34 wks is safe for babies, right?

Ok, not wishing for them to come (well, not this very minute, LOL), but 34 weeks is the safe point right? With apprx weights of 4.9 & 5.1 they should be healthy little girls...right?? LOL, I know you all aren't drs & there is no guarentees but I guess I'm just looking for a little reassurance.

Had my ob appt today & I'm 1.5 cm & 60% effaced...I know, I know, could still be weeks, but "if" they come they'll be ready for the world right?

 

Ok, not wishing for them to come (well, not this very minute, LOL), but 34 weeks is the safe point right? With apprx weights of 4.9 & 5.1 they should be healthy little girls...right?? LOL, I know you all aren't drs & there is no guarentees but I guess I'm just looking for a little reassurance.

Had my ob appt today & I'm 1.5 cm & 60% effaced...I know, I know, could still be weeks, but "if" they come they'll be ready for the world right?

 

34 weeks is definitely a huge milestone for sure, congratulations! To avoid any possibility of NICU time though, it would be better for them to cook a little longer. I always find the NICU time by gestational age chart (link above on the main page) helpful.

Keep in mind that those weight predictions can be way off, too...so for a safer buffer I think it would be better to cook them longer, if possible. On the other hand, "if" they were to come now, they probably would not suffer any long-term complications. Congrats again for making it this far!

 

Thank you! Your reply was just what I needed to hear! I know I don't want them to come yet...it's the whole "if", LOL.

Off to check the chart!

 

I had my daughter @ 34 weeks and everything was fine with here. She did spend 8 days in the SCN but shes done very well since. You would have no idea she was a premie. I am at risk now for having these 2 even earlier so im hoping they stay in at least 32-34 weeks. keepin my legs crossed anywho. (I WANT THEM OUT TOO!!!!) Good luck with everything and im sure your babies will do just fine!

 

Yeah no problem.

I had my first at 32 weeks and she was fine (born in hosp. but if at home IMO she would've been fine without NICU)

Second at 36 weeks at home unassisted no problems there no NICU

Third at 35 weeks at home unassisted no probs fed like a (excuse this) PIGGY (and still does...our little Jassie)

Forth full term I think no problems unassisted home water birth.

Fifth 39 weeks unassisted no problems (bed birth LOL.) Heaviest baby at 7p12o and easiest delivery and most peaceful.

So don't worry (it's usually (mostly not always)) the intervention that means the baby is not with the mother straight away to feed and be kept regulated by her temperature and heartbeat. Read some of Michel Odent's stuff (do a search) Birth Reborn is a good start.

Hope this helps

Hayley xox

 

Mine were also born at 34 weeks. They had a few problems: weight gain, one baby could not BF at all (and it took me weeks to get him to finally BF), and regulating their body temps. We were in the hospital for 8 days.

Now they're doing very well!

 

Mine were born at 35 weeks and we had temp regulation problems on Joshua and ended up back in the hospital 3 days after being released because they were afraid he had an infection, all it was is that he still couldnt hold his temperature. We also had jaundice and bf and bottle feeding problems. Now we have gross motor delays hoping they catch up soon.

I was so miserable and I hurt a lot and couldnt sleep good because of having to go pee so often.

The day before I had the babies I was so mad because it was so hard to get around and do things....my dh said lets go home and you can lay down and i said no i'm not going to lay down!

If I had to do it over again I would stay in bed until the doctor wanted to deliver the babies.

That's my experience.

 

I think in terms of long term issues you are ok but in terms of the NICU you are still borderline (although that could be said for every baby since sometimes babies born at 40 weeks could also need to be in the NICU). At this point the estimations can be off as much as one pound in either direction. I used to always subtract a pound in my head and think about that being their weight, 3 pounds made me nervous! My goal was to be able to bring them home with me when I was discharged and I attained it! Great job on the 34 weeks, I hope we will also be sharing your 35, 36........week milestones with you as well!

 

Thanks for the replies e/o! My goal is to not have NICU time too! And Dianne telling me subtract a lb is a great idea, does put things into perspective a bit more.

I hope e/o knows I'm not doing anything to "help" them along. Just needed to know where we stand at this point. It's the whole knowing they could come anytime now, & then 2nd guessing every ache & twinge, LOL. Just being a worry wart AGAIN!!

