I had my daughter at 32+4, 2.5 years ago. She weighed 4lb, was breathing on her own from the minute she entered the world and was only in nicu/scbu for 3 weeks.
Dh and I would love for her to have a brother/sister but I am just so frightened at the prospect of it happening again.
The labour itself was so quick and obviously unexpected. My waters had been going slowly, although not to my knowledge, for the 24 hours before hand. When I eventually went to hospital, after a morning at work 
, they were certain I wasn't in labour but waters had gone and I was to be monitored and on bed rest. My labour progressed rapidly and I had to beg them to examine me 3 hours later due to the pain - by which time I was already 8cm dilated.
I worry about when I should be going on maternity leave, what will happen with dd during the endless weeks in nicu, how does it affect your other children, will the new baby be even earlier??
Of course, it may not happen again. I am definitely a control freak and I hate the thought of the unknown, I know I really can't do anything about it though. I suppose - what will be, will be.
Any similar experiences will be gratefully received.
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Wishingformorethanone · 20/10/2014 12:47
You can ask to review your notes with a consultant, as plenty says.
My DS was born at 31+5, also 2.5 years ago. Labour was triggered by 3 weeks of unexplained significant bleeding. I had a postnatal review with a consultant at 8 weeks or so pp, because I was struggling to come to terms with what had happened (I also had counselling because I was suffering flashbacks and feeling very distraught). They couldn't find an obvious cause for the bleeding, but the theory is some sort of placental abruption. They felt it was probably just an anomaly and wouldn't necessarily happen again, but they advised that next time, they would see me early on to discuss what course of action to take, and send me for an additional scan to check placental blood flow.
Fast forward to now, I am 19 weeks with DC2. I am not at the same hospital, sadly, but I have been placed under shared care, so I have a consultant who has reviewed my notes from my first pregnancy, and is taking the exact same course of action as I was told would happen. I can't deny there is a part of me that is very very nervous as things progress, but I do feel I will be taken good care of no matter what.
There is a preterm clinic at St Thomas' in London which I believe any HCP can refer you to - but I assume this is done once you are already pregnant. They monitor weekly or fortnightly for any signs of threatened premature labour. My friend has been under this clinic twice - first baby arrived at 24+5 (also now 2.5 and doing amazingly), second baby arrived this summer at 34 weeks.
Good luck wishing - I hope you get some good advice which can help put your mind at ease 
If you have doubts about the quality of care at your usual hospital, don't forget you can ask to be referred to anywhere you choose. I asked to see a consultant at the hosp where DD was born - it isn't my local but it has leading specialists and a level 3 NICU in case we need it again.
Good luck OP 
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