DD1 6 wks prem, 1 wk in SCBU. How likely to happen again?

[jeffily]

As the title says really! I am currently 24wks preg and feeling v anxious about the possibility of this baby also being early. With DD at least I could stay on the ward to be close to her and establish BFing, but now she needs me too so it would be so much harder if the same thing happens. Also, would dearly love to be able to hold my baby when s/he has been born and to be able to take them home sooner than I did with DD. I'm not complaining, I know I was lucky with her that it was only a week and then I had her home, but I would rather not have to do it again still. Am having regular dreams about the baby coming already...
MW and consultants can't tell me why she was prem, or give me an odds of the same thing happening again, so was hoping for MN experience! If you have had a premature birth, where later babies also early, or did you last to term?
TIA

My little boy was 5 weeks early (caesarian for IUGR/high blood pressure).

If they didn't know why he was premature it's hard to say if another baby will be early too but what you can do is request cervical length ultrasounds to make sure your cervix is not shortening/effacing early - this is a sign that you could go into early labour.

That's really interesting bearcrumble, thank you! How would I go about requesting that? Is it something that I would mention to my MW (who though lovely has been pretty useless so far I have to say- forgot to book my 20 wk scan despite 2 reminders!) and when could I ask to start having that checked?

I don't suppose anyone can say really, but FWIW, DD1 was born unexpectedly at 33+4, and DD2 stayed in until 38+2. Good luck!

If you're more than 20 weeks now then any time. I think the average length of a cervix at 20 weeks is 4 centimetres. If it is particularly short then you could have a circlage/progesterone pessaries which have been found to greatly reduce the rate of prem birth in women at risk from inadequate cervix.

Speak to your midwife in the first place but if she sounds dim then ask about being transferred to consultant led care if poss given your history.

DD1 arrived at 32 weeks - no reason was ever discovered. She spent 23 days in NICU.

When I became pregnant with DD2, the midwife insisted I transfer to consultant care. I met with the consultant and we both agreed I could continue with midwife care as there was no reason for first prem arrival so second may well go to term.

As it was, DD2 arrived at 35 weeks - was whisked away for checks but then came back for a 20 minute cuddle before transferring to NICU, where she spent 10 days.

No reason for her early arrival was found - consultant will insist on monitoring me if we have any more children, but we are not planning any!

Whilst not easy, I do think it was easier leaving the second child in NICU! Not pfb and also, we knew so many of the staff, they remembered us and we knew how well they would take care of DD2.

However, I was still at NICU for hours each day and we took DD1 to visit every day too. This was possible as DD2 arrived on Xmas Eve so DP had a fortnight's holiday already and then took two more weeks as Paternity Leave. DD2 was home by then.

With DD1, DP too 4 days as emergency compassionate leave and went back to work until we brought DD1 home, so I was at hospital each day but was discharged when she was 2 days old.

One positive outcome of DD2's early arrival is that, by the time we brought her home, DD1 (aged 2.3yo at the time) had really got used to the idea of having a baby sister and we have never had any jealous big sister moments!

Good luck - and pack your bag! We never did but really should have known better the second time, just in case!

No answers here I'm afraid but I'll be watching this thread as had DS1 in exact same circumstances and am worried what will happen if/when get preggers again.

Hi Jefilly,

Positive story here.

DS1 born at 33 weeks. 2 weeks in SCBU. No explanation found for his early arrival. Was concerned that it would happen again if we went on to have more children.

So, with DS2 had shared midwife/consultant care and regular cervical length scans which all showed normal......DS2 born at 41+5 in August. Thought he was never going to appear!

Hope it all goes well for you (and you too lemontop).

DD1 32 weeks prem and a month in Scbu with no reasons found. DD2 38 weeks and perfectly healthy. That's not to say I didn't spend the last 6 weeks of my pregnancy expecting her to show up at any minute. When she finally arrived it was wonderful to hold her, no machines, no monitors, just us and our baby.

Ds1 was born at just under 35 weeks, two weeks on scbu, ds2 at 38 weeks no problems and dd1 waited till 39 weeks (had a wonderful home birth).

They are all different, but it does make you feel overdue when you go past the last date ( if you see what I mean!)

Good luck!!!!

My babies have got earlier and earlier but the BLISS premature baby support group i go to has lots of mums who have gone full term after a very early delivery.