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2009-11-19 6:47 PM

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Subject: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
Not really sure why I'm posting this, as nothing will really change the situation, but I'm really nervous for my best friend, who, after 10 years and numerous miscarriages, is about to have her first baby...early. She's 33 weeks and one day today, and this afternoon, her water broke. She was supposed to be scheduled for a c-section at 37 weeks, but obviously that doesn't look like that's in the cards anymore. They're going to try to see if baby will hang in there for a little while longer, but she says she's feeling contractions, so it's likely that she is going to have the operation very very soon.

I've looked online at survival rates and stuff, but it's all so wishy washy at 33 weeks (just on the hairy edge of 32, where serious complications are still a concern). I'd really like to be excited for her, but that's never been possible before--everything always feels like it could all fall apart...I've got a knot in my stomach...this has been such a long and difficult road for her to get this far and I just want this to work out and everything to be OK and the baby to be fine...

Anyway. I'm stuck at work, sitting here feeling useless, reading scary stuff on the Googles and I'm worried and hanging onto my phone and waiting for news.

So...in the meantime, anyone here have experience with pre-term labor/birth/babies? And if everything turned out well, can you just tell me that and then maybe I can believe the same will be true for my friend?


2009-11-19 6:55 PM
in reply to: #2522829

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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
I have no idea of the exact number of weeks, but I had a friend who was due to have her baby in Sept.  She called me in July to tell me she was having the baby.  I didn't get it at first.  Then I realized she was *having* the baby.  I think her daughter was between 6 and 8 weeks early and weighed under 2 pounds.  Now she's a perfectly normal first grader.  Thinking good thoughts for your friend and her impatient little one. 
2009-11-19 7:28 PM
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Royal(PITA)
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...

THat's scary stuff for your friend.  33 week babies can survive, NICU's are incredible.  My tioughts are with your friend though....it's emotionally difficult.

2009-11-19 7:56 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
QueenZipp - 2009-11-19 9:28 PM

   NICU's are incredible. 



  They sure are. They attract some of the best practitioners in healthcare. I hope it goes well. Keep us updated. 
2009-11-19 8:14 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
33 week babies are very common these days.  I wouldn't call that borderline at all.
2009-11-19 8:43 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
I have friends that have had two born prior to 33 weeks. In fact one was quite a bit earlier (can't remember how many weeks exactly) and was like 1 1/2 lbs at birth. They both survived and are completely healthy today.

I hope everything goes well for your friend.


2009-11-19 9:56 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
ScoopJackson - 2009-11-19 9:43 PM I have friends that have had two born prior to 33 weeks. In fact one was quite a bit earlier (can't remember how many weeks exactly) and was like 1 1/2 lbs at birth. They both survived and are completely healthy today.

I hope everything goes well for your friend.


x2.  A colleague's son was born right around 30 wks (as I recall).  It was very nerve racking at the time, NICU doctors didn't think he was going to make it, etc.  Now he is 5 yo and exceling mentally and physically.

Best wishes.
2009-11-19 10:05 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
the latest:

The docs decided to try to stop the contractions and keep the baby in there a little longer. So they gave my friend magnesium, which stopped the contractions (and made her nauseous...nice) and then gave her a shot of steroids. This will force the baby's lungs to grow faster than they normally would. If all goes well and the contractions don't come back, they'll try to get the baby to 34 weeks.

It's still a little scary, but it feels good to know the docs have a plan. Thanks for all your kind words.
2009-11-19 10:24 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
swishyskirt - 2009-11-20 12:05 AM the latest: The docs decided to try to stop the contractions and keep the baby in there a little longer. So they gave my friend magnesium, which stopped the contractions (and made her nauseous...nice) and then gave her a shot of steroids. This will force the baby's lungs to grow faster than they normally would. If all goes well and the contractions don't come back, they'll try to get the baby to 34 weeks. It's still a little scary, but it feels good to know the docs have a plan. Thanks for all your kind words.


