SIL in pre-term labour at 33wks - really scared

Hi everyone

I've just found out today that my SIL has gone into pre-term labour at 33 weeks. She's gone to hospital for two days at least, and has been given an injection to stop the contractions, and another injection to mature the baby's lungs if he's born soon.

I'm so worried for her, my brother and their baby :crying: They're in the US so I can't see them. Apparently she is feeling positive, but I can tell my brother is scared.

Can anyone tell me what are the chances of all being OK if she does give birth really soon? How successful are the injections in stopping labour? Does this mean she'll have to have a caesarian? I don't know anything about premmie babies.

Any reassurances would be really appreciated. I don't know how worried I should be, at the moment I'm freaking out.

Thanks girls.

Devon
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33wk babies have a great chance at survival and not having any residual effects from being born too early. There have been a few babes on this site born at that gestation and earlier who all had great outcomes. It is scary, and if she does go into labour and they can't stop it, she may not necessarily need a c/s - it all depends on the bub. I'm sure all will be fine.

Hun, I had both of mine at 35 weeks and 5 days, the baby will be fine, I'm not an expert but this is what they (midwives told me ), when I went into pre-labor at 30,32,34 and finally real labor at 35 weeks, so hope this eases your mind a little.:hug: 4 u.

Thanks so much for your replies Trillian and Nadia.

Nadia - it's very reassuring to hear that they managed to stop your labour at 30, 32 and 34 weeks. Being born at 35 weeks isn't too bad. I'm feeling really sad for them that things aren't going to be the way they'd hoped. But they are very positive people, and as long as the baby is born healthy and OK then that is all that matters at this stage.

I'm crossing everything that the injection will stop the labour, hopefully for a few more weeks.

Thanks again.

Devon
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There is a lady on here.. i wont give names :) but she had her son at 30 weeks. He is the happiest little boy! and hes absalutley gorgeous. At 33 weeks ur SIL's bub has a great survival rate. Its amazing what babies can do!!! Good luck!!!

Hey Devon,

I have my little girl 3 weeks 2 days ago at 33 weeks 4 days, for me there was no stopping the labour, I got to hospital and was 7-8cm dialted and contractions 3 min, after 50 min of contractions, we didn't even have time for the injection of steroids, I had a VBirth, just very quick one. My little girl came home after 2 weeks in hospital and is doing extremely well.

33 weeks is a pretty reasonable gestation, aside from not having a lot of fat, my girl is perfect, she has just started putting on weight - finally!! Bubs will likely need formula to start with as they need a lot mroe calories at that early age, but my girl has been solely bf'd for 12 days and doing great.

We were in special care for 5 days at the Womens and Childrens, she was in a humidi crib for 24 hours, went under lights @ 3 days for another 24 hours, then when she was stable we got transferred privately, where we had our own midwife (same a special care but I had her in my room - much better then being separated), this made a massive difference in us coming home as early as we did.

We did a mixture of gavage (tube into tummy), bottle and breast feeding, mostly gavage as the others took up too much of her energy.

Each bub is different, but she has a great chance, :hug: if you have any questions just post or message, seeing as I have only just been going through the whole thing!!

Take Care!!

Hi Devon,
Just wanted to say that I had my DD @31 weeks normal VB and she was is hossy for 5 weeks had no dramas really was under lights for 24 hours. Like everyone has said 33 week babies have a real good chance of survival if they are a good weight and have no other problems other than being early.

Oh bum, just lost my post.

Thank you so much for your replies everyone. Am feeling a bit calmer - had an email from my brother saying that SIL's contractions have slowed down to the point where she can hardly feel them, which sounds good to me. We will wait overnight and see what's happening in the morning. Hopefully nothing :crossfingers:

Beema and Tiffanny - thanks so much for your reassurances. I'm so glad your little girls were OK after their rough starts in life. It must have been such a harrowing experience for you and your families, not to mention your little bubbas. It's good to know what kinds of treatment their baby might need if he does come early, and great that breastfeeding is still possible.

