Waters breaking at 32 weeks

[asouthwoldmummy]

My sister phoned me last night to say her waters had broken and she was on her way to hospital, but she's only 32 weeks. I haven't heard anything since and am a bit worried.
I know if she had the baby now chances are everything would be fine, but will they let her have it this early or will they try to hold labour off for a few weeks, and if so will she have to stay in hospital?

it depends on how much fluid she lost i think

obv its better for baby is he/she can hang on in there for a bit longer

do you have any news this morning?

Hi there asouthwoldmummy

My waters broke at 33 weeks, they admitted me and kept an eye on me. I had steriod injections just to be sure that the babies lungs were developed enough. Down here, they said that there is a 50-75% chance that you will go into labour at that gestation within a week, if I had not they would have sent me home and monitored me closely for infection, then induced me if they were worried.

As it was, DD was born after I spontaneously went into labour at 33+5. She had to spend a week in the SCBU but I took her home at 34 weeks. She did fine and now is a noisy 18 month old!

I'm sure your sister and little niece/nephew will both be fine! Hope that you hear something soon.

Jeffily - Can I ask how much your dd weighed? I thought I might go and buy her some prem clothes later just in case

MY DTs were born at 35 weeks and weighed 4lbs 7 and 4 lbs 13, and a friend's DD born at 32 weeks weighed 4lbs 4. Mothercare do early baby clothes (for up to 5lbs) which is what we both used for the first efw weeks. HTH!

I was really lucky that my DD was a whopping 6lb 1oz! But I do think that is unusually big for a baby at 6 wks prem, I think dairymoo's sizes are probably more realistic. Thinking about it, she was in the mothercare early baby clothes (or perhaps tiny baby, can't recall now!) for a few weeks.

I think it is a lovely idea to buy her some clothes ready. I was totally unprepared and had nothing for DD, so she as dressed in the clothes they had at the hosp. I would have loved to have been able to put her in some I had been given.

Any news on your sister yet?

My waters broke at 32 weeks, was told 80% go into labour within 48hours of waters breaking, had steriod injection for lungs, stayed in hospital for 3 days nothing happened so came home but was monitored fairly closely for a week in case of infection then felt baby wasnt moving so much so came in to be induced, but actually started mild contractions anyway so hung on till 34 weeks in the end, ds born 5lb 9oz, spent 5 (anxious stressful) days in SCBU and then 5 in the ward before coming home, now he has just started secondary school!
Had tiny baby clothes I think, like jeffily I was totally unprepared, had not bought a thing....everyone said first babies would be late...
How is your sister doing?

My DS2 was born at 31+6 and wieghed 2lb 12. I think the average at this gestation is roughly 3lbs or so :) Good idea to get her some prem baby clothes

They are keeping her in tonight. The monitor has picked up some faint contractions but she hasn't felt them. So in the very early stages of labour I guess. She has also had a steroid injection to strengthen the babies lungs.

My sister is a doctor in a neonatal intensive care unit. She told me once I had got to 28 weeks (not 24 which is the point at which lots of people think baby will be ok), that the chances if the baby were to arrive would be really pretty good. I think the chances of the baby being OK at 32 weeks, which is another full month on from the 28 week point, are probably good so long as there is no underlying reason why the labour started early (e.g. a problem with the baby). They will be CTG monitoring her though and it doesn't sound like there are any problems so far. Try and think positive - hopefully all will end happily. Good luck.