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Premature birth

Connect with others and find premature birth support.

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Original poster

Advice baby born at 36 weeks?!

37 replies

relly1 · 07/05/2024 09:20

Hello everyone, anyone got any positive stories or advice on babies born at 36 weeks? My waters have slowly gone from 34+4 weeks and I've had steriods and antibiotics and still on the antibiotics now, I've been in hospital for a week due to cramps etc, I'm finally home in bed rest as labour is progressing yet so they want to induce me Friday so I'm bang on 36 weeks. I'm petrified of this with the risks etc , what did the after care look like , how long did you or baby stay in what was everything like? I'm so anxious and feel so sick!

OP posts:

Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius · 07/05/2024 09:23

Hiya, try not to worry too much - you’re under care and they are monitoring you. I don’t think 36 weeks is considered prem tbh; at that stage lungs are developed and all that’s left is fattening up (from my understanding).
mine were born at 33 weeks (both) and stayed in ICU for two weeks before being sent home, they are very active and healthy teens now x

Original poster

relly1 · 07/05/2024 09:56

@Thisisthedawningoftheageofaquarius I've only put in prem as because I've had steriods to boost his lungs others was saying to post in here I wasn't getting no advice in the pregnancy Category

OP posts:

DappledThings · 07/05/2024 09:57

My friend's baby was born at 35 weeks and needed no additional care at all

ThursdayTomorrow · 07/05/2024 09:58

36 weeks is full term I think. Not premature. My twins were 36 weeks and not regarded as premature- no extra input needed.

insidenumber4 · 07/05/2024 10:00

Good morning @relly1 I can understand how frightening this must be for you but I think 36 weeks is a really good gestation so try not to worry too much. Both of my babies were premature, one at 35 and one at 37 weeks and they were both perfect! I do remember how terrified I felt when I knew I had gone into early labour though! They both breastfed straight away and no special care needed apart from a little bit of jaundice treatment. I'm sure you'll be fine, congratulations on your baby and take care!

Suchardchoccy · 07/05/2024 10:01

I haven't got any experience but you will only be one week off full term so I wouldn't worry too much. Good luck and I hope everything goes well!

Mrsjayy · 07/05/2024 10:01

Hi I had both mine earlier than expected. My eldest at 35 weeks I had the steroids etc and although she was low birth weight she didn't need baby care . Good luck with everything.

TheShellBeach · 07/05/2024 10:02

Hi OP. Don't panic. 36 weeks is very nearly full term.

I had two babies born at this stage, and they both needed to have a feeding tube, and light therapy for jaundice. They were with me on the ward, and went home at about ten days.

I fully breastfed them both for ages. You and your baby are likely to be absolutely fine.

BTW if, as you say, your labour is progressing, why have they sent you home?

TheShellBeach · 07/05/2024 10:03

ThursdayTomorrow · 07/05/2024 09:58

36 weeks is full term I think. Not premature. My twins were 36 weeks and not regarded as premature- no extra input needed.

Edited

37 weeks is full term. 36 weeks is definitely regarded as premature, although obviously not by very much.

BellaTheDarkOverlord · 07/05/2024 10:03

Dd1 was born at 36+6 induced for preeclampsia. She weighed 6lbs and was perfect. We stayed in hospital for 8 days due to me being very ill from a placenta problem after birth. She’s a healthy 8 year old.

Dd2 was born at 29 weeks weighing 2.8lbs due to spontaneous labour. She spent 8 weeks in neonatal. We were lucky she had no issues at all just was small. She had to gain weight and be able to feed and regulate her temperature before they discharged her. She’s 1 now and is still a bit on the small side and a bit behind in her development but she’s under a consultant who is very happy with her.

MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 07/05/2024 10:05

36 weeks is nearly fully cooked. 37 weeks is full term and the steroids should have made a big difference.

My second was born at 34+5 weighing 5lb 5oz.

She was on oxygen for 4 hours and then was in special care baby unit for 11 nights being fed expressed milk through an nasal gastric tube. I was able breastfeed her from about day 7 and then roomed in with her on the last night before going home.

By about 2 months you wouldn't have a clue she was prem.

TheShellBeach · 07/05/2024 10:06

...........finally home on bed rest as labour is progressing

This is the bit I don't understand. Why have they sent you home?

Mrsjayy · 07/05/2024 10:09

Oh I forgot (she's now 31) she did have a bit of light therapy before we were discharged for jaundice.

Fridaysgirl17 · 07/05/2024 10:17

I had both my babies at 36 & 35 weeks,my first was IUGR & diagnosed with hypothyroidism at a few days old,he required a 10 day stay in special care but he was fine just needed a little help with feeding & sorting his meds out but he was only 4 lbs , baby 2 was born on the day i turned 35 weeks (induction again due to reduction in my waters) he was 7 lbs, no stay in special care,& home the next day. Id had steroids on both & neither needed any help breathing or anything. 36 weeks is as close to term you can get, I'd still say it's premature but in a very good way esp as you've had steroids etc

BlxckDay · 07/05/2024 10:18

My baby was born at 36 weeks and needed no additional help at all, everything was absolutely fine and she was born at 6.5lbs.

spicysamosahotcupoftea · 07/05/2024 10:23

My DD was born at 34 weeks.

