Possible CSection at 35+6 please can I get a handhold/your experiences

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Very outing post but due to an underlying heart condition now becoming unmanageable (tachycardia) there is a small chance I may need a CS in the next two days.

I have two children already of 3 and 18mo and the younger one was ELCS at 39w and struggled at birth. He had TTN and was covered in vernix at birth.

I come from a family of long gestations, 40w+.

I’m so scared right now that my baby will have to come not only early but mega early as I’m not even at term yet.

Please can someone or anyone tell me if this has happened to you and how you got on.

I’m so fucking scared and am going out my mind with worry.

My fears are she won’t be able to breathe right; that I won’t be able to hold her

Unlikely at 36 weeks and 6lb. DS had a perfect Apgar score, went straight to DH for a cuddle while I was being stitched up then skin to skin with me.

that I’ll give her the cold or something and she gets very ill

DH gets more colds than DS. Seriously, DS has had about three proper colds in his whole life (he’s 2.5), and for a child in full time nursery that is pretty good going. If you’re worried, breastfeed (or mix feed) then she gets your antibodies. But she’ll be fine.

Thank you @sashkin and others.

Today is Friday and I wonder if they will perhaps press for an emcs tomorrow as I’m already in a right state this morning with HR back up again at 170/180.

They are scanning again this morning and I have a feeling if she’s head down and cord is behaving plus extra measurements are done if she “passes” the 6lb test again it may be game on.

Then a heart procedure for me a few days later which is usually done as a “day patient” but has a 1/100 risk of ending in a pacemaker.

Feel like I’m being asked to start considering hardest decisions of my life here.

He was in and out of hospital for the first 4 years but his hydrocephalus has been stable for just over a year now thank goodness. He has global development delay with his development being about 2-3 years behind his actual age, cleft lip and palate and glue ear. The cleft lip and palate were diagnosed at the 20 week scan so he would have had that if he'd been born at term. I don't know about the other things though.

Is it cardiac ablation you’re having? I had that and it was a bit scary but absolutely life-changing. The consultant was very relaxed about it, as I understand it the stats on pacemakers etc can be a bit skewed as a lot of patients are older.

I had DS by c-sec at 36weeks and he was 6lb4 and apart from his suck reflex being rubbish was absolutely fine. He ended up being formula fed and despite that and his slightly early entry to the world is a really (fingers crossed) healthy child.

God luck with everything and please pm if you’d like a chat about the heart stuff

Best of luck OP and hope you feel reassured by some of the stories here.

My ds was born by EMC at 36 weeks, weighed 5 lbs and was absolutely fine. Cuddled him on the delivery table, didn't need NICU, we went home as soon as I was ready (they kept me in for a few days due to my health, not his). Breastfed, though he did need a little bit of extra help at first- though that was probably down to his Ehlers Danlos rather than early birth.

He is now a tall healthy 18yo who does heavy physical training and has rarely been ill.

My ds was born at that gestation spontaneously. He wasn't breathing very well when born and went straight to SCBU for IV antibiotics, tube feeding and needed an incubator as he was jaundiced and couldn't keep his body temp up. But he came home fully breastfed after a week and never looked back

I know it’s easier said than done, but take a deep breath. Your health is very important. You have other children. 35 weeks and 6lbs is a very good gestation. Yes it is possible that she may need some oxygen at birth. She may have an NG tube inserted so she can be fed if her suck reflex isn’t fully developed. I am not saying this to scare you but just so you fully know what to expect. I would expect most 35 weekers to be absolutely fine and spend a couple of weeks in SCBU. The steroid shots are for lung maturation.

Here’s the context. I have a 26 weeker. He’s 2.5 and totally healthy and happy and fully caught up with his peers size wise and developmentally. I had steroid shots before birth and they made a huge difference. Yes preemie lungs are a bit of a pain in the toddler years (he’s had a couple of colds where he ends up with a viral wheeze and needing an inhaler but it’s never ever stopped him from running around like a lunatic. They call him a ‘happy wheezer’ and remember he’s a 26 weeker weighing 900 gms at birth so if the worst we have come away with is slightly dodgy lungs, I’ll take it).

Now lots of full term babies do struggle after birth. We had plenty in our NICU/SCBU. Some for a day and some for longer. But your 39 weeker was not ‘early’ and whatever issues he had almost certainly didn’t come from his gestation per se.

Btw I have also had a full term baby at 38+2 and he was only 5lbs 5oz. I am small and Asian so that’s not that uncommon. He stayed in an extra night for low blood sugars. But both he and my 26 weeker breastfed for a year. (My 26 weeker was tube fed and then latched on at 35 weeks and we were home at 36 weeks. Also for reference we were off all oxygen by 30 weeks gestationally so when he was a month old). I hope this gives you a rough idea of what to expect with the caveat that every baby is different.

My DD was born by c-section at 35+6 and weighed 4lb 5oz. She didn't need to go to NICU, but did have the light therapy for jaundice.

I had a planned section at 36 weeks for vasa previa. I had steroid injections. He was born weighing 6lb 13oz and needed no extra help. Remember that 37 weeks is actually considered full term so 36 weeks is really not particularly early at all. Good luck!

Thanks guys, re jaundice - well my other two had jaundice and that was treated well, problem was that DS was admitted at 12 days old with sepsis and I’ve always feared that mild jaundice “hid” about a day of him getting ill before we had to scramble to A&E.

Can you tell my last delivery and newborn experience has really messed my head up? There could be every chance that a fully managed early delivery with a few days in neonate may actually be a breeze compared to the drama around DS2’s arrival.

Also; as scandalous as this sounds I’d like to bf but if choice is initially taken away from me I’m fine with that. My milk supply tends to hit late anyway but I am presently able to get a dot or two of colostrum out. Every cloud again.

Steroid injections won't bring on contractions, but they do help clear out the baby's lungs, and it's quite effective. I'm so sorry for what you are going through. My goddaughter was born at 36 weeks exactly, very tiny, and she's a very opinionated, strong-willed 16 year-old now, and the headgirl at her school. At 36 weeks the difference to full term is usually negligible at best. But totally understand you are freaking out - I would be too.

My baby couldn't feed when he was born as too young but he is now almost entirely breastfed. They have special support to help you and i saw mums breastfeeding babies who had been born at 24 weeks once their systems could cope - the neonatal unit is totally prepared to support you if you want to feed this way - and they also helped me learn how to bottlefeed him effectively.

Easier said than done but sounds like previous experience is causing your stress here, rather than situation with this baby. At almost 36 weeks they are a late pre term and have much better outcomes than even a 35 weeker. Good luck and try to relax.

I was induced at 36 and a half weeks, with my first. For various reasons, I had an emergency C Section. He was 8lb 3.5 oz and perfectly healthy.

Had daughter at 39 weeks, and she was 8lb 9.5 oz. Again healthy.

They are now 22 and 20 years old

I'm sure you'll be fine, they wouldn't put you in danger. And each baby tends to be larger than the last!

I found it ‘easier’ to feed my 26 weeker because they are much more proactive about breastfeeding in SCBU than they are on a cramped post natal ward. I could get the nurses to check the latch, they would check his stomach (using his NG) to see if he was swallowing fresh milk and there were regular weight checks. So in some ways it was an easier breastfeeding journey. I did pump as well though and if his latch is a little weak you might have to pump for a bit to keep your supply going. Also many preemies find it easier to latch on with Mille shields (mine never took to it!)

NIPPLE shields. WTF kind of autocorrect is that?