How Was Your Ante-Natal Care For Subsequent Pregnancies After Premature Birth?

[chinchi]

My DS was born at 29+5 after premature rupture of membranes. They were hoping to delay delivery but DS was found to be in distress and my blood pressure was sky high.

I am now 7 weeks pregnant with number 2, and although I havnt had my booking in appointment yet, the GP did say I would probably be under both midwife and consultant care. A letter arrived this morning saying that the midwives dont want to see me until 16 July, when I will be around 18 weeks.

We have a trip planned to Turkey this summer to visit the in-laws from July-September, booked and paid for before I knew I was expecting. I will miss my 20 week scan here, but had a scan and bloods done in Turkey in early pregnancy with DS and the care out there is fantastic (MIL paid for me at a private hospital).

Sorry, I seem to be going off my point here, but Im worried that due to the past pregnancy that the ante-natal staff will be annoyed at me going away for so long. Ill be 17 weeks when going, and 25 upon return.

Do any of you think it could be a problem? Did any of you have more frequent checks due to a previous premature birth, or was it just that your care was shared out rather than being all midwife led etc?

[mrsmango]

Hello!

During 1st pregnancy my waters broke at 28wks and i was induced at 33wks - my gorgeous boy will be 3 in June!

I am currently 23wks pregnant with baby boy number two and i have had close monitoring throughout pregnancy. I had first scan at 10wks. I attend hospital pre term labour clinic every 4wks (more frequent if problems) where i see consultant and have an internal scan. At 20wks scan showed a gap in my membranes, so i have started medication and attending clinic every 2wks. My community midwife is useless, seen her once.

My GP organised the consultant care. I would go see GP and talk over your concerns, at least then you can put your own mind at risk.

Good luck love em xx

[SlightlyMadSweet]

I attended a pre term cllinic at 18wks, 20wks, 24wks, 26 wks, 28wks & 30wks. That was on top of MW care.
The consultant care was arranged seperately to MW care, but I saw my MW at 10wks fpr a bppking appointment. She organised the consultant.

[SlightlyMadSweet]

and 22wks

[slalomsuki]

I have been through this twice after having had two prem babies, one at 35 and other at 32 weeks.

With ds 2 I saw the midwfe at 8 weeks to refer me to the consultant and then was at the hospital every 4 weeks till 24 weeks and then every two weeks after that. He can at 32 weeks but for no reason they have ever been able to say.

With dd who came on due date! I was told to expect her from 30 weeks due to history. Like you I paniced since we had a holiday booked and would be coming back at 29 weeks but the consultant who I had seen from 14 weeks ever 4 weeks until 24 weeks and then weekly after that said go but make sure that I knew where the nearest hospital was with a SCBU unit. That we did and di go to the hospital but not for me but because ds1 fell over and needed stitches. I came back home and then was given steroid injections at 29 weeks and told to stay near home/hospital from then on it. My labours before had been short at 2 hours and 6 minutes so I was given some advice on how to deal with a premmie.
With both I was also given unlimited acces to the day assessment unit to get scanned and monitored whenever I needed it and that is what alerted me to the fact ds2 was on his way since I felt a bit off and went in to see them on the way to do christmas shopping. He arrived 10 minutes after arriving there.

I'd say speak to your consultant and if everything is well at 17 weeks then go and enjoy your holiday. There is no guarantee that you will have a second prem baby. I had two and then had to be induced with my third.

I never saw the community midwife with nos 2 and 3 apart from them referring me to the consultant

[caramelbunny]

My daughter was born at 32+4 after premature rupture of membranes. Now 15+6 and spoke to consultant at booking in appointment as concerned about another premature labour. Was told that as I'd reached 3rd trimester I would have no extra monitoring. Not sure how much it varies depending on where you live.

[FruitfulOfFruit]

The main question, is, if your baby is born at 24 weeks in Turkey and has to stay in hospital there for 4 months, can you and your family cope?

Sorry to be a bit drastic, but its something to consider!

Ds1 was born at 34 weeks. With ds2 I haemorrhaged at 23 weeks and ended up in hospital for a month, 3 weeks at home on bedrest, couple more weeks in hospital, and then he was born at 33 weeks. We'd been due to go on holiday when I was 25 weeks - we didn't get to go!