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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Did your baby go to special baby care after section at 38 weeks?

59 replies

Mummyspider27 · 19/05/2020 20:27

I was told today my baby would need to be born (via section) no later than 38 weeks. They said he might need to go to special baby care as section babies born at 38 weeks can have breathing difficulties with fluid on the lungs. I just wondered if anyone had any experience? Stories to share etc x

OP posts:

MissSmith80 · 19/05/2020 20:46

Had my little boy at exactly 38 weeks. I had one steroid injection the day before but not the second because by then he was 'term'
They had the paediatricians on stand by incase he needed their attention but they weren't needed. It seems that there is an odd thing that happens at 37 weeks 6 days, 23 hours and 59 minutes when the babies lungs are fine.

I work for the NHS and I am incredibly grateful for all they did for us but they are driven by protocols (evidenced based) and so it doesn't always make sense to someone like me who prefers to think about the individual and what's right for their situation. Good luck

ChaBishkoot · 19/05/2020 20:47

Ah I have had PP with accreta. I had a full term son with PP who was born at 38 weeks. 5lb 5 oz. No SCBU needed. Needed his blood sugars monitoring for an extra day on the ward.
Second baby (the one I had accreta with) resulted in a crash section at 26 weeks. He’s fine and healthy now. He spent 9 weeks in the NICU before coming home weighing roughly 4lbs.
I breastfed both babies.

I recovered fairly quickly from both surgeries. After 7 days didn’t need any painkillers. After 10 days I would feel the odd twinge if I overdid things. By day 21 I was fully back to normal.

ChaBishkoot · 19/05/2020 20:48

And I had total PP as well with accreta. I had extra scans before delivery and a vascular team on standby during my surgery. In the end it was v straightforward and I didn’t lose that much more blood than a normal C section.

Wolfgirrl · 19/05/2020 20:49

My daughter was born at 36+6. 6lb5, only treatment needed was UV for jaundice. She got 10/10 on the apgar. So please dont worry! 38 weeks is classed as term.

Cattenberg · 19/05/2020 20:50

I had an emergency CS at 38+5 weeks. DD weighed just over 7lbs and was fine - she had very good APGAR scores.

Original poster

Mummyspider27 · 19/05/2020 20:51

@ChaBishkoot I am almost 32 weeks now and baby doing great, currently no bleeding. More worried about me and the operation, all the risks and then googling stories has left me terrified, a hysterectomy doesn’t worry me, the mass bleeding does. So it’s good to hear about your recovery xx

OP posts:

GirlCalledJames · 19/05/2020 20:51

I had vasa previa and placenta previa marginalis, and a section at 36w after steroids. Baby was 5 lb and didn’t need any additional care. He was snuffy for a couple of days.
I was born at 34 w myself and weighed 4lb, I was only in special care for one day.

RenegadeMrs · 19/05/2020 20:51

My DD waa born via EMCS at 36 + 1 weeks at 6lbs 10 and didn't go to special care. I had been given steroids at 32 weeks though.

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 19/05/2020 20:51

Yes
My youngest was born by C Section at 38 weeks A healthy 7lb 1oz but he was grunting every now and then. They took him to SCBU and it turned out he had swallowed some fluid as was a shoulder presentation , so surgeons had to turn him . When I saw him the next day he had a feeding tube up his little nose as wouldn't take a bottle from the nurse.
I fed him a bottle later that evening and he did take it so returned to the ward with me . He is 16 now

He was my 4th (and last) C Section (medical reasons) and the only one that did need that extra help in his first day .

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 19/05/2020 20:53

Also, I don't know if any PPs have mentioned it , when you get onto your feet , as you will , hold your abdomen area and stand as straight as you can . Then little steps OP. .

I am sure it will all go fine and Best Wishes .

sauvignonblancplz · 19/05/2020 20:56

3 sections here , 36+1, 38 & 37+5.
All small but no requirement for SCBU. I hate information overload , have a cuppa and step away from scary birth stories.
They have to give you all the worst case scenarios, but the chances of them happening are ridiculously slim.

ChaBishkoot · 19/05/2020 20:58

Oh top tip. In the early days put a pad across the scar. Then whenever you stand or move or turn you can put your hand on your abdomen ON the pad (rather than the actual wound). It also helps when you go to the toilet for the first time post surgery. I don’t know why it helps. It just does!

