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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Deliver as planned at 37 weeks or try and hold out?

23 replies

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 18:12

Suspected PPROM at 34 weeks, swab was positive but labour didn't start so discharged with antibiotics and a plan to have a caesarean at 37 weeks.

Scans all been ok, a good amount of fluid around baby so was either a leak or a false positive on the swab. Hospital still happy to go ahead with ELCS at 37 weeks to err on side of caution as if it was PPROM then infection risk is a factor. I'm worried that it was discharge/urine and a false positive swab due to the amount of fluid around baby staying ok and that we'd be delivering early term unnecessarily and putting baby at higher risk than if we delivered him at 38/39 weeks.

What do I do? Really torn. If I do ask to carry on it would be on a day by day basis and based off of babies health at that time, obviously.

OP posts:

Cuppasoupmonster · 04/01/2023 18:20

It’s more likely the waters replenished themselves. In the absence of any more leaking, and with monitoring, I would compromise on 38 weeks but that’s just me. Good luck!

Original poster

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 18:37

It's been really hard to know, I'm constantly damp down there and have had a few gushes but it could well be discharge couldn't it? I'm just so worried about delivering early, they're only 5lbs so a wee little thing. Feel they need all the time they can get.

OP posts:

Bogablob92 · 04/01/2023 18:47

Just be aware that a lot of consultants prefer to deliver at 37 or 39 weeks but avoid 38 weeks, because outcomes can be better. I think it’s to do with lung development but I may be wrong. Seemed odd to me but it might be worth discussing all the options with your doctors. Both my children were delivered at 37 weeks and are thriving. Best of luck!

Original poster

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 18:57

That's interesting, I've never heard that! I'll have a look into it. Thank you, maybe I'm overthinking it. I'd love this pregnancy to be over sooner, it's been very stressful but can't stop thinking I'd rather another miserable couple of weeks and a better outcome but perhaps I need to relax. It is term after all, albeit early.

OP posts:

Original poster

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 19:28

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

OP posts:

minidancer · 04/01/2023 19:31

I've had 3 early c sections. One at 36 weeks and 2 at 37 weeks. All went well and babies were fine. They were all estimated to be 5lb ish but I had 2 at 6.2 and one at 7.6!

Kentlassie · 04/01/2023 19:38

I had a planned section at 38 weeks (and another at 36 with DTs). Personally I would err on the side of caution and not wait.

twinnovice · 04/01/2023 19:38

My waters went at 23 weeks and they were born the same day, 2.5yrs later they are doing amazing, obvs no one would choose their baby to come early but 37 weeks is considered term but def get consultant to give you options either way then make your decision then. If your baby needs any additional help at birth then honestly NICU dr's and nurses are amazing, they'll be in great hands! Good luck x

SouthwestSis · 04/01/2023 19:51

I'd hold out until closer to 38 weeks if it were me, and as you say you can review this decision day by day with active monitoring.

CustardGoodJamGoodMeatGood · 04/01/2023 19:59

I was induced at 36+6 due to baby having a condition that they couldn't 100% confirm whilst she was in the womb and other various complications. She was born at 37+2 weighing 5lbs 14oz, she had to be put in a resusataire to be warmed up when she was born but other than that, there was no complications. I just wanted her out to be honest, I'd been in hospitals every week and my pregnancy notes looked like a novel by the end and if doctors suggested what they thought was best, I was willing to go with it

tillyrainbow · 04/01/2023 20:03

I had PPROM with both of my pregnancies. Waters went with first at 37+5, had steroids and CS at 38 weeks as was StrepB+, DD weighed 6lbs6oz. 2nd went at 35+6 but was bleeding slightly, had CS at 36weeks and DS weighed 7lbs8oz. Both fine and thriving.

Wasywasydoodah · 04/01/2023 20:03

I had PPROM at 35 weeks and was induced at 36 weeks. It very much sounds like your waters went and continue to go with the gushes you mention. Im not a medic, but my understanding is that the risk to baby from infection is much greater than the risk of delivery at 37 weeks. 37 is full term. Id get the csection.

