How can I help baby (for early delivery) now?

[wish4baby]

Hi! New to 2nd trimester, as I am just now 13 weeks (and baby is measuring a week ahead ) sorry in advance for the novel I am going to write here!!!

At my last appointment, my doctor told me something that has me worried sick. She said since this is my 6th c/s we will TRY to make it to 37 weeks, but no way will I be allowed to go a day over.
She did my last c/s and told me everything looked amazing, she was shocked I had multiple sections, no scar, no "window" etc. I reminded her of this & she assured me she went over my chart closely, but she follows a standard "better safe than sorry" plan on the rupture issue. A rupture will mean loss of life, according to her, maybe both of ours, so she is serious about this.
I will be seeing a specialist who will measure the thickness of the uterine wall regularly (after 20 weeks) and once it reaches a certain number, we will deliver. If it never reaches that number, 37 weeks it is (oct. 7).

I plan to listen to the specialist & if we still have a good thickness number at 37 weeks, to push very hard for additional days, as many as I can get lol (but I don't think my doctor will really listen, unless the specialist backs me up)

So - my main question is What can I do to help baby...for mature lungs, growing, etc. I have heard twin moms be advised to eat a lot of protein. What does this do? What about additional supplements, etc? Anything you've heard of?
My last little girl was full term & just 6 lbs 6 oz. - a few weeks made a big difference for her (although I have had a baby at just about every weight - 9, 8, 7, 6 pounders lol)

Also, are there any specific questions I should bring up to my doctor? (I asked about steroid shots, she said they will help before 37 weeks, and we will go that route if we have to deliver before 37, but not at 37 weeks, then they do nothing) thoughts on that?

Thank you so much, if you made it all the way any thoughts, help, opinions are welcome!!!!

 

[frangi33]

Welcome to second tri, I don't have any advice but just wanted to say I hope everything works out well and you can keep baby in for as long as poss. I'm sure someone will be along soon with some suggestions x

 

[cupcake23]

If you are having an elective CS prior to 39 weeks it is recommended by RCOG guidelines to administer steroids.

https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/gtg_7.pdf

Would you be happy to be admitted at 37 weeks to see if you could get more days? Not sure what else I could suggest but hope your dr doesn't scare you too much x

 

[wish4baby]

Thanks for that article, I am looking forward to printing it out & reading it! Hopefully, it will be something my dr will consider if I take it to her I don't think what we are doing is elective, since I am really against it but the dr is saying its necessary...

Definitely! That is my "main" plan as of now. Hopefully my measurements are still good at/until 36w6days, and I can convince my dr to add days/weeks - whatever makes her more comfortable, admitting me, bedrest, going in daily for monitoring, whatever. I just don't feel good about delivering before 38w1d.

I am looking at these protein drinks (not full of crap) so I am going to order 2 cases of them & start drinking 2 a day (only 15g protein but at least it's good stuff).
That's all I got so far

 

[chipsticks]

I have no real advice but my daughter arrived at 37+5 (after my waters randomly went so I was induced so she didn't quite choose to come then) and she was perfectly fine..she had no issues at all, 37 weeks is considered fully cooked! I don't mean that you shouldn't try help baby along (I wouldn't know how to sorry!) or push to keep him/her in longer but if you have to get it done at 37 him/her should be fine!

 

[lilmisscaviar]

I'm not sure about what to do to ensure baby has a good start to life but I will say that my DS was born at 37 weeks and had no problems. My midwife told me that after 36 weeks a baby is technically considered "full term" at my hospital, so if you were to go into labor on your own, your labor wouldn't be stopped. I know you're planning on doing a C-section but I'm just saying that as long as you can make it to 36 weeks there would be a good chance that the baby wouldn't need any kind of medical intervention.

 

[Scout]

Not really sure what you could do now. I was high risk with daughter and my perinatologist wanted to induce me before 38 weeks, and never mentioned anything I should do to help baby along. Didn't make it that far as water broke at 35w1d and I had her the next day. Even at 35w2d, she was fine and didn't need any medical intervention except for jaundice. Good luck and hope you can keep baby in there for as long as possible.

 

[rapunzel87]

Hey hon! So sorry to hear that you are going through this. Sounds like your doc really scared you. I hope you have a successful and healthy remainder of pregnancy & delivery.

Just wanted to offer some consolation. A friend of mine had a high risk pregnancy and ended up being induced at 33 weeks. Baby was very small, so they kept her in the hospital for 5 days. After that she was home and within a month she was already in the 95th percentile for weight & height She's doing fantastic now and you could never tell she was a preemie.

 

[InVivoVeritas]

I know it's impossible not to stress, but worrying too much about your baby's early delivery isn't good for either of you.

My daughter was born at 34 weeks, had steroid injections before birth to mature her lungs and came home with me two days later. I'd suggest pushing for the steroids even if you do make it to 37 weeks -- it can't hurt and definitely could help.

Best of luck holding out as long as possible!

 

[wish4baby]

Thank you all for your kind words!!!

 

[laila 44]

I really wouldn't challenge the dr on this issue. This is my third csection and my dr told me there are risks, I cannot imagine having 6! However a 37 week baby is considered term (where I am anyway) and therefore steroids are not necessary. My kids were born at 38 and 37.5 weeks respectively with no issues. The biggest concern with multiple csections is not the thickness of uterine wall but rather placenta Accreta. That's something I would ask your dr to specifically look out for. My dr warned me this is it for me in terms of csections that after 3 it's very very risky however it's definately been done. I just think you need to be closely monitored. My dr is doing my csection at 38.5 weeks this time if I make it. He also doesn't want me going to 39 weeks. I think your baby will be just fine!