Size of baby and NICU time?

Mrs.Guz · September 2013

Just curious if the size of your newborn determines NICU time?

Baby A has been measuring small and has had slow growth for awhile now. At 37 weeks, she's only 4lbs13oz while B is 6lbs11oz. She also has less than half as much fluid as B. I know these measurements aren't always accurate, though.

Anyway, if she is really as small as they say she is, will she automatically go to NICU even if everything else is fine?

I meant to talk to my MFM about it yesterday, but it was such a chaotic appointment with a trip to L&D that I didn't get a chance to talk her.

Mrs.AshAsh · September 2013

I am looking forward to seeing the answers to this question.

Brummy14 · September 2013

I don't think so -- I've heard of babies discharged below 5 lbs pretty regularly. I don't know if certain NICUs have discharge weight requirements (we never discussed it with ours -- we had numerous other issues to work out first, and by then, the girls were over 7 lbs, so it never came up).

I assume as long as they're eating, breathing, no As or Bs, regulating body temp, etc etc -- then they wouldn't need NICU time, but I really have no idea.

ceechie · September 2013

Our hospital was 36 -37 weeks and 5 lbs. I agree with pp, see if you can get a special tour that includes the nicu. We had a special MoM tour.

kgs0505 · September 2013

It's really just going to depend on if your babies have any issues once born. Size has little to do with it. My girls were on either side of 5 lbs at birth, but they were born 35w6d. The had a little trouble breathing at first and needed oxygen, but were off it in less than 18 hours. Then they stayed in NICU for a week as feeders and growers. They discharged pretty much at their birthweights, so one was just over 5 lbs and one just below. My OB told me once that every day you can keep them in, it knocks two days off of a NICU stay.

Ruthie04 · September 2013

As far as weight is concerned, it seems to depend on hospital policy. My boys were born at 4lbs, 13oz and 4lbs, 15oz at 36w and didn't spend a minute in the NICU. Both were 4.5 lbs at discharge.

LegallyBlonde217 · September 2013

DS was still under 5lbs when he was released from the NICU. I don't think most hospitals go by weight alone.

rac717 · September 2013

At least here, the rule was they wouldn't discharge before 36 weeks (Em and Max were born at 34 weeks, 5 days) and they had to show consistent weight gain but it wasn't about the number per se. They were both right about 5 pounds when they were discharged.

MissMarnee · September 2013

At our NICU it had everything to do with the babies' abilities rather than weight. My girls were born at 4 & 4-5oz at 34 weeks & spent a week getting better at suck/swallow/breathing, etc. they were sent home with my little one just under 4lbs! I was shocked, but both girls have done super here at home : D

ckred27 · September 2013

Size doesnt matter. My DS#1 was born at 35 weeks and weighed 5 lbs 4 oz and was in the NICU 10 days. DS#2 was born at 33 weeks and weighed 6 lbs 1 oz and was in the NICU for a month. They were in there until they could feed independenty for 48 hours (without feeding tube), could hold their body temp on their own and no longer needed breathing assitance. The part that took the longest was the feed with out tube.

bumpuser924057 · September 2013

My full-term 7lb12oz boy twin was in the NICU for eight days after birth, first to stabilize his blood sugar and then because they were concerned about apnea. You never know.

SWA80 · September 2013

The hospital where I delivered always sends a team from NICU down to the OR for twins where they are evaluated and a decision is made. If before 35 weeks, they automatically go up to NICU but no set weight limit.

Those sound like great weights to me!

HattieDornbush · September 2013

My twins were 6lbs 4oz and 4lbs 8oz at birth and then lost a little weight after birth. Neither needed any NICU or nursery time. They roomed in with me and came home with me.

megs2011 · September 2013

I don't think weight has anything to do with it either. Mine did end up in the SCN because of their size though (2.9 and 3.7). But my little one left the SCN at 4.1lbs (her sister was 5.1lbs).

Snugly Ael · September 2013

I delivered my boy/girl twins via a planned c-section at 38w2d. My girl weighed 5lbs 9.5oz and boy 5lbs 15oz. My girl spent only 4 hours in the NICU because she had trouble breathing and she was pretty small as well. Rest everything was fine with her. HTH! Honestly, the size of your new born doesn't determine the NICU time. It all depends how the baby's doing. Example: breathing properly, feeding etc.

SwetaV · September 2013

I agree with PP, size doesn't matter it's more on the ability of the babies to survive; breath on their own. My b/g twins weighed 5lbs 6oz and 6lbs at 36w1d and neither of them spent any time in the NICU.

MuseumMaven · September 2013

As PP have said, size likely doesn't matter. My 37 weekers were 5lb 9oz and 4lb 12oz at birth, but had near perfect APGARS and nursed well. We had to stay an extra day due to jaundice, but that was in a regular peds room, not a nursery. And the hospital arranged for all of us to stay, we just had to change rooms.

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