Baby at 34 weeks.

Stacia - posted on 02/13/2010

I had twin boys in November 2008 at 34 weeks. They were good size babies for being early 5 lbs and 5 lbs 12 oz but they had a few problems. They were hooked up to oxygen right away to be sure they were okay to breathe on their own (oxygen was taken off 24 hours later). They had a hard time with eating (suck/swallow) so they had to be feed with a feeding tube in their noses for a few days. It was a struggle to get them to eat and keep their temp up without being in the warmer. They were in the hospital for 7 days and 13 days and I was very lucky!

Charmian - posted on 02/12/2010

Hi Nicole, Congrats on the new babe... hope all is well. My son Liam was born @ 29 weeks and weighed 840g, just 40g more than a standard loaf of bread in SOuth Africa. I was also lucky enough to have my steroid shots beforehand, and this made a world of difference, as Liam was never ventilated... he only had C-Pap for a while, but hated it, and screamed non-stop, so they stopped it. This is almost unheard of in what is termed a Micro-Prem (Born pre 30 weeks and less than 1kg) He was in the NICU for 52 days, and we really were blessed as in that whole time he got 1 little infection. He did however develop a hernia in his groin 3 days after coming home, and had to go back into hospital for an op to repair this, and whilst back there, got exposed to a babe with rotor virus, and ended up having to get a blood transfusion.

He is now almost 11 years old, and although he is a skinny little thing, he has the most amazing heart, and is a true blessing.

The ehing I struggled with most was keeping him warm, as he was born in our winter. The hospital is so well regulated, and we do not have central heating is SA, and preemies struggle to maintain a constant temp, and if they need to keep themselves warm, they work so hard at it, that they lose weight very easily.

Regards

Charmian

Bonnie - posted on 02/07/2010

HI, my daughter as born at 34 weeks, she weighed 3lbs, 15oz and was in the NICU for 4 days and then moved to the regular nursery. She stayed in the hospital for only a week as she developed jaundice. She was totally healthy otherwise, breathing, eating etc. all on her own She was a little peanut and wore preemie clothes for about 6 months, but no health problems. She is now 6 years old and we are very blessed.

Sharon - posted on 02/07/2010

I had my first at 34 weeks he was 4lbs,he stayed in the nicu for a week,keep pulling his iv out and his oxygen thingy wouldn't breast feed But no learning disorders /excelled in sports they said he would learning problems bad sight and be small, he is now 24 years old, 6' 3" 190 no growing issues either-they also said I would never carry to term (long enough to ever have another)-I have a 13 year old (c section) at 39 weeks and a 11 at 39 weeks reg birth-both breast fed- so you should be fine

Melissa - posted on 02/05/2010

My girls were born atr 34 weeks and were very healthy at birth they just needed to learn how to take a bottle and one of my girls had a little problem with breathing for the first two days they stayed in the NICU for 17 days. My girls are now 11 months old and are very healthy I would never be able to tell that they were early!

Kimberly - posted on 02/05/2010

I too had a round of steroid shots & had mine at 33 6/7 wks. She was in the NICU for 21 days, basically to learn to eat. Every once in a while needed a little bit of oxygen. Hope yours goes just as well! Good Luck!

Janna - posted on 02/05/2010

All 3 of my children were born early. My 2 oldest were born at 31 weeks. My oldest was 3 lbs 13 oz, my second was 3 lbs 10 1/4 oz. THey are 17 & 9. My youngest was born 1 day shy of being 33 weeks. She weighed 4 lbs 8 oz. She had to stay in the hospital for 3 weeks. The main reason she had to stay was because she didn't want to eat at first but once she learned that was all it took. THe only problem that she has is acid reflux. She is months old and doing well. She is a little small compared to some 5 month olds though.

Lesley - posted on 02/05/2010

Hi nicole Iv got a 25 weeker who came home on o2 but is now a small reasonably helthy 6 yr old and I have a 32 weeker I did not get the steroid shots before she was born she was breech and had to be reminded to breathe she spent 3 weeks in scbu and came home very well with no health issues at all she is almost 4 and biggest in her class almost as tall as her brother and in same size clothes as him ! My niece was also 32 weeks and spent 2 weeks in scbu came home with no problems at all she is a little on the small side !

Hayley - posted on 02/05/2010

hi nicole i had my daughter at 28 weeks and 6 days and didnt have any complications at all and she stayed in neonatal for 4 weeks

Chris - posted on 02/04/2010

HI Nicole my little girl was born at 26wks we spent 4 month in the hospital. Came home with monitor & O2.She is doing great now at the age of 2. My friend had her last one at 34 wks & only spent 7 days in NICU because no one changed herhomitor to home so she had a brady & they kept her & she did not have one after that.

Amanda - posted on 02/04/2010

My son was born at 34 week 1 day. He was in the nicu for 3 weeks on a cannula. No other problems. They called him a whimpy white boy. He was 5lbs 8oz. Around 19in long. Good luck!

Emma - posted on 02/04/2010

Hiya, my 1st was born at 35 weeks. Everything was fine with her just abit of jaundice. Not all preemies need NICU treatment. Good luck

Abbie - posted on 02/03/2010

my little one was born at 34 weeks. Emergency c-sec because her heart rate dropped. She didnt need to go to the nicu, but she stayed in the regular nursery for 9 days. She takes 1 ml of caffine a day to help with apnea and bradys and she wears a apnea monitor at night. Shes 6 1/2 weeks old and we haven't had a spell yet! Your little one will be fine! :)

Nicole - posted on 02/03/2010

My dd was born at 34 weeks, and was only the size of a 30 weeker. Just 2# 12.4 ounces. She actually had no problems; just tiny! She had to stay for 38 days in the NICU, ISCU. The dr there told us that typically the 34 weekers do very well.

Nicole - posted on 02/03/2010

Thank you so much everyone!! I am so nervous about her! My other daughter was 37 weeks and needed to stay for only 2 weeks. I am a planner and it is hard to plan for the unknown... ah being a mommy.

Tracy - posted on 02/03/2010

My daughter was born at 34wks ad was alittle under weight at 5 lb 5 oz, but she had no complications and did not have to go to the nicu. Which was a big change frome her older brother who was born at 24wks and spent 2 1/2 months in the nicu. so some times 34 wks is ok when you know in advance! hope this helps.

Chelle - posted on 02/02/2010

My son was born one day shy of hitting 34 weeks. He was in the NICU for 7 days. He did good while in the hospital and only needed cpap for 18 hours.

Amanda - posted on 02/02/2010

my twins daughters were born at 28 weeks and to be honest they really didnt have any extreme complications shockinly! they were jondis for like 2 weeks they never had to be on a ventalator they were on the bubblers for one and a half months! the longest part was getting them to eat and weight up! good luck hope you have no serious complications eigther!

Jessica - posted on 02/02/2010

Hi Nicole! Congrats on the new baby! My Collin was born at 32 weeks, the size of a cornish game hen! and spent only 2 full weeks in NICU, so he came home at 34 weeks. He did have a CPAP for 24 hours and some reflux problems to start with but the breast milk really did help with that. At first I had no intentions of breast feeding but minds change with circumstances. :) I think it's hard to remain calm and stay positive when all you want to do is put your family together at home. They said at the emergency c-section that if he had only been a few ounces heavier he wouldn't have went to NICU at all. He was a peanut tho! I have to tell you that he is almost 2 years old now and acts his appropriate age with no worries from me! Monster child! lmao

Please find time to think "happy thoughts". NICU is only one possibility and it doesn't last forever. ***HUGS***