Tell me the reality of delivering your baby “early” (37w)

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Morning

I need your tales of (semi) voluntary “early” delivery of your babies.

I’m 36+3 today and I have an underlying heart condition that hospitalised me last week and I nearly had to deliver at 35+5. My last two babies have been 40w+.

I’ve now been discharged with drugs that are suppressing the massive arrythmias and they are heavy duty. Whilst in hospital time and again they showed that they were not affecting my baby I’m a bit scared of what the effect of taking them for the next 4 weeks could be.

If I have ONE more fierce arrythmia attack then I have to present at A&E and have been told I will be given a CS under general anaesthetic.

The other thing is the side effects of the drugs are hideous. I’ve got migraines and congestion but touched by paracetamol, I don’t sleep and I feel really “drugged up”; lethargic, in pain, tearful, unable to parent my own children. DH is on sabbatical now and is amazing, I want for nothing and he is kind and understanding.

I have an appointment on Thursday with the obstetric consultant. Considering I feel like absolute fucking shite, with the sword of Damocles hanging over me regarding risk of a crash CS I might request delivery at 37w, which for me is Monday 20 May.

I’m so so so so so scared. My family are all late bakers, I’m scared of compromising my baby both in utero (drugs) and ex utero (delivering too early, long term effects of that).

Have any of you had to make a decision to deliver early based on medical reasons and if so what was the outcome? How was baby? How did you feel?

Ideally I’d like to know from those who delivered from 35w and who basically made the decision themselves without hard core direction from medics.

I’m so scared, and am wittering. But any words help.

I had my second baby at 36 weeks - it happened naturally with my waters breaking and he weighed 7lbs 6oz. He was fine and spent a few hours in an incubator as a precaution only.

First lad was born 15 days early, weighed 7lbs 7oz. My mother and sisters went into labour early, I was born 6 weeks early.

Try not to let having a baby early worry you, 37 weeks is full term anyway. Best of luck.

Sorry you’re going through this, sounds very stressful at what is already a tough time.

Not quite the same but I was voluntarily induced for dc2 at 38 weeks after a super fast traumatic labour with dc1. I was so scared of giving birth at the side of the road I begged them for a c section and they suggested an induction as a middle ground.

It was the best decision ever, went very smoothly. Fast again but I had all the drugs Baby was totally fine, home the next day.

Inductions don’t have to be the scary thing the NCT portray and 37 weeks is not too early. Hope it all goes well.

First baby was 37+3 ... spontaneous labour, very surprising! Had my lazy maternity leave days planned and I’d only finished work on the Friday and baby born Monday. Healthy weight etc and discharged within 12 hours so home that night. Bit jaundiced and alarmingly snuffly that first night (but we knew no better!). All fine health wise.

Baby 2 was born 2 days off 40 weeks.

If I’d had them the other way round perhaps I’d have been more alarmed by the 37 weeker, and baby 2 wasn’t snuffly or jaundiced, but that was the only real difference.

I would go early with a planned section if I were you.

Also induction at 37 weeks with DS2 (first had been epidural, pethidine etc, double episiotomy, forceps you name it I had it!)

However the induction at 37 weeks was managed on ags and air alone and just a small tear requiring no stitching. An altogether much better experience.

I am afraid I have a less than positive story. My youngest was born but planned c section at 37 weeks. I had steroids to mature his lungs. However when he was born he stopped breathing and it took them nearly 15 minutes to get him breathing independently. He spent two days in NICU. He now has significant development delay. No one can tell me if that is because of his traumatic birth but I feel awful guilt that if I had hung on a little longer that might not have happened.

Most births at 37 weeks are fine but like with any birth, there are risks.

Had ds1 at 37 weeks 6lb , spontaneous vaginal delivery, 3 hour labour, just gas and air,, over night stay as normal and discharged. Perfect, no problems at all.

Sorry @CleverQuacks I posted after reading OP’s post but no other posts. Mine seems really insensitive after yours, I do apologise

I had my dd at 35 plus 5
Due to pre Eclampsia and was told best thing for my health was to deliver
It was absolutely fine and dd was healthy just a tad small at 5 pounds
I felt fine about it all

My DS was born at 35+2. My waters had broken early, so I was strongly advised to go for induction when I didn't go into labour spontaneously. He was fine. He had a slight grunt initially but his oxygen levels were always spot on and it resolved itself within 24hrs. He was a very healthy 6lb11. We were on the Neonatal Unit for a week as he was quite jaundiced and struggled a bit to regulate his temperature and with feeding initially. He had a heated cot for a few days, but was never in an incubator and I was able to stay with him and do everything with him like a "normal" baby throughout. It really was fine and he's now 15 weeks, meeting all his milestones and happy as Larry! The only thing he has is additional iron and vitamin supplements, though part of that is because he's breastfed.

As others have said, 37 weeks is term. The hospital were very unconcerned about my DS being born at 35 weeks, so I would imagine 2 weeks extra cooking time will mean they're even less worried! Good luck with everything.

My waters went at 36+6 and I had my dd later that afternoon as I went into labour naturally. She weighed a healthy 6lb 2oz and had no issues we left hospital the next day.

