This is Very Upsetting to Me

[enginerd]

A relative is in labor right now getting ready to deliver her baby 5 weeks early. She was advised after her last child to not have any more because her body could not carry a healthy full term baby. Yet, she chose to have another child against the advise of her doctor. I am praying for the baby and hope all goes well but I am very angry at the parents. They chose to bring this baby into the world knowing full well the risks and that the baby would suffer and possibly not survive. I might understand if they didn't have any other children but this is their fourth between them.

[CW&M Mom]

I had a baby at 35 weeks. Although they are considered preemie...they rarely ever need to spend anytime in the NICU and generally a baby coming at 35 weeks, the hospital will not try and stop the labor from progressing with medication...nor will they even give the mother steroids to try and get the babies lungs to mature faster.

I understand your frustration...I have had similar feelings before in certain situations...but I really think the baby will be just fine.

[3timesoccermom]

My Ob/Gyn advised me at my post-natal visit after my 3rd, not to have a 4th because of a very thin area on the uterus and she was concerned about rupture. Unfortunately hubs was a little too slow to get back to the urologist to have his vasectomy and along she came, the biggest one yet.

My point being, it may not have been intentional but I do appreciate and understand your concern for the baby and hope for everyone's sake all turns out well.

It's strange how one woman can easily have 10 healthy babies and another struggles to bring hers safely into the world.

[puakinikini]

I understand your concern for the baby, but a 35 week preemie has a very good chance of not having medical complications, particularly if the reason for the prematurity is due to the mother (rather than something actually being wrong with the baby). Yes, there is always potential risk associated with prematurity, but this is not a micro preemie - the risk of not surviving is very low.

Lots of people do not listen to doctor's advice - and of course, doctors are not always correct in their predictions about what could happen.

[enginerd]

Thanks for your encouraging words. I am praying everything is fine with the baby.

[shelleyf]

I am praying the baby is ok. I was born almost 5 weeks early and I am ok, I think:) My Mom has diabetes so the Dr. wanted her to deliver early for me and my sister because she had gained alot of fluid and right before the baby comes is when you gain the most. She gained 40 lbs with me and lost it in 2 days after having me.

[gctattoo]

Full-term is relative. It depends more upon the individual growth rate of the baby and just how feisty he/she is. You can have a baby five weeks premature who has zero problems. And then you can have a 40+ week baby who has difficulties with breathing, etc. You never can tell until they're born.

Plus five weeks isn't much. My stepniece had her baby at only 29 weeks after every attempt to stop labor. Her daughter is now four and as healthy as any full-term child.

It's only up to the parents to decide whether it's a risk they're willing and able to take. Apparently it was. ;) I hope everything goes well.

[loulou3133]

I can understand how you feel... I would tend to agree with you if this baby was being born super early... but he/she is not. At 35 weeks, tho considered preemie.... they usually do just fine with minimal needs. My friend's wife had triplets at 35 weeks and they are all healthy...


I went into premature labor at 31 weeks with my DD due to a kidney infection.... They stopped it and put me on bed rest and antibotics until 35 weeks... then it was modified... At 36 weeks off completely and she was delivered that next morning.... She was/and is healthy as a horse... except for those dang tonsils.... but they are coming out.... :)

[jessiesaves]

Hopefully everything works out ok. My son was a week late (41) and had a feeding tube for his first week of life. My daughter, born at 39 weeks was over 1lb bigger and has had no issues.

[trishgil]

People make their own choices and you cant get all worked up about someone else's choice. I had my twins at 25 weeks (15 weeks early) and I am a healthy 30 year old that has never smoked, drank or done drugs.

I appreciate your concern as well, but the mother obviously wanted another child. I hope you can respect her decision. I hope the baby is born w/o complications!