Risks with being born at 35 weeks - concerned

[Quindin]

I am concerned we might have to induce the birth of our baby before he is done "cooking" (See this (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=241709)
thread ) :(

I am 35 weeks today - I am almost certain this is right because the U/S at 15 weeks gave a date that matched exactly the one we had based on the LMP.

Does anybody have any info on the outcome of babies born around week 35-36?? It is also the middle of the winter, and I am very afraid of RSV.

My three kids were born at least one week past due date and they all weighed 4kgs (a little over 8lbs). This is not much at all considering they were born one-two weeks late, so I am wondering how little this one could end up being...

Do you guys also have any info on how much weight babies put on per week during the last month?

Thanks...

[sweetfeet]

I can share my experience if you'd like. Sophie was born at 35w6d. She was 6lbs 13oz. She was breech and born by emergency c-section because no one figured out that she was breech until I was 8cm. :eyesroll My hospital requires deliveries before 36weeks to be done in the OR. I did win the battle to birth in the room since I was so close. Her apgars were 9-9. She had jaundice and had to go into the nursery from days 3-5 and stay under the bili lights.
She gained weight steadily and her ped seemed pleased with her progress. She is a healthy toddler now. No RSV, nothing that has required a sick visit to the doctor. She is 2.8 years old now and has only had a cold. She was a little slow to meet milestones. Like a month or 2 behind normal or at the end of the normal ranges. She is a really bright child who knows her ABC's and numbers to 12 and colors.
I would try not to worry too much. I think that most likely everything will be ok.
Oh I was given antibiotics and something to mature her lungs while I was in labor.

[Thmom]

I'd suggest the blue ribbon baby (http://www.blueribbonbaby.org/) diet bedrest and constant monitoring of your bp. You should be able to get a bp cuff from walmart etc. and take your bp several times a day. Are you spilling sugars or proteins in your urine at all? At this point I'd try to take it just one day at a time... Keep monitoring your bp and your urine and watch that things don't get worse. I know that dr.'s like to try to plan these things but it's probably in your best intrest if you don't. You can always go in an be induced anytime it's warranted wether it's convient for the dr or not.

[WhimsyTyme]

Our DS was born via c-section right at 36 weeks. I have a serious lung capacity issues and they started the threats of taking him as early as 26 weeks. My lung capacity was down to 31% and once you hit the 20's the mom or the baby or both could die from lack of oxygen.

DS had a small kidney issue that was not related to an early birth. He has actually passed all of his milestones and even out preformed many of his playmates that were full term and are weeks older than him.

He weighed 6lb 9oz and lost nearly a pound in his first week. After that he gained and again exceeded the weight goals that the dr had set for him.

We are pg w/ #2 and at 8 weeks my lung capacity was only 34%. Our battle has already begun. Believe me, I understand your concerns and my thoughts are with you.

As my doctor keeps telling me healthy mama and healthy baby are his primary goals and he will do what it takes to make that happen. You just have to put your trust in the hands of your health care person. I went to a high risk OB and got a second opinion, it matched my OB's.

Good luck mama! Keep us updated!!!!! Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

[Lousli]

My first was 36 weeks and my second 33 weeks. Big difference. My older daughter was 5 pounds 4 ounces at birth, apgars of 9, pink and screaming and ready to come home with us from the hospital. She was alittle smaller, sleepier, and harder to nurse than your average newborn. We had to wake her or she'd sleep through feedings. She had a touch of jaundice, but didn't require phototherapy. She was a little behind on milestones, but not much, and is more than caught up now at the age of three.

My newest one, at 33 weeks, was a different story. She was 4 pounds 1 ounce at birth, and required a 23 day stay in the NICU. She was breathing well because I got steriod shots for her lungs.

Once you get to about 35 or 36 weeks, your chances of having a very healthy baby are great. They may want to do an amnio to see if the baby's lungs are mature enough for you to deliver early, or they might give you the steriod shots. The main concerns, other than breathing, would most likely be jaundice and eating. The baby might have trouble latching on at first, and might be sleepy. Working with a good LC should get you over the hump. I think it would be unlikely that a 35-36 week baby that has no other complications would require more than a week or two in the hospital, and that is the absolute most.

You might want to ask, while you're on bedrest, someone to bring you some books about preemies. There's a good one called "Preemies" (oddly enough ;)) and a Dr. Sears book called the premature baby book. I've found them very helpful, and I only wish I had bought them while my daughter was still in the NICU, to help me better understand what was going on.

I hope your BP stays down and you can keep your little one cooking for a bit longer!

[shelbean91]

my kids were born at 35.5 weeks, 35 weeks, 34.5 weeks and weighed 6.9 lb, 6.6lb, and 6.2 lbs. All healthy except for some jaundice and feeding issues (had a hard time nursing for the first 3-4 weeks with dd and ds2, 4 mos to nurse w/ds1).

Ds1 was in the nursery for observation for 4 hrs, the other 2 with me the entire time.

1st 2 no problems with birth, 3rd ended up being c-section for reasons not related to preemie. All 3 were born early b/c my water broke. Interestingly, I'm the only 1 of my siblings who was born late, the rest (4 of them) ranged from 3-5 weeks early- all healthy.

[Houdini]

Seth was born at 34 weeks and weighed 4 lbs. 5.5 ozs. He had no breathing issues and was a strong nurser. The staff kept telling my his sucking reflex was not developed b/c they kept trying to shove a bottle in his mouth and he wouldn't take it. I finally told them to latch him on to their breast and they could see he was sucking fine -- He just doesn't want the bottle. Smart kid.
Madison was born at 35 weeks and weighed 4 lbs. 13 ozs. She had surgery due to a defect of her intestines, but had no issues related to her early birth. She was unable to nurse, but that was due to low muscle tone.
They were both slow to gain weight until about 3 months, but there were no complications otherwise. The doctors were more concerned about the weight gain than I was. I figured they would grow when they were ready.