Hospital stay if baby comes early?

[HollyT89]

Hi!

I have a feeling that my baby will come before 40 weeks.

I'm currently 33 weeks and I just wanted to check what length of hospital (NHS) stay I should expect if he arrives at say, 35/36 weeks?

Thanks!!

[Boymummy3]

I havnt had an early baby before but at 37 weeks baby is classed as full term technically.. I suppose it would all depend if baby was OK etc but I would expect at least a couple days/weeks depending on how early baby came.. What makes you think baby is going to come that early x

[Spanglebangle]

It would depend on why he came early and what condition he was in eg. Weight, breathing etc.

[daisydalrymple]

Dc3 came at 36.4 weeks. I’d also had contractions / bleeding at 34 weeks, so had steroid injections then as well as the day before he was born. He arrived at 945pm sat and we went home Sunday lunchtime.
He was 7lb 2oz at birth though and obviously all obs were normal. So it really all depends on timings and how well developed baby is.
Every day extra inside is a bonus with early arrivals so it’s so individual.

[LLMD]

My DC came at 36 weeks, he wasn’t born in great condition. He was starved at oxygen during birth and required treatment to reduce the chance of brain damage and he also had Sepsis. He was born via EMCS under general anaesthetic.

We were in for 11 days together. I was in for 4 before that too.

I also had that gut instinct that he was going to arrive early and I was right.

[FraterculaArctica]

I've had one born at 35+2 who was in for 10 days and another at 33+4 who was in for 16 days. Feeding tends to be the most difficult thing to get sorted to allow discharge. Be aware that unless you also have complications you will likely be discharged before baby and depending on the transitional care arrangements in your hospital you may have to leave them in SCBU and go in and visit them daily.

[wingingitalltheway]

I had my DD 6 weeks ago at 36 weeks. We were incredibly lucky in that she had no problems whatsoever. Weighed a healthy 6lbs 9 and needed no extra support.
Stayed in hospital 2 nights but the second night was only due to my blood loss during an emergency c-section - she was fine!
I think every baby is different!

[WinifredTorrance]

Our son was born at 32 weeks. We were very lucky as he had no real issues with breathing etc. and was 5lb. He was incubated in the SCBU for around 2 weeks then moved to a less intensive ward and an open cot for around a week. The main issues were that he was unable to maintain his own temperature and couldn’t feed. As soon as he and I were comfortable with feeding he was discharged.

I think it depends entirely on how early the baby comes and what (if any) issues they have when born. What makes you think your baby will be born prematurely?

[ThePolishWombat]

Would depend on your baby’s health I guess!
I had my second baby at home (planned) at 36+0, and he was 100% healthy. No issues with breathing, temperature regulation or feeding. So we didn’t have to go to hospital at all.

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

I had a feeling my baby was going to be early..I was induced and had him at 10 days over

[Napqueen1234]

@ThePolishWombat were the home birth team supportive of your 'early' baby? my first DD was born 36+5 I'd love a home birth this time but have been told if its pre 37 weeks they ask you to go in to hospital to deliver. Did you just refuse? I asked what would happen if I was a couple of days of 37 weeks and didn't want to go in and they sort of rolled their eyes and said well we would HAVE To come out and assess you. OP- we had DD 36+5 born just after midnight, stayed one more night then home as all was well.

[ThePolishWombat]

Napqueen When I called to say I was in labour, they said that they’d prefer me to go in.
I made it clear I’d be staying at home, and a midwife arrived within the hour.