Talk to me about premature c-section at 34 weeks.

[SexlessBoulderBelly]

So it turns out baby isn’t growing, placental issues. Got sent into a little room with a table and box of tissues today to be told they’re going to deliver my baby within the next 7-10 100%. I’m quite nervous.

I haven’t picked my hospital bag yet. I didn’t want a c section but it’s the safest option so I’m not going to moan I’m just going to be scared.

Has anyone experienced this? How long will baby have to be in care? What is the outcome looking like? I have so many questions that I didn’t think to ask. I’ve had my first lot of steroids, more tomorrow and then a fetal medicine scan on Monday

No experience of baby being delivered at 34 weeks, mine were 37 and 38 weeks.

I had c section both times though, emergency because my contractions started before the planned elective date. The section itself was absolutely fine - they can play music of your choice and talk you through it if you want that. Afterwards take your time to recover as best as you can. It's major surgery and don't be a martyr when it comes to painkillers! Take all they give you and more.

I found taking arnica after my second section helped with the healing too.

All the best! You can do this.

DS1 was delivered bang on 35 weeks as he’d stopped growing due to placental infarctions. I had a c section (which was amazing) and we stayed in hospital for 3 days before being discharged. At 34 weeks you may or may not need to go to scbu - if you do it’s usually just until they can regulate their temperature and feed. In terms of long term outcome, babies born at 34 weeks do just as well as those born at term.

Get some big granny pants and those Tena pants were useful too for making the wound feel comfortable and for lochia. Nightie for after section as you'll have a catheter initially.

Xx

Ds was born at 33 weeks via c section due to sudden onset pre eclampsia, iugr, reduced flow and fetal distress. The whole procedure was calm and I was even having a nice chat with the anesthesiologist about names when he was born. He spent 5 weeks in scbu as he had complications but was due to come home at 3. The 34 seekers I know all arrived after him and went home before he was 3 weeks so not long at all. However I will say that every baby is different so there isn't any guide lines for this.
If you're on facebook there is a group called parents of preemies uk. There's about 5000 of us and there is advice and support available 24/7. Its amazing and very helpful for real life advice based on real mothers and babies.
Hope everything goes well

I’ll have to deliver early via section due to some complications - they're trying to get me to 37w but have been prepped for anything from 34w. My doctor is super un-worried about a 34 weeker, which was actually very comforting!

DS was born at 32 weeks by EMCS. He stayed in SCBU for just over 3 weeks, was tube fed for a while and had jaundice that just wouldn't shift so needed a transfusion eventually which delayed him coming home

He's now not far off 11 and has no effects from his early arrival (well he has ADHD but presumably he would have had that if he was full term).

DD was born at 34 weeks and was pretty small. She was in special care for three weeks but just to get her feeding ok and is now a lively completely healthy 4 year old. I should add DS was born at 32 weeks and is also completely fine. Best of luck, OP xxx

I had my DTs at a day short of 35w because they had concerns about growth of DT1.

Both were in SCBU overnight with DT1 staying for another 4 days. He had jaundice and couldn't regulate temperature. We all came home when they were 6 days old. They were small, 4lbers but otherwise healthy. Bf was hard to get going, but eventually I did 8 months. They were bang on target for their adjusted age, but caught up around 18 months.

They're teens now, and my 'slow growing' teeny tiny DT1 is now 6ft4.

I know there's not point telling you not to worry, so just saying Good luck!

Thanks everyone I really don’t know what to expect so this is helping quite a bit.

They haven’t actually given me a date but because it’s now a planned section I assume they will?

Does anyone remember when they gave you a date for the actual csection? I had my first dose of steroids today, they’re giving me more tomorrow then I’m back Monday for a fetal medicine scan.. I assume they’re either going to ask me to bring my hospital bag on Monday or give me a date that day?

Yes most probably OP. Just depends how busy they are as well whether they'll ask you to bring on Monday.

Why don't you ask tomorrow?

I went into hospital for a routine scan and they kept me in for almost a week on monitoring. I had scan Sunday night and they measured both babies at 4lbs. The consultant had told me he would deliver when they both reached 4lb. I had the section next day and I only found out when they told me I couldn't have any breakfast because of the operation.
Somebody told me later that my hospital only does planned sections on Mondays, not sure how true that is.

My waters broke at 33 weeks and I went into labour at 35 weeks. Baby stayed with me in the same room but he had to go into an incubator as he was having difficulty regulating his temperature. He wouldn't latch as he on was too weak so he was tube fed for a day then he started taking a bottle. Within two days he was fine and we were allowed to go home. I carried on putting him to the breast and a month later he started breastfeeding. He's now a perfectly healthy three year old.

I'm sure your baby will be fine.

DD was born at 32w - I'd had daily obs since 28w and fully admitted at 31w. She was 3lb and was in SCBU for 5w.
Check your hospitals policy - ours couldn't leave SCBU til 35w or 4lbs but it varies. DD was fine but needed to grow (pre eclampsia so IUGR).
If you can, visit SCBU. It sounds like you might have some time there and I found it helpful to have been shown around beforehand. Be prepared that DC may get whisked away quite soon after birth.
DD was always going to be CS but I was nil by mouth for several morning's in the run up to her actual birth as they wanted to check bloods. It's a balancing act between risk of staying in vs. risk of premature birth so just bear in mind that dates may be fluid!

Not trying to scare you but I found it helped to know what was happening and have s tiny ounce of 'control'. Good luck.

Excuse typos and wayward apostrophes! Trying to type and feed.

DD2 was born at 32 weeks by EMCS. I had been in hospital from 28 weeks with grade 4 placenta previa. She spent 3 weeks in NICU, initially on oxygen and tube feeding, but no issues since.

Eldest born at 31+3, 3lb6oz, 4 weeks in special care.

Youngest born at 33+4, 4lb7oz, 10 days in special care.

Neither needed oxygen or help breathing. Just feeding and temp regulating to master before home.

They were both discharged at 4lb11oz.

I think it's dependant on baby's size and now developed their lungs are. One of my close friends went into natural labour at 35 weeks and her little
girl was absolutely perfect. She had steroids to boost her lungs and was on antibiotics in hospital for 5 days after birth but generally she and mum were absolutely fine. You're in the safest place.

As for being worried about having a section, as someone said above you can have your own music playing and you can take essential oils in to make you feel more comfortable and more at home so try not to panic, it doesn't have to be a traumatic awful experience, you get to finally meet your baby after all.

Good luck x

My 1st was born at 34 +5 weeks with no problems bar a bit of jaundice, i had my second last week at 35+1 and shes just had to have major surgery for a bowel twist but thats unlikely to be due to her gestation. She was perfect aside from that and came straight on the ward with me for a few days until they realized there was a problem