34 weeks now. How bad would it be for baby to arrive early?

[Kif]

Hypothetically speaking, how serious would it be to deliver a baby at 34 weeks? 35 weeks? 36 weeks? And how vital is it to be in a hospital when the baby came out?

I've had on and off pains for a while - been more on than off last couple of days. They're back 'period' pains - don't think they're BH. They've never got too bad or too regular. However, they are very reminiscent in strength and quality to what I was feeling 24 hours before I gave birth to Ds and Dd. I'm also periodically shedding small lumps of show.

The doc checked me out properly when I first started getting them, and said nothing was opening up - and having had two term babies I'm very unlikely to deliver premature.

The longer I go - the less worried I am, and I'd prefer to stay relaxed and not keep running in for tests when my gut says things are OK. However, I'm conscious in the back of my mind that 3rd baby might come quick when he does decide to come.

[ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight]

My friend's DD was born at 34 weeks, 5lbs something. Spent a little bit of time in the SCBU but she is fine. Never managed breastfeeding but that was the only negative.

[jeanjeannie]

My dd arrived at 34 weeks.....4lb 2oz...and in SCBU for 17 days. Tube fed for 5 days and I struggled with breast feeding as it was a c-section so we were separated for a few days.
There was nothing actually wrong with her...just incredibly scrawny (no bum just lots of skin) The problem is when they lose the weight after being born, before it goes back up again....she lost about 6lbs and then got jaundice...so I'd say being in a hospital would be reassuring. Sounds like you'll be ok though. Fingers crossed for a bit longer.

[whomovedmychocolate]

Lots of facts and figures on the bliss website but particularly this page

[missjennipenni]

I had my baby boy at 35 weeks due to pre-eclampsia, he was in SCBU for a week. Id put up with any pain/discomfort rather than see my baby is there again

[ephrinedaily]

My baby was 35 weeks, had no suck reflex and bad jaundice and hideously long hospital stay but labour was quick and baby now big and strong! Had / has silent reflux which is common in early babies. Was told by other parents of 34 & 35 weekers, and I agree, that they get hungry and cold more, cry more, and when they finally "wake-up" post jaundice, sleep a lot less than the 6-8 pounders! Hope your baby waits but if he/she doesn't, will catch up very quickly with the term babies. Good luck

[LiegeAndLief]

My ds arrived at 34 weeks. Pretty essential to be in a hospital at 34 weeks I think.. probably less so later on. We were unlucky, ds had respiratory distress syndrome and was in SCBU for 8 weeks, but I think this probably had something to do with being born by cs with no labour - labour is good for the lungs! He was tube fed for a while but we did manage to bf thankfully.

Docs told me before they delivered that at 34 weeks a baby has the same long term prospects as those delievered at term.

Good luck, hope the baby hangs on in there!

[Kif]

Thanks for that. Sounds like hospital is fairly essential.

I think I'll mentally put myself on a shorter fuse to seek help if things escalate.

Ds was born (at term) 40 minutes after I arrived at the hospital - would prob want better safety margin if I'm destined for an early delivery!

[jk1]

With DD number 2 I first went into labour at 34 weeks got to 2cm and stopped. It went on and off finally for weeks gave birth at 39 weeks so hang in there they come when they are ready.

[FourPlusOne]

My friends baby was born last year at 34 weeks. Over 5 lbs in weight and normal delivery. she did take a little while to get the hang of sucking reflex but was b'fed after this resolved itself (can't remember how long it took). She is really big for her age now - you would never have guessed she was early, even when she was just a couple of months old.

[helen1989]

i am 34 weeks preg and been getting slight low pains just like period pains and pain in my back. i have had them for a few days now, but not sure if they are pain because i have just got over a sickness bug, or something to do with the baby. not sure if i shoul see the mid wife or if it would be a waist of her time.

[missyj]

I just delivered my baby on wednesday night at 34 weeks and 5 days. She is doing really well. She is recieving special care, being tube fed and on a glucose drip for low blood sugar levels. All in all she is healthy and as soon as she learns the sucking reflex I can bring her home. I had lower stomach stabbing pains mainly when I changed positions from sitting to standing or rolling over in bed and major mood swings for 3-4 days before. During the afternoon before labour started, I had lots of pressure in my vagina and really achy labia and a minor lower back ache which I thought was due to standing up earlier at my sons soccer training that goes for 1 hour. Best of luck to you, and whenever baby decides to come I hope both you and baby are happy and healthy.

[Geepers]

I gave birth at exactly 34 weeks. Baby was in SCBU for a day and a half on anti-biotics, and was a lazy feeder for a couple of days so was topped up by tube.

We went home on day 6, fully breast-feeding, weighing 4lbs 8oz. I had to discharge us, but she was perfect, just small.

I should say I had the steroid jabs as waters went at 33 weeks.