[ihugtrees]

I have had this really strong gut feeling that this baby is going to come early ever since the beginning of my pregnancy. I am a first time mom, and could be totally wrong, but for some reason I just feel like I'm not going to get to 37 weeks/have my home birth.

Of course, this worries me for many reasons. I have faith in my baby and I think she will be okay even if she is a little early. However, I am wondering what the likelihood of a vaginal birth for an early baby is? Is there a certain marker in the third trimester where you it's safer to have a vaginal birth then a csection? Is there also a certain marker where its likely baby will be okay without major lifelong complications?

 

[CallMeMommy]

24 weeks is viability but at 28 weeks (I think, for some reason that number's sticking in my head) the odds for survival increase and the long-term complications decrease. I don't know if there's an official threshhold for vaginal delivery but I delivered my first son at 31 weeks vaginally. Now 4 years later you'd never know he was a preemie.

 

[MegBoz]

My sister had her sons at 35 and 36 weeks & both were fine! No breathing troubles or NICU stay. As a matter of fact, with #2 who was born at 35W, she got to leave the hospital in less than 48 hours.

- I'm jealous, DS was born healthy at 41W4D & we had to stay 48 hrs b/c I was GBS+ & didn't get any ABTs.

Although I will say she had serious, serious issues with BM supply with #2. I think because he was very sleepy, I'm guessing his suck wasn't strong enough, for long enough sessions to stimulate her supply sufficiently. So maybe that's just something to proactively look out for if you have a premie.

 

[yogafeet]

i had my twins vaginally at 30 wks.... but had set up a very progressive md well in advance. nak

 

[snowmom5]

I also had my twins vaginally (vbac), at 33 weeks.

Once you're into the third trimester, the question of whether you birth vaginally or by section has nothing to do with how far along you are in gestation.

 

[SoCaliMommy]

My mom had me vaginally 26yrs ago at 26/27wks i was 2lbs 2oz

I had both my kids vaginally at 35wk6days and 38wks3days no problem

vaginal birth is always safer than a c-section unless it's medically needed.

 

[cristeen]

Unless there's other complications that require a c-section (like spina bifida where the passage through the birth canal could cause more damage or severe pre-e where it's vital to get the baby out NOW), vaginal is safer regardless of gestation.

That isn't to say that all doctors agree with that, though.