Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

Original poster

tell me when it's better to deliver a baby early than to leave it where it is

16 replies

thisisyesterday · 15/04/2009 21:10

I've wondered this a few times. I think normally if growth has slowed down or something and they deliver the baby prematurely.

and I want to know why it's better for the baby to be out than in. is it cos they're worried the placenta isn't working? and if that's the case then why can't they just offer monitoring?
I can't imagine what they can do for a baby outside the womb that wouldn't be better for it inside iyswim?

so please enlighten me cos I just don't know and I want to!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

PheasantPlucker · 15/04/2009 21:15

I know a baby who was delivered early due to IUGR (growth restriction). Then the baby can receive nutrients outside the womb via intravenous tubes. And grow, Which is better for the baby.

CoteDAzur · 15/04/2009 21:17

There is an article in today's The Times about this.

FluffyBunnyGoneBad · 15/04/2009 21:17

I'm not an expert but they will look at the size of the baby, the flow through the placenta, the maternal health and the movements of the baby and decide what to do. I know of a family, the mum had gestational diabetes, they didn't want the baby to be delivered on the date the obstetrician said as they were going to a funeral. The baby died before it was born. If it were born when the doctors wanted it may have survived. It is mainly due to the placenta failure or maternal health. My sisters little boy was delivered at 33 weeks as it was unsafe for her to leave him there any longer. Her BP at it's highest was 190/130.

Poledra · 15/04/2009 21:24

I was monitored throughout my pregnancy with DD3 for foetal anaemia (due to an blood incompatability). If the anaemia had developed after 35 weeks, they would have delivered her in order to give her a blood transfusion. Prior to 35 weeks, they would have performed an intra-uterine infusion but that's much more difficult to do (obviously). In the end, I was induced at 40weeks and DD3 spent 5 days in SCBU.

LuluisgoingtobeanAunty · 15/04/2009 21:28

for some babies,some conditions in the womb are more dangerous than being outside...e.g if the waters have ruptured early and there is evidence of infection.oligohdramnios when there is little to no fluid.which can affect lung development and cause otehr issues. IUGR also is a reason for early delivery.

some of these issues have a much higher risk of foetal death or severe compromise, more than the risk of an earlier delivery

MrsMattie · 15/04/2009 21:34

I had obstetric cholestasis during my second pregnancy and had my baby by elective section at 38 weeks (could have been vaginally with induction if I hadn't have had a previous section). Usually, they try to induce women with OC at around 37/38 weeks because - for reasons which are not yet completely clear to the health profession - the rate of stillbirth towards the end of the third trimester starts to rise quite sharply. Because it isn't yet clear why this is so, there isn't really a way to manage the situation other than getting the baby out. Unless the baby shows signs of distress or the mother's liver fails, the doctors will always try to hold out until 37 weeks to get the baby out, though, because this is classes as term.

My baby was a healthy weight and absolutely fine at 38 weeks gestation, happily...

MrsMattie · 15/04/2009 21:35

classed as term

crokky · 15/04/2009 21:37

Like Mrs Mattie, I had obstetric cholestasis. Both my DCs were induced at 37 weeks. They were far better out than in. Both of them were just over 6 pounds so they did well really, especially as I had spent the entire pgs puking.

cory · 15/04/2009 22:25

Both mine were delivered early due to IUGR. Meant I could start feeding them up with breastmilk. Particularly good for ds who was very small, but took right off when he got on the milk. In my second pregnancy I was also quite ill with preeclampsia and I think they were worried about the effect on both of us if I went into an eclamptic fit.

In both my pregnancies they did offer extensive monitoring- and that was precisely why they decided to induce.

blueshoes · 15/04/2009 23:05

I was induced at 40 weeks because my baby had a congenital heart condition (diagnosed in utero) and I developed low amniotic fluid. Obstetrician said precisely those words - no advantage to keeping baby in but 1/100 risk of stillbirth. Dd was eventually delivered by crash cs.

LifeofByron · 15/04/2009 23:21

I had obstetric cholestasis too and had DD by elective section at 37 weeks. Had to have the section because she was in breech position. She was 6 pounds even at birth but is now a real bruiser at 6 months.

MrsMattie - I don't mean to hijack but is it not possible to be induced if you've previously had a section? I ask because I had to take blood thinning injections while pregnant because of a blood condition I've got. That means I'll always have to be induced because of the risk of going into labour while still on the blood thinners. I had been thinking of attempting a VBAC for my next DC (fingers crossed there is one) but perhaps that's not going to be possible because I will need to be induced

Poledra · 16/04/2009 09:18

LifeofByron, I was induced for DD3 after having an em c-s for DD1 (DD2 was a VBAC inbetween). The general rule seems to be that they will not use the prostaglandin pessaries to induce you but will go straight to the syntocinon drip. I had an epidural before they started the synto drip, coz I is a wuss.

LifeofByron · 16/04/2009 09:47

thanks Poledra

KathrynAustin · 16/04/2009 09:59

Induction post section depends on hospital policy - mine wouldn't do it due to small risk of scar dehiscence, others will.... E

MrsMattie · 16/04/2009 14:05

LifeofByron:

The risk of scar rupture increases with induced VBACs, although I'm not sure by how much? Worth investigating.

My hospital wouldn't do it under any circumstances, but different hospitals have different policies on induction with VBACs. Some will try you on the Prostin pessaries only. A few will go the full hog and offer the syntocin drip/ARM.
I was hoping for a VBAC with my 2nd baby and opted not to be induced - had in my birth plan that I would like to 'play it by ear' if I was late. However, I then developed OC and the decison was taken out of my hands, so had another section. To be honest, by that stage, I just wanted my baby out safely.

LifeofByron · 16/04/2009 14:41

thanks MrsMattie. i'll have to look into this properly next time around. but as you say, the fundamental point is getting the baby out safely. that's how I felt with the OC and breech position leading to the early section with DD- when I got the news, I did feel initial disappointment that I would not be able to deliver vaginally but once the news sunk in I just wanted her out and in my arms

Flip