Seeking Stories from Those of You Who Delivered at 36 Wks, Planned or Unplanned

My first child, a son, was born at 32 weeks. My water broke so labor had to continue. He spent 4 weeks in the NICU it was the hardest month of my life. He was fine, just needed time to grow a little and learn to eat. #2 was born at 37 weeks and went home with me two days later.
It is unclear to me if this baby is a boy or a girl? My dr has always said that baby girls seem to do better if born early, don't know why.
I had HORRIBLE back pain with #3 - keep me in bed pain - ad pre term labor which = bed rest. Gave birth at 38 weeks. My advice - try to hang in there to st least week 37 if you can.
hugs
L.

Both of my children were born at 36 weeks and their lungs were not developed. Both had to stay in the hospital while I was sent home. I would suggest if you have the option,wait as long as possible...It's very hard on you physically as well as emotionally to leave that baby in the hospital while you are sent home...best of luck!

L.

Hi, P.! I am right there with you on the complications of a pregnancy!! :)

Both my boys tried to come early...the 1st one was due May 5, and I went into labor the 1st time on March 24...managed to "keep him in" until the 16th of April, and he was born at 3 minutes after midnight on the 17th! (I just wanted to sleep at that point!!! I had been UP since Monday morning!!) He was born 3 days before my doctors were going to induce me, anyway, because I'm a Type 1 diabetic, so I never considered him a "premie". He weighed 7 lbs, 15.5 oz and was 21 1/2" long! He was born by emergency c-section, because I had dilated to 6, and my body Q-U-I-T !!!

My 2nd one put me on FULL bed rest March 16, and he was born by c-section on April 26th (at a much more reasonable time of 8:37 AM!!) :) He weighed 5 lbs, 15 oz, and was 19" long. His APGAR scores were 8 and 9, and then he stopped breathing, so he spent 17 days in the NICU. His due date was May 26, and my c-section was originally scheduled for May 5.

I had the amnio tests done to check their lung capacities, and never regretted any of the tests I had my doctors do!! But I will tell you this...have the test done, and if your baby's lungs are ready, and the dr thinks he needs to be delivered, I would do so....

Feel free to call me if you'd like to talk. My # is in my profile, or you can email me at ____@____.com

Praying for you and your family!
~J.~

Hi,
I delivered my triplets at 36 wks 2 days and all are happy healthy 3 year olds!!

I had the lung test done (which was weird but not really painful at all) and the doctor decided to wait based on the number that test gave but my blood pressure kept rising so I had them the day after the test. They were taken to the NICU and were all on oxygen for a couple of hours but were absolutely fine after that. They stayed in the hospital for about 11 days simply because they were slow eaters but they kicked it in gear and came home very healthy babies!!

Stay positive...I know how it is to be sooo ready to have the pregnancy part over and move on...36 weeks really is a great milestone to be at!
Congrats!!
C.

PRACTICAL ADVICE FOR PREEMIE'S :) Hi P., I just joined Mamasource so this is a late response to your request... I had a c-section at 35 weeks due to high-risk pregnancy and spent about 2 weeks back and forth to the NICU. She is perfect now :) I have a few pieced of advice for premature babies since they are precious and can get over-stimulated easily. 1.) SWADDLE BATHS were really helpful at first so that the baby can feel safe and bundled during baths until they get used to bath. Your nursery or NICU can give you directions on how to do them. My baby has always loved baths and I think the early swaddle baths played a part in that. 2.) Careful not to over stimulate, even when comforting. For example, maybe rock or pat the baby, but not both at the same time. 3.) If he/she spends time in the NICU, it has lights and noises and an inclined bed at all times, so when you bring baby home, it helps to create the same atmosphere at first. We inclined her, kept quiet tv or music on and at a lamp.... until she was comfortable sleeping more without thses things. 4.) Do not try to manipulate his/her schedule for a while... their bodies know what they need, just go with the flow and don't stress any kind of schedule but do write down or keep a chart of sleeping times, eating times, and how much they eat, it's VERY helpful and your doctor will ask for this information specifically at early check-ups. I HOPE THAT HELPS A LITTLE BIT :)

I had my daughters at 34 and 36 weeks (both unplanned) and both were fine - no breathing problems or extended hospital stays. Every situation is different, so I would rely on your doctor's advice and your own "gut" feeling (you know your body the best!). If you are not comfortable with your doctor's opinion, ask for a consultation with her partner or an outside referral. Good luck!

