Waters just broke! 34+4 weeks!

[Salina2]

My waters have just broke, I'm on my way to the hospital, I don't know what to expect, does this mean the baby is definitely coming? Will my baby be ok?

I don't know the answers to your questions, but I will keep my fingers crossed for you and your baby. Best of luck

I would imagine they will give you steroids, to help strengthen the lungs of your baby, if possible.

Chances are good at this stage can get tricky but good chance

Can't answer your questions but sending you all the luck and positive thoughts x

Sending positive vibes.....

You'll be given a steroid shot in the muscle of your leg which will help to develop the baby's lungs. Babies born after 34 weeks are typically in hospital for a week or two but baby may need some support with breathing/feeding.

You're going to be ok and you're on your way to hospital where their job is to keep you safe. Good luck OP, update us when you can!

I had ds at 34+4. They initially tried to stop labour but it didn’t work. In the end all it did was slow labour and I was eventually induced.

Ds was a particularly traumatic back to back birth and he was very bruised, he spent 3 weeks in NICU but I think most of this was down the the bruising which prolonged his jaundice.

He was a very good weight and NICU staff were brilliant, he’s very tall for his age now and bar a few tiny forceps scars you wouldn’t know he had a tricky start in life.

Good luck!

Obviously I can’t give a definitive answer but in the UK most babies born after 32 weeks do very very well indeed. And 34 weeks is an excellent gestation. They will try and give you steroids for the baby’s lungs. Two shots given 24 hours apart.
Your baby may need a little oxygen when born although at 34 weeks most will be able to breathe independently.
Your baby also may take a week or two to fully develop a suck reflex. So they may put in a tube in her nose called the NG tube till he or she is confidently taking the breast or bottle.
Sometimes when babies are born early when they mother’s waters break they like to give some precautionary antibiotics at birth. So they might put in a cannula in and give antibiotics till the blood tests give you the all clear.
These are the 3 commonest interventions that might be carried out at this gestation but please don’t be worried. Your hospital will be very used to coping with deliveries at this gestation.

Ah try not to worry.

37-40 weeks is considered full term so your baby isn't too early if it is born soon.

They will check to see if your waters have fully broken or if it's a leak - that will influence what happens next.

My baby was born at 35 weeks, was v well monitored and checked as he was 'premature ' - you will be in the best hands in the hospital.

My waters broke at 34 weeks. 12 hours later dd was born after going into spontaneous labour.
She was in special care for 2 weeks but is now 8 months old and you would never know.
Sending best wishes and try not to panic

My boy was born at 31 weeks, spent a month in NICU to learn to breathe on his own and grow. He's completely fine, normal energetic little toddler now. Good luck

Good luck I'm sure baby will be fine. Your going to be in the best place for this. Baby might need some help at the start. Im a triplet born at 25 weeks and all three of us made it and that was almost 30 yrs ago. We're all here if you need distraction.

Thank you everyone, baby is being monitored at the moment and seems fine, waiting for a doctor to come assess me but most likely will have to have the steroids for baby's lungs. My first DS was born at 26 weeks so I'm no stranger to the neonatal unit and everything that comes with it, just hoping and praying baby is fine and won't need to be in hospital for to long. Feeling very nervous and guilty for leaving my toddler at home :(

Ah that's good news! Hope all goes well!

Good luck!
My waters went at 34+4 with DS (now 7). I managed one steroid shot before he was born the next morning. The drs said under 2kg would be neonatal and over 2.5kg would be fine for the post natal ward. We were lucky. DS was in the middle and other than bf issues and slight jaundice, he was fine. We were only in for 3 nights.

@AnnoyedByAlfieBear that's reassuring, I'm due to have the steroid injection soon and will have to stay in to monitor my blood sugars as well as I have GD. Not sure what to expect, baby might or might not come they said. Hoping for the best outcome for the baby. I'm not contracting as of yet but that could all change, the unknown is not nice. Thank you for your message x

My waters also broke at 34+4, but I didn't go into labour for another two weeks. I had a course of antibiotics and regular monitoring, and I would have been induced at 37 weeks if baby hadn't arrived by then (she was born two days before!). Good luck OP, it's a scary and uncertain place to find yourself but I'm sure you and baby are being well cared for.

Hi, I've had 2 premmies, one at 33+4 and one at 35+2. There was a big difference between them but basically at this gestation the outlook should be fine, it's a completely different ballgame to having a 26 weeker. I hope your older DS did ok , NICU is tough. If your baby arrives now they may or may not need a little breathing help. Very likely they will need some feeding help, and probably treatment for jaundice. Have they said what they will do if you don't go into labour? I think the default is not to induce until 37 weeks.

@FraterculaArctica I have been given my first steroid, if I don't go into labour they will send me home with antibiotics and Induce at 37 weeks, because of my GD I have to stay in to be monitored whilst given the steroids as they can increase your blood sugar levels. My first DS did really well but was definitely a journey to get there, he is cheeky and energetic now and you would never know he was a preemie. Hope your two babies are doing well too. It's a matter of just waiting to see what happens now, iv not started contracting since waters have broken which is a good sign, would like to keep baby in as long as possible x

@Mybobowler I feel like I'm going in the same direction, well I hope so anyway, would like to keep baby in as long as we can, will have my second steroid in the morning, wish me luck. Happy to hear you got to 37 weeks and baby did well x

My 34 weeker was home after 10 days. He had reflux but no other problems.
Good luck :)

@Salina2 I leaked waters from a similar gestation. Had ELCS at 37+2 as also breech. Never had any signs of labour (thankfully!) so it's not always a dead certainty. Good luck 🤞

My waters went at 34+4 with my daughter. They kept me in and explained that since my waters had broken that I would have her within 48 hours even if they had to induce due to infection risk as my water bag had broken. I went in to labour naturally after 42 hours and she was born very healthy and we only stayed in for a week. Wishing you all the best.

My waters went at 34+6. Two steroid shots and a lot bed rest later DS made his second bid for freedom at 36+1. He was born after a quick 2hr labour and we spent 3 nights in hospital.

He is now a strapping 6'3" 18yr old lad. I wish you and your baby well.

Thank you all for your positive stories, always helps to keep me positive and not think negative in any way. After first steroid my sugar levels are good and not gone up the way they could have. I'm on oral antibiotics as my waters have broke and will continue them. Due my second steroid in the morning, will have to wait and see what the doctors say in the morning now, not feeling any pains or contractions. Fingers crossed for the best outcome x

Hope you're doing ok @Salina2.

I know quite a few 34 weekers and all are well. A few of my friends had babies at 34 weeks with no problems whatsoever and my sister was born at 34 weeks nearly 46 years ago. She's a bit barmy but other than that she's fine.

Congratulations , good luck for the birth.