slow growth, going tgoing to be induced at least 6 weeks early freaking out

[flippityflip]

At appointment today I was told baby's growth had slowed even more and waters were still very low,and that they would try and get me to 34 weeks (I am 32 currently) but that would be the longest they could foresee keeping baby in.
So I am now trying to mentally prepare for a preemie.

Anyone gone through this that can share any advice?I obviously have a million and one concerns about baby's health but other random questions too,such as:
I had planned to breastfeed as with my other children,will that be possible?
What size clothes do I get for baby?(Currently measuring a skinny 3lb5 from scan today)
Is there any special equipment/stuff anyone would recommend?
Is it still ok to use handed down stuff for a preemie?
These may sound odd but I am totally panicked,everything was fine up until about 3 weeks ago and has got gradually more concerning.

at 34 weeks and with plenty of notice, things are likely to go smoothly. The fact that they can be prepared with steroid injections etc to help lung development is a huge boost.
33-34 weekers count as moderately premature, and are not far from fully developed. The areas of concern will be the respiratory system (which will have been helped by steroids) so some help may be required there, but in many cases will be minimal. The other big is the underdeveloped suck/swallow reflex so some help is likely to be required there. You will be helped to pump (with special extra strong pumps) and your milk will be used if artificial feeding is required, steps can be taken to preserve your supply so you can continue feeding.

It's good to remember that your chances for your baby to have a minimal hospital stay are excellent, and your chances of long term complications are pretty much the same as for those born at full term.

Practicalities: don't worry too much about clothes, just get a few things in the tiny baby (5lb) range, since they only wear hats and nappies in special care, you can get someone to buy stuff when you know what you'll need.
You can use 2nd hand stuff just the same, usual precautions such as new mattresses in everything and perhaps an extra clean to reassure yourself mainly.

I'm sure you'll get more and better info from others. There are probably specific forums in the UK dealing with prem babies that you might find usefu, and of course here. Best of luck, and remember how positive it all is, things have got so much better over the years, and knowing in advance is a great advantage too.

Thanks countess that is very reassuring,head still spinning since the appointment but trying to stay positive.

I don't have any advice but I do have a friend who's gave birth 2 weeks ago 5 weeks early, her waters broke so they put her on steroids over the weekend and induced her on the Monday. Baby was fine, slight jaundice so was under uv light for a day and her and baby were out in 3 days. Try not to worry and good luck, oh and asda and mothercare are good for early baby clothes up to 5lb were the smallest I could find and still quite big on a 5lb 8 baby

My waters broke 6 weeks eArly and I gave birth to a perfectly healthy 4 pound 12 little girl (now 4 yrs old) she was bottle fed to start stayed in an incubator for one night to maintain her temp and came home after 3 days. With steroid injections there lungs develop. Neonatal care is amazing and they are not far from fully developed at that stage. Xx

Thankyou all,really hoping to keep baby in until 34 weeks as planned but obv docs will advise if that's not feasible over the next few days.Also now panicking because they told me to pay close attention to baby's movements and I had been thinking movement was fine but then looked at count the kicks website and realised hiccups don't count,which baby seems to have loads,so I have probably missed quieter periods because of this.Something else to panic about!

My dd was born at 34 weeks. She was in icu for 3 days and with me on ward for 2 days because she had antibiotics (waters had gone and they didn't believe me) she was fine other than that and she breastfed fine. I had to express to start with as she had a little tube but as soon as she was put to breast she was away and she decided to pull her tube out.

Also I was never given any steroids.

How come they didn't believe you flippy? Did yours come out gradually or in one go? I am really confused as to what has happened with mine,they've never had a positive on the amnisure so are assuming they are just low.

Can I join this thread? Sorry op i don't mean to derail it or anything but there are a lot of people with preterm experience on this thread so tight I would ask. Op if you want me to start a different thread I will.

I was told I was likely to deliver in the next 2-4 weeks, I'm now 32 weeks (exactly) and have just spent that last two days in hospital with suspected preterm labour, I was on the labour ward for the whole of Thursday, I had regular contractions (3 in 10 minutes) for a few hours but large doses of painkillers eventually slowed this down and my body seems to have regained control for now. I had both steroid injections so I was told if I go in labour now they wouldn't try stop it anymore.

I was allowed back home, I haven't had anymore blood loss but have lost a very large thick jellylike piece of mucus (no blood in it though) since coming home. I had lost a lot of bloody mucus just before going to hospital and in hospital.

I was just wondering what people's experience were like.

No problem Iliveonabuildsite it's scary isn't it!I have had the steroids too as they originally thought my waters had broken and posted a few things over the past few weeks and the general consensus seems to be they really do make a difference.It's a relief to be sent home in a way but then the waiting game is so stressful too!
I don't know if this is your first but that definitely sounds like you have lost your mucus plug,but if you were having contractions even for a while and dilated a bit that would explain it coming out.Still I'm sure they have you on their watch list now so if you call again they should have a pretty low threshold to see you.
Sounds like you're really having a rough time of it,hope you get the info you need and it all goes well!x

Also Iliveonabuildsite I have another thread I opened on the premature section in parents where there are loads of parents with experience and got some really useful advice on it too-was a bit impatient and freaking out last few days!
That thread is this one www.mumsnet.com/Talk/premature_birth/a2318827-Will-have-baby-in-next-2-weeks-so-somewhere-between-32-4-and-34-4-what-to-expect
Hope it helps

Thank you flippity, it is very scary,. This is actually my second, but I was induced at 38 weeks because of gd with my first and didn't have any signs of labour at all until induction and then I had an epidural for the whole thing so didn't even experience a proper contraction so this is all so new to me. I panicked a bit and started another thread so now I feel like a massive worrywart! Lol. Since posting before I've had a little trace do bloody mucus, not too much but a bit and I suddenly feel a bit wet down there so I'm really panicking that I might be loosing my waters. I'm such a nervous wreck. Will keep super close eye on things for a few hours and might give labour ward another call if there is more blood, even if just for advice.

Thank you so much for the reassurance.

My son was induced at 34 weeks for pretty much the same reason. He was 5lb1 when born and fitted tiny baby size, yes second hand is fine. He was jaundiced and needed monitoring for a couple of small things so stayed in Neonatal for 1 week before coming home. He was tube fed for that week and they can either use formula or expressed milk. He's now a strapping 4 year old, the youngest in his class at school but also the tallest so being early hasn't stunted his growth long term!