How poorly would a baby be born at 34 weeks?

[NatalieJane]

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

NatalieJane - I just only just read this thread. I really think you need to get checked out sooner rather than later - particularly as you say you haven't seen the midwife for a while. My local hospital has a foetal monitoring unit that you can go to without making an appointment and just be reassured that everything's OK. You need to be sure that your blood pressure's OK and that the baby's growing well - you must be a TINY bit worried or you wouldn't be asking - wouldn't it be nice to get rid of that niggling worry?

Just to let you all know, I have rang the doctors, I thought it was Mondays and Tuesdays that the midwife was based there, but it is Tuesdays and Wednesdays apparently, so I have booked an appointment for tomorrow morning.

Anyone got any good ideas on how to slep through contractions? I am so tired, in the last 4 days I have had less than 10 hours sleep, feel like the baby is here already!

oh Nat I have only just seen this thread. Obviously you know your own body, but could you ring the maternity unit and speak to a mw just to get some reassurance? Is there anyone who can take and collect your ds from school so you can have maximum rest? and can you dh get home quickly to drive you to the hospital if need be?

Will keep an eye on this thread, (((hugs)))xx

Short answer to all of those questions is no wannaBe!

I have a list of phone number for various different people/departments in my maternity notes, but not one of them works, or ever gets answered. My lovely next door neighbour would go and pick DS for me, but it is only literally across the road, and so I can handle that! And, today DH is a good 3 and a half hour drive away, so I am stuck here for another day, waiting and hoping that it doesn't go any further just yet, exhausted and not daring to sleep incase something happens and I have missed the first signs and so giving me even less time to get things sorted, and basically on my own!

I can't even talk to my mum on the phone and have her put things right in only the way mums can because she is sunning herself in Turkey for another week yet! LOL God, I am a moany old sod at the best of times, now with all of this as well, I feel like a haggled old drama queen, and a moany old sod as well!! LOL

Seriously though, if it carries on like this for another 6 weeks I am going to be no fit state to go through labour.

Poor you not getting sleep. I had a few days like this in labour and was exhausted by the time it came to having baby. Cant imagine how you will feel. You really should try to rest at ANY time you can.

It is very funny/strange/frightening how broody I am getting reading through your thread. It brings back all the memories of begin awake throughout the night, munching away on whatever food I could find. I have no idea why that thought is making me brrody though

Take care

broody not brrody

I am not saying shouldn't get checked out - cos you should.

In hte meantime a couple of things that may or may not help:

BH are worst when dehydrated as the lower blood volume effectively concentrates the hormones driving them.
When I was threatening premature labour I always had more contractions when lying on my back - definately less on my side.
I was diagnosed with an irritable uterus - which basically meant it would contract easily. The above 2 things would trigger contactions, as would a UTI (MW will check for this), diahrrea (I know this wouldn't be a cause for you or you would have mentioned it), baby kicking, stress, or even a full bladder.

HTH - and please get yourself checked. You will probably find that this will reduce your stress levels & things may get better because stress did cause some BH for me IYSWIM.

"When I was threatening premature labour I always had more contractions when lying on my back - definately less on my side".

I should say that the opposite of this is true in labour (from what I have heard). Laying on your back in labour is supposed to slow things down.

Hi

I'm going to be a cow and share a story with you, but it's because I am worried and I am sorry and thought about doing ths.

A friend of mine was in a similar position to you at 24 weeks, MW said not to go in as there was no way she was in labour yet, it was just strong braxton hicks (Mum had a history of prem birth too). She WAS in labour, the steroids didn't get to work in time and baby lived only a few hours

If the contractions are enough to keep you awake, you owe it to yourself and your baby to get it checked out as an emergency. Look at the worse case scenarios: it's either a false alarm and you get sent home (well wowee), or you save the babies life.

NJ, sorry to say this, but that you haven't seen a midwife since 17 weeks. By now, you should be seeing a midwife every couple of weeks. I would make sure you go this week. I'm sure everything's fine, what with the baby moving and all. Maybe the midwife can suggest something for the discomfort at night and help you get some much needed sleep!

I would have been tempted to ask a midwife to come out and check you. Is there a reason why you haven't seen one for such a long time ?

DD was born at 35 weeks and although she was small (4lb 11oz) she had no problems at all. We called her "little bird" as she really was like a baby bird.

Now she's a strapping 6 year old - in age 8 clothes!!!

