It looks like I need to have a procedure done that carries a tiny risk of premature labor. I am 33 weeks, is there an upcoming milestone so to speak with the baby's development that we should discuss waiting for? Is there a list of these types of milestones? I am literally waiting for the perinatologist now but was wondering if there was anything in particular I should bring up our ask about.
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34 weeks is good - they often are able to eat by mouth right away! 32 weekers have the same survivability % as full term babies, I was told. Good luck!
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I think you are in a "safe" zone as far as the baby being ok if delivered, with NICU time. My goal they wanted me to get to was 36 weeks, but we were happy with every passing day the DD was still inside me. I dont know of any milestones per say, but I would ask about the steroid shot for LO just in case to help mature the lungs. Good luck!
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My water broke at 31 weeks and we took it day by day. After a couple of days, when things were more stable, we took it week by week. Ultimately, the docs said they would induce me at 35 weeks but we didn't make it. She was born at 33 weeks. She had a two week stay in the NICU and struggles with ongoing delays today. She is now 25 months old.
Agree, that you should absolutely request the steroid shot(s) to speed up your little one's lung development...
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Thanks! The risk is small but they are thankfully being really careful. I will ask about steroids.
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Good luck! I was also going to say 34. Earlier than 34, they can't really organize the suck, swallow, breathe to feed normally. Many 34-weekers get to go home almost immediately.
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I just want to say good luck!
definitely ask for the steroid shots for the lung development. I had a 30 weeker and she is 18 months now and thriving!
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My hospital's policy was that all babies under 36 weeks are automatically sent to the nicu for 12 hours. My OB knew this, and when I started to get pre-eclampsia at 35+5, she said we should try wait until at least midnight on the day of 36+0. (I delivered at 10am, but you get the idea!) Love her.
I did go into ptl at 32+2 and was on hospital bed rest. When it was looking bad, the the high-risk doctor said he would be happy if I could get to 34 weeks. That same day, one of my favorite nurses (who had been a L&D nurse for 40 years) said she had seen many 30 or 31 weekers and that she felt good if I got to 33.
So... I guess it depends. I think nicu time is a given under 36, but the baby should be fine long term if you are over 34. There may or may not be some delays if you have a late -term preemie, and you may have some feeding challenges at first.
Try not to stress! And wall me if you have any questions
GL!
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No advice but I wanted to say good luck and I hope all goes well with no preterm labor
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I had preterm labor and the initial goal was 32, then 34 then really 36 weeks. I would get the steroid shot for lung development and try to make it to 34 wks. My sister had a 34 weeker who did well but had a 2 week nicu stay and went home on an apnea monitor for a few months. She couldn't get the hang of bf but otherwise things were fine and she had no discernible delays. Good luck!!
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@Cole: I am a NICU nurse so my milestones may be more laxed than most people but I just know when we hear we are going to a "33 weekers" delivery, not one nurse feels nervous or worried at all. To use that is a good age! Yes 33 weeks is going to mean a couple weeks NICU time but typically babies are born relatively stable and just need to learn to eat and grow. Of coarse, every week makes a big difference. To be very safe, 35 weekers don't need any NICU time in my unit if they don't need any added support. Good luck, hope your procedure goes well!
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Olive was born at 35 weeks and never went to the NICU. Our hospital's policy was for babies born 34 weeks and earlier to go to the NICU. That said, she did have to stay an extra week in the hospital because she couldn't maintain her body temp and she had jaundice. But she had no health problems and though she was born under 5 pounds, she went home and was a healthy baby.
33 weeks and 35 weeks is a big difference though... my friend's baby was bigger than Olive at 33 weeks when he was born and he spent 3 weeks in the NICU.
Fingers crossed for you that everything goes ok!
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Thanks everyone! Between this and talking with maternal and fetal medicine yesterday I feel pretty confident with everything. We will be at a hospital with a great nicu just in case but evidently she has had a lot more patients go through this than I would have expected and she has never once had an issue of any variety let alone preterm labor. Just because of scheduling issues it will be late in week 34 as well which is positive.
I appreciate all the well wishes!
definitely ask for the steroid shots for the lung development. 
GL!
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