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We knew we would not be allowed to go past 36 weeks. Our twins were born at 36w2d at 4 lbs. 4 oz. and 5 lbs. 15 oz. They each had a NICU team waiting in the OR to evaluate them as soon as they were born. They were both in the NICU for 8 days. My little guy I was able to see in the OR and I was able to hold him and try BFing a few hours later after they had been admitted to the NICU and gone through the initial stuff. He needed help regulating his temp and growing/feeding (though he was actually a champ nurser and bottle eater from the beginning). My bigger guy had some breathing issues and was on a CPAP, so I wasn't able to hold or try BFing him until about 20 hours later when he was switched to just a nasal cannula. I think many, many babies born at 35-36 weeks don't have to go to the NICU at all, so there's definitely hope that you won't have to deal with it at all. One of the NICU nurses told me if ours hadn't been twins and everyone was on higher alert, there's a good chance they wouldn't have even been admitted, but who knows. Because they were twins, I think their development was just a bit behind their gestational age, so take my story for what it's worth. Please let me know if you have any questions.

A co-worker's wife delivered at 35 weeks, just before Christmas. The baby wasn't sent to NICU and left the hospital 2 days PP with mom. He was a little under weight, but not a lot, and was breathing okay. They did have go back to the hospital due to jaundice, and the fact that he lost 10% of his birth weight in the first few days. I can't remember what he which he was re-admitted for. But the jaundice cleared up and he eventually gained some weight, and is doing well now.

It was obviously a long time ago but I was born at exactly 34 weeks and had no issues at all. My mom BF me with no problem.

@Mrs. Blue: my little guy was born at 35 and 5, and although the nicu team was there , he was totally fine and we never had to be separated. He tried to breastfeed right away. The only thing is we had to stay a day or two longer than usual to have him gain a bit of weight. They did encourage pumping early. He needed formula supplementation for 3 days. But he's now 15 months and humongous

The NICU I work in they only automatically get admitted if they are born less than 35 weeks, so here if you had your baby between 35-36 weeks and he was stable and didn't need any support he would stay with you just like any term baby being born would. If he does end up needing to be admitted it would likely not be for very long. Congrats!

E was born at 35 weeks. He had trouble breathing and with suck/swallow. They took him pretty rapidly to the NICU. He was in the hospital 13 days. He was the biggest one there but in the early days he was pretty touchy.

My son was born at 35w4d, totally healthy, but they were very cautious, and put him in the nicu for a little while because he was breathing a tiny bit fast. My doctor thought they were over doing it, but I'd rather they be overly cautious.

My water broke at 36 weeks 6 days. I was told if I made it till midnight there would be no NICU team there at delivery. Prior to 37 weeks, there is always a NICU team at delivery. Luckily, water broke at 8 p.m and I delivered the next morning so no NICU team. My son was born at exactly 34 weeks and was in the NICU for 10 days.

I just delivered my little guy at 36 weeks on the dot two weeks ago. I had preterm labor at 33 weeks and dilated to 2 cm, so they gave me steroids for his lungs and procardia to stop contractions. He did not have trouble breathing after birth, and I'm fairly certain the NICU team was not in the room. My entire L&D only took 4 hours so it was a blur...maybe there was someone from the NICU towards the end to check him out? We did skin to skin/tried to BF after birth, but he had trouble maintaining stable blood sugar and was taken to the NICU shortly after birth. Right after he went to the NICU, they brought down the pump and I had to start right away. He did not latch at the hospital and I've decided to exclusively pump for now...that way I can measure how much he is eating. He's doing great now, gaining weight really well! It did take a few days for him to learn how to eat, though (the whole suck/swallow/breathe thing was a challenge for a little).