DC1 was induced at 38w, DC2 at 36+3. Both for medical reasons related to my diabetes.

With DC2 I received steroid injections in the lead up. The first pessaries didn't work so it took a couple of days til my waters could be broken. DC2 was delivered 5 hours later. A very easy and happy labour. She had the blue lamp for jaundice for a day but was otherwise fine, no special care needed. She fed well and was an easy baby, now a wild, happy, bright toddler.

p.s. In your decision I would go for a planned delivery now. Better that than an emergency situation. My delivery at 36 was for placental failure. I could have pushed to hold on, but I'm so glad I didnt. Good luck x

For complicated reasons (which aren't relevant here) my youngest was a planned section at 35 weeks. Planned as in not an emergency that is.
Short time in special care and home quickly. No on-going issues. In your situation I'd let them get the baby out.

I commented on your previous thread with my experience of a (spontaneous) 35 week delivery who had almost no problems. I have also (with DC1) had experience of a crash CS under general - the baby was in trouble then, rather than me - and that was a really horrible experience that left me traumatised and in very poor shape to look after a newborn. I would think a crash CS would be much worse than a planned early delivery. Thinking of you and hoping you get a consultant to agree a plan with you soon x

I had dc2 at 36 Weeks due to pre eclampsia, she was fine, everything was fine, no adjusting the age of anything just continued as I did with my first.

My first was induced and born at 40+6, so somewhat overdue. On my second, my blood pressure suddenly went sky high at the end of 35 weeks. Not pre-eclampsia but general high pressure. The baby was suspected to have restricted growth as a result. I was admitted immediately and at least twice a day, my consultant and her team reviewed all the latest traces and info to see if they should deliver or wait. The very moment I hit 37 weeks 0 days, the balancing act swung massively towards delivering and I was induced and gave birth that day. This was despite the hospital policy not being to induce on weekends. So in my case, they really saw a stark reduction to risk to the baby at 37 weeks. In my case, I was told to expect the risk of some transient breathing difficulties but thankfully this did not transpire. My baby also developed jaundice very quickly which can be a complication of 37 weeks but my eldest at almost 41 weeks had exactly the same, so perhaps it would have happened anyway. In any case, jaundice can be easily managed with early supplementation if you’re planning to breastfeed, so for me, it was a complication that was very minor and far outweighed by the benefit of delivery at 37 weeks.

Remember, while your baby is inside you, there’s actually very little they can do to address problems. Once born, the entire skills and expertise of the paediatric service is able to spring into action if needed.

So discuss with your doctors in huge detail but for me, I’d definitely lean towards the 37 weeks. Your history of overdue babies is meaningless here - just because your babies are overdue, that doesn’t mean that they weren’t fully developed at 37 weeks. A 37 week gestation is the same stage of development and is full term, regardless of whether natural labor would have occurred then or at 42 weeks - the baby’s development doesn’t count backwards!

Best wishes in your choice.

I've had all mine at 37 weeks. That's considered full term isn't it!

How long did it take your baby to “clear” their lungs?

I think 48/72 hours and no more vomiting after that.

I was induced with twins at 36+6 and they came at 37+1. They were six pounds each, no time in special care, all was good. However, they lost a lot of weight in the first few days and we were readmitted due to weight loss and jaundice. I think you’re absolutely doing the right thing to consider what might happen if you deliver around 37 weeks. I think the most important thing is that you be able to advocate for yourself, or have your husband as an advocate, to ensure you have appropriate support with feeding and any other concerns. We did not have sufficient support, were sent home too soon, and struggled as a result. Fortunately, all was fine within a few weeks and now they are (absolutely enormous) strong, healthy three-year-olds.

My 37 weeker weighed an ounce under 9lb.
I felt fine on the Saturday, experienced intense itching on the Sunday and was induced on the Monday after I was diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis.
My labour was just less than 12 hours and completely straightforward. I remained in hospital for 3 days and both of us had no problems at all.

DS came spontaneously at 36+5. He was an emcs due to being breach and back to back. He was a very reluctant feeder, but 11 years later he still is.

Both my children born at 38 weeks, both over 8lbs, thank the Lord neither were later!, both very healthy, I was a bit unwell due to long labour for first. Both accurately dated from conception, I guess they were just 'cooked enough' :)

My middle DC was born at 37 weeks weighing 9lb 7 after I spontaneously went into labour. He apparently looked early as was brick red and very hairy. He really was otherwise no different in terms of newborn health than his older sibling (born on due date) or younger sibling (5 days late). The most traumatic part for me was the shock of him arriving before I had finished work, packed a hospital bag or had a trial run of leaving DC1 overnight. I appreciate your circumstances are much more stressful but most babies born at 37 weeks are absolutely fine. I hope all goes well for you.

Well I doubly appreciate the answers on this thread as we are now game on for an elective CS taking place Monday 20 May.

My god, I wish I could sleep until then.

All - and I mean all @cleverquacks - stories have been welcome and informative. Thank you x

Wishing you a peaceful few days. OP.