C-Section at 36.4 weeks/Questions

I was scheduled for a c-section at 37.4 weeks, but they moved it up a week and now I'll be 36.4 weeks. I have been diagnosed with obstetric cholestasis and I think they need to deliver at 37 weeks. I am scared now of them being ready. Will 3 days from 37 weeks make a huge difference? I feel bad because I pushed for a Friday delivery (36.4 weeks) vs. a Monday delivery (37 weeks exactly) as it worked better for my husbands's work and childcare for our daughter. My ob didn't seem concerned at all whether I delivered on Friday or Monday. But that's just him recently (very carefree).

Also, at 33 weeks (last week) they were measuring 5lbs 8oz. and 5lbs. 4oz. I am just worried about lung maturity.

Please let me know your thoughts.

 

Have they given you the steroid injections for the lung development? If they haven't or even discussed it I wouldn't be worried about it.

My sons were born at 35 weeks weighing in at 4.14 and 4.15lbs and had APGARS of 9 and 8/9, but I had pre-eclampsia and was given the steroid injections at week 33.

I don't think you have to too much to worry about, especially if the OB isn't concerned.

Good luck!!!

 

Mine were born by scheduled c-section at 36w5d. My OB usually delivers twins at 37 weeks, but it was just before Thanksgiving and she wanted to make sure she could do the delivery herself before she went on vacation. No one seemed concerned about them being a bit earlier than 37 weeks. I never had steroid shots or anything -- they treated it as a full-term twin delivery. Both babies could breathe fine -- Sarah was on supplemental oxygen for about an hour but that was it.

 

I have had no complications other than now developing cholestasis so they haven't given me steroid shots. Last week, the peri said they wouldn't give them to me and now I am 34 weeks and they won't give them after 34 weeks.

 

No advice, just wanted to wish you lots of luck. :hug: I think if there was any concern your doctors would have hopefully shared them with you. :grouphug:

 

Are you having girls or boys (or one of each)?

I hate to share a story that's too scary, but here's my experience from a similar situation:

I had my first baby - a girl - at 38 weeks and 1 day by elective c-section - back then (in 2004) it was standard practice for anything over 38 weeks to be okay. She was great - no problems. Baby #2 was a boy - between 2004 and 2007, recommendations had changed to go to 39 weeks for lung maturity. That 39 week mark was on a Sunday and my doctor gave me a choice between Friday or Monday for my c-section. I picked Friday, of course, because I was already disgruntled about having to be pregnant a whole extra week - plus it was July in Texas. My baby, who was plenty big at 6 lbs. 14 oz. (and I was very confident in the conception date due to my husband's travel schedule) was one of the teeny, tiny percentage of full-term babies (like .02% or something crazy) - predominantly white males - whose lungs were not ready. We spent a tough five weeks in the NICU, then another 8 months at home on house arrest to get through RSV season (plus two RSV seasons worth of Synagis shots to the tune of $40K+). He is completely fine today - no residual problems whatsoever - and just turned two last month.

I'm scheduled to have my mono-di twin boys tomorrow at 38 weeks and 5 days and have had many, many discussions with my OB about the lung thing happening to us again - obviously an experience I'd like to avoid. He was comfortable with anything past 38 weeks for the twins and said that twins generally mature faster than singletons, so he thinks they'll be fine. He specifically said he was comfortable with anything between 38-39 weeks - he is not an advocate of going past 39 weeks due to potential structural breakdowns (placenta, etc.). I chose to wait until 9/1, just in case (I also have a weird obsession with Sept/Oct/Nov birthdays - don't ask ...).

All that said, I'd trust your OB's opinion - they are certainly not in the business of purposefully jeopardizing their patients/babies. I'm sure he has weighed the risk of your condition vs. the babies' health.

 

:hug: Honestly, you just don't know if they are ready until they are born, unless they would do an amnio to check for lung maturity. I hope everything goes well. :hug:

 

I went into labor at 36.2 weeks and delivered my b/g twins by elective c-section on 7/5/09. My little boy was 6lbs 4oz 18 in & my girl was 5 lbs 8oz 17 in. They had no problems with lung maturity, which was awesome since I did not receive steroid shots. My babes did not have any NICU time and they came to recovery with me. Afterwards,they both came straight to my room. So it's possible for their lungs to be ready.

Good luck!

 

Well, they are both boys. Separate sacs and placentas. I do know because of the cholestasis they recommend being delivered at 37 weeks or very close to it. If not, there is a risk of still birth or fetal distress.
I want to say I trust my ob, but he's not been the best so I question him a lot. I'm just so scared and being a previous NICU nurse doesn't help me.

 

To echo Summerfun, you should get an amnio to check for lung maturity if you're worried about that. That's what we did (they were mature) and delivered them the next day.

 

I would rather spend time in the NICU than experience either of the other risks as you mentioned for sure! :hug: momma, it will be ok, trust your doc. 37 weeks is huge, even 40+ weekers have to go to the NICU sometimes so try not to worry, I know that is easier said than done. :hug:

 

Like PPs have mentioned, you can never know 100% who'll end up in NICU. I had my babies (b/g) at exactly 36 weeks via c/s, moved up a week due to blood pressure rising, horrendous swelling and pain, and slowing growth in my daughter. My nurses all told me that some of the sickest babies they've treated have been the full term ones in NICU. Trust your OB's judgement. Your babies are at great weights. My son came out at 5 lbs. 2 oz. and my daughter came out at 4 lbs. 1 oz. Ethan did require a few hours on oxygen, but neither needed NICU time, and they stayed with me in my room the whole time and we all went home 4 days later. I'll be wishing the best for you and your babies!