my baby will be born at 36 weeks - advice?

[kickingking]

I have just found out my baby will be born by cs at 36+2 (due to concerns about fluid levels and my diabetic control.)

Had a cs before, not worried about that, but any advice on 36 weekers?! Bit scared here.

Bump

I had DS at 35 weeks, two years ago. I had IUGR, so he wasn't growing well and high blood pressure so they decided to do a caesarian at that point.

I had the steroid injections but have since read that they aren't indicated once you pass 34 weeks, but anyway he was breathing fine at birth, APGAR was 9. They put him in the NICU for a few hours for observation but moved him to high dependency soon after a couple of days later moved to the normal SCBU. HE was in for 2 weeks in total. He was very sleepy - hardly woke except to have his nappy changed etc. We did manage to get him off the tube feeds and onto the breast before we were discharged. They put him on a feeding schedule but once we came home he woke up more and fed more often. He caught up pretty quickly and hasn't been behind with anything on his development except for sitting up alone/supporting his head by himself - that was slightly later than normal and also he was very possetty until he was 6 - 7 months as the sphincter between gullet and stomach isn't very strong in premature babies.

Hi Kickingking,

I can give you a positive story for 36+6 if that helps, till an earlier someone comes along! My waters went at 36+1, with a trickle, not a gush. I was then admitted to hospital for monitoring and antibiotics, to await action. In the absence of any action :) I was induced at 36+6 (delivery unit uber busy or would have been sooner!) and DD was born in about 3 hours flat.

She was a good weight (6lb 4oz), and had good Apgars (9 then 10), we were allowed home the next day. She was a sleepy little thing so she kept us on our toes at first with having to regularly wake her to feed and keep her awake while feeding. She also had silent reflux which may have been caused by the immaturity of her digestive system, or not, term babies get that too of course!

She's now a chatty, sturdy, little 2 year old.

I haven't got your diabetic history but hope this gives you some idea of what a 36-ish weeker might be like.

Best of luck with your birth.

Thanks. No concerns about this one's size, it's going to be whopping!
The doctor said most 36 weekers need no extra care, so hoping this is the case.

Oh, she also got a bit of jaundice too - but didn't require treatment beyond regular feeding and sunlight.

X-post with Bearcrumble! looks like we had similar issues with sleepiness and reflux... In terms of development, DD was slower than her peers to crawl and walk, but not noticeably so and she wouldn't be considered late to do these things. By golly can she talk though - there are donkeys all over the nation in danger of losing their hind-legs...

My 36+4 weeker was 7lb 14oz and other than a bit of jaundice and not great at feeding (tube fed for a short while) he is now a strapping 8 year old.

My waters went naturally and he was born within 25 hours

My first was born at 35 weeks, he was small for gestation at 4lb 15oz but had no problems breathing on his own so he was allowed to stay with me on the post natal ward, he stayed in a normal cot but with a heat mat underneath as he was having problems keeping his body heat stable. He had no suck reflux at first, it took four days for him to start suckling so he was tube fed up until he could latch on himself, but he bfed like a pro from when his sucking reflex kicked in, he also needed a few hours on a bilimat because he became a little jaundiced but that was all, we were allowed home when he was 6 days old.

He was a little sleepy for the first few months and needed waking for feeds but when he got to 2 months he started being more alert and grew quickly, he was the same size as other babies his age by the time he was 7-8 months, he's small for his age now though. Developmentally he was a little late with almost everything, didn't sit until 9 month'ish (but neither did my fourth who was full term), he started walking at about 17-18 months (again the same age as my fourth).

DS is also very chatty, Elephant. He was slightly on the late side to walk (14m holding my hand and 15m alone). I remember he used to HATE tummy time, it's funny thinking back - it all meant so much at the time but that time was so brief and it's completely irrelevant now.

Kicking - I think we were in for so long because he was so small (4lb 5oz) at birth. I shouldn't think you'll have to stay in for more than a couple of days.

My twins were born at 36weeks and now they are 6.5 months and you wouldn't know they were prem at all! dtd1 had respiritory distress at birth (cs - she got fluid in her lungs) but only needed a few pumps of air. She was kept in an incubator for about 6 hours incase they needed to do more but was soon moved into a cot with dtd2. They weighed 5lb 15oz and 4lb 6oz. The smaller one had a few cup and tube feeds but was never in danger at all, just sleepy so not feeding well. dtd2 feed from me but wasn't getting enough and was jaundice but they caught it soon enough that we didn't need lamps etc. We were in for 8 days just to establish feeding and get dtd2's weight up - an individual baby would probably need less time as you can concentrate on feeding one baby.

oh and as for development, they both got a tooth at 5.5 months. dd1 was sitting at 6 months and 1 day but dtds aren't at 6.5... not too far of it though I would guess.

My brother was born at 36 weeks - he went on to get a cambridge degree in law and economics

my dd 1 was born at 37, later than yours i know, but justwanted to let you know that everything was fine, 8lb in weight and absoloutly no problems, not an issue at all.

hope all goes well

One of my friend's Dc was born at 36 weeks. The result? Gifted and talented in maths....

