ELCS planned sometime between 34-35 weeks

[DebH1975]

Hi - I'm having an ELCS when I'm between 34 and 35 weeks. I'm not expecting the LO to have any physical problems - and she should be around average weight for her age. Im trying to work out if its likely that she will need to stay on the SCBU once born. Has anyone had any LO's that have came that early who haven't needed a stay on SCBU?

Many thanks

Sorry - also wanted to ask - if I need to express bm, do the hospital normally provide a pump until I get my own? Appreciate this might vary between hospitals but in general?

My twins were born at 34+5 by EMCS. I had the steroid injections and this really helped with them no needing help breathing. They weighed 5lb4 & 5lb8 and despite looking tiny they were realy good weights for their gestation. They spent 2 days in NICU and 11 days in SCBU as they struggled to maintain their temperature, twin1 needed antibiotics as she had an infection from a lack of amniotic fluid and they needed help establishing feeding. They are now 19 months and although they were a big behind developmentally in the first 12 months they have caught up and are happy and healthy.

If your baby is in SCBU, the hospital should lend you a breast pump free of charge. Some hospitals do rent them out for a fee if your baby is not in SCBU.

Good luck

My twins were born at 34+5 by emergency c section. I had been given bot

I had my son at 35 weeks and we spent two weeks on a transitional ward as opposed to special care.
I think it's highly likely that you'll probably do a little bit of extra time in hospital (I also have another preemie so done the rounds a bit.)
It shouldn't be anything mega though - jaundice and securing a latch held us back but he was a good weight and breathed on his own.
They will provide you with a pump while you are there and will encourage you to use and should help you breast feed if you want to. It's worth checking when the sucking reflex kicks in - I think it's 34 weeks?

I've had 3 DCs, two at 35 weeks, the other at 36 (all spontaneous natural deliveries). The first was 35+5 and weighed 6lbs 9oz and had slightly low sugar levels so we were in (a normal post delivery ward) for 4 days. The third was 35+2 and weighed 8lbs 3oz and all the midwives believed I'd got my dates wrong (I am very meticulous!). We were out in 36 hours. So it can all be fine 35 week wise. Very good luck!

Hi there.

I had a planned section 2 wks ago at 36 wks due to ongoing concerns about the baby's growth (IUGR). She was born weighing 1910g - 4lb 4oz- just above the threshold for SCBU which is 1800g - not sure if that is a standard threshold across hospitals or not. She was small for gestational age

• her gestational size was about 31-32 wks. So if there are no growth concerns your baby should be bigger, have you had a recent growth scan?

We had been prepared for her to need special care so were thrilled when she came out all guns blazing, totally fine just very dinky, and was able to be with me on the post natal ward. She was born on the Thurs morning and was doing great but on the Sat she did end up being admitted to SCBU. This was because she had become very tired all the time and was struggling to feed. She was being cup fed formula as my milk had not come in but she just wasn't taking enough. She also had jaundice and a brief 'dusky incident' - went blue-ish and floppy during an attempt at cup feeding, so overall it was felt she needed the support SCBU could give, eg tube feeding. It was horrible being apart from her and I cried A LOT, but it was only for a few days and the care we both received was excellent.

During those few days the midwives got me pumping (using one of their pumps) and I was able to establish breast feeding which was great. She was then discharged from
SCBU back to postnatal ward with me, and a couple of days later we were both allowed to go home (when she had reached 1800g, as she dropped from her birth weight to 1700g ish).

So now we are home and just concentrating on trying to fatten her up! In a answer to your question, I don't think SCBU is inevitable, especially if you have had the steroid injections, but I guess you might want to prepare yourself for it as best as poss or discuss with your consultant, ask for a tour of it etc. As another poster said, prem babies are much more likely to get jaundice so if this happens the baby may need phototherapy which would result in a longer hospital stay I guess.

Good luck OP x

Many thanks for all your responses - much appreciated.

Feelingirie - have been having growth scans every other week and she has been average size so far so hoping she will be a good size when she is born. She is having to come out early because of risk of infection from the other twin (who I lost at 21 weeks but is still in there).

Really hoping to be able to breastfeed - luckily my hospital have a donor breast milk bank so if for some reason I can't then the LO will hopefully still be able to have donor breast milk.

Got an appt at the hospital tomorrow will ask if I can go and have a look around the SCBU before my ELCS date so I know what to expect.

Deb, sorry to hear about the loss of one of your twins, how very sad.

It's great that your baby is a good size, really hope things are straightforward for you both now after what must've been a tough time. I found the latter part of my pregnancy difficult due to worries About the cause of the IUGR but have to say I found the section really positive and I hope that despite everything you do too. Enjoy your baby.

Take care x

Deb, sorry to hear your sad news.
I hope your LO comes out big and strong!

Thanks

Hi so sorry to hear about your baby. I have had two 33 weekers. After 32 there is a very high chance that all will be straightforward once feeding is established. Dd was 5ib so quite big for 33 weeks and she was in special care for a day then on the ward with me for 6 days. Have you had the steriod injection?

Yep plentyofshoes .... I've had the steroid injections.

Thanks

I had dd at just shy of 36 weeks, she was nearly 6lb and fine. She was readmitted for jaundice but otherwise pretty average and went home the same day (though possibly as it was Xmas eve...)

Good luck

The steriods will make a huge difference. I had them with both of mine and both were fine with breathing on their own.

My son was a bit earlier at 33+1 weeks but despite weighing 5lb1oz he was in SCBU for 15 days with persistent jaundice and feeding issues. He was fed with an NG tube for about a week, then we had trouble establishing breastfeeding. He's now 8 months and doing very well.

I'm very sorry that one of your twins has died. I hope the birth goes as smoothly as it can.

I'm a bf peer supporter in SCBU. If your hospital has a transitional care ward there is a better chance of your baby staying with you if she doesn't have any serious problems. I just wanted to mention hand expressing- you won't be recommended to pump for the first couple of days until milk comes in.it's worth learning to hand express colostrum- you may even be able to do this antenatally and store in case your baby needs it. Google Marmet technique or have a look at videos on best Beginnings website. Also ask for help- if baby is in SCBUask for bf specialist to come to see you.

Sorry to hear about the loss of one of your twins. Well done for keeping the other little one in so long.

I had DC3 at 36+1 by EMCS after multiple admissions with unstable placenta praevia. She struggled to feed, but she was 5lb13oz and we were sent home within 48 hours. I progressed from cup feeding yo syringe feeding as I wasn't wasting my precious colostrum, plus I could tell what she had taken. We progressed to emb then on to breast feeding.

She was small for her age (went into age 2-3 at about her 3rd birthday, but quickly moved onto age 3 about 4-5 months later)

Many thanks for your responses. Celtic I will have a look re the hand expressing. Thanks