I was induced at 36 weeks with my first son and had a c-section at 37 weeks with my second son. Both of my pregnancies were high risk pregnancies and had tons of complications (toxemia, gestational diabetes, I threw up constantly through both pregnancies throughout the entire pregnancies so I was hospitalized for dehydration at times, pre-term labor with both preganancies). Of course it's better to go to term if possible, but fortunately both of my boys were fine. They were both about 7.5 pounds and their lungs were developed. I had complications after each delivery, so the boys were actually ready to go home before I was. They are 10 and almost 4 now, and have been happy, healthy boys ever since. I hope you and your baby have a safe, easy delivery and are both happy and healthy as well.

First of all -- I hope, regardless of what happens, you and the baby are safe and healthy.

I've never had a preterm baby but one of my BFFs just delivered at 36 weeks and the baby was fine. She was tiny but she came home a day or two later.

But...

In her 3 weeks of life, she's been in the hospital more than not. Not anything related to her premature birth except that she got a cold that she couldn't fight off because she was so small and now has pnuemonia. I will say her lung function was perfect at birth.

If you do end up having the baby early, just keep it in the house and utilize Purell until we are totally out of cold and flu season -- still a month or so to go! That's my only suggestion!

Let us know what happens!

God Bless You Both

I was induced at 37 weeks with my middle son.
I had a sonogram at 34 weeks that revealed that he was rather large. (like they couldn't tell by my massive size...) :)
It turned out that I just had an ABUNDANCE of amniotic fluid. He was born weighing 8 lbs 13 oz.
He was perfectly fine. The only setback (if you even want to call it that) was that he got jaundiced. They delivered a lightbed to our home and he was on it for 3 days. We called him our "little space baby". :)

I will keep you and the safe and healthy delivery of your baby in my prayers.
I'm sure the baby will be fine.
God Bless!!

Our son was almost 2 months early.he was due end of Jan and came the start of Dec.He stayed in the hospital for two weeks and it was one of if not the hardest things we have ever been through.This most definately was not planned!! You know the healthiest thing to do for you and your baby.Follow your heart and gut,that has always lead me in the right direction.I am sure evrything will be fine :) Warmly,A. C

Personally I would wait as long as possible to have your baby. Why is it exactly you are wanting to have her so early? Because of relying on your husband and being uncomfortable? Aren't both of those reasons a big part of dealing with pregnancy??
I'm honestly shocked your doctor would even be ok with letting you deliver so early unless you have some serious health condition that is putting you or your baby at risk and I don't think being on bedrest is one of them.
Of course if your body went into labor on it's own at 36 weeks, that's totally different but I wouldn't force yourself into labor 4 weeks early.

I'm in my 37th week, my baby's at 8 lbs already, take care of a 6 yr old and 2 yr old and as miserable as I'm getting, I'm in no hurry to make this baby come until at least 39-40 weeks.
If you can wait until 38-39 weeks then definitely do so.
Your baby's brain stops developing when she is born so the longer her brain develops the better.
Try and hang in there. 3-4 more weeks is really just around the corner!
Take Care!

- - -TO THE "INDGINANT" NICOLE! I'm not sure I missed any key points here when P. clearly stated she's just tired of relying on her husband and being in pain.....Is it pain from an uncomfortable pregnancy or some other related pain? Either way, pregnancy is NEVER easy or pain free so maybe I wasn't clear on that but alls I'm saying is if you don't absolutely have to have your baby 4 weeks early, then don't do it! Other moms have related stories but most sound as if they went into labor on their own and that's a situation you CAN NOT avoid!

