Preemie having a preemie??

[Kitcat159]

I was a preemie (32 weeks)
I'm paranoid I am going to have a preemie so preparing for birth around 30 weeks.
So when people tell me not to buy anything til 30 weeks I panic as that's too late.

Is there more chance of having a preemie if you were one or am I worrying unnecessarily?

Have your doctors indicated anything like this could happen?

I don't think the premise of being a preemie means your chances of having one are higher.

However, babies are unpredictable... but I wouldn't worry about it.

If you feel better buying things before 30 weeks go ahead... people start buying from the day they pee on the stick!

I was a preemie my lo was born at 41 + 1. I was convinced they'd be early but nope they were very comfy in there!

I was very worried about this myself too. However my DC were born at 40+4 and then 40 weeks exactly so no link in my case. I worked until 38 weeks both times, with a cycle commute so not exactly taking it easy!

I was a preemie. My first baby was induced at 40+2. I then had twins, who made it to 37 weeks, which is considered full term for twins. I was convinced my first would be early because I was early, as were my siblings, but it didn't happen.

Babies come early for all sorts of reasons (as far as I know not likely to be hereditary). If you know why you were born early, could you chat to your midwife about it? Although to be honest, I think they would ask us if we were early at booking if it made a difference!

Not premature myself but I did have one very early who we sadly lost as she was also very poorly. Even so, in this pregnancy I have already started buying things at 19 weeks. Not to prepare for another early arrival, but because it makes me feel sorted and reminds me that I am rightly hoping to have a lovely healthy baby this time.

Not saying this to scare you, but just as a reminder that you get to do what feels right for you. My care team all assume that I won't be buying anything until I get past when I had my first baby, but that's not helpful to me. Don't worry about people telling you to wait until 30 weeks - if you want to start earlier do it. Anything can happen in this crazy pregnancy game and uncertainty is really hard. But also remember that the odds are very much in your favor for a full term baby!

My sister was a premmie and all her four were late.

I wouldn’t say it’s common. I have a 26 weeker. I will say that a number of the nurses on the neonatal unit were either preemies themselves or had preemies. Which made them choose their speciality!
Your baby is at an excellent gestation btw. 30-32 weekers do amazingly well these days for the most part and technology has improved tremendously. You are comfortably in your third trimester so I wouldn’t panic.

Have you any medical reason to think you will have a preemie baby?

I haven't heard of that op.I was born at 32 weeks and my son was 10 days overdue x

I was born at 35 wks which although isn't very prem I was quite poorly but this was due to the complication that caused it. I was told being prem didn't increase my chances of having a prem however I did have a higher chance of developing the same complication which indirectly increased the chances of having a prem. I didn't develop the complication and had my DD at 41wks.

We didn't even get a moses basket until after DS was born! Buy nappies, and if anyone is passing on baby clothes to you, arrange it for a bit in advance, but otherwise, don't worry too much.

Two separate issues here really.
Speak to your midwife to see if the reason why you came early is hereditary. For example I wasn't a premature baby but I had to be induced at just after 34 weeks with pre eclampsia. So not very premature but apparently pre eclampsia can be hereditary which is why the midwife asks about high blood pressure in family members at booking in.

Secondly please don't panic because of when other people tell you to buy baby stuff. Buy it when you feel ready and want to! Also don't panic about not being ready. We live in the days of Amazon prime and huge 24 hour supermarkets. I wasn't prepared at all but had a Moses basket and stand, bottles and steriliser and clothes within 48 hours! Baby shopping takes as long as you want it to.

I was a preemie. Apparently premature babies can run in families; I was told I had a higher chance of having a preemie myself. But I'm now 40 weeks and still no sign of baby appearing!

I was 'very preterm' and am approaching that point now. My first DC was IUGR, though born at term.

After meeting the consultant this time, he suggested there might be a family history of issues - and it turns out there is, but nobody had joined the dots before.

I understand the feeling of not knowing what to plan for, and having to be mentally prepared for something to happen at any time. It's unlikely this baby will or be anyway near a normal weight, so have bought a few 'tiny baby' vests and sleepsuits. I have some premature baby nappies left from last time too.

Try not to worry - there's nothing we can do. Perhaps flag it up to your midwife or ask for an extra scan to see if growth is okay. I do regret that I noticed slightly reduced movements with my first towards the end - but had read that this happens late in the pregnancy and couldn't be sure I hadn't imagined it. It would have been better for the baby to have been delivered earlier.

I wanted to add to the posters offering personal experience that suggests that being a preemie does not always mean you will have very early babies. My mum made it to term with only one of her babies and he was only just term. I was a preemie.

DS1 had to be induced and was born at 42+1, and DS2 was a spontaneous labour at 41 weeks.

Are you able to ask your mum about her pregnancy and birth with you?