34 weeks?

[erinn]

Hoping for some advice/reassurance.

I am having blood pressure issues at the moment and it is increasing a fair bit. Have been to see my obs yesterday who has referred me to the city's maternity hospital for assesment. He seems to think they will induce me and deliver the baby in the next week or so. I am only 33 + 3 today. So bubs is maybe looking at being 6-7 weeks prem.

I know babies are born earlier than this and ideally it will cook a little longer but what should I expect if baby is to make an arrival this week?

[xlouxloux]

My first was born at 34 weeks, i went into spontaneous labour after my waters ruptured. She was born weighing a healthy 2.55kg but her lungs werent fully developed and she didn't have the sucking reflex yet so she spent 2 weeks in the Special Care Nursery, in an incubator with oxygen for 7 days, nasil tube fed for 13days and under lights for 2 days (she was a lil jaundice). it really does depend on the baby though.
I hope you manage to bake baby for as long as its safe for yourself and bub, but if not i think the best advice i can give is ask questions, i never really asked questions id just sit and wonder and worry, i made great friends with some of the midwives and other ladies in the SCN, they were a great help whenever i was upset or confused.
good luck!!

[naiwen]

They will probably need to put the baby in SCN (hopefully not NICU though), if you only have hypertension and not PE/HELLP you may find that with bedrest+drip+meds you can hang on till 35 weeks which would be awesome as that means a short stay in SCN and if you are really lucky 36 weeks which could mean no SCN at all!

What is your BP?

[UsThreeGirls]

if you get steroids it gives bub a better chance on breathing on its own. Have you had that discussed with you yet?
My first was 29 weeks and had 2 months in icu and scu, my second 35 weeks and only 6 days in scu.

[MissSky]

My waters broke at 31 weeks and my son was born at 33 weeks, spent 9 days in the SCU. He is 10months old and has reached all of his milestones, some even well ahead of schedule, so please try not to worry to much about later on and concentrate on the now.

I think it would be a good idea for you to talk to the hospital where you will give birth and if you havent already try and take a tour of the scu so if jellybean does have to spend some time there you are familiar with it.

Also I really wish I had a bigger support network (both professional and family)and information about prem babies.

hope bubba stays in for a little while longer, wish you both a safe journey.

[UsThreeGirls]

you could also check out Lil Aussie Prems for some info :)
Fingers crossed its nothing

[MissSky]

just re-read your original post about what to expect, here's what happened with my little mans experience. he was born around the same time that your little one is expected.

I was given 2 shots of steriods, 24hrs apart.
Once DS was born I got to cuddle for a few moments before he was taken to the NICU. I was taken to recovery.

He recieved oxygen for about 3 hours, but could breathe by himself so it ws just a precaution. I was given a photo of him by a nurse while I was still in recovery. Over the next few days he was to little to suck so I had to express every feed, the staff at the hospital will show you how (if you need to) they will either tube feed, finger feed (tube goes through a glove and bubba sucks it out from that) or bottle feed. There could also be a chance of jaundice so bubba may have to go under the lights for a little bit.

if bub does end up in scu you may have to room in for a day or 2 before being allowed home, just to make sure that bub is gaining weight.

like i said, that was my bubs experience being 7 weeks prem, your experience may be totally different. ask lots of questions about what the Dr's expect to happen, the predicted weight of your baby, if bed rest and/or medication is an option.

all the best.

[erinn]

Thanks for all you information. I got pretty crook after posting this message and never got back to read replies. My little Caitlin ended up being delivered by emergency c section smack on 34 weeks. She is tiny - just 1645 grams - and is currently in the SCN but she is breathing unassisted and is starting to want to suck so now hopefully will just be a matter of her putting on some weight. I am express feeding at the moment and they are adding calories to her milk today to help with weight gain. She is also under the jaundice lights but she seems to be doing ok.

Will be back here for more advice as things go along I am sure..