Floralnomad · 19/05/2020 21:02

When I had my section 20 yrs ago elective sections were routinely done at 38 weeks , no steroids and no routine need for SCBU . My older dc was 41 + weeks , vaginal delivery and 10lb 4oz and he needed SCBU overnight .

WhentheRabbitsWentWild · 19/05/2020 21:06

I agree @ChaBishkoot .

Amicompletelyinsane · 19/05/2020 21:07

36 and a38 week c section. Neither went into special care at all

TiggeryBear · 19/05/2020 21:20

DC1 was born at 38+1 via c-section after a failed induction. Didn't need any assistance & we were home approx 28hrs later.

SoftBlocks · 19/05/2020 21:25

Section at 38 weeks no problems at all.

polkadotpixie · 19/05/2020 22:26

I had DS via C section at 38+2 after a failed induction following PROM at 38+0

He was a bit grunty and had to go to NICU every 12 hours for IV antibiotics but was on the ward with me the rest of the time

No issues following discharge at 3 days old

TenThousandSpoons0 · 19/05/2020 22:34

Hi OP, sounds like you’ve had a lot to take in! Agree w PP risk of needing SCBU/NICU at 38 weeks is very low, maximum 1-2% unless anything else comes up in the meantime. If you did bleed and need to be delivered earlier then it is more likely - but most of the time anything past 36 weeks baby stays with Mum.

@MumOfOneAndAHalf wanted to ask if you’re happy to tell me, where are you based? Your consultant/you are pretty well informed about steroids - I’m happy to see there’s some change away from giving steroids to everyone near/at term, because you’re right the evidence isn’t really there and the blood sugar concern is a bit worrying. Where I am we there’s a study to try and figure out the answer to whether steroids should or shouldn’t be given before CS after 37 weeks. All on hold with Covid of course!

yikesanotherbooboo · 19/05/2020 22:54

My DC3 was born by planned section at 38 weeks . He was 8 lb 3 oz and thrived . Compared to his sibs born by nvd at 40 weeks he was a bit floppy and he didn't open his eyes for 2 weeks but he took to the breast alright. 30 years ago planned sections were all done at 38 weeks it was then discovered that a small proportion of them had respiratory problems so for safety's sake elcs was changed to 39 weeks. Remember though that the vast majority born at 38 weeks were fine.

MrsAvocet · 19/05/2020 23:12

When I had my first baby back in the 1990s, it was standard to do planned sections at 38 weeks. Most babies were absolutely fine, but research showed that the small percentage of babies who developed respiratory issues could be even less if sections were carried out at 39 weeks. So it then became routine to do planned sections at 39 weeks if there was no strong reason to go ahead earlier. But of course these decisions are always a balance of risks and benefits. In some situations there is more risk to the mother, baby, or both if a section is delayed. It sounds like the team looking after you have made a sensible decision based on the higher risk of complications from waiting compared with a very small risk of your baby needing some breathing support at 38 weeks. Back when it was the norm to do sections at 38 weeks , the vast majority of babies went to the ward with their mums, and in all likelihood that's what will happen to your baby too. But the midwives and doctors wouldn't be doing their jobs properly if they didn't warn you there was a possibility of your baby needing special care. I'm sure they don't want to frighten you though. It must be a really stressful time for you. I hope everything goes smoothly.

FrownPrincess · 19/05/2020 23:25

DGD born by CS at exactly 37 weeks 2 days due to failing placenta. No steroids, no SCBU. She weighed 5lbs 10oz and went home the following day (not in the U.K.)

HollyHocks13 · 19/05/2020 23:32

Two of mine did. Both born at 38.5 weeks and healthy weights (DS was 8lb10 and add 7lb8) but developed grunts so were in the SCBU for a couple of days. Both completely fine though. My first DS who was born by section at 42 weeks was fine.

ZaphodBeeblerox · 19/05/2020 23:32

I was told this might be a possibility before DD was born (planned section at 38 weeks but because of a previous loss at term; my pregnancy with her was fine). I had steroids two days before the section and in the end she didn’t need the SCBU anyway. Think it’s something they may also just tell you so you’re prepared and not freaked out in the moment that something’s gone massively wrong.

Wolfgirrl · 19/05/2020 23:34

Oh wait sorry just seen this is about sections! I had a vb so scratch mine. Good luck OP all the stories here look very positive

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