Possible early baby question

[Faith]

Both of my last two children were slightly early, 1.5 weeks (in a hospitial) and 3 weeks (at home). They were both completely fine with great apgar scores.

I always wonder if my future children will be early as well. It has been pointed out to me that maybe I am not *early* at all, but this is normal for me, or the dates are off, etc.

But if I *am* early, how early is too early? My MW says anything more than 3 weeks officially.

I saw this video at LLL a few years ago about premature babies in different countries. In America of course, they were all in NICU and it was very sad- all those tubes, etc. In the other countries, the little tiny babies were simply slinged to the mom or dad's bare chests and the parent went on their way and everything was fine.

That just confuses me. Obviously, I want the best for my baby, and I would go to the hospitial if my baby needed it. But if it is just as well to not go thru all that, I would much rather we all stay home!

I'm not totally sure what I am trying to ask...
I guess, how do I know if I am genuniely early? How early is too early that I need to be in the hospitial? And what is up with that video- if my baby is early, can't we just do it like that?

I feel like this a dumb question, but it just seems like what I have seen does not support the fact that all early babies need or benefit from the hospitial situation.

[khrisday]

Well my guess is that many of those premature babie sin other countrie who were just sent home with no medical care will have problems- or even death, later on. I do think America goes in the extreme in the other direction, but I think it's difficult to make a cut off line sometimes of when medical is really necessary. Obviously if the baby has problems gaining or keeping weight on, trouble breathing or eliminating, or infections, severe jaundice, etc then medical care would be a helpful thing to have available. Of course, just becuase the baby needs medical care does not alod mean that baby can't be strapped to a parent with skin to skin contact and nursing. It's called Kangaroo Care, and many hospitals are accepting of this type of philosophy (or have at least heard of it). Sometimes it is not an option, but for a baby who is slightly early and not having major medical problems it shoudl not be a problem. I don't think that 3 weeks is even considered "early". Unles a baby is under 5 pounds, or more than 4 weeks earlier than EDD I don't think they can be callede "premature". But I may be wrong.

[Elyssia]

my first baby was 5 days early
the next one was 10 days early
and the twins were 15 days early
my midwife says i just "cook them a little faster"
i think it is reasonable to expect that your
future kids will also be a little early
probably not so much as 3 weeks
but you need to look at the newborn exams
they were born early, but were they "done cooking?"
midwives estimate the gestational age by looking at
a lot of different things
vernix, finger and toenails, hand and footprints, ear cartilage, etc.
if your babies were early but looked like 40 weekers
then yes, you just make them a little faster
and i would insist on a homebirth
w/ preparations for a possible transport of the baby
if it is born before 37 weeks and needs it

[MamaAllNatural]

I had all of mine three weeks early. I have heard of even 35 weekers being born at home. If your babies have been fine I wouldn't worry about it. Some women always carry 2 or 3 (I've even heard of 4) weeks over. This is what's normal for them.

[Greaseball]

I've often wondered about this. If you have a baby at 35 or 36 weeks, is it really necessary to be in a hospital? If the baby weighs over 5 lbs, as many do at 35 weeks, and can breathe and nurse on its own, would it still be unsafe to have a homebirth?

I'm sure that legally, a midwife can't attend before 37 weeks, but if it was just a few days before, maybe she would be willing to change your due date in the records.

I've read that once 34 weeks have passed, there is nothing the hospital can do that can't be done at home, if you are willing to do kangaroo care at home. (I did read this on a pro-UC website, but might there be some truth to it?)