My DS were 36 and 37 weeks respectively. 36 weeks was planned section due to previous abruptions, (37 weeks was emcs), he did have breathing probs and was in ICU for a couple of days ( more as a precaution more than anything I think) but I think it's more usual for breathing to be fine at 36 weeks. He was a good size too and is now strapping 4 yr old.

My twins were born at 36+0 and were both totally fine, 6lb 7oz and 7lb 1oz, delivered by ELCS due to fluid levels and unstable lie/cord prolapse risk.

My dd1 was born at 36 weeks. She needed to go under a heater on the postnatal ward for a bit as she was struggling to maintain her temperature. No issues apart from that. She was very sleepy but managed to feed ok anyway and still loves her sleep now so I think that's just her.

I had one of my DC at 36+6 by C/S due to low fluid and they were concerned about IUGR. I'd had the steroid shot at 35 weeks as they was a concern earlier about movement. He was 5lb 5oz at 36+6 and scored 9 on his Agpars. All fine, bit of jaundice but no 'treatment' except regular feeding (BF and top up) and daylight. He was veeery sleepy which made feeding pretty difficult. He had pretty bad reflux until he was 18months. Hit most of his physical milestones a little later but within normal range, except speech where he was a bit earlier than average.

37 weeks is considered term so you're only a few days off term. They might want to keep you in for a couple of days on pn ward to make sure feeding and weight gain is going well. Have they given you steroids?

My ds decided that he wanted to come out at 35.5 weeks. He was a happy and healthy baby.

They will probably keep you in for a few extra days to make sure all is well.

Good luck!

Apparently I will go in the day before to have a steroid shot.

I am hoping that being only 5 days off term, and 38 week babies being common in my family, he/she will be fine. My DS was a 38 week baby and very healthy indeed

I'm most interested in breastfeeding, will ask more at my appointment next week.

Hi, my DD was 35 weeks had a steriod shot before she was born. She's now 2 with no signs of any delayed development at all. Actually she's a very bright little chatterbox but then of course I'd say that!

Try not to worry too much about it and rest as much as you can before the birth. Push for any support you want breastfeeding though, I don't think I did enough and had to top up at most feeds with formula, but it worked for us. When they are a bit early the baby may struggle with regulating temp/ blood sugar (and jaundice can be more likely I think) so the paeditricians (no idea if thats spelt right, sorry!) may keep you in hospital for a few days to check all is well.

I'm now 35 + 5 with no.2 and we don't quite know when she's going to arrive, exciting though!

As to early babies - I was born at 30 weeks, brother at 30 and sister at 35 and absolutely no long term health issues for any of us.

Good luck!

DS (now 10mo) was born at 26wks exactly and this is how is was for us;

5lb 5oz, Apgar good, after 2 hrs with me he was taken down to NICU for antibiotics and had a cannula fitted. Heel pricks taken every 3 hours for 4 days - jaundiced so on a lightbed most of the time, blood sugar levels up and down, antibiotics twice daily.
He had tongue tie and couldn't latch on, so was given formula to keep his weight up. I tried to hand express colostrum, it was hard going. After a rough first night on the ward, I paid approx £75 per night to have a side room, it helped while I was trying to establish bf. Eventually let us go home after 4 days in Hosp.
Tongue tie divided at home by specialist at 1wk old. Second tongue tie (posterior) divided at 2 months old!

We had an awful time feeding for the first 4 months, since then it's been easy and pain free, so for me it was worth persevering. If you're keen to bf, I highly recommend finding out where your nearest bf advice clinics are, and their opening hours - I went to three different local ones, all had different approaches, one was brilliant, one was absolutely awful!
I was told that 36wks is a particularly tricky age for starting bfing, apparently earlier babies do better, and later babies do better.

DS had reflux which settled after he weaned at 7 months. Only got better around 6mo after a few different meds had been tried, then we stopped giving him any meds for it at 8.5 mo, as weaning seemed to cure it.
He was def not ready for weaning until 7mo, even tho I did try earlier as all his contemporaries started weaning at about 5mo.

Main thing I'd say is don't let the HVs panic you about DCs weight - we ended up weighing DS daily in a colander on the kitchen scales, and got really stressed about his weight. Completely over the top pressure from the communtity midwives and HVs to get vast quantities of formula into his tiny tummy, he just couldn't do it.

Due to the reflux and me wanting to keep him close, he practically lived in a sling for the first few months. I used a BabaSling, which was good when he was tiny not so great now he's such a big lump

Sorry this is such a long post! Good luck with your cs!

Duh, sorry, he was born at 36 weeks, not 26!! And I previewed too... Time for bed methinks... :)

My (spot on) 36, 4lb 4oz weeker is almost 9 now. She is exactly where she should be academically & physically.

She has 3 days in SCBU, mainly sue to her small size, undiagnosed IUGR & distress during induction.

To look at her, you would not have a clue about her beginnings.

Good Luck!

Dd was born at 36 weeks - no probs at all; bfing fine :)

DC 1 induced at 36+ 4, she was a bit mucusy and had to be suctioned after she choked but good weight at 6lb 1oz and no other intervention required.

She was quite sleepy but after much perseverance she BF well.

DC4 was induced at 37 weeks. We were allowed home within 2 hours she was also sleepy and dropped from 6lb 4oz to 5lb 1oz but again with perseverance and support she fed well and we're still going strong at 13mths