Sallyh87 · 04/01/2023 20:22

Hi, I was induced at 37 weeks due to T1 diabetes and the baby measuring very big on the scan. I had a choice of 37 or to wait till 38 weeks. On my case I chose 37 weeks as:

baby is pretty much developed at that point and considered term
i would be in hospital with specialist and NICU etc

It seemed the least risky option. At 37 weeks the baby is term so while it would be better to stay in, it is still fairly low risk. The risk of leaving it and waiting is unknown. Something could go wrong. In my case the placenta could fail. It’s all about balancing risk and return and I didn’t think what could be gained by more gestation came anywhere close to the risk of something going wrong.

Just my thought process.

In my case, had the baby at 37 + 1 and all was fine. Baby was about 6lb, a little jaundice but no other complications.

Good luck and remember you are in very good hands with your doctors whatever decision you make.

Original poster

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 20:39

Mixed bag of take the section and try hold off a bit later then. Perhaps it's a conversation I should take to my consultant and see what they say. I do get erring on the side of caution I just really want baby to be ok and 37 weeks on the dot seems so soon considering. Even just a few days later could help him couldn't it. I don't want to ask them to let me wait and play it by ear and then god forbid something go wrong either though!

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TimeToFlyNow · 04/01/2023 20:45

I had promised at 34 weeks baby born at 35 weeks
31 weeks, born at 32 weeks
And then an elcs at 37 weeks , didn't want to risk going into labour with my history

They weighed 5lb 15 , 4lb 4 and 7lb 11 though so other than the 32 weekend not particularly tiny .

TimeToFlyNow · 04/01/2023 20:45

*pprom

Original poster

ppromornot · 04/01/2023 21:35

Thank you for experiences, it is good to hear positive outcomes. It's such a scary time, I just want him safe and healthy in my arms!

OP posts:

GoT1904 · 05/01/2023 01:55

I'd personally get the section at 37 weeks.

I've had my waters go every pregnancy but labour never start.

With my second, my waters went and I started the induction 24hr after, but when she came out she STANK and we both needed antibiotics.

It does sound to me like your waters have had a slow leak, I don't think you've got a false positive. So I would try to learn more about the infection risk than try to convince yourself it wasn't your waters.

PointyMcguire · 05/01/2023 06:50

Not quite the same, but at a private scan at 32wks I was flagged as having low amniotic fluid (I suspect I’d had a leak at 24wks but we were a few days before the cut off for the amniotic fluid swab so will never know for sure). This led to growth scans, fortnightly. Weirdly the hospital never flagged a concern about amniotic fluid levels, unless pushed at which point they acknowledged they were on the lower end of normal, but there was concern over her growth curve progression so at 38wks exactly the doctors recommended an early induction.

I too wanted to get to 39wks to give baby the best chance of thriving, but when I thought about it logically I couldn’t bare the risk of something happening to her because I ignored the signs that something was amiss. She ended up being born at 39wks exactly as I ended up needing the full induction treatment and was a healthy 6lb 8oz so perhaps in hindsight I could have waited it out, but to me it just wasn’t worth the risk.

Original poster

ppromornot · 05/01/2023 13:10

Thank you for sharing. It is an induction they recommended at 37 weeks but I had an emergency caesarean last time and really want to avoid another spiral of interventions so want to an elective this time. I said that thinking they might do it later but they still wanted to go with 37 weeks. I've got consultant again tomorrow so I'll find out whether they're happy to leave it or if it really isn't worth the risk. I just can't decide. Most of me wants to go with it, I want him out safely and can't wait to meet him and not be pregnant anymore. But I'm so worried something will be wrong and I'll just wish I'd given him a bit longer.

OP posts:

AdelaideRo · 05/01/2023 13:14

You need to understand risks of infection vs risk of delivery at 37 weeks.

my non expert view is that infection is the greater risk but consultant will be able to advise more fully.

Bronnau · 05/01/2023 13:27

I'd be worried about the risk of infection and would go with delivery at 37 weeks. I know that every woman is different, but to be damp all the time I would say is a sign in your circumstances, and I don't think gushes are normal.

to you OP- It's so hard to know what's right isn't it? I think I'd go with the medical professionals though, they're better equipped than us to make a balanced decision.

Coffeellama · 05/01/2023 13:31

If you keep getting gushes can’t you have another swab test done? If they recommend it again tomorrow I’d go with it personally, but it’s a personal choice.

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