I'm really hoping that this injection will do it's job and stop the labour for a bit longer, and maybe he'll even go to term.

Thanks again
Devon
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Fingers crossed for you SIL and big hugs hun. As the others have said, 33 weeks isn't ideal, but by the same token there is a very good chance of a healthy baby at that gestation. I'm sending all my best wishes to your SIL!

Hi everyone

Just thought I'd post an update - have had an email from my brother this morning saying that the contractions have almost stopped (they were every 2-3 minutes when SIL was admitted to hospital!), and the test they did for 'fetal fibronectin' was negative, so apparently it's unlikely that she will give birth in the next two weeks. It's great news! She's staying in hospital for another two days, and then will be on medication and bed rest for the next two weeks. I feel very relieved that he'll probably stay inside for another two weeks, so most likely won't be born before 35 weeks.

Thanks for all your kind thoughts and words of support.

Devon
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I'm glad everything is looking better, but I just wanted to let you know DH's cousin had her twin girls at 32 1/2 weeks - the same day I had DS - & they are happy healthy 4 month olds now!

Hey Devon - only just read your posts then - glad to hear things are going ok for your SIL :)

I was in a similar situation to you a couple of weeks ago - my SIL (in another state) went into labour at 31.5wks after her waters broke! They were able to give bub some steroid injections before she was born, and now she is doing great!

I know its hard when youre far away from them - all you can do is wait for their phonecalls!
Hope everything continues to go well and we hear news of you becoming an aunty in a few weeks! :)

most ppl have already replied but just wanted to say thats great your sil contractions have slowed right down, every day makes a difference so thats great bub is still baking.
My first son was born at 33weeks and 3days after my waters broke at 32weeks.
It is a scarey time esp when you have not heard or know of anyone having a baby so early.
but like the others said a 33weeker generally does very well. Their sucking reflex has not yet developed so bub may need a tube into its nose into its tummy, sometimes they need assistance breathing and may be jaundice.
Nixon spent 4weeks in hospital and is a happy and healthy 2yr old now.
I know mums of bubs born from 24weeks onwards and as scary as that thought is the equip[tment they have now to help is amazing. From 27weeks onwards i think babies have a 97% survival rate so in the prem world a 33weeker is great.
please keep us updated

Hello,

I know it's been a while since you posted this, just finding out if they managed to stop labour?

My waters broke at 28weeks and they were able to stop labour and he was born at 30wks. He is showing signs of developmental delay, but only minor. It is a tough road, but it's worth it when you do eventually take your baby home :)

all the best and i hope they were able to stop the labour

Thanks Brendansmum - yes, they seem to have stopped the labour. SIL is at home on some kind of tablets to prevent labour happening, and she's on bedrest for two weeks (one week to go). She's 34.5 weeks now, so even if bub comes at the end of the two weeks he'll be 35 weeks and should be OK. But I'm hoping that he'll stay inside longer than that. Grandparents-to-be are heading over there in a couple of weeks, so at least they'll have some family support soon.

Your poor little boy being born so early. I'm glad that he seems to be doing OK, and hopefully he will catch up soon. He look so tiny in the picture.

Thanks also sneakysparkle and nickers for your support. I'll let you all know when he arrives, hopefully later rather than sooner!

Devon
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Great to hear that they have been able to stop the labour.. for now, everyday makes a difference. :grouphug:

Mum will also need a lot of support, but carefully, I was overwhelmed by family (first grandchild) and it got too much for me DH had to tell everyone to back off! It is a very emotional time, if having a baby wasn't enough add PTL and it just throws an extra spanner in the works!!

Keep us updated :)

I'm so glad they've stopped her labour, here's to a healthy full term baby! *full term vibes*

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Your poor little boy being born so early. I'm glad that he seems to be doing OK, and hopefully he will catch up soon. He look so tiny in the picture.

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He was born 1545gms in that pic he's 2 days old and about 1500gms. He's nearly 18 months now and doing great :D The only real issue we have is with feeding and weight gain, but the specialists are great.

All the best Devon.