Being induced at 35 weeks!

[EmilyRosanne]

Due to a number of complications in my pregnancy I am booked in for induction next week at 35+2

What can I expect? Will the birth experience be normal or will baby be rushed off after birth to special care? I don't know how long baby will need to stay in hospital for at this stage and consultant hasn't given me much info.

Would appreciate stories of similar experience or premature births of around this gestation as I am terrified at this point!

My friend had her baby at 35 weeks, and the baby was delivered naturally and was not rushed off to special care, perfect little baby! They could have gone home soon after, but my friend had an infection so had to stay a few days. Baby was fine though!

Mine was born at 41+1 and was in intensive care for 36 hours, but for monitoring/infection - he was fine shortly after! So, its different for everyone.

I would say be prepared for special care to avoid any disappointment of not being able to go up to the ward with the baby. The midwifes/doctors will be keen to monitor newborns for the slightest reasons, and not all babies are there for critical situations, (in my case, he was born grunting and they expected it to resolve itself, which it did, but wanted to keep a close eye on him).

Hope you feel better about it all, . It's nice to know you have a set date and will be cuddling your LO in just over a week!

I had my DS at 34+4 and he spent a couple of weeks in NICU. He had IUGR though as was born small for his gestation. As the previous poster has said, all babies are different. My friend had a 33 weeker and was home the same day. Good luck for your induction!

I had DTs at 35+4. They went to SCBU after about an hour or so because one had 'sticky lungs' but if that had not been the case, it would have been business as normal.

At that age, they may not be good at sucking - apparently the sucking reflex is the last one to form - a bit of a 'design' fault! Sometimes they need tube feeding. Sometimes not but I know people who were not told about this and thought they were bad mothers who could not feed their babies properly

DD was born at 35+2 due to pre-eclampsia. She was tiny (IUGR), but otherwise much healthier than they expected. She had an hour with us before going to NICU. She was tube fed then struggled to BF for a long time and only ever did with nipple shields. As PP said, the sucking reflex is late to develop. She was in for 2 weeks, due to her size and feeding issues. I guess the consultant doesn't know himself how long your baby will be in as they don't know how healthy they are till they're out! We were told to prepare for her to be in till her due date.
My induction was fairly quick - 11 from insertion of pessary to DD being in the world. Everyone is different with that though, not easy to predict.
Wishing you the best of luck and hopefully you'll both be home pretty quick!

You might find baby needs to have blood glucose testing for a day or two as babies born prem or under 2.5kg are more likely to have low blood sugars.

I had DS at similar gestation. Are you going to have the steroid injections? They hurt your bum but do help baby's lungs mature.
I'd prepare for special care. Perhaps stick a comforter up your jumper so it has your smell and decide if you want DP DH to go with baby or stay with you in case you are separated.
DS was well enough to stay with me and we stayed in 8 days due to him not feedi g. Otherwise all fairly normal.
I guess a lot will depend on what your complications are and if they affect the baby?
Also there's a premature board on mn if you need us.
All the best

And expect your baby to develop from their due date. So it can be a long wait for those first smiles etc compared to others.
DS is nearly 2 and some things do still take him a bit longer buy as time goes on they catch up with their peers.

I was induced at 36+4, due to a couple of bleeds and monitoring, which they said showed reduced growth. Dc3 was 7lb 2.5oz, happy and alert, breastfed fairly soon after birth and we went home the next morning (only stayed in as he was born 945pm). I'd had the steroid injections when I went in at 34 weeks with the first bleed as was contracting then so they thought he might be on the way already.

His breathing was fine, but he was rattly in his throat and I did call the dr over in the middle of the night to check him, but all was ok.

Quickest and easiest labour for me. (Helped that my body has done it twice before the midwife said). Is this your first or a subsequent baby? The early stages of Induction can be a bit drawn out in first pregnancies if induced early, so just be prepared incase of that (books / magazines / phone charger / snacks and drinks etc). Very best of luck, hope it's a positive speedy labour

Thank you everyone for the lovely advice, it is very comforting when going into the unknown!

I have had the steroid injections at 25 weeks but they have said they won't do another set unless I go into labour spontaneously before 35 weeks.

I will expect the worst and hope for the best, it is my second baby so hoping that will make the induction quicker hopefully!

I guess it is really just a case of wait and see how baby is once delivered but will expect to be in hospital for a good few weeks then anything less is just a bonus!

I was induced at 35+5 due to ICP (obstetric cholastasis).

I has a sweep, then 1 pessary, then my waters broke naturally and DS was born less than an hour later. It was so speedy that the pediatrician and specialist team who attend prem births never made it in time and DS was delivered by a very surprised midwife on her own!

He weighed 8lb and it was the easiest birth ever!

Unfortunately he started to make a funny sound when breathing about an hour after being born. He was rushed up to NICU where they found he had a small hole in his lung - due to a combination of premature lungs and a very very fast birth. The Drs said the steroid injection is not given after 34 weeks as it has no effect (not sure if advice on this has changed?)

He was in NICU, given extra oxygen (CPAP) and tube fed for 4 days whilst the hole healed itself. Then back on the normal ward for another 4 days whilst he got the hang of breast feeding and had light treatment for his jaundice - jaundice is common in prems.

Had he not been born so quick, the Dr said he would probably not have popped a hole in his lungs!

35 weeker (c-section) 4 pound 5 and developed jaundice but otherwise perfectly healthy. Got out after 6 days and had no further issues or problems.

All 3 of mine have been induced early, my son was the earliest at 34+5 weighing 5lb1oz. I'd had the steroid injections 2 weeks beforehand but he still spent a week in neonatal - a few days on the cpap machine plus he had mild jaundice and needed a feeding tube plus he also needed his blood sugar monitoring as I was a gestational diabetic. He's now a strapping young man, 6 in a few weeks with no lasting effects.

I hope things go well for you

Yes I was just coming back to say i just remembered dc3 did have jaundice, which want picked up until I noticed at home he was looking a bit too tanned. It cleared within two weeks.