BF'ing & babies born at 37 wks+

Re: BF'ing & babies born at 37 wks+

• VitaLuna member

  October 2014

  My DD was born at 37w via c/s for IUGR, oligo, and breech.
  
  She had trouble latching and was finger-fed with a syringe for 4 days or so, followed by a shield for another month. She was small (5lb 7oz when we brought her home). Looking back, I should've sought more help from the LC, but I was so desperate to get out of the hospital I didn't get the help I needed.
  
  My milk came in around day 4 I think? Can't remember, but I didn't seem abnormal. Tons of skin to skin is the ticket!

  

   

  

  Report0 Reply
• Loading the player...
• surpriseaddition member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  My third LO was born at 37w1d via RCS for risk of uterine rupture. I had BF my previous 2 kids, but had a 12 year gap prior to #3. My milk came in around day 2-3 (it was in before I left the hospital) and we didn't have any latch issues.  She did lose 12% of her body weight, and it took her 3 weeks to get back to birth weight, but she gained pretty consistently after she bottomed out on day 5. The ped wasn't too concerned (she was 9lbs 6oz at birth....yes, her due date was right based on an early u/s). She was also jaundice, but so were my other 2 kids, so I don't count that as having anything to do with her early delivery. ETA:  they did confirm lung maturity with an amnio the day before (right at 37 weeks). 

  
  **DD1 - 7/9/98**

  **DS - 11/9/00**

  **DD2 - 4/30/13**
  

  Report0 Reply
• Richardsmom_817 member

  October 2014

  @surpriseaddition

  Hi, you said you were at risk for uterine rupture...that is one thing that I am concerned with, as well.  This will be my 4th repeat c-section.  Baby was weighing 5.9 at 32 week ultrasound & 7.5 at 34 week ultrasound.  I have pretty large babies, although I guess the weight estimate can be off by a pound in either direction.  I have another weight check this Friday & would not be surprised to see that baby is 8 something, close to 9.  I wonder how far off that will be?  Did everything turn out okay w/ your c-section?    

  ~Jen
  Married since 8.17.03
  Mom to Richard 7.24.05, Ava 3.27.08, Isabella 5.19.09 & Timothy 10.22.14

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Report0 Reply
• CNYBride05 member

  October 2014

  1. My girls were born at 36,5 and they had some difficulty latching, but I think there were other factors involved.
  2. Yes my milk took longer to come in, but I had retained placenta, so I don't think it was due to how far along I was gestationally.

  Natural m/c Oct. 2005
  
  Dx: balanced translocation and LPD
  
  TTC since Oct 2011
  
  BPF 02/19/12, EDD 10/31/12, natural m/c 02/28/12 (4w6d)
  
  IVF (BCPs starting 10/30/12, ER 11/18/12, 5dt of 1 beautiful, healthy embryo 11/23/12)
  BFP 12/02/12, u/s @ 6w,5d showed 2 HBs! Identical twins!!
  Bed rest from 21w-35w due to short cervix, hospital bed rest from 23w-32w due to PTL
  Our rainbows were born 07/19/13 (36w, 5d)
  
  

  Report0 Reply
• surpriseaddition member

  October 2014 edited October 2014

  @Richardsmom_817 First off, don't believe the u/s weight estimate. The reason I was at risk of uterine rupture was because my OB did a vertical incision with my second baby, which no one ever does. The u/s was predicting him to be 13lbs 7oz. No lie! I thought I was going to end up on the front of the National Inquire "Woman gives birth to Toddler".  OB felt doing the classical incision would give her more room to maneuver him out if he really was that large. In the end, he was 9lbs 12oz. and 22 inches (not small, but not unheard of either).  He was born at 38w1d after they did an amnio to verify his lung maturity.  I was in a constant state of early labor contractions for 5 days prior to that, but I wasn't dialating because he was too big to descend into my pelvis (my first birth was vaginal).  OB mentioned that doing the vertical would require future births to be CS, and could pose some concerns.  At the time, DH and I weren't planning on any more kids and I just wanted that huge baby out!  Well, 12 years later DH and find out we have surprise on the way!  It was a shock, and when I mentioned to my current OB about the vertical incision on my uterus he was really surprised (I have the bikini cut on the outside).  He requested the surgical notes from the hospital....and yes, it was true.  Therefore, given my larger babies DD1 was 8 lbs 5 oz, and my large son, he wanted to take DD2 early so there was no risk of uterine rupture along that scar.  I went into natural labor with my first at 38w3d and like I said, my body was trying to go into labor with DS around 37w3d so they knew I tended to start labor a little on the earlier side.  They wanted to get her out before I would start any labor contractions.  The CS went fine, we no had no BF problems, she scored a 9 on the Apgar scale at birth, and was a beautiful 9lb 6oz 21".  I swear I must have Miracle Grow in there.  GL with your CS.  I'm sure it will go well, and you and LO will both come out with flying colors.

  
  **DD1 - 7/9/98**

  **DS - 11/9/00**

  **DD2 - 4/30/13**
  

  Report0 Reply
• NatesCupcake47 member

  October 2014

  DD was born at 37w2d and latched right from the beginning.  I had heard so much about making sure the latch was correct at my BFing class that I didn't think she could have possibly done it right from the beginning so every nurse/midwife/LC that came in I would ask if it was right, she really did get it right away.  She was back to birth weight at one week old.  My milk came in when she was 4 days old.  

  Report0 Reply
• opheliainwaders member

  October 2014

  DD was born at 36w, so a bit earlier than your question, but we did need to work with an IBCLC to teach her how to latch (and wound up using bottles and a nipple shield at first).
  
  My milk came in on day 5/6, so we did supplement with formula due to severe jaundice, but were nursing exclusively, without the shield, by her due date.

  

  Report0 Reply