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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want labour stopped at 35 weeks?

57 replies

FloralPrintFrame · 19/08/2018 14:58

Went to triage at 35 weeks at risk of early labour and was told they wouldn’t stop it at this stage. Luckily it wasn’t early labour but if it was, would I be able to request them trying to stop labour, due to the risks to the baby of being born early? Is this standard procedure? Or is it something like the drugs they give you to stop labour become dangerous at 35 weeks?

OP posts:
TangelasVine · 19/08/2018 15:04

They don't usually try to delay it at 35 weeks no - I'm not sure exactly why. I'm guessing because the relative benefit of being 35+1 vs 35+4 for example isn't as huge as earlier in the pregnancy. But would interested to here a medical answer.

Good luck. I had DS at 35 weeks and it was a huge shock but all fine eventually.

flumpybear · 19/08/2018 15:04

35 weeks isn't that early tbh - speak to the consultant (not a junior)

yell0w · 19/08/2018 15:05

I went into labour at 34 weeks. They didn’t stop it and that was never mentioned as an option. My waters went as the first indication of labour and Baby was born about 17 hours later. She’s 4 now and absolutely fine. She had jaundice, trouble feeding (tube at first but then breastfed until past 1 year old), temperature regulation issues. We were in hospital for a week then discharged. Stopping labour was never mentioned at all to me.

Babyroobs · 19/08/2018 15:08

My ds2 was born at 34 weeks , they did nothing to try to stop labour just gave me a steroid injections to boost babies lungs. He had a bowel blockage ( not related to being born early ), a knot in his umbilical cord, jaundice and was tube fed for the first 2 weeks.

whyhaveidonethis · 19/08/2018 15:09

I had my DS1 at 30 weeks and DS2 at 32. Both times I had to have them due to complications (one by induction, one by c section). I was told that ideally they would leave it until 34 weeks as that's the time there are going to be least problems. With DS3 at 35 weeks they just gave me steroid stop ensure his lungs developed correctly. So no it seems perfectly reasonable not to stop labour at 35 weeks.

I went into premature labour at 23 weeks and they did lots to stop it. At 35 weeks they are really just putting on weight.

BigBlueBubble · 19/08/2018 15:13

I was born at 34 weeks. The odds of survival are pretty good at that point so they usually wouldn’t attempt to stop labour. They only stop it if you’re so early that the odds of survival are poor.

Original poster
FloralPrintFrame · 19/08/2018 15:24

I was too out of it to question it at the time but thinking about if it happened now, if there’s a way of stopping labour, I would want to avoid an early birth. I understand what PP are saying about good outcomes at 35 weeks but there are also increased risks. I guess my question is from a medical standpoint, do I have a right to request that they attempt to stop early labour?

OP posts:
Tiredmum100 · 19/08/2018 15:28

My waters broke at 34 weeks, my son was born at 36 weeks. I had steroid injections when my waters broke, he was and is fine. I don't think they'd stop them this late on to be honest.

Original poster
FloralPrintFrame · 19/08/2018 15:34

So from my understanding, it sounds like they wouldn’t offer to stop it but can they refuse if I request it?

OP posts:
SwayingInTime · 19/08/2018 15:35

You can’t really stop labour if it’s happening, the treatment given to potentially labouring women at a lesser gestation is only for 24 hours to allow time administer steroids and, before 34 weeks, a neurologically protective medication too. You can’t do this if your waters have already broken in labour and there may be cases where it’s obviously pointless to try. The risk benefit analysis changes at around 35 weeks and it becomes safer to have as quick a normal labour as possible rather than give drugs to stop the labour to the woman (not without risk). Other factors would be considered though, like cot availability and your individual risk profile.

BitchPeas · 19/08/2018 15:35

You could ask but I really don’t think they would as it would not be of any benefit and it doesn’t have a high success rate anyway I thought?

Underhisi · 19/08/2018 15:35

I think they tried to the stop the labour with my 33 weeker ( didn't work) but not with my 35 weeker.

SwayingInTime · 19/08/2018 15:36

The nice guideline on preterm labour is in very plain language and surprisingly short if you’d like to read it.

Emelene · 19/08/2018 15:37

Yes they can refuse to stop labour even if you request it - legally you can't demand medical treatment and they don't have to give you something they don't think is in yours or the baby's best interests.

Sounds like you need to talk it through with a senior midwife or consultant? Smile

CatPatrol · 19/08/2018 15:38

Thirty five weeks is not that far off term. Generally it seems to be medical belief that if a spontaneous labour occurs around then it is safest to have the baby than to try to keep them in the womb. Your doctor will have your baby’s best interests in mind when saying to you that they won’t stop labour so you might have to sign a declaration saying you accept responsibility if you refuse and anything happens (much the same as if you insist on going over 42 weeks).

villamariavintrapp · 19/08/2018 15:40

Often there’s a reason that you’re in early labour-some problem for you or the baby. Stopping labour at this stage, when your baby is very likely to do well may increase the risk.

UserThenLotsOfNumbers · 19/08/2018 15:42

My daughter was born at 35 weeks, and she was small for dates, only 4lbs.
She was in SCBU for two weeks (to establish feeding) but is now almost 2 and doing really well, no problems at all.
If your baby is a more typical size at this point, maybe 5/6lbs they will be fine. My daughters feeding troubles were only to do with her size.

fixingabrokenhesrt · 19/08/2018 15:42

Stopping labour also has its risks...

BitchPeas · 19/08/2018 15:42

If it’s because of the new school year starting in 12 days it wouldn’t stop labour for that long anyway! Only about 24hours as PP said.

HerRoyalNotness · 19/08/2018 15:46

Yes you are being very unreasonable. If it’s time for the baby to be born it’s time. You could be increasing unknown risks to ask for a delay And I would hope the actual medical professionals would say no

Stopyourhavering64 · 19/08/2018 15:48

Ds was born at 35wks .... I was due to have an elective CS at 37 weeks ( previous 2CS)..he had other plans and arrived weighing 7lbs
I was allowed to have a trial of labour and had a normal vaginal delivery, only requiring gas and air!
I had steroid injections to help mature his lungs, although he came out perfectly ok and didn't need any stay in SCBU

DontTouchTheMoustache · 19/08/2018 15:49

Op are you having some anxiety over this? You seem quite fixated so it might help you to explain your anxiety to your midwife/consultant so they can explain why they would not stop labour. It may offer you some reassurance. Remember that they are going to do their best by you and your child, they would not put either of you at unnecessary risk. If baby needs to come out early at least the doctors can monitor them properly when thry are here.

hedwig2001 · 19/08/2018 15:50

This is the drug used en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atosiban
Only for use up to 33 weeks.
Bear in mind preterm labour may be triggered by infection, so stopping labour is not risk free.
I gather it makes you feel fairly unwell too.

Original poster
FloralPrintFrame · 19/08/2018 15:51

Thanks all. Hopefully it’s not going to happen but want to have it all clear in my mind what the options and outcomes are while I’m capable of thinking properly, just in case.

@SwayingInTime guidelines are really helpful and I’d not thought of that, thank you.

Doesn’t help googling preterm birth, for every success story at 35 weeks, there’s an opposite to balance it out Confused

OP posts:
Underhisi · 19/08/2018 15:51

My 35 weeker was better off out than in at that point.