Will they save a preterm baby if?

[Austinsmummy91]

Hello everyone
I have a question mainly why I joined this forum. Basically I'm 22 weeks pregnant but measuring ahead. This pregnancy has been awful because I gave birth to my son at 26 weeks after waters broke at 22 weeks I never got any symptoms just a fish of fluids randomly so I didn't even know it was happening. Luckily he made it and is now a healthy happy nearly 3 year old.

I have some concerns with this pregnancy because I'm anxious it could result in the same way but maybe not be so fortunate last time and when my waters broke with ds doctors told me to abort because they couldn't save him if born under 24 weeks luckily I ignored them and he is fine now.

Basically I have moved from my home town and I'm awaiting a new midwife as she's ironically on maternity leave (in a very small village) I have had no symptoms of preterm labor apart from cervical pain a and e has told me not to come in unless I'm leaking or bleeding or in a substantial amount of pain. I haven't as of yet but you know it's always a concern. I've even packed a hospital bag with a few of my sons old preemie clothes in just Incase :(

At 20 weeks baby weighed over a pound and she was measuring up to the siZe of a 22 weeker including my uterus measurements. Her head side tipped the normal scale. I'm concerned as if I got pregnant when I originally thought I got pregnant I would be 24-25 weeks right now and that's what I'm measuring at (mw measured a 24 inch uterus last week and the baby's 2 weeks ahead) I however had an early us at 5 weeks so they dismissed my dates and I've been going with theirs.

Sorry for blabbering on but this is my question. If my baby was born at 22 weeks but measured and weighed the same as a 24-25 weeker would they fight to save him or would they treat him at the age based on his due date (22 weeks) and prevent medical involvement.

They haven't changed my due date they just say I'm measuring big. My biggest fear is that i got pregnant when I assumed I got pregnant and was measuring off at the start and I'm now catching up and if my baby was to be born now the edd won't reflect this so I'm scared they will dismiss treatment.

If someone can help me out or if they have knowledge of this please help me out

I'm not exactly 22 weeks btw I'm actually 21 and 5 days

[SchroSawMargeryDaw]

I think I would argue with them to take a look at dates again tbh.

Good luck and sorry you had such a bad experience first time round.

[SpottedTent]

Hi there, sorry to hear you are so anxious, I understand some of what you're going through. My waters went at 22 weeks and DD2 was born at 25. From what I can remember, the paediatrician told us that if the baby was close to 24 weeks gestation, think 22/23 weeks they would assess the child's condition. So things they would look for would be - is the baby making initial efforts to breathe independently (means the lungs are reasonably developed) and how much bruising there is etc.

It might be worth speaking to staff at your nearest NICU - each hospital policy might be different from another.

I want to have another child and can only imagine the worry you're experiencing. I wish you all the luck in the world x

[SpottedTent]

I should probably add that weight is almost as much of a factor as gestation, so if your baby already has a good weight, then that's a big positive

[Austinsmummy91]

Thanks for your replies. I am seeing my mw ASAP and going to discuss dates. My old mw was so mean she basically told me she's been to university and has had this career for over 15 years so she knows my dates and knows there not wrong. She was really mean about everything. Basically I think I'm measuring behind because the date me and oh had unprotected sex multiple times bang on ovulation would make me 24-25 weeks. I then got a period but the period was odd didn't use a tampon just used tissue because it was so light We also had sex protected without finishing which according to my edd is the date we conceived but this was only 3 says after my "lmp"

Went for a scan when I found out because was having similar bleeding to what I initially had they said I was 5 weeks lmp was 2 days off to the bleeding that I assumed was an lmp. So is it possible I could have been like 7 weeks and only measured 5? I don't know if this matters but we were not ttc and I drunk extremely heavily before getting pregnant up until i found out (haven't since obviously)

I guess my main fear is going in to labor with my dates wrong and doctors refusing to change them. Then having my baby and doctors preventing treatment because of edd :( I just praying the us calculations where right for 20 weeks because if that's so he should be weighing well over a pound by now

[Austinsmummy91]

Thanks torib34
The hospital that I would go to and is local has one of the best neonatal units in the country thank god so I'm hoping that would be at my advantage. How would they know about lung development? As I just said I think I'm further along so if I thought this would they listen too me if the baby was measuring to my altered dates? Can they also check lungs etc before deciding whether to treat them or will they just think "22 weeker lungs won't be developed enough"

[PacificDogwood]

Oh what a horrible worry - sorry you are having to deal with this.

Have you had no further scans since you were told your were 5 weeks along? That is right at the verge of a fetal heart being visible, usually by transvaginal scan.

It is more likely that a hospital would go by gestation rather weight, sorry. Maturity makes a big difference to possible outcome.

I do agree though it is very worth your while reassuring yourself that your dates have been estimated correctly.
FWIW, measuring the bump is notoriously unreliable and I would give absolutely no weight to that alone. Scan sizes can be more accurate as they measure bone lengths etc, although weight estimations are unreliable.

I am not aware of any 22 weaker having survived .
I really hope you will not have to deal with this this time round and your pregnancy continues a lot bit longer.

[momb]

They will try to save your baby. Before 24 weeks the lungs will not inflate and this will mean that their attempts will be unsuccessful. If your baby is 24/25 weeks as you suspect then his lung development will be enough that the chances of success are good.
A baby who can breathe and cry will mobilise them whatever your MW dates say. Please try not to worry, and get lots of rest/stay off your feet as much as you can: every day could make a difference at this point.

[Austinsmummy91]

No I had scans at 12 weeks also but I actually expected to be 12 weeks from that scan and I measured 13 but still they did nothing to my dates

I had another at 20 weeks I'm going to post the results I got from my 20 week scan as I was told I was measuring large, this scan was at 19 weeks 6 days. It's now been 2 weeks since.

Is there anyway other than assuming on dates that they can get a better outlook on babies lung condition before deciding whether to treat him or not? I am really not comfortable on them assuming dates as I am confident there out and would never forgive my self if the worst happened and he was actually 24 weeks and I had just measured small and didn't press for a change of dates

[Austinsmummy91]

Here

[PacificDogwood]

The 12 week scan is the most accurate.
When you said you 'measured' 13 weeks, was that by scan measurement then? That's the dates your EDD should be fixed by.

I think you need to air your concerns to those looking after you and hopefully get some of the reassurances you are looking for.
You seem to be going round in circles with worry, I am so sorry. None of us here can ultimately answer you with any kind of certainty.

[PacificDogwood]

According to this your baby's femur length (34.2) seems to suggest more than 13 weeks?
Disclaimer: I am no expert. You need RL advice.

[PacificDogwood]

Ah, crap, that was your 20 week scan
See, I cannot be trusted.
Yes, I would plot that at around 20 weeks

I butt out now. Sorry to have confused the issue.
Speak to your MW/consultant.

Are you in the UK?

[SunshinePickle]

As many others have said it's the same everywhere I have worked. Neonatal team only go to deliveries over 23 weeks as this is the gestation that some babies have lungs that are mature enough to breathe, so it's worth having a frank discussion with midwife/obstetrician to make sure that they are happy that you are dated right.

It's tough but all you can do right now is try your hardest to look after yourself and relax. Good luck... I hope that baby stays put for many more weeks!