34-37 weeks - what should I expect?

[Lisasmith]

My last baby was born at 32 weeks and this little love is expected to arrive between 34-37 weeks. Obviously we are hoping for 36+ weeks.

What should I expect from a 34-36 week baby though? Breathing wise, temperature control, feeding and hospital stay time? My 32 weeker was in hospital for 26 days but never needed any kind of airway support and he was amazingly born with the suck, swallow, breathe reflex and started on one suck feed a day from his 2nd day.

Thanks in advance xx

 

[Welshgem81]

hi hun. my baby girl was born by emcs at 34 weeks. she was only 3lb 7 but breathing fine. her temp and heart rate was monitored for 2 days to make sure. she latched straight on breast but got tired easily. so was fed by tube also. she was in for 18 days but that was to make sure she was demanding feeds every.good luck. hope you go term hun. if you don't mind me asking, for what reason are you expected to have your baby early? pre E?

 

[cdncouple09]

Every baby is so different. Are you getting a steroid shot to help baby get stronger and develop faster? Mine was born at 34 and she was good breathing/temp wise but struggled to eat. She latched great but had no energy so had to be tube fed. She also kind of struggled with the suck/swallow/breath. When mine was born I had 2 friends have their babies at the same time with the same gestation. All 3 babies were very different and struggled with different things.

 

[Lisasmith]

Thanks ladies.

No pre e but my cervix is anterior, starting to efface and dilate and being my fourth baby my cervix isn't what it used to be.

We will be having steroid shots at 33 weeks unless I show signs of imminent delivery beforehand.

 

[lilbeanhoping]

My lo was born at 35 weeks exactly (made it by two hours) by emcs.
He had to have everything to assist breathing; o2, cpap, intubated. Tube fed. Lung infection.
Never, developed the ability to suck, breathe, suck. Even now makes a huge mess eating because he has to stop to catch his breath.
We were in nicu a week but looking back they should have kept him longer.

My pediatrician tho thinks he may have actually even been a bit earlier gustatian than 35weeks tho.

Hopefully your lo holds out longer! And that u have a happy healthy baby!

 

[misspriss]

My LO was born by EMCS after 36 hours of labor that failed to progress. I got 2 steroid shots with the second at least 24 hours before birth.

LO was 3lbs 15oz, but dropped to 3lbs 9oz before he started gaining again. He needed no airway support and his lungs were perfect. (they did have him on a cannula with pressurized regular air but took him off shortly after birth because he had no need).

They let me try to breastfeed him at 34+3, and he was able to a little bit but tired easily. From 34+3 on, we worked on it every day. They took out his tube yesterday (36+1) and he is exclusively breastfeeding. He does need a nipple shield because his mouth is tiny and my tatas are HUGE (H+ cup). Seriously, they weigh more than him I am sure. He doesn't demand feeds, I have to wake him up on schedule, but they said when I'm not in the hospital he can go an hour longer and night probably. Preemies sometimes don't do a very good job of telling you they are hungry. They don't scream like term+ babies, you have to watch for rooting/sucking, etc. I have only heard LO cry when he is in pain (when they pull off his leads to put new ones on, etc) and he quits right when the pain is over.

They took him out of the isolette at 4lbs 7oz. He has been maintaining his temperature from that point. He is currently over 4lbs 9oz.

He was born on 3/28/13, and is going home TODAY after 18 days in the NICU.

 

[Lisasmith]

My LO was born by EMCS after 36 hours of labor that failed to progress. I got 2 steroid shots with the second at least 24 hours before birth.

LO was 3lbs 15oz, but dropped to 3lbs 9oz before he started gaining again. He needed no airway support and his lungs were perfect. (they did have him on a cannula with pressurized regular air but took him off shortly after birth because he had no need).

They let me try to breastfeed him at 34+3, and he was able to a little bit but tired easily. From 34+3 on, we worked on it every day. They took out his tube yesterday (36+1) and he is exclusively breastfeeding. He does need a nipple shield because his mouth is tiny and my tatas are HUGE (H+ cup). Seriously, they weigh more than him I am sure. He doesn't demand feeds, I have to wake him up on schedule, but they said when I'm not in the hospital he can go an hour longer and night probably. Preemies sometimes don't do a very good job of telling you they are hungry. They don't scream like term+ babies, you have to watch for rooting/sucking, etc. I have only heard LO cry when he is in pain (when they pull off his leads to put new ones on, etc) and he quits right when the pain is over.

They took him out of the isolette at 4lbs 7oz. He has been maintaining his temperature from that point. He is currently over 4lbs 9oz.

He was born on 3/28/13, and is going home TODAY after 18 days in the NICU.

He was only slightly bigger at birth than my 32 weeker was! I think I got very lucky with him and had 2 weeks cover of steroids before he was born. He was demanding feeds 2-3 hourly from 14 days old. I also took my boy home at 4lb 10oz! Congratulations on going home, it's very exciting.

Thanks for the information ladies. Ill be taking it easy and crossing my legs as much as I can

 

[MummyMana]

Hope your baby stays in as long as possible! I was 4cm dilated at 34 Weeks, waters went at 35+5 but she managed to stay in into 36 Weeks exactly she was a good weight (6lb 3) and had no problem breathing, the only problems she really had were with feeding and she had jaundice too, but her feeding began picking up st around day 4 or 5 so she didn't need a feeding tube in the end hoping yours will have minimal problems the steroids should help, i'm sure they helped Imogen

Never, developed the ability to suck, breathe, suck. Even now makes a huge mess eating because he has to stop to catch his

Immy does this, I always assumed all babies did til I read that xD

 

[lilbeanhoping]

Haha mummymana......all my friends with kids are always like "wow he makes a big mess" haha um yea

 

[MummyMana]

As I type this there's milk pouring down my arm and all over her face, it even goes in her hair :S

 

[lilbeanhoping]

Haha I feel ya. My lo drinks from a bottle because of his breathe/suck issue and usually soaks a whole bib and the receiving blanket I use to protect my clothes lol