37 weeks isn't premature. Is it?

[37weeksisntearly]

I need a massive grip handing to me.

A friend has recently has a baby, induced at 37 weeks. Small but perfect and needed no scbu care. Because baby is so small, everyone thinks they are premature and are not being corrected.

I had a 36 and 5 days baby, who was too small for the regular charts. I had to fight for their 'prematurity' to be recognised because so that it wasn't a problem with all the bloody charts and growth milestones - they were so close to 37 weeks, medical staff didn't bother - why have the bloody cut off at 37 weeks then, you may as well say premature is anything before 40 weeks, or 24 weeks given the consideration it was given in my case. Mine had scbu care which, although mild being just blood sugars and feeding, was still very stressful at the time. And we still have issues now which are only just being suggested as to do with birth size and 'prematurity'.

Anyway, I just need a grip handing to me because I don't want to lose my temper with a first time mum.

I had one at 35 weeks and one at 37 weeks. They were both marked on the charts as the corrected weeks.

I had DD at 37+1 and she wasn't ever treated as premature. She wasn't small though; she was 7lbs.

I do think it made a difference for the first few weeks - she was a bit dopier than the NCT Babies and didn't smile until 8 weeks. Luckily she's made up for that ever since!

Having DC2 now by planned c, and determined to hang on until at least 39 weeks if at all possible (I realise the baby may have other plans!) as a consequence.

According to the NHS, prior to 37 weeks is premature.

For your friend though it may well be classed as prem if she wasn't expecting to give birth before 40 weeks.

Stop judging a new motherf - you wouldn't have welcomed it in her situation.

I'm not sure what the relevance of your friends birth is TBH. The issue is with your treatment by the hospital staff and I think this is skewing your view re your friends baby.

If the cut off is 37 weeks then your baby should have been recognised as prem, albeit only by 2 days but a cut off is a cut off for a reason. It doesn't really matter to you whether anyone else's baby is considered prem, only if yours is

So sorry you had a tough time, DS1 was 38 weeks but was in ICU and SCBU for a week. It is really hard isn't it.

Full term is anything between 37 and 42 weeks.

My dd2 was measuring tiny and I had extra scans. At 37 week scan she was only estimated to be 5lb which concerned the consultant as she was considered full term then. As it was she was born on due date and was 6lb.
My friend had her baby at 39 weeks and was almost 8lb. Even now 8 years later she tells people she was premature .

She’s just had her first baby, weeks earlier than she was expecting, how about cutting her some slack?

Are you really that worked up about this? It’s a happy time.

Why are you even bothered by what people are calling your friend's baby? Does this affect you in ANY way? You sound very mean 🙄 I could only be thinking good things right now if a friend had just given birth...and hoping that despite an early delivery, that everything was going well 😲

I was on standby for a section at 36wks and was told by the consultant that anything pre-37wks in premature, 37-39wks is classed as pre-term and the newest research indicates babies born in this time frame often require some form of support (i.e., supplementary oxygen) and are more likely to be readmitted during the immediate postnatal period, and 39-40wks is term. I eventually had my section at 38wks but was given two steroid injections in the days leading up to it to give DD's lungs a boost.

One DC at 35+5 who 'with hindsight could have gone to neonatal' (stayed on ward, horrible week). Was told getting to 36w would have meant concerns removed despite 37w being 'term'.

Some babies just are much smaller or bigger than others and people might make assumptions. What exactly has this mum done to annoy you?

Yeah I don't quite understand from your post why you are so upset with the other mum?

It’s tough having a baby born on the cusp of being term. Not quite full term and not early enough to be properly premature. My DD was also 36+5 when born but she was quite poorly and spent a week in NICU. Luckily I didn’t have to fight to have her treated according to her corrected age. Felt immensely guilty too because she was so big compared to most of the other babies in there.

There’s only a few days in it so be kind - remember how you felt. From your post, I thing you’re upset with the treatment you and your baby received and this may be clouding your judgment a little.

Your friend might also be feeling a bit shit if people are assuming her baby was premature just because of size.

I think you’re letting your own experience cloud your thinking, and you sound bitter. She has had her baby earlier than expected, and is small, only a few days later than you had your child. You got what you wanted with a corrected age of a few days, she is having support for a small baby. I’m sorry you didn’t feel supported. But I also don’t see it as a competition.

37+2 twins here, 6lb12 and 7lb. Not premature. planned c-section. 37 weeks is considered full term..

She’s just had her first baby, weeks earlier than she was expecting, how about cutting her some slack?

Yes, this.

Direct your energy towards the medics who you think failed you due to a 2 day timeframe.

Thing is, due dates aren't exactly a science so perhaps your child was actually born at 37 weeks, too.

I had one born on their due date , another born 6 weeks early at 5lbs and needing SCBU due to other issues. I'v never felt the need to slag off friends who worried about their child being born at 37 weeks though.

Another who can't understand why you are this worked up about if your friend's baby is called prem or not
What difference does it make to you ?

I need a massive grip handing to me

Yes, yes you do 🙄

Lose your temper?

Wise up.

It's 2 days (as in 48 hours) later than your baby . Why do you / your friend need different labels - why do you need a label at all? Surely if its an issue you day he was 3 weeks early or 2 weeks early?

The term premature covers a massive time frame - I'm guessing my "premature" twins born at 27 weeks weighing 2 lbs each were very different to "premature" babies born at 36+6?

I'm sorry you've been having a hard time, but you sound quite immature re this friend (unless she is being super annoying, which you having mentioned).

*haven't

I don't see how you can determine her baby, born at 37 weeks is perfect, but your baby, born at 36+5, is not fine and is having long term problems due to their prematurity. We're talking a difference of two days. You cannot say with any certainty that her baby will have no problems, nor can you say with any certainty that your baby was any more "premature" - an all-encompassing term - than hers. Both babies were born at almost the exact same gestation, assuming dates were correct.

I don't understand what difference does being called premature make? Some babies are born 35 weeks and need no intervention, others full term and need scbu. I think you are being irrational, if your baby had growth issues, it's a totally unrelated problem

Anyway, I just need a grip handing to me because I don't want to lose my temper with a first time mum.

What!? loose your temper over what? You sound absolutely ridiculous, leave the woman alone, she dosnt need someone like you as a 'friend'

So your problem is that she’s not correcting people when they call her baby premature? Therefore diluting your actual premature status for your DC?
I see your point but it’s up to your friend whether she can be bothered correcting people and you need to not let it cloud your judgement of her. It should be a lovely, happy time.

um...I thought you were going to say you had had a 32 weeker or something.

Yabu