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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

How poorly would a baby be born at 34 weeks?

134 replies

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 17:39

I do have reasons for asking this, but is it really too early, or is it just preferable to go a bit further?

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Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 17:39

Would the hospital try to stop a labour at 34 weeks?

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cod · 13/10/2006 17:40

Message withdrawn

Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 17:41

But are the lungs likely to be developed enough at 6 weeks early?

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southeastastralplain · 13/10/2006 17:41

well course it's preferable to go as far as possible!

throckenholt · 13/10/2006 17:41

it is early - but not too bad. Mine were born at 35 weeks and were fine - but small. One of the midwifes told me 7 monthers often do better than 8 monthers - not sure why.

I think generally most of the development is pretty much done by 34-35 weeks - the rest is fattening up (mine had no fat on them at all).

I guess it depends on why they are born early.

TwigTwoolett · 13/10/2006 17:42

I think the prognosis for a baby born at 34 weeks is pretty good ... but I'm sure they will try to stop labour if possible

throckenholt · 13/10/2006 17:42

if they think you are going into prem labour they will give you steroid injections to help mature the lungs.

lucy5 · 13/10/2006 17:44

Are you ok NJ?

Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 17:47

Think so Lucy, just checking really. I've had some pretty strong contractions each evening for the last week or so, and have now started loosing what I think is my show, but not had any contractions today, BH or real ones.

I don't feel like anything is happening, but before I get all hot and bothered and drag DS and DH to hospital for them to say nothing is happening, I just wanted to weigh up up the risks to the baby if he is making his way out.

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nutcracker · 13/10/2006 17:49

I had Dd2 at 34 weeks, she didn't have any breathing problems thankfully, but did lose alot of weight and was very slow to feed, plus she had a couple of occasions where her heart was beating too fast but they sorted that out asap and once she started to feed properly and put on weight she was allowed home. She was in for just over 2 weeks.

I know 34 weekers can have more probs than that though, i think dd was very lucky.

throckenholt · 13/10/2006 17:51

Better to have it checked out - they are better in for longer really - they can be a b*gger to get feeding if they are born early (if you want to breast feed) - because the suck reflex only develops in the last few weeks of gestation.

Hope you are both ok.

maroon35 · 13/10/2006 17:51

I'm 32 weeks and baby isnt growing properly i've just come out of hospital after having 2 steroid injections to help lungs develop in case babs has to be delivered early.

If poss they may still try to delay labour while they give you these injections. next door had her baby at 35 weeks and it was fine, my sister had her first at 36 weks also fine.

i think if they knowin advance ofproblem re growth they go down thesteroid injection route, if baby is in distress they go down the deliver asap route.

34 weeks isa bit early better to go abit further if no risk to baby, i'd be happy to get to 35/36 weeks or ideally 37. Do you have any idea of size of your baby?

wishing you both lots of good luck!!

Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 18:00

Thanks everyone, as I said I don't feel like anything is happening, but I was induced with DS, so don't really know the ins and outs of a natural start to labour.

I think I would be feeling more anxious if I thought things were getting going, and I'm not, I am actually feeling quite calm, just don't know if it is worth all of the palava of going to the hospital and everything, I know that sounds bad, but I would be the first there if I thought things were happening.

I've no idea how big the baby is, he feels bigger than DS (I know that sounds bloody weird, but he does!! ) DS was 7lb15 at 40+5, so not tiny.

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Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 18:01

Meant to say, Maroon, I hope things work out for you both OK

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Whoowhoobewhooooooh · 13/10/2006 18:05

NJ: hopefully it's just Braxton Hicks but you should probably check with your midwife.

My friend is a Doc and used to work in neonatal at Kings, but she had a baby yesterday, so I can't call up and ask her advice!

Best get it checked out. Can someone else have the kids for a bit?

mum2monkeys · 13/10/2006 18:22

Sooner you go to drs/hospital, sooner they can give you steroid injections for lungs - my ds was born at 30wks, he's just fine now - will depend on weight etc and will probably have to stay in hospital for a bit - but should be just fine. Call someone asap Hth

Original poster

NatalieJane · 13/10/2006 18:31

Thanks everyone, I think I am going to leave it, at least for now, realistically, I could carry on like this for many many weeks yet, I can't be going to the hospital everytime!

I haven't seen the midwife since I was 17 weeks, maybe I will bite the bullet and make an appointment next week, we'll see!

Thanks again

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Neena28 · 13/10/2006 18:34

I was going to say the same about lungs and steroid injections. I threatened labour at 27 weeks with ds and had two steriod injections then to help the lungs. He then waited til 41 and a bit!!

Hope everything is ok but best to be checked out then you'll feel a little calmer and that can only be good for you and baby. Take care.

waterfalls · 13/10/2006 18:38

DTs were born at 33 weeks, and apart from dt2 having problens breathing in the first few minutes they were fine.

nutcracker · 13/10/2006 18:39

Should have also said, I had a steroid injection too. My waters had broken and I was having contractions so they didn't try and stop the labour.

WestCountryLass · 13/10/2006 23:07

My Ds was born at 34 weeks. They did not tryto stop labour or give me steroid injections, it is borderline. My DS was pretty poorly, unable to regulate body temp, unable to suck, had CPAP for 4 days and had arrythmia. However, the prognosis is generally good at 34 weeks

2pumpkin2pumpkin1 · 14/10/2006 00:20

I know someone that had triplets at 34 weeks. One went straight home with mum (after mum had recovered from C section) the other 2 were home within 2 weeks after that.

I gave birth at 27wks & with my latest preg threatened labour at 24wks. I would have been quite happy giving birth at 34wks given my experiences - but hanging on a week or two is obviously prefferable.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/10/2006 00:38

NJ - i had very strong braxton hicks from about 28 weeks onwards - getting stronger by the week. I also had a bloody show at 32 weeks, 34 weeks and 36 weeks. I rang the mw first time it happened and they said that as long as it wasnt bright red blood, not to worry.

I didnt go into labour until i was 39+1/2 and even then I think it was largely down to having a rather brutal internal by a consultant to see if I was ready to be induced.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 14/10/2006 00:39

I was also going to say - that it depends on why the baby was born at 34 weeks iyswim? If it was external reasons, or basically not because baby was unwell then I guess prognosis would be pretty good.

Original poster

NatalieJane · 14/10/2006 10:29

Well I am still here The contractions started again last night, getting stronger and stronger, knew I wouldn't sleep with them so ended up getting in the bath at about 11.30 to ease the pain, and hopefully to stop them all together, but no such luck, they did ease off a bit, but have rumbled on like dull period pain all night and this morning.

The baby is still moving loads and getting hiccups what seems like every hour, so he seems fine.

I can't believe I could have up to another 8 weeks of this though, apart from anything else I barely slept at all last night because of the contractions, and stupidly worrying incase my waters broke because I haven't put the bed mat things on the mattress yet! LOL

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