Anyone had a baby at 34 weeks?

[girlfromdownsouth]

Basically that's my question - anyone had a baby at 34 weeks? Did it have any issues with health / development?

Here is the explanation:
My SIL is 34 weeks pg with major placental praevia (sp?). She cannot move /stand / pick anything up without bleeding. She has spent the last 9 weeks in hospital so far. She has an 11 month old son at home and her husband works full time. He has used up all his annual leave + most of his emergency leave too. He needs to save some e/leave as she will prob have a c/s so won't be able to pick her 11mth old up for another 6-8wks. We (friends and family) are taking turns to live at her house 24/7 to look after her son but this is difficult as she lives in London and I live in Wales, as does her mum. I have 3 children of my own (the youngest is 9 months) and my husband & I own our own business so when I am in London (I take the baby with me) I can't earn any money so haven't been down as much as I'd like to be.

She is going crazy being in hospital but has had 3 major bleeds where they have whisked her down to Labour Ward and put her on nil by mouth in case baby needs to come out. The last bleed was accompanied by painless contractions. Luckily the bleeds have been stabilised but as I say she's going slowly mad. I try and speak to her every day but she's very down and understandibly missing her little boy + hubby.

Her consultant wants to keep her going till 39 weeks but she's begging him to let her go to 37 as she can't stand it. It's not a decision she's taken lightly as it took her 4 years and 3 miscarriages to get her little boy but she really doesn't think she can last till 39 weeks.

However the way things are going she may not make it much further, hence my question.
Well done for getting this far

I had DS at 34 weeks, they couldn't find any reason for his prematurity. He was in SCBU/neonatal for almost 3 weeks and then came home. He was the strongest/biggest one in there (the really early babies were in the other room, the 1-pounders). All the other babies required ventilation and vitamin injections, etc - luckily DS didn't. He had jaundice and was tube fed, but in the grand scheme of things, he did really well. He is fine now.

Hope all goes well with your sister and the baby, but I wouldn't bring a baby out early, if there was another choice. Can you not take her little on back with you to Wales for a few weeks?

I had a 34 week baby and she and surgery but was still home within 3 weeks. At the time I was kind of relieved she was out as I was convinced I wasn't doing a good job of carrying a vulnerable baby.

Now I'm a midwife I can tell you I'd never want it again. Your uterus is the best incubator for a baby.

Oh god your poor SIL. My heart goes out to her, I would be in hell in that situation.

Is there any possibility that they can pay for daytime care (maybe family could chip in????) and her hubby can drop off and pick up? There must be a way around it. If it was me, I'd hate to have my baby that far away - I'm assuming family are visiting her with the baby - I couldn't bear it but maybe it's the only way. What about parents, are they any closer/capable of doing more?

I feel so sorry for her but she's lucky to have family like you who care about her.

Had similar experience to wickedfairy with DS born at 33+5 weeks. Had placental abruption with no known cause. DS stayed in 4 weeks to learn sucking reflex and maintain body temp. No long term health issues at all and he is now 20 months.

Wow, sounds like a really tough time they are going through and a whole lot harder with a little one to look after. Well done for doing what you can to help her through! I would hate for it to happen again now that we have a toddler and also for the shear anxiety of it all...

Thanks ladies. I can't take her little boy back to Wales with me as my SIL would miss him desperately and luckily whoever is caring for him at the time takes him into see her nearly every day as the hospital is only 15 mins from where she lives. Also, I have 3 children of my own and my youngest is actually 9wks younger than her boy. I was looking after both babies when I was down there and it's very hard work!!

Let's hope baby stays in for as long as possible!

I have had 2 babies one and 28 weeks and the other at 33 weeks. The 28 weekerwas very ill and intensive care for a long while and was a real rollercoaster. However the 33 weeker was born on the monday and never had any oxygen or feeding help and was discharged to the maternity ward on the Friday to have a night with me and we went home on the Saturday he weighed 4lb.
Every single baby is different but my consultant told me that the more stressful the pregnancy seems to make the baby come out a more ready for early delivery :)

My friend had a baby at just over 34 weeks. He's just turned 2 and has no problems, meeting all his milestones - walked at 11 months, he's already potty trained etc.

He was in scbu for a week when he was born due to not having his sucking reflex but no problems with breathing. He was quite chunky for his gestation - just over 6lbs!

My ds was born at 33 weeks last June . He didn't need oxygen but was tube fed for a while and he had reflux . We had a few ups and downs while we were there as he was sick a lot ( reflux) . He has been a bit delayed all round but generally ok . He was in scbu for a month and that was very very hard and will be with another child . I was in hospital from 29 weeks due to pre eclampsia so I can totally empathise as I missed my daughter dreadfully.

I had my twins at 34 weeks. One came home with me after 4 days but the other had to stay in for 2 weeks. It was heart wrenching leaving a baby in hospital and it was very, very difficult seeing her for any length of time as siblings were not allowed to visit scbu. We had to have one baby in the waiting room with my husband and I swapping in and out and me trying to learn to breastfeed in front of a room of strangers. Instead of recuperating from my c section at home I was having to go into the hospital every day. I wouldn't choose to have a baby prematurely. It was an awful time.

Thanks for all your replies and my heart goes out to you Lunatic. My SIL had a scan on Fri (34 wks exactly) has been told her little one weighs nearly 5lb which is great! She hasn't had a big bleed since Sat and is feeling more positive.
Thanks again.