Minimum estimated gestation before being admitted « Back to Group Discussions

[MamaInTheDesert]

My midwife let me know at one of my last appointments that she won't let me home birth if I'm 36 weeks. I never really got clarification if 36+1 was good, or if I needed to be a full 37 weeks for it to be okay. I'm guessing 37, but I'm not really concerned about it at this point.

Another lady at DD's dance class made a comment like "Oh, you're so close to 34 weeks! I always felt better once I hit 34 weeks, because I knew that I was full term and the doctors would be okay with me going into labor!" She seemed really surprised that my midwife would want to wait past 36 weeks.

So, just curious, how far along does everyone's providers want you to be before they'll admit or attend to you in a "normal" fashion?

[askins]

37 wks for my midwife practice at an out-of-hospital birth center.
 

[yellow73]

37 weeks for my homebirth midwives (CPMs).  But that's only if there are no other big issues going on.

[MidnightCommando]

Our ob/hospital will not admit before 37 weeks since we're a very small rural hospital which is not equipped to handle much.  I'm surprised by the woman's comment about 34 weeks since I've been told and have read that 37 is considered full term.  If you go into labor here before 37 weeks or there are other issues going on you will be transported via helicoptor or airplane 150 miles away.
 

[Monkey's Mum]

37 weeks for a homebirth here.

[alicewyf]

I had to be 37 weeks for my birth center birth with DD, or else I had to go to the hospital. I think 34 weeks is the cutoff for when they don't really try to stop your labor. I'm 34 weeks tomorrow and my son is an estimated 5 lbs 3 oz, so while I'm sure he would have problems if he were born this early, his weight seems fine. Anytime after 37 weeks is considered term.

[mudhugger]

37 weeks here too-- I think 34 or 35 weeks is like the exhale moment...You know, like the baby is now developed enough that there are fewer complications with a premature birth.  So maybe that's what she remembers?

[WMassMama]

At my hospital they don't have a NICU, so if you go into labor before 34 weeks, you'd have to be ambulanced to the closest hospital with a NICU.  I guess that after 34 weeks, even if you are before 37 weeks, the baby wouldn't need a NICU?  That was my interpretation.

[kjourdan]

I have always heard 37 weeks is full-term, but that at 34 weeks the lungs, etc. are developed enough that barring any other health issues, babies born at that point grow to be healthy.

[LionessMom]

my direct entry midwife starts attending homebirths at 36 weeks. and that is only if there are no problems with the pregnancy. i have arranged shadow care in the event i go into labor earlier or problems develop.

[LessTraveledBy]

I need to reach 36 weeks in order to give birth in the natural birthing unit.

[saimeiyu]

34 or 35 weeks is when they won't give you terbutaline or something else to stop labor. They won't help it along unless your water's broken, but they won't stop it at the hospital. 37 weeks is considered full term, and is about when my midwife is OK with attending at home. 36-37 weeks is a gray area for her, and depends entirely on the mom's feeling and history. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable before 37 weeks. Even before 38 weeks and I feel sort of iffy about it, but I'm pretty confident that I won't have to deal with that.

[becoming]

Originally Posted by saimeiyu 

34 or 35 weeks is when they won't give you terbutaline or something else to stop labor. They won't help it along unless your water's broken, but they won't stop it at the hospital. 37 weeks is considered full term, and is about when my midwife is OK with attending at home. 36-37 weeks is a gray area for her, and depends entirely on the mom's feeling and history. Personally, I wouldn't be comfortable before 37 weeks. Even before 38 weeks and I feel sort of iffy about it, but I'm pretty confident that I won't have to deal with that.

This is not the case where I am... I have been in preterm labor since 34 weeks 1 day, and they gave me Brethine and Procardia to stop my labor then. They are still telling me that they will stop my labor if it happens again before 37 weeks.

[AndtheStars]

37 weeks for my HBMW to attend at home.

[phathui5]

36 weeks is what you have to hit to use the birth center here. Some midwives will do a homebirth after 35 weeks, as Oregon does allow it.

[Nicole730]

I have to be 37w for a homebirth.  My midwife can consult with a doctor and get an okay for a homebirth at 36w and 5 or 6 days though.

[Veritaserum]

37 weeks for home birth, although my midwife would attend *me* a couple days shy of that due to my history of having babies at 37 weeks. 34 weeks is way too early for home birth. It's a roll of the dice whether the baby will need extensive breathing support. Some don't need any, others need the NICU stat. My SIL's midwife said it would be fine to stay home at 34 weeks. SIL transported at 9cm anyway and baby was born in terrible shape. The NICU team thankfully got him going again. We are all glad SIL wasn't at home for the birth. His condition was well beyond what could be handled by a midwife or paramedics. I am still furious that their midwife told them it would be safe to stay home at 34 weeks. An earlier transport would have made a difference for my nephew and would have been less traumatic for my SIL.

[saimeiyu]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum 

37 weeks for home birth, although my midwife would attend *me* a couple days shy of that due to my history of having babies at 37 weeks. 34 weeks is way too early for home birth. It's a roll of the dice whether the baby will need extensive breathing support. Some don't need any, others need the NICU stat. My SIL's midwife said it would be fine to stay home at 34 weeks. SIL transported at 9cm anyway and baby was born in terrible shape. The NICU team thankfully got him going again. We are all glad SIL wasn't at home for the birth. His condition was well beyond what could be handled by a midwife or paramedics. I am still furious that their midwife told them it would be safe to stay home at 34 weeks. An earlier transport would have made a difference for my nephew and would have been less traumatic for my SIL.

Wow.  I would so run far, far away from a midwife who suggested that 34 weeks was safe to stay home.  Never in my wildest dreams!  That is just... Mind-bogglingly unsafe unless the mom has a history of 34 weekers that are fine. O.o

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by saimeiyu 


Wow.  I would so run far, far away from a midwife who suggested that 34 weeks was safe to stay home.  Never in my wildest dreams!  That is just... Mind-bogglingly unsafe unless the mom has a history of 34 weekers that are fine. O.o

I was shocked when I heard the midwife say it would be ok to stay home (I spoke to her on the phone during labor). It never crossed my mind that she would suggest such a thing. I have urged people to stay away from her ever since, but many in the community still LOVE her. SIL also had pre-e and was bleeding heavier than a normal period during labor. There were so many reasons NOT to stay home that I just cannot give this midwife a pass for an isolated case of poor judgment. This was SIL's first baby. She is pregnant again and is planning a hospital birth with a midwife. I really hope that things go more smoothly this time, even if she has another preemie.

[thegoodearth]

36 weeks for at home with my MW if everything looks good.