At what week would you feel comfortable delivering (UC) "earlier" than your due date?

[AbigailGrace]

Yep... that's my question... I was 12 days late with my last one and 3 days late with the one before but just curious if you have thought about your baby coming early...

[chase_mommy]

My DS was born two weeks early and DD was three weeks early... however at 36 weeks baby's are considered term so were they really early? I think I would have to listen to my body if I went into labor before 36 weeks and then act accordingly to what I feel. I really don't think I would be comfortable with anything before 35 weeks but then again I am not certain on my date of conception and there is a two week window either way... heck, I don't know. I guess my body would have to guide me on that one! Sorry, if I wasn't much help!

[MJB]

I would most likely UC at 36 weeks. Definitely at 37 weeks and beyond. Both my boys were 39-weekers and were 8lbs. 3oz. and 9 lbs. respectively so I could probably make a big healthy 36-weeker. I don't think I would UC at 35 weeks.

[ann_of_loxley]

Ive given this some though. I just feel this baby will come early (despite I wouldn't mind them coming a bit late lol)...but not that early, just a week earlier than my due date...but anyroad...I think id feel comfortable at 37 weeks.

[gossamerwindweb]

I had decided 37 weeks, but went 8 days over, so didn't need that concern

[chirp]

i'm kinda wondering the same thing...

i feel comfortable at 36 weeks...however we ALSO have a two week window (bf'ing was wreaking havoc on my cycles).

So even though a due date calculator says I'm 35 weeks now, I could really be 33. If I went into labor now, or within the next week or so I'd probably go to the hospital, since there is a chance that I'm not as far along as I think.

After the next week or so though, when I'm definitely passed/approaching 35-36 weeks, I would continue with my UC plans.

Can't wait till I'm in the clear!!!!
Can't wait till my babes in my arms!!

[PreggieUBA2C]

I was sent home with a c/s baby, my 1st child, who stopped breathing periodically, had a skull that molded to my hand when he nursed for the first two weeks home, skin that was so soft I couldn't feel its texture, just its burning warmth, and an obviously skinny little body with an obviously disproportionately large head- well, if you don't consider that this babe was not more than 34 weeks, but the OB would not 'fess up and nobody else was willing to be honest about the whole mess.

Sooo, at home, I gave 24/7 care to a premature infant on my own, never letting him out of my sight, as the ped at the hospital told me when ds had once again stopped breathing and needed O2.

I later read stories about mums in history who kept preemies in bread baskets next to the fire to keep them adequately warm while they went about their chores. I didn't do any chores, though. I barely ate and didn't sleep for 6 months.

So, I've had lots of experience with this, and honestly, given the care I've seen in hospitals, I think my constant, inexhaustible care for my infant by far surpasses whatever a random circuit of nicu nurses could ever provide even in the most progressive of hospitals. It turns out that I am a far better monitor than the machines that he would have been hooked up to if the OB and hospital would have been fine with a lawsuit.

He grew super fast and is 4'3" now at 6.5 yrs old, highly intelligent and the only real issue I can see connected to his early beginning is the one that brought him the most discomfort then too- his skin switches between extreme sensitivity, and roughness or undersensitivity in places that have been rubbed by clothing since birth. I don't mean in a usual way like his brothers or dh and me, either. It's different for him.

I would freebirth a baby any time before 18 weeks and then again after 34 weeks. Between 18 and 34 weeks, I'd seek assistance (if it were possible and the baby would have immediate assistance). If the baby were born spontaneously during that time, I would stay home since we are too far from a hospital to receive assistance in time to save such a young, tender life. If I had time though, I would go in.

[AbigailGrace]

Thanks so much for all your replies. I have thought along the same lines... 36 weeks being "term". I will be 36 weeks on Monday so I feel comfortable with it in general. But with having so many braxton hix these days, I have REALLY had to stop thinking head knowledge and start thinking heart knowledge. My last few babies have been over 8 1/2 lbs. anyway so I would think at 36 weeks, he will be a nice size.

I cannot imagine having to care for a preemie, though... I admire you PreggieUBA2C!!

