bit.

Wouldn't you want your baby to be the healthiest possible when it is born? Why push the threshold if it is your doctors recommendations that you not have a c-section before 39 weeks. I trust what my doctor tells me. If you go into labor before that day great...you get what you wanted all along. But don't push things if your doctor isn't willing to compromise the baby to make you happy.

To be honest....with you, I would love to go into labor early. My "planned" date is December 28th. I have this biggest fear of being in the hospital over Christmas. I don't want to miss these magical years with my other 2 boys. I went earlier than my planned date last time and I just have this feeling I will this time too. I would love to go at exactly 38 weeks or not until my scheduled date but most babies come when they are ready...not according to due dates and planned c-sections, just like DS #2 for me. There are a lot of things that can determine the date later on too. Complications of pregnancy or Pre-E can push things up...but that doesn't mean baby will be ready to be in the outside world yet.

shouldbworkin · September 2011

I've heard of OBs not stopping labor after 36 weeks, not 34 weeks. Generally, a baby that arrives on their own after 36 weeks wouldn't have many health concerns, but there are no guarantees. At 37 weeks, they will consider a baby born to be full term, but that doesn't mean that the babies lungs will definitely be fully developed. At 36 weeks they are pre-term and at some point earlier they are considered premature. They're just terms that are used and really don't mean anything unless the baby happens to match the terms. Waiting for a c/s until 39w helps to ensure the best possible outcome for mom and baby. Too early and baby may not be ready. Too late and mom may go into labor, which can increase risks with an unplanned c/s.

Mrs_MBed · September 2011

Sundrup23:
All doctors have thresholds for when the will stop labor, start labor and such. Most doctors won't stop PTL if it is before 24 weeks but will if it is after. The same thing here...that is your doctors threshold for stopping labor. It is hard on your body to stop something this is supposed to be natural responses to having a baby. The baby is mature enough to handle most outside influences at that point but will probably still have to go to the NICU for a bit.
Wouldn't you want your baby to be the healthiest possible when it is born? Why push the threshold if it is your doctors recommendations that you not have a c-section before 39 weeks. I trust what my doctor tells me. If you go into labor before that day great...you get what you wanted all along. But don't push things if your doctor isn't willing to compromise the baby to make you happy.
To be honest....with you, I would love to go into labor early. My "planned" date is December 28th. I have this biggest fear of being in the hospital over Christmas. I don't want to miss these magical years with my other 2 boys. I went earlier than my planned date last time and I just have this feeling I will this time too. I would love to go at exactly 38 weeks or not until my scheduled date but most babies come when they are ready...not according to due dates and planned c-sections, just like DS #2 for me. There are a lot of things that can determine the date later on too. Complications of pregnancy or Pre-E can push things up...but that doesn't mean baby will be ready to be in the outside world yet.

This exactly. My planned c/s with DD2 (scheduled for 39 wks 2d as a repeat c/s) went out the window when I went into spontaneous PTL at 33 wk 5 d (I had no prior complications). They tried to stop the labor but couldn't. She ended up spending her first 23 days in the NICU b/c her lungs weren't mature and came home at the height of the H1N1 (for our area) and the beginning of the cold and flu season. We were told at her first pedi appt that if she got sick she would end up back in the hospital.

I can understand the excitement to hold the baby and even the desire to not be pg anymore, but you only have one chance to "cook" this baby right. If everything is going well for you and baby, keep him/her in there for as long as you can. I would do just about anything to have made it to my scheduled date. This time around I am praying to make it to at least 37/38 wks, just to give the twins the time they need to develop and for their lungs to mature. Trust me, you don't want a NICU stay - especially if you could have just waited to have your c/s.

disbride061103 · September 2011

Well, I wouldn't be thrilled by the 34 week rule, but that's just me. Honestly, at that point, going into labor on your own vs a scheduled c/s is a huge difference. Your body is spontaneously preparing to give birth. No, the lungs aren't necessarily as mature, but for whatever reason, you body is signaling that it's time to give birth for whatever reason. (I have a friend whose wife had a 32 and 35 weekers. He placenta begins to break down early and she goes into spontaneous labor).

At 34 weeks it really a determination of what is best for mother/baby? Is it better to allow the baby to be born or subject mother and baby to all the medicine and efforts to keep the baby inside. Some will say it is and other will say it isn't.

The difference between your body wanting to give birth and a scheduled c/s is huge.

solnyshko79 · September 2011

thank you for your responses. just to explain, i am in no rush and will do what is best for my baby. what does worry me is the fact that i am on lovenox ( blood thinner) and i am extremely worried of going into labor while still on it. Dr is debating on whether to transfer me on heparin at 36 w ( heparin has its own side effects). Also, we are trying to avoid spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery, since i have a pretty big fibroid, which can complicate things along with blood thinners.

Sundrup23 · September 2011

solnyshko79:
thank you for your responses. just to explain, i am in no rush and will do what is best for my baby. what does worry me is the fact that i am on lovenox ( blood thinner) and i am extremely worried of going into labor while still on it. Dr is debating on whether to transfer me on heparin at 36 w ( heparin has its own side effects). Also, we are trying to avoid spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery, since i have a pretty big fibroid, which can complicate things along with blood thinners.

That is definitely something you need to talk with your doctor about. Is this your first?? Or do you have a history of PTL?? Your doctor should have experience with this and should know what to do. I am on a baby aspirin daily and will stop taking those at 36 weeks to help prepare my body for surgery. Can you not stop taking the levonox at a certain point?? It is best to talk with your doctor about concerns...that is what you pay them for.

J&JSuiter070205 · September 2011

I have a partial placenta previa and Succenturiate Placental Lobe -- if my placenta does not move off my cervix within the next few weeks we are going to go ahead and schedule a c/s at 37w. It's either we risk the baby staying in the hospital a few days because his lungs will be just slightly underdeveloped, or I go into labor on my own, hemmorhage and bleed-out.

Switzerland · September 2011

Everything depends on the DR. My Dr has my repeat c-section scheduled at 37 weeks. I am not worried at all.

shihtzu51 · September 2011

There was a study in the last year or two that showed that babies born between 37 and 39 weeks vs. after 39 weeks had increased need to go to the special care nursery with respiratory and other problems as well as an increased risk of death in the first year of life. So based on this a lot of hospitals, doctors and insurance companies will not allow elective deliveries before 39 weeks - both vaginal and csection. It's different if you have a medical reason to be delivered or if you go into labor on your own.

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Addt'l q related to my earlier post on CS before 39w

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