baby born at 37 weeks... a little freaked out

ljanette85 · July 2012

my little guy decided to arrive early at 37 weeks. he weighed 5lbs 3oz had great check ups in the hospital. we were sent home after 48 hours.

he nurses well, sleeps ALL of the time and poops and pees regularly.... but Im still so nervous about him being so tiny! I seriously find it frightening that he is so small and I worry that he will have issues from being born early. any advice on coping and maybe not freaking out so much??

HokieMamma1 · July 2012

Our little girl came at 36 weeks and 4 days and weighed 6 lbs 5 oz... while she was a little bigger than he is she was super tiny to us and really skinny.. only 18 3/4", but she will be 11 weeks tomorrow and is doing great! She is a great nurser, fantastic sleeper and has a wonderful, sweet, laid back personality. Just make sure he is gaining weight ( she lost some after we brought her home, but we just kept at it... I did go to a lactation consultant and she helped with a "near term" baby. I didn't realize that they are slightly different and those first few weeks are a little bit of a challenge. Wishing you the best! If you have questions just let me know... I was so nervous and I think it was helpful to have some one tell me I was doing everything great and she was too!

ljanette85 · July 2012

HokieMamma1:
Our little girl came at 36 weeks and 4 days and weighed 6 lbs 5 oz... while she was a little bigger than he is she was super tiny to us and really skinny.. only 18 3/4", but she will be 11 weeks tomorrow and is doing great! She is a great nurser, fantastic sleeper and has a wonderful, sweet, laid back personality. Just make sure he is gaining weight ( she lost some after we brought her home, but we just kept at it... I did go to a lactation consultant and she helped with a "near term" baby. I didn't realize that they are slightly different and those first few weeks are a little bit of a challenge. Wishing you the best! If you have questions just let me know... I was so nervous and I think it was helpful to have some one tell me I was doing everything great and she was too!

the weight thing is what scared me...he lost weight in the hospital and was 4lbs 15oz when we left. they said it was fine and that he would put it back on... we have our first ped appointment tomorrow and I cant wait to see what he weighs. I think that when he gets a little older and his pesonality comes out I will feel a little better.

TnG05 · July 2012

First congrats and second BREATHE and relax. Just cuddle and snuggle with him and you'll get over your nervousness in no time.

jamdv3 · July 2012

my DD was born 3 weeks early, weighing 5 lbs 6. she dropped to 5 lbs even and i was freaked out as well. I EBF'd, and was always worried (unnecessarily) that it wasn't enough.

By the time she was 2 months, she didn't even look like the same baby, she was so chubby. From 2months til she was a year, she weighed in the 95% and was only in the 25% for height! So don't worry, he'll gain weight. Just feed him when he's hungry until he's happy, and you'll be fine.

ETA: also, she's never had any issues due to being 3 weeks early. 37 weeks is considered full term, and honestly, she is as normal as ever. She rarely got sick in her first year. She's gotten sick a lot this past year but she's at a newer daycare with lots more older kids so I think that, combined with me not BFing her anymore, makes her a bit more vulnerable!

Hala2010 · July 2012

I know how you feel. Mine was also born at 37 weeks - weighed 5 pounds even. Went down to 4 something before we left the hospital - but had wonderful agpar scores and we were also sent home packing after 48 hours. Three weeks later she weighs 6.5 lbs... as long as he is nursing well and pooping and peeing regularly, don't worry. Hopefully your pediatrician will put your mind to rest tomorrow.

winter-shock · July 2012

37 weeks is not overwhelmingly early. He is a tiny little guy but if he is eating and pooping and peeing thats great! And Both my girls slept ALL the time. Even now at almost 3 months she still sleeps a ton!

Divashrink1982 · July 2012

I know that it's scary when a LO comes earlier than expected - I was induced at 35w 5d and DS was born at 36w on the dot at 5 lbs, 2 oz. There were difficult moments in the beginning - some of which were compounded by us not being completely ready because we thought we had another month. With that being said - things will be okay. DS is now a great nurser and is hitting developmental milestones beautifully. He is happy and healthy. Take a few deep breaths and enjoy your LO!

eav2c · July 2012

Try not to worry. 37 weeks isn't too early by doctors standards. My guy was born at 37w too and weighed 5.8 when born and 5.1 when we brought him home. He has grown and soared like a mad man (now nearly 16lbs!!!). Lots of babies are born small. If there were any concerns the pedi at the hospital wouldn't have let you bring him home. Congrats and GL!