LOL Mellowmonsta, if you are brooding for this - have my share! I have spent the last few nights looking at pictures of newborns, and I just can't wait anymore, if I can get to 36 weeks then I will be going mad to give birth!

Pumpkin, thanks for that info, I had heard about dehydration making them worse, but I drink anywhere between 2-4 litres of water plus fresh juice and tea on top of that a day, so I think that would be enough. I did have a UTI in my first pregnancy, and I haven't seen any signs of one this time, although obviously I can't rule that out on my own! And yes the contractions do get worse when I lie on my back, but I was led on my back with my first labour, and once I reached 6cm I didn't move off the bed again, I got to 10cm in less than an hour and pushed him out in 15 minutes, so labouring on my back didn't slow anything down!

Peachy, I am really sorry to hear that story, it is everyones worst nightmare, but I think if these contractions were a real start to a long drawn out labour, I would know by now, it has been over a week since they started and although they have gotten progressivly worse, staying for longer, and added to my show on Friday, they do always flatten out in the day time. I am not overly concerned that it is labour, I am almost 100% certain that it isn't, it is the sheer exhaustion and 'when is it going to end?' that is getting to me now!

Kandi, I have had a couple of ante-natel checks since 17 weeks, once after my 20 week scan (which was actually closer to 22 weeks) and I had to have a diabetes test at 28 weeks and again they checked my wee and blood pressure then, so I am only a little overdue a check up really. I have had the usual pregnancy related aches and pains and moans and groans, but I have felt fine all the way through, the baby was moving like mad up until a few days ago, so he is fine and so I didn't really feel I needed to see the midwife, obviously now things are different!

(Sorry for the long post, but I wanted to answer you all!)

Ok, NJ, sorry got wrong end of the stick. Just make sure you see someone soon, ok? Let us all know how you get on.

I will do Kandi, I have this appointment booked for tomorrow morning.

I have had more of my show come out, some this afternoon and some this evening, and had about 40 minutes worth of strong contractions every 3-4 minutes lasting about 40 seconds each, I was just about to start off to the hospital and they started easing, they are now every 8-10 minutes but still strong making my legs feel weak and tingly when they are at full pelt.

TBH I am absolutely dreading another night of this, and I am half hoping that something does start properly so it can all be over with, then I think of the little tiny baby probably led in special care, and just feel like the most selfish person in the world.

Hi Natalie

I only just saw this post and it looks like you are on your way to delivery. I was told at 29 weeks that I was in early labour and was encouraged to try and get to 34 weeks with the promise that with six hours notice they'd give me the steriod injections to mature the lungs and that there was a 95% chance that the baby would be 'fine but small'. Well I passed 34, then 36 weeks and I'm now three days overdue! Despite having regular contractions since then!!!

Special care is tough on the mums and dads but the babies don't remember it and at 34 weeks you are probably looking at about three weeks of care if there are no other problems. Might be worth taking a look at the Bliss website though to set your mind at rest if you are still home.

Good luck! Rachel

Hi Rachel,

Firstly well done on holding out

I am still here, obviously, DH has gone to bed, I can't even be bothered to go and try and go to sleep, I know I will be led there wide awake all night again. The contractions are still every 8-10 minutes apart, and no stronger.

I really cannot imagine another 6-8 weeks of this.

Just to let you know, I have just got back from the midwives, BP, wee, babies heart rate all fine, I am measuring 35 weeks so that is fine as well.

She said I could go to the hospital and get checked out, or wait till tomorrow and see the consultant, I'm not sure exactly what he is going to do, but I have an appointment to see him at 11. She said if the contractions come as strong and as regular as last night then I am to phone the hospital and arrange to go in to be checked over.

Just seen this. Good to see you have been checked out. Hope you can get some rest.

Just seen this. Good to see you have been checked out. Hope you can get some rest.

Thanks I think rest is out of the question though, the contractions have already kicked in again this afternoon.

Good luck NJ. My friend's ds was born at 35 weeks, and she said she was profoundly grateful as he weighed almost 7lb already by then (he was fine btw).

Remember to get yourself checked out if they are still so strong. You might find your are x amount dilated. Good to get checked over anyway.

The m/w didn't seem to bothered by how strong there were, just that they had gotten so close together so quickly, she said what I had been saying, that if it was true labour then something would have happened by now, so she was happy to leave me contracting at 8-10 minutes for another night, but wanted me to go straight to the hospital if they start getting quick again.

Gosh thats horrid. If I could take some of the pains for you I would. Only from around 7pm - 10pm though Hopefully something will happen one way or another. Did you sleep much last night?