[tessie]

Originally Posted by PreggieUBA2C

So, I've had lots of experience with this, and honestly, given the care I've seen in hospitals, I think my constant, inexhaustible care for my infant by far surpasses whatever a random circuit of nicu nurses could ever provide even in the most progressive of hospitals. It turns out that I am a far better monitor than the machines that he would have been hooked up to if the OB and hospital would have been fine with a lawsuit.

I don't doubt that the care of a mother surpasses that which a nurse can give but the equipment in the NICU does play a huge part in survival for prem babies.

I also think it's worth noting that the breadbox survivors were the fortunate exception. My great grandmother, for one, lost prem twin boys in the 1930s. And they were estimated to be around 7/8 months. Today they'd likely have lived and I'd have had two great uncles.

[PreggieUBA2C]

Originally Posted by tessie

I don't doubt that the care of a mother surpasses that which a nurse can give but the equipment in the NICU does play a huge part in survival for prem babies.

I also think it's worth noting that the breadbox survivors were the fortunate exception. My great grandmother, for one, lost prem twin boys in the 1930s. And they were estimated to be around 7/8 months. Today they'd likely have lived and I'd have had two great uncles.

No doubt the specific needs of the babes really matter in this, but for us, at 34 weeks, having our baby in nicu would not likely have been better and would likely have been worse. It is actually fortunate that they wanted to pretend that it didn't happen to save face and money because I wouldn't have known that I could do it in a healthier way for him than the sterile incubators at the hospital surrounded by machines and strangers if they had admitted it and admitted him. As it was, necessity brought courage and instinct into the immediate for me. I did things I never would have considered or thought myself capable of doing (and thanks Abigailgrace ).

I certainly don't recommend it as a great way to enter motherhood, but it was what I had and it was very hard; now I have the understanding I would need to care for a baby of that condition and better (more developed), so my scope is wider. It would never be my wish to experience it again though; I really didn't know if I would survive it (though I didn't consider that he wouldn't; I just couldn't think that way. I lived by moving forward moment by moment). It was terrible in many ways.

If ds were younger and needed constant O2 (or other constant assistance from a machine), obviously keeping him home wouldn't have worked (like your great uncles... I'm sorry you didn't get to meet them). But this is why I would seek assistance between 18 and 34 weeks gestation. His breathing difficulty was usually helped by positioning and rubbing his back and chest, and sometimes his own startle reflex when I had dozed off beside him, sensed his stopped breathing, and scooped him up before my eyes were even open. His startle reflex would often restart his breathing.

Most of the time, he was on my chest at nights, and during the day, facing me in a bouncer because if he wasn't nursing or sleeping, he did not want to be touched or held at all. He did want constant eye contact and talking though. He slept one hr at a time and no more than ten hrs in 24 for six months when he added a few two hr stints, still no more than ten hrs in 24. I was so tired.

This year, at 6 yrs old, he has for the first time begun to sleep 11 hrs here and there, and has even slept 12 a few times! His usual is still 10 though, but he now takes those 10 all at once, and at night.

I don't mean to diminish the experience of mums and families with preemies who do need the machinery and assistance of hospital staff; I know that happens and that young lives are saved because of it. It was not at all my intention to insult or minimise this contribution when it is needed.

In my case, even if it would normally have been that way as well, it was not offerred and so I learned what I needed to and I'm glad that I did, even though the whole thing would have been a non-issue had I not been coerced into a (premature) c/s. My particular baby, given the huge mess-up that had already taken place, would not have received the care he did from me at the hospital, and thankfully he did not need further assistance from there in addition to what I was doing.

It is heart-wrenching to me to know the stories of families that do deal with preemies in nicu and how hard it is for them. I really meant no disrespect. I am sorry I wasn't clearer in my intial post.

[xixstar]

I think it really just depends. I'm not doing a UC but know that my mw would attend at 35 weeks (wow, that could be now!) but I think I've decided that I wouldn't be comfortable with that. Since my last two were 41 weeks, I feel like my babes just need to cook a little longer and that 35 would be too early for me. But, if my babes had come at 38 weeks before, then I would be comfortable staying home at 35 weeks.

[SoCaliMommy]

Personally 35wks... my daughter was born at 35wks6days but was 7lbs 13oz 20"

[mwright]

I would be comfortable at 35 weeks too..I would just be more ready for a transfer if needed or try to plan my UC supportive midwife to be there to check baby out right after the birth.