I went into labour at 33+4 (was at work, didn't realise, thought it was gas pains 🤣).

They kept me in and monitored me and wanted to get me to 34 weeks, I also had the steroid injections to boost her lungs (hurt like a *!!).

She was born 34 weeks exactly, came out fighting, needed no additional care.

She did develop jaundice after a couple of days but 12 hours under a warm blue light fixed it.

The only reason we ended up staying in for a week was because she wasn't putting weight on fast enough. But exactly a week later, we went home.

Absolutely no issues since then.

Good luck! x

Offthepath · 07/05/2024 10:32

I had that - waters way too much then disappearing, iugr, steroid injections, bed rest, crazy stress. Baby was born tiny but perfect. He is now a teenager, totally average size etc. I remember the stress of that period like it was a recent thing, it's beyond stressful at the time, but it will pass (and before you know it you'll be dealing with teenage crap and gosh it's so much harder and more stressful lol).
Hugs op, it will be ok, just look after yourself & do things that make you feel good (within the bed rest limitations - but stuff like good books and good movies and good chocolate make a big difference)

Bells3032 · 07/05/2024 10:37

honestly at 36 weeks they shouldn't need too much additional help. they may need a day or two in the NICU but that's it

My daughter was born at 34+1 and no nicu time needed (no steroids either). was eating and breathing fine on her own. APGAR scores of 9 and 10. Had a bit of UV sunbathing for 12 hours and some antibiotics (as i'd had PPROMS). had to spend three nights in the hospital as that's their policy for preterms but she was born on the 21st and came home on Christmas day.

foodtoorder · 07/05/2024 10:43

I e had a 32 and a 36 week birth, both were fine and healthy with some support from scbu.
My advice would be to accept that the baby may need special care so it is not so much of a surprise or worry. My experience with them and their knowledge was very positive and supportive.

PurpleCar02 · 07/05/2024 11:03

I had DC at 36 weeks, went into spontaneous labour for no reason at all! Baby was fine, needed no additional help and was even able to do delayed cord clamping, this was not possible with my other DC who was born at full term. We did have some minor things such as low blood sugar, jaundice requiring the lamp, low body temperature, but all things full term babies can have and were managed fine and baby stayed with me the whole time. One thing I wasn’t told about was that babies born a little early can be a bit more sleepy, that made establishing breastfeeding difficult because baby was more interested in sleeping than feeding, but we got there in the end.

Original poster

relly1 · 07/05/2024 13:39

Sorry guys I realised I put " is progressing " I meant I'm on bed rest as labour "ISN'T" progressing my cervix isn't opening anymore etc, I'm in tommorow for a ultrasound if the Waters's are not great around baby I'll be induced tommorow asap , if not it will be Friday I'll be bang on 36 weeks , so sorry I was half asleep typing this lol!

OP posts:

vegisaurus · 07/05/2024 13:50

I had my first at 36 weeks (waters breaking at 35). Although technically premature, as 37 weeks is considered 'term', I had no major complications and have a perfectly happy and healthy preschooler now! Some things to be aware of that wouldn't necessarily happen if you weren't early:

They won't let you go past 37 weeks to mitigate infection risk
There may be a pediatrics team present once the baby is born to perform the initial checks and decide if any extra care is needed. It felt really busy in the room the moment after she was born but after 5 mins they all left once everything was deemed ok!
You and the baby will need antibiotics in case of infections since your waters went early. This means you will be in hospital for at least 2 days until you get the all clear, and the baby will have a cannula fitted to administer them. Within all likelihood this will be managed on a normal postnatal ward
It is REALLY common for preterm babies to develop jaundice. We required a couple of rounds of light treatment which is non invasive and very effective.

Hope you are feeling ok and being looked after. I remember being quite scared at the time but honestly it was all fine and I had a very straightforward and positive spontaneous birth in the end!

mondaytosunday · 07/05/2024 13:55

My son was born at 36+5 weeks - already over 10lbs! He was ready to come out! He's a fitness instructor now so all good.

Original poster

relly1 · 07/05/2024 14:27

@vegisaurus hey, yes I'm booked to have him Friday I'll be 36 weeks just because I'm getting cramping and I've been in and out of hospital so they was bringing him at 37 but moved it a week forward at 36, thankyou for the message it's helped slot
With my nerves

OP posts:

trampoline123 · 07/05/2024 14:36

Hi - 36w isn't too bad. I know it's so worrying.

Mine was born at 34w because my placenta stopped working and he wasn't growing. I had to have injections in my bum to help his lungs grow and then a C-section 2 days later.

He was small 3lb 4 but healthy. He was taken straight to NICU and was in a incubator and was on oxygen for 2 days. He had jaundice and had some light therapy.

He was discharged after 5 days which we were really surprised at because sometimes they stay until term. It was a heatwave though so that helped.

At home he just slept and ate.

Milk wise mine didn't really come in so we used donated milk whilst he was in and I pumped as much as I could. This was enough until he started having more and more.

It was a scary experience but we learnt a lot and he's such a strong determined stubborn boy now which we are thankful for.

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