I am going to be TTC in June and had a few questions. My DS was born by Emergency Caesarean due to a liver condition that I had (Obstetric Cholestasis)almost full term. I have been advised that any future pregnancies have a high chance of this happening again an that the baby would need to be born at 36weeks. Is a baby born at 36weeks considered premature? Would it need special care? Do babies born at this stage with no complications get to go home quickly?
Figured I better prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Any advice would be greatly received.
It's sort of like asking 'how long is a piece of string?' LOL.
I'm no expert, but it is my belief that yes, most babies born at 36 weeks would need some time in SCN, varying greatly in how long. Also, the sort of help they would need would vary quite a lot.
FWIW, my DS was born at 35 weeks, spent 24 hours in SCN, and came home with us five days after birth. He has had very few complications as a result of being prem. We are so lucky However, I know a couple of babies who were born around 36-37 weeks, who had to stay in SCN for a couple of weeks post-birth, needing help with breathing and feeding. At almost 12 months they are absolutely fine though, you'd never know. Although it was traumatic for their parents, it is now a distant memory
Good luck with your next pg, I hope you find that you don't need this information!
Bub is consdiered term at 37 weeks.
But there is no saying a baby at 37 weeks wont need special care and that a baby at 36 will.
Although were talking 21 years ago, i was born at 36 weeks and went home when mum did on day five.
It really will depend on the d'ment of YOUR baby.
My DS was born at 34 weeks but was in respiratory distress so ended up spending 2 weeks in SCN. There were babies there that were born at 36 weeks but were only in SCN as they had jaundice and were able to go home about 5 days after birth. I suppose it will all depend on how your bub is breathing and feeding that will determine whether a stay in SCN is necessary. I hope all goes well for u
I have had 4 children born before their due dates 2 @ 37 weeks, 1 @ 38 weeks and 1 @ 35 weeks.
All of them have had to spend time in the SCN unit due to complications and to me they are considered to be premature. My youngest daughter (3 now) was born in Melb at 37 weeks, due to a medical condition that could of killed her, now even though she was born after what the medical profession call "term, she was regarded in the NICU/SCN unit as being prem because she came before she was due.
I class my kids as prem because that is what they were prem...I didn't have everything ready and they came before I was prepared.
Hope that helps.
Lolly, I would imagine that if your caregiver plans on birthing your baby at 36wks it will be just that....Planned.
There are loads of things that will be taken into consideration prior to your little ones birth!
As most of the previous threads state, some of the reasons that babies are in the SCN are due to breathing issues. Your baby is likely to be better "prepped" for a premi birth with the doctors likely to administer you with steroid shots to help the baby's lungs to develop etc.
Your baby and indeed your pregnancy is likely to be more closely monitored than other peoples.....including most mothers who have "unexpected prem births". Which means that there are likely to be plans in place to ensure an optimal outcome for your darling baby prior to any "planned arrival".
As I am sure you are no doubt aware, modern medicine and monitoring has come a long long way in the last decade. These days babies are routinely considered viable from 26 weeks! A baby born at 36 weeks while technically prem, especially one who is planned to arrive at 36 wks should get off to a great start!
Yes there may be a period of time that bubby needs monitoring and time in the SCN, but that could happen to any newborn, and you are best off saving yourself from the stress of something that can not be predicted.
Impossible to say hun.
My DD was born at 36 weeks - no issues at all except for mild jaundice (which I just fed her through, no lights needed or anything) and she came home with me on day 3. She was in SCN for a few hours but that was because I had insulin dependent GD and a pretty long drawn out labour so they wanted to watch her blood sugar for a bit.
Although term in considered 37 weeks there are definitely babes that are born at that gestation that can have breathing and / feeding issues too. 35-37 weeks is a bit of a grey area. Most babies will cope just fine but there will be the odd one that will need some extra help.
I know my besties DS was born at 35w and he had 2 weeks in SCN because his suck reflex hadn't developed yet.
When is a premi not a premi
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However, I know a couple of babies who were born around 36-37 weeks, who had to stay in SCN for a couple of weeks post-birth, needing help with breathing and feeding. At almost 12 months they are absolutely fine though, you'd never know. Although it was traumatic for their parents, it is now a distant memory 
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