Born at 38 weeks - is this safe?

[emmalinewre]

Hi!
Medical reasons mean I may have to have a c-section this week (38 weeks and two days)

I'm worried delivering early may harm the baby in the long run.
Does anyone have any experience of this kind of term and whether baby is ok short and long term/needs NICU/meets milestones later on etc.

Thanks!

I'm sure he will be fine

My DS was a 30 weaker, no lasting damage

Not special needs. Slight increase in risk of a baby having slight respiratory distress. Some recommendations that for elet I’ve lscs prior to 39 weeks steroids should be given. But that’s normally done earlier on.

its not that long ago that elective sections were done routinely at any point from 37 weeks onwards. Advice only changed maybe ten years ago.

DD2 was induced at same time. She was/is fine.

Mine was 37 weeks and 7lbs 10, perfectly healthy. It was earlier than I would have liked but she’s very robust and ahead at school. If it’s scheduled they will maybe give you steroids to super charge the baby. But yes I was really upset at not having got to 40 weeks and was really worried that she wouldn’t have “baked” enough. But she was absolutely fine.

38 weeks isnt early
It is term.

I don’t really think anything before 37 weeks is really premature, as I said my DS was a 31 week birth. I really don’t like thinking about it though.

DD who’s older , was born on time and a natural birth. People on here are worried about giving birth a week early when others like myself family really went through the mill.

My daughter was born at 38+3 and is 2.5 and absolutely fine - doing really well, in fact! 38+2 is well within the normal range for babies to be born. I was also a couple of weeks early and have also been absolutely fine!

DS was born at 36 weeks. Bit small when born (2kg), as you might expect, and had some low blood sugars in the first 48 hrs requiring top up feeds every 3 hours.

That was the extent of his problems. Hit all milestones on time, top sets in everything at school, plays multiple sports and instruments, loads of friends.

Mine were born at 30 weeks by c-section. They are 41 year old twins and doing well in every way.

Again I’m pleased to hear that. Even in the 80s it seems babies born early had a good survival rate, when you think how medicine has progressed since then.

My daughter was born at 37+4 and we were home the next morning. I've seen a post here mentioning weak neck muscles, she was holding her head up, wobbling it around trying to look at me right after birth. 37 is considered term, I wouldn't worry xx

My daughter was born by emergency c-section at 36 weeks and 2 days, 6.5 years later she is absolutely fine, which she will tell you herself if you give her half a chance.
Bear in mind 37 weeks is considered full term.

My first was born at 38+2. He was absolutely fine.

There is a very slightly increased chanced that babies born at 38 weeks may experience respiratory difficulties compared to babies born at 39 weeks but the risk remains really low. Barring other complications, your baby is very unlikely to require a NICU stay or substantial intervention as a result of being born at 38 weeks.

My son is now four and met all of his milestones early or on time. He rolled, sat up, stood and walked well within the normal timeframe and was a precocious early talker. He is bright as a button - absolutely no issues resulting from being born when he was.