I've got to have a caesarian at 35 weeks

[bearcrumble]

Does anyone have any experience of how well babies do who are born at this stage.

My consultant says he is healthy at the moment but there are risks with continuing the pregnancy as the doppler PI through the cord is above the 95th percentile and the same thing in the baby's brain is below the 5th. This means that there's not enough nutrition/oxygen coming down the cord so it's getting diverted to the most important organ (the brain).

I had warning that this was coming because I had a low PAPP-A and uterine doppler PI was high at 22 weeks and I went on to develop high blood pressure after 28 weeks.

I'm very grateful to be being looked after at Kings where they test for all this.

I'm sitting in the ward now, waiting for my second steroid injection.

I will probably have to be transferred to another hospital for the caesarian as there aren't any special care baby cots here.

I know girls tend to do better than boys when born early but I am hoping that at 35 weeks and 5lb 2oz things won't be too bad for my little boy.

My ds was born at 36 weeks and weighed just over 5 lbs (IUGR). He was absolutely fine and did not need time in special care. I breastfed straightaway and we went home as soon as I had recovered from the caesarian. He looked a little prem iyswim- hairly, big genitals to tiny legs- but put on weight very quickly and has no disabilities associated with his birth.

At 35 weeks your baby will be a little earlier and will presumably need time in special care- but it need not be very long or have any longterm effects.

My nephew was born at 35 weeks and he was tiny (but then his parents are small and Asian, so partly probably genetical); again he did very well and has had no longterm effects: is now a healthy and rather bright 8yo.

Best of luck with the caesarian!

Bear, my ds was born at 32 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. He weighed 3lb 7oz. He is now 8, and is absolutely fine. Don't forget the steroids help mature the lungs of your ds, so at 5lb 2oz, he may well appear to be a smaller new-born than a 35 weeker (hope that makes sense)

No experience I am afraid but just wanted to wish you luck.

My DS3 was born at 35/36 weeks and is now a sturdy 2 year old (shovelling chocolate in his mouth at this moment!). He was a whopping 7lb 9.5oz. He did need to spend a week in SCBU but he did well and was home at 10 days old.

35 weeks is early enough to need a little bit of extra help with staying warm and maybe feeding - but not bad at all. Fingers crossed for you - and I think there is a really good chance that everything will be absolutely fine.

DD was born at 35 weeks as I had PE (she may have been 35 +4 though can't remember). She was 4 pound 7, breastfed from birth but had formula top ups for a couple of days until I refused anymore. She had to have a night on the billibed for jaundice but apart from that hasn't looked back. Oh yes they put her in a "hotcot" essentially a little heated water mattress in a normal fishtank thingy. It was just to help her maintain her temp when teeny.

Good luck sounds like you are getting the best care possible. Try not to worry he will be absolutely fine. How are you and your blood pressure? To be honest I was more of a worry to everyone than dd ....................

We found mothercare and next did the best babygros for this size/ gestation. Newborn will tend to swamp him a little

35 weeks is good. We were initially told that we were going to have ds at 33 weeks but he managed to hold on to 37 weeks. The doctors were not at all concerned when they were going to deliver him at 33 weeks.

I have two nieces who were born at 30 and 33 weeks, both did really well, the niece born at 33 weeks was only in SCBU for a short while and this was 14 years ago.

Best wishes to you and baby.

he should be ok i had my ds1 at 30 weeks @3lb 13oz just neederd a bit of sc just to keeep an eye on him hes now 20 years old .hope all goes well x

don't worry my dd was born by c-section the day i turned 36 weeks & she was fine , a healthy 5lb 4oz & was only put into an incubator for the first night because she had trouble with keeping her body temperature up & low blood sugar , she was fine the next day & was let home with me on the fourth day . good luck x

Thanks everyone for your lovely reassuring replies.

My BP is being well controlled with beta blockers - 130/70 so not bad at all.

One of my liver enzymes is high. I can't remember what it is.

I've just had my second steroid injection. It bloody stings. So we're ready to go in 24 hours time.

According to scans my baby's head is on about the 70th percentile but femur and abdo are around the 20th.

DS was born spontaneously at 35/36 weeks due to pre-eclampsia. Weighed just over 5lbs and got 10 on both his Apgars so didn't need any special care...hopefully if your DS needs special care it will be very brief and if you are having the steroids then that will help him enormously. Good luck!

Bear, my niece was born at 35 weeks, my sis went into labour early for no apparent reason. My lovely niece was born 5lb 8oz, no need for any special care, she stayed with my sis from the second she was born and had no probs BFing or anything. She's 1 now and the healthiest most robust child you have ever met!

My cousin had a CS at 34 weeks as she had pre-eclampsia and her baby had stopped growing, baby was 3lb but absolutely fine. In SCBU at the start but home within 3 weeks!

Sending good vibes for you and your little boy xx

A very good friend of mine had her dd at 33 weeks just 3 weeks ago due to pre-eclampsia. Baby was just over 3lbs but didn't need any assistance with breathing, just regulating her body temperature. They were both fine although the baby was in NICU for a while. She's now home safe and although on the small side, feeding well and doing fine.

Good luck x

My friend's baby was born at 35 and a half weeks and he was absolutely fine, no health problems at all. Quite small, and they kept him under observation until 'term' but he did not need any assistance.

Oh, and good luck!!

My DD was born by EmCS at 36 weeks after early onset labour and breech presentation - she was 5lb 1.

No special care needed and she's doing just fine. Extra help required with the BF, but that could happen at any weight and gestation. Anyway, she's gaining weight steadily and is healthy - as I'm sure your little boy will be.

Good luck! You'll be meeting him soon, that's really exciting!

Good luck today Bearcrumble!

Good luck bearcrumble.. my dd was born at 35weeks just over.. 13years ago she weighed 4lb 14oz and was fine she i snow.. 5ft 5inches and full of teenager attitude..

Good luck hunny xx

please try not to worry. as many here have said, they have had similar experiences, or no of someone who has, and all turned out good in the end.

I had DS1 at 36wks, after having had a car accident at 28wks and breaking my ribs, and then going into prem labour that, thank god, they stopped.

I had to be induced due to the ribs.....they were not able to heal because of the bump being in the way, and as it was growing so it was pushing my ribs further and further apart.

I too had the steriod injections, altho at 28wks because of the prem labour, and yikes they really did sting, you have my sympathy. They helped massively as DS1 was born weighing as massive 7lb 2oz, which considering his gestation, was a fabulous weight.

good luck, and hope you and your son are back posting in no time

well, you that is.......if your new son does he would be heading for the G&T boards!!