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Original poster

Question about dates

26 replies

flippityflip · 28/02/2015 22:53

I am due to be induced/have a section at some point over the next week and a bit (so from 33 to 34 weeks) because baby is measuring small and not growing well and low fluid.At last scan when I was 32+4 baby only measured 30 weeks. When they deliver,say at 34 weeks, if baby is still measuring approx 2 1/2 weeks behind does it count as baby being 34 weeks or 31 1/2 weeks?
Does that make sense?

OP posts:
minipie · 28/02/2015 23:11

I believe the baby would be seen as 34 weeks but "small for dates" ie with IUGR. So for most developmental purposes he or she would be a 34 weeker, but might be expected to have a few extra issues than an "average size" 34 weeker (eg might find it harder to maintain temperature or to feed, or might catch up size a bit slower) because of being smaller. But not the same as a 31.5 weeker who would be both smaller and less developed.

I think this is correct but do ask the doctors to confirm?

Original poster
flippityflip · 01/03/2015 04:05

Thankyou!Yes will have to write that on my ever growing list of questions for the doctors!

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Whatsonemore · 01/03/2015 04:21

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Original poster
flippityflip · 02/03/2015 04:02

Thankyou!Consultant also said before 34 weeks they'd be unlikely to consider a vaginal delivery and would deliver by section as it would be too much stress on the baby so I'm really hoping to keep baby in one more week as I'm 33 weeks today (well yesterday now!) Whatsonemore did you have sections or 'natural deliveries' with yours?

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Whatsonemore · 02/03/2015 04:20

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Original poster
flippityflip · 02/03/2015 08:32

Yes I have been there before with my last,he was only in a week with meconium aspiration but at least it won't be such a shock.

I think not having the mobility straight after the birth to go see baby is one of the things that really puts me off a section but I think it's because baby is so weenie and the fluid so low the risk of cord getting would up etc is more of a risk,but I might have picked that up wrong.

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minipie · 02/03/2015 13:35

I had a vaginal delivery at 34 weeks (just! went into labour at 33+6 and had her the following morning) but it was spontaneous labour rather than induction, so possibly less stressful than an induction on the baby.

Even so I have to say it was pretty rough on DD, she got very squashed (prem heads are softer) and wasn't breathing at birth. On the other hand I was very grateful to have avoided a c section during the early weeks of getting to and from hospital etc. Swings and roundabouts...

Hope you can keep her in till 34 weeks.

Whatsonemore · 02/03/2015 14:49

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Original poster
flippityflip · 02/03/2015 16:30

Baby was 3lb 6 at last estimate and doc today said looking at probably delivering next week,but as growth has been pretty minimal it is likely to still be around that.
Head down and in good position so hoping if manage to get to next week and so to 34 weeks that baby might be able to do a natural delivery,but we'll see. For now trying to get my head around what a baby that wee will look like!

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Whatsonemore · 03/03/2015 08:16

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Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 12:05

Thankyou!That is really reassuring-find I'm getting more scared as time goes on,partly because of the fear of taking it out away from where it's safe-and partly because while it's still in I'm so paranoid about counting the kicks and watching for any change in movement that it is just exhausting!

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Whatsonemore · 03/03/2015 13:32

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Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 13:41

3rd child but first experience of anything like this,first two went to due dates and pretty straightforward pregnancies,second was in SCBU for a short time due to aspirated meconium but both were normal weight range.This has just felt so different!

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dancestomyowntune · 03/03/2015 16:58

First of all Flowers and Cake for you.

Secondly, a month ago I was in a similar situation to you. I had my dd by c-section at 30 weeks after almost two weeks in hospital with high blood pressure. I was terrified.

My biggest fears were not being able to hold her, that she would struggle, that she wouldn't look like a baby (that her skin would be thin, her body not in proportion etc).

Dd was born on 4th feb. She was born fighting! They were trying to put her in a bag to keep her warm and she kicked and squirmed all the time! I could here her in the theatre, crying, or rather mewing like a kitten. Ten minutes or so after her birth the neonatal dr told me she was doing well, born breathing, but she had started to struggle after a few minutes so they had ventilated her. I was shown her, briefly, before she was taken down to neonatal.

My husband went with her and took photos. I wasn't allowed down to neonatal until my bp stabilised (about seven hours later). By the time I saw her she was off the ventilator, but using cpap, which she used for about 24 hrs.