Both my girls were planned c-sections at 36 weeks. It was due to a ruptured molar pregnancy that nearly took my life with my first pregnancy and risked my other 2 pregnancies.

They were both born healthy and went home with me. I did get steroid shots 2 weeks earlier to help their lungs develop.

My son was born at 33 weeks--I just went into labor early (later learned possible reasons why, but that is another subject entirely) Anyway, I went into labor and they tried to stop it just long enough to give me steroids for his lung development, and an antibiotic, but he wasn't hearing of--there was NO stopping labor. Anyway, he had to stay in NICU for about a week, but he was PERFECTLY healthy--they were just being cautious--and ruling out some reasons for the early arrival. But his lungs were good--and he was just fine. Best of luck to you.

Hi P.! I had my son at 36 weeks. My water broke and I had him 45 minutes after arriving to the hospital--this was 11 years ago! So when I was pregnant with my daughter almost 4 years ago, my doctor induced at 36 weeks bc I have an incompetent cervix--which was caught after the birht of my son. I am now 31 weeks along with a girl and my doctor will be inducing as soon as I start to dilate and/or efface. Just from previous experiences, I feel like it too will be around 36 weeks, but both of the others were fine--pretty small (6 lbs 2oz. and 6 lbs 13 oz) but the lungs were fine and they are both perfectly healthy. My daughter (4 yrs ago) didn't cry when she was born so they blew some air in her face--then she let out a huge scream and hasn't slowed down since! All I can say is don't worry about a little earlier delivery--as hospitals are perfectly equipped to help if it is needed!! Good Luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!! :) C.

I'd say hang in there if you can. Babies are meant to stay in the womb for further growth if possible, but if she/he tries to come into the world earlier....then let it happen :)

Best of luck!

I went into labor at 23 1/2 weeks with my first son. I went on strict bedrest for the next 13 1/2 weeks. When I say strict, I mean STRICT. I was only upright for a total of 23 minutes a day. This was to use the restroom and shower. There was never a person more ready to deliver than I was. I had the amnio to test for lung development at 36 weeks and 6 days. My dr was going to induce me the next day depending on the results. The amnio threw me into labor and I delivered 5 hours later at 7:30 PM. The lab called my dr at 11:00 PM to tell him that my son's lungs were mature. Of course we already new it. Our son never left our side - not even to go to the nursery. He was perfect. I would have been a little nervous at 36 weeks but was fine at 37 weeks. The most important thing is to remember that you know your baby better than anyone else on this planet. Be confident that the decision you make is the right one for you and your family. Best of luck and congratulations!!!!!!!!!!

My 1st daughter was born at 36 weeks. My water broke and that was just it. I never had contractions. I was scheduled to have a c-section anyway because she was breach. They performed the c-section and my child was perfect. 5 lbs, 7 oz. Her organs were fully developed and we went home together as scheduled on the 4th day. I did notice that when she turned 3 she had what appeared to be a quarter-sized cysted down in her pelvic regions. The only thing was that it came and went. We learned it was an inguinal hernia. She had it bilaterally (on both sides) but the other side never "poked out." I wondered if this was a result of some developmental problem due to her prematurity. The doctor seemed to agree that was a possibility, but never confidently confirmed my suspicion. The surgery to repair the herias was uneventful and she is a smart, funny and beautful 4 1/2 year old now.

Hi. I just saw your post, I know it's been on awhile I just wanted to share with you that 2 of my 5 children were born early(on their own).
One at 35 weeks/6 days. She was 6 lbs. and healthy and went home 2 days later.
One at 36 weeks and he was 7 Lbs. 14 oz.!!!! (thank God he came early), and he was healthy and fine as well.
My sister delivered on of her children at 35 weeks, and she was 5lbs, and did have to stay a couple extra days in the hospital, but is healthy and fine! If your Dr. thinks your child is ready, I'd trust his/her decision and sometimes they will even administer steriods during the labor to help mature their lungs.
Good luck!