 

I delivered at 34w4d. I had the steroid shots at 28 weeks, so I am not sure if that helped at all. BUT...I delivered two very healthy little babies that did not need any NICU time. We had a few feeding issues, and it took forever for my milk to come in. But overall, we had a pretty easy go of things for such an early delivery.

 

34 weeks is a great milestone! Good job mommy .

I had the twins at 35 weeks 3 days. Jackson come home from the hospital with me but Hannah stayed in the NICU for immature lungs, whole in her heart, and eating issues. Goes to show how every baby is different. Jackson actually weighed over a pound less than Hannah and was fine. The nureses in the NICU weren't use to seeing a 6 lb 12 oz baby. She's doing great now.

I know several babies born at 34 weeks that had no problems. Like I said every baby is different.

 

I've heard 34 weeks is a great milestone, due to lung development, etc. But, like e/o has said - the longer the better!

You really ARE almost there! So hang on!

 

I was 2 cm dialated at 32 weeks ... I made it until my scheduled induction at 38w2d ... with 4 1/2 cm. I added another cm every 2 weeks. I never thought I would make it passed 34, then 36 ... etc. but I did. Mine measured 6lbs1oz and 6lbs15oz at 34 weeks so at least that was good news ... keep on going!!! Every day counts and helps!

 

I had my girls at 35 weeks and we all came home together after 3 days in the hospital. Good luck!!

 

34 weeks is a great milestone. Don't worry about dialating already. You are right, it could be weeks. One of my friends walked around for close to 3 weeks at 3 centimeters. They finally induced her! I would take it easy and try to cook them a bit longer though.

I know what you mean about the "ifs." I am 28 weeks this week. I have absolutely no reason to think this little guy will come anytime soon but it feels great to know he has a chance if anything were to happen now. I'm just a worry wart when it comes to pregnancy.

 

A huge milestone, however if they were born right now they would most likely need 2-3 weeks of NICU. One or both might have breathing issues for a short period of time and definitely would have to be on the feeder and grower side.

Congrats on 34 Weeks!

 

I agree that 34 weeks is a great milestone. However, I think that a few more weeks will get you closer to the end result of no NICU. Good luck and keep them cooking!

 

Congrats on getting to 34 weeks! Like you I was dilated to 1cm and 50% from about 32 weeks and we had a c/s at 36 wks, 5 days and one of my sons spent 8 days in the NICU and was on the vent for a couple days because of respiratory distress. My other son was totally fine and went home with us after 4 day, so the longer they bake, the better!

 

My OB is very conservative so I was a little shocked when she wanted to deliver my babies at 34 1/2 weeks due to their large size/maternal distress. In her words they were 'out of the woods' for long term problems. (Ultimately she, my peri and I concluded we would deliver at 37 weeks though.)

 

Personally, I would try to get to atleast 36 weeks. Mine were just over 34 weeks and spent 16 days in the NICU and 3 months on apnea/heart monitors, caffeine and had problems feeding. I wasn't able to breastfeed them (they couldn't suck/swallow well) until they were 3 months old. 34 weeks was the best I could do though (I went into labor at 27 weeks and spent a long time on mag trying to hold off labor). I wish I could have stayed pregnant just a few more weeks!

 

I had my tiwns at 34 wks 5 days. However, I had my steriod shots at 31 weeks due to PTL. The girls weighed 6.2 & 6.9 I really was trying to get to 36 weeks, to avoid the NICU. But, we only had to stay in NICU for 5 days, not that bad.

 

NOt to overide anyone here but a substancial amount of the time these feeding problems are caused by the way that the hospitals/doctors take the babies away immediately and there is no time to get feeding established (this can be even harder if it's your first pregnancy) a lot of the babies they're "saving" they're actually causing to be premature (by their over monitoring.) Usually when a baby starts attempting to suckle straight away (it doesn't always happen immediately...my second took a couple of hours before he started feeding, but I kept him snuggled to me the whole time and then was patient) it does start feeding (if the baby doesn't have pre-existing physical problems like cleft palate, hole in the heart etc...) Temp regulation problems don't occur often in babies nursed in "kangaroo care style." I don't know if this info. is helpful to anyone, but it needs to be said that not all babies need NICU if born premmie...in fact I believe NICU is rarely needed (and no-way near the rate of prevalence we have in western countries.)

Hayley xx