Babies born at 38 weeks?

[KahluaCupcake]

I know I can't control nature, but I plan on beginning Operation: Eviction this Thursday when I reach 38 weeks exactly.
He has measured perfectly and been healthy the whole pregnancy. No markers for any problems, no repeat tests, etc.
However, I am on bed rest due to elevated blood pressure. It's not preeclampsia, because it lowers immensely when I'm at rest...but when standing or after walking, it's high....so they won't induce me. Unfortunately, OH is unemployed and I only get 6 half-paid weeks of maternity leave, so I feel like I am absolutely wasting my leave. Plus, I can't do anything. Sometimes walking to the bathroom knocks the wind out of me. I'm ready for my baby to be out.
Again, I know all the little tricks aren't guaranteed to work...but if they do, and he's born at 38-38.5 weeks, are there any risks? I knoow that some babies born at 37 weeks end up in incubators and needing light therapy...but is there a huge difference between 37 and 38? I've heard that boys' respiratory systems mature more slowly than girls'.

Any help would be appreciated. Thank you!

 

[irmastar]

Hi my boy was borned at 38+4 and he had to spend a week under the lights that you are saying, the hospital where I had him is an hour away from where I live I can not tell you how heartbreaking was to leave him and coming back home without my baby..but I didn't do anything to get my lbor started it just happened and I don't know if the gestation time had to do with his condition so I am no help sorry.

 

[cupcakemomma]

I know all babies are different, but I have a friend who just had her baby, at 38 weeks. The baby is perfectly healthy and doing well!

 

[whit.]

I'm in no way condoning you trying to have your baby early, but Sophia was born at 37 weeks and she (thank the Lord) had no problems other than a blood sugar dip (which we were prepared for, as I had GD.)

 

[baby_mama87]

My LO was born 38+2 and he was fine apart from having some jaundice which is common anyway even in full term babies.

Xxx

 

[mama_t]

my son was born at 37 weeks and was perfectly fine, didnt need any monitoring at all, my daughter was born at 38 weeks and was healthy as can be, no monitoring needed either! Hope you feel better soon!

 

[Amy31]

My boy was born exactly 38 weeks perfectly fine he was small 5.6 but that was because of my placenta being small.

 

[Button#]

My boy was born at 38w 1 and he was perfect, if a little shocked when he came out.

 

[TheNewMrs]

T was born at 38+1. Perfect!
But!!!! When the apple is ripe... Nothing you do will induce labour unless your body and baby is ready.

 

[..katie..]

38+3 (we think. long story.)...he was born at 6lbs14oz and 20.5 inches. No health problems. He was awfully skinny though, even though he wasn't tiny lol.

nothing will induce you until your body is ready to get induced. Hence, my medical induction. good luck and congrats!

 

[mommyof3co]

Remember that even your due date is an estimate and can be off, also up to 42wks is still considered completely normal range...37-42 is full term. I truly believe that they will come when they are ready but I totally understand wanting it to happen sooner rather than later, especially with your leave. BUT let me tell you about my son. I too had high BP..this was with my youngest...it was sudden and kept getting higher...rest didn't work for me. But it still wasn't pre-e but my OB was very concerned because apparently it's almost unheard of in a 3rd-4th pregnancy with the same father of all kids to suddenly have high BP with no apparent cause and since it happened so quickly and was so high they wanted to get me to 37wks then induce. Well he was born at 37+3 and was incredibly sick and we almost lost him. We were later told he was the sickest baby in a level 3 nicu with a 26wk preemie in the bed right next to him...and this was a large nicu, lots of very sick babies. Yes, what happened was rare, but it happened because we induced (with good reason, also found out he had a true knot in his cord and at anytime he could have pulled that so I definitely feel we made the best decision) and he wasn't ready yet. If he was ready, he would have came. We are very lucky that he is fine now but it was very scary and he was very sick. We were also told that white boys do take longest for their lungs to develop, they tend to have the most problems...which is what he is. I'm really not trying to scare you but to tell you it DOES happen, I honestly wouldn't do anything until 39wks at the earliest, 38 is still the early side of full term. Please take a few min to watch his nicu video in my siggy, it's sad but reality of what can happen with even a full term baby, thankfully we had wonderful doctors taking care of him and he's healthy and happy now and will be 1yr old on the 31st

 

[MummytoSummer]

My daughter was born at 38+2 by elective section and had no problems at all. In fact we came home only 24 hours after my c section. If I'd have had a normal delivery we'd have come home the same day!

X

 

[nugget80]

i had high bp and due to previous emcs could not be induced... was given a sweep at 38+1 and lo born at 38+3 weighing 8lb 3 he was fine and we were home next day... i had been drinking lots of rlt and taking epo in the run up to give sweep best chance of being successful...

 

[PinkGlitter87]

My LO was induced at 38 weeks and was fine, hes as bright as a button x x x

 

[Kaede351]

My LO was born at 38+1 and he was perfectly fine! I started going for looooooong walks up huge hills when. Got to 37+4 lol. Obviously you can't do that with high BP, but apparently eating Aubergine is meant to kick start labour? Don how true it is, I never got the chance to eat the one I bought lol. Went into labour the night before I had planned to cook it lol.

XxX

 

[steph.]

She came out at 37+4and was perfectly healthy. I think what did it was going on a massive walk-lost my plug when got home. i also took rlt and epo, dont know if that helped.

 

[MumToEva]

Eva was born at 37 + 4- she was small but had no problems (beyond low blood sugar). We were meant to be moving house the day she was born, so think i might have overdone things packing up the house to move! Personally I would be wary about trying to bring on labour too much - babies come when they are ready to be born! Though I do understand you wanting to speed things along when you have such limited time off! Rest up as much as you can in the meantime - you'll need all your energy when the baby is born! Good luck!

 

[loverguts]

I know babies born earlier than 38 weeks who were perfectly fine but also babies born around 38 weeks who needed a bit of help. It all depends on your baby.

I honestly don't think anything will work unless your body is ready to give birth though! I followed many 'eviction' threads in third tri and im pretty sure the only successful ones were ladies who were over 40 weeks anyway, hehe

 

[lozzy21]

My LO was born at 35 weeks and only needed light therapy for jaundice but my best friends little girl was born at 38 weeks and needed 15 days in special care. Gestation is no guarantee of a healthy baby.

 

[Kyliem87]

I was induced at 37 weeks due to high blood pressure (mine wouldn't stabilise properly even with medication). She was born at 37+3 and we were home within 24hours! To be fair I believe that no matter what you try to induce bub, if they're not ready and your body isn't ready then it won't happen anyways. If your baby/body is already preparing I believe it gives it a little helping hand. She did get jaundice at 2 days old and thrush at 5 days old but neither were threatening and by 2 weeks her jaundice was gone and the thrush was cleared with 1 course of treatment. But this could have happened even if LO had been full term

Good luck hun!