premature babies: better at 7 months than 8, true or crap?

[calm]

I just wondered if anyone has heard this before. I've had two people tell me this (one being MIL), that babies that are born when 7 months pregnant have less problems that when born at 8 months pregnant. To me it seems illogical, surely the baby is better off the more time you have it cooking? Both these people had babies 30 years ago, so not sure if its some wives tale or there is anything to it. Anyone else heard this?

 

[Lau88]

Can't see how it'd be better, they'd definitely have a better sucking ability at 8 months, that doesn't start til 35 ish weeks.

 

[Mummy23beauts]

I had my dd at 27weeks and my ds at 30 weeks... my daughter had no problems where as my son struggled to gain weight. I think it can differ tbh x

 

[ItsJana]

Sounds like crap to me, lungs would be way more developed at 8 months...along with everything else.

 

[Rcx]

Sounds like one of those odd old wives' tales tbh!!

 

[Kittycat155]

Maybe what happened was the 7 months were watched a lot more carefully and left on machines longer and the 8 month olds were released to soon and had to come back/were "more sickly" as noted by the parents when in hospital they may have seen them a lot less often do to otehr kids/jobs/...

 

[babylove x]

Yeah I think that is untrue, it must be something that was done different as I'm sure the 7 monthers were treated a lot more cautiously... Considering 8 months (to most standards) is term (36/37 weeks) I don't see how that could be true. I have read though that girls are more apt to survive and do better when born earlier, boys tend to be more fragile.

 

[boobear2872]

I was always told the longer out baby stays in if there healthy enough, the better off they are as it gets closer to there due date.

 

[zenaa]

I think its a myth my mil keeps saying that as well I suppose if that was the case doctors wouldnt wait up with risky pregnancies and deliver at 7 months instead of pushing for later

 

[calm]

I think its a myth my mil keeps saying that as well I suppose if that was the case doctors wouldnt wait up with risky pregnancies and deliver at 7 months instead of pushing for later

Its not just my MIL who says this then! And when a workmate told me too it made me think. I was finding it hard to grasp the logic to it. Being pregnant with twins has made me think a lot about premature birth (and worry), and twins are also usually not left to cook more than 37 to 38 weeks anyway. I also suppose it all depends on the baby, but probably not down to the actual month of gestation they are born. I am sure that doctors did actually say this at the time.

 

[CastawayBride]

Doctors will not stop labor and often will allow twins to be born at 35 weeks as they will often be able to leave the hospital and not need NICU.

I think the 7 versus 8 is a wives tale to be honest, the longer in the better.

37 weeks is full term especially for single gestation, but 39 weeks usually for c section/induction.

 

[mummy3]

8 months is better. That said, in the NICU with mine, the nurses say to watch out for 35 weekers, they're very unpredictable!

 

[minties]

Definite crap. Sounds like something my MIL would say.

 

[Yo_Yo]

I've heard this. My mil was induced at 7 months, as they said 7 was better than 8 months. This was due to her mother being ill with cancer. So this was a belief that was applied in practice in my mils instance.

Don't see the logic myself, but all those years back she was a bit of a miracle baby. No health problems, growth problems etc, but I'm sure every day in the womb that can be done, is a few less in neonatal.

 

[Unexpected212]

I read that about 35 weekers too! For some reason 35 weekers are unpredictable? But I've never heard anything other than the longer they cook the better.

 

[Elizdia]

It's weird that you mentioned this. My dad was telling me about it yesterday and i was so confused, told him he must have got it the wrong way round as 8 months the baby is obviously more developed but he was insisting that he remembered from when i was born. I don't understand it either.

 

[AP]

Factually, its 8 months which is better. I think people like to make their own theories up. I think we would all take 8 months over 7!
i think the reason they say that about 35 week gestations is that its still pretty early but yet close to term - so its hard to say!
All preemies are very different at the end of the day. i know younger gestationally born children than Alex who have managed to get off with no issues.

 

[hannah berry]

yeah sounds like crap my mother in law was wishing our girl was born prem because she finds small babies cuter!! she even brought me prem clothes at 6 months and keep saying its ok if baby comes now we have hospitals for that. i could have punched her face through the phone. Don't let your mil fill your head with rubbish im so sick of the grandmas i need a rant. lol

 

[rbourre]

When I was in the hospital, they wanted me to get to 34 weeks with my daughter saying that it is best to come anytime after 34 weeks. I only made it to 29+5. She did very well and aside from needing cpap for 3 weeks on the lowest setting, she had no problems. She spent 2 months in the hospital just to grow and learn to eat but is a very healthy little girl turning 2 next week.

 

[calm]

When I was in the hospital, they wanted me to get to 34 weeks with my daughter saying that it is best to come anytime after 34 weeks. I only made it to 29+5. She did very well and aside from needing cpap for 3 weeks on the lowest setting, she had no problems. She spent 2 months in the hospital just to grow and learn to eat but is a very healthy little girl turning 2 next week.

I don't doubt that many premature babies under 32 weeks do very well, I was just a bit surprised about this affirmation that before 32 weeks it's better than before 37 weeks if you know what I mean. I suppose it sort of frightened me that you could enter a "danger zone" when babies were better not born premature, and it seemed to coincide with when typically twins would come early (the 35 week mark)