Monicagail1 · July 2012

Another 37 weeker here too, except my "LO" was 9lb 3oz!! So I can't relate to the tiny baby fear, but I will tell you that she is doing great, and other than a little jaundice in the first week is fine and has been a great baby. As others said, 37 weeks is considered full term, so there's unlikely to be any issues from being a bit early. Just try to relax and enjoy your new baby!

Cranang · July 2012

My LO was born at 38 weeks and weighed 5lbs 9oz. And she was 20inches long, so she was really thin feeling. Now, she'll be 9 months old on Friday, and she has consistently been in the 50th percentile across the board since her 3 month checkup. I know they feel fragile, but trust me, that phase is over really quickly!

michelle7482 · July 2012

LO was born 36w6d and she's as healthy as a horse and growing nicely. Do not worry, your LO will be fine. If the Drs or nurses were concerned they would not have sent you home!

Tootermi · July 2012

Take a deep breath and relax! I know the baby seems so tiny right now and fragile, but in a year you will be looking back wondering where your tiny baby went! Cuddle and love him best you can and all will be fine! My first daughter was born at 35w5d and weighed 5 lbs 11 oz and had a lot of breathing problems. She spend time in the NICU and that was scary, but she's been fine ever since! My second daughter was born at 37w3d and we went home the next day! Don't sit around waiting for something to happen, just enjoy this stage...it doesn't last long!

tjkdlhb · July 2012

They started to induce me at 37.4 weeks for pre-e and I had her at 38 weeks even. She was 5 lbs, 4 oz and the only issue was that she had an extra night on the bilibed for jaundice before release. Because she was just under the threshold for weight (in our province if babies are born under 5 lb 5 oz they are watched more closely by public health... so she came in to be weighed a little more frequewntly at first and at her 2 month check up they did a more comprehensive evaluation and she is meeting all developmental milestones!

Keep feeding LO on demand and if you are worried see if there is somewhere to get a more frequent weighing done. It really eased my mind to know that she was gaining in those early weeks. Like PP said, try to enjoy this stage!

MSUMands · July 2012

I had a "lightbulb" moment this weekend when I went out to dinner with 2 nurse friends. I told them I was so scared of delivering early, and they said that 36 weeks is considered full term... anything extra time is just for the baby to put on weight. They said the term "preme" is WAY overused and when they deliver, the baby is only premature if they are born 35 weeks, 6 days or before. Otherwise, don't worry and enjoy your little guy! He will be bigger before you know it.

bv27 · July 2012

My first baby was born at 36 weeks. I freaked out a bit and was worried about her health because she was tiny and sleepy and wouldn't nurse well because she'd fall asleep. She's 3.5 years old now and very healthy, active, smart, and plays well with her friends. I know it is very scary those first few weeks/months but don't worry! If the doctors don't see any cause for alarm, then don't worry about your baby's development. I've known babies who were under 5 lbs and those kids are very active and social and smart kids now and you'd never know they were tiny or early at birth. Babies are very robust and will thrive with your love and attention.

clhali · July 2012

37 weeks is considered full term (not 36), and there is a lot of brain development that happens between 37 - 40 weeks along with weight gain. I had my dd at 37 weeks. She was 5.9 and 5.1 when we left the hospital. Now she is almost 6 weeks and weighs almost 8! I held her all the time for the first 3 weeks of her life since she should have still been inside. I didn't go into labor though. I had a csection because of placental abruption. Your son will do great but it is stressful. Just hold him as much as possible and feed him on cue or at least every 3 hours until he's back to his birth weight. Also know that babies born early sleep more and can be lazy eaters for a while. My dd woke up a lot once she hit what would have been her due date.

nicole0066 · July 2012

My LO was born at 36w1d. We were fortunate to not have any NICU stay and she was able to come home with us. She was 5lb2oz when born and came home at 4lb12oz and the pedis all said she was like any other baby, just small.

It can be overwhelming to have such a small baby, but just relax and enjoy every moment. Time will fly and your little baby won't be so little anymore. DD is almost 12 weeks and is just over10lbs. She slept a TON in the beginning but is having much more alert time. In fact, she is so alert that I have to limit her awake time or she will become overstimulated, but that is normal even with full term babies. She didn't start smiling until 6weeks adjusted, 10weeks actual.For milestones I read up on things for both her actual and adjusted age but know that she will do her thing when she is ready. Health-wise we haven't had any issues.

theboki · August 2012

37 weeks is considered full term.

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