My first fear, not being able to hold her, wasn't realised. When I went to see her the next day the first thing the neonatal nurse said was "would you like a cuddle?". She was tiny, 2lb 11oz, but looked fabulous. I'll attach a pic of her so you can see.

Now, four weeks on, she is in a cot, taking bottles, holding her temp, doing so well and gaining weight. I am desperate to bring her home but have been told she needs to take 48hours of feeds by bottle before that will be allowed. At the moment she is taking every other feed by the bottle. I'm hoping for next week (my birthday is next Thursday and it would be THE BEST birthday pressie if I could bring her home).

Good luck

Murphy29 · 03/03/2015 17:05

Good luck ??

DS was similar in that his growth slowed/stopped so whilst he was 35 weeks he was under 4lb so smaller than some babies that were earlier than him. He is counted as 35 weeks and as mentioned up thread his 'corrected' age is used for development but he's doing really well Smile

I had an induced natural delivery but it was hard on him and he did cry at birth but then needed some help breathing for a few minutes but beyond that his only issue was feeding.

Hope all goes well

Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 18:59

Dances she is absolutely gorgeous!!My wee boy had cpap and a feeding tube for the first 24 hours so I'll be a bit more prepared for the tubes but I remember that feeling of thinking if they're telling me he's doing so well how come he is hooked up to so many machines??!!

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Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 19:01

Also I presume there's a lot of monitoring in an induction at this stage,can you still move around a bit?

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dancestomyowntune · 03/03/2015 19:48

I was advised to have a c section, because "little babies don't cope well with natural/vaginal birth". All of my others were normal births, but all heavily monitored/induced. I had epidurals with all of them and so strapped to the bed for the majority of it.

Murphy29 · 03/03/2015 20:14

I couldn't move around due to the monitoring so was just lying on bed for the whole thing but it was fine. 1st pregnancy and hadn't been to classes yet so didn't really think of doing it another way anyway!

I'm on phone so can't see the pic - not just being rude!

minipie · 03/03/2015 21:05

Yes I am sure you would have continuous fetal monitoring (I had it even with a sponteous birth, given it was at 34 weeks) and yes it did stop me moving about because the monitor lost the heartbeat every time I moved... but you might have a better monitor or baby might be in a better position for monitoring I guess... But best to assume your moving around options would be limited.

Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 22:27

What about pain relief then?I found keeping active meant I didn't need as much last time,but can't imagine I'd manage just gas and air if had to be on my back,but wouldn't want any of the ones that might pass through to baby as it has enough to deal with.Does that mean epidural is only option?
I was told before 34 weeks it will be a section,but after that there was more of a chance of a natural delivery.I guess I just have to take each day as it comes and go with the advice then.

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minipie · 03/03/2015 22:40

I was ok on cocodamol, gas and air (and a few tips I could remember from a hypnobirthing book!) despite being stuck on my back - but I wasn't induced.

If you'd be induced with the drip then you might want the epidural anyway as I gather it is a lot more painful (some women do manage without but...) and with drip+epidural there's quite a high chance of instrumental or emcs delivery - which really means emcs as they wouldn't use instruments on a prem I imagine.

So in your shoes, I might think well if my options are drip+epidural (=quite likely emcs) or ELCS, why not go for the ELCS.

would you be able to get to and from the hospital to visit if you'd had a CS and couldn't drive?

Original poster
flippityflip · 03/03/2015 23:01

Why is CS more likely with epidural?Sorry if that's a dumb question!I only had gas and air with my second but with first had an epidural/spinal late on because they prepped me for section which thankfully I didn't need as was able to deliver with venteuse instead. I didn't like it at all I have to say. I'd like to avoid a Section definitely,spart from my possibly irrational fear of sections anyway,it's not so much the driving but not being able to visit baby in SCBU for a while because of recovery and also not being able to pick up my second wee one when I'm not at the hospital for 6 weeks (DC2 is only 2) I just can't deal with the whole thing.

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Murphy29 · 04/03/2015 07:20

For pain relief I just had gas and air and it was manageable despite induced on drip and no moving about. It was a quick labour though which probably helped and the one benefit of a preemie was DS was a small baby so I wasn't pushing a giant out!

I don't have any experience of sections but most of the other mums on SCBU had them and they were still able to visit (some quicker than me as my liver and BP had to be monitored).

Whatsonemore · 04/03/2015 09:04

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