thx for the update. We'll keep sending out those positive vibes!
2009-11-20 5:15 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
My youngest was born at 26 weeks, right on the cusp.  The earliest, I believe, a baby has a chance currently is 24 weeks.  Every day the baby doesn't come adds another couple percentage points to it's chances.  We spent almost 4 weeks with our daughter in the NICU, I agree, these Doctors and Nurses are the best.
Good luck to her and the baby, if you have any questions let me know.  We went through, well pretty much, it all.  Our daughter crashed 3 times, was under the lights for the first 2 weeks, weighed 2 lbs 2 oz at birth and 1 lb 14 oz the next day.  Do not be suprised or feel bad if you are told you cannot go into the NICU to see the baby for a week or so.
To give those of you that don't know a comparrison, we told one of the Nurses that we were having problems getting across to my wifes family just how small the baby was.  She had me take my wedding ring off, slid it up our daughters arm and slightly over her shoulder, then we took a picture and sent it.  You would be suprised how many "I had no idea" phone calls we got after that.

Of note, Alexis Rose Minary(The Beast) is now 3 years old and doing awesome.  I can't even keep up with her.
2009-11-20 6:59 AM
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Pro
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
My friend gave birth at 30 weeks.  THe baby was 2 lb and was in an incubator for over a month.  Now she is a healthy 8 year old girl.  Thanks to the medical technologies nowadays.


2009-11-20 7:39 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...

D.K. - 2009-11-20 6:59 AM My friend gave birth at 30 weeks.  THe baby was 2 lb and was in an incubator for over a month.  Now she is a healthy 8 year old girl.  Thanks to the medical technologies nowadays.

Yep, I've got a good friend whose baby was born at 29 weeks.  She is now a bubbly, intelligent, loving and absolutely hilarious 5 year old. 

2009-11-20 8:03 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
One of my dear friends delivered her baby at 32 weeks earlier this year.  Other than being tiny, she was perfect.  I think she was in the NICU for about a month.  I just got a couple of pictures of her yesterday, and she's chubby and adorable and perfect.
2009-11-20 8:06 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
A little over 10 years ago my son was born at 33-1/2 weeks.  As another poster mentioned, NICUs are incredible units in the hospital.  The technology that has been developed to care for these fragile premies is amazing.  It sounds like they have your friends situation well undercontrol.  I hope all goes well.
2009-11-20 8:39 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
My twin girls were born just over 33 weeks, 8 years ago. Their lowest weights were 2lb 14oz and 3lb 4oz. One's lungs weren't fully developed so she received breathing assistance for ~ a week my other daughter had no problems. They are now healthy happy 3rd graders.

Good luck, as others said, they do amazing things in the NICU.
2009-11-20 8:42 AM
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Iron Donkey
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...

I'm not a doctor nor had this experience, but it sounds like you are a VERY caring friend.  Do your best to stay positive and happy for her, which hopefully will keep her relaxed



2009-11-20 9:28 AM
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Master
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
I gave birth to twins in June 2007 at 29 weeks.  My water broke at 27 weeks but the docs managed to keep them in a little longer.  They had lots of complications initially and one son has a VP shunt for hydocephalus caused by brain hemmoraghes.  Having said that, they are now 2 1/2 and thriving.  Isaiah is a typical devleoping toddler whom one would look at and never know he was 3 months premature.  Gabriel is smaller than his brother and still not entirely walking on his own.  Both are extremely good talkers, have great problem solving skills, and are otherwise typically developing.

NICU docs and nurses are some of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life.  Your friend and her baby will be in exceptional hands.  I will pray for her and her baby.
2009-11-20 10:24 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
Having had a lot of experience with pre-term labor/delivery...I know that the earliest a baby can be viable with a good chance is around 24 weeks. (This gets lower and lower as technology improves...in the 50s, it was around 35 weeks)  Every week after that is better for the baby with 37 weeks being around the time they will consider a baby full term.

With your friend at 33 weeks - she is on the right side of the bell curve. The NICU is fabulous and the people that work there are unbelievable. The physicians know what they are doing. Magnesium sucks (It made it so I couldn't focus my eyes), and she is probably on bed rest...books on tape are a great thing if you can't see and can't move.

I'll think very positive thoughts for her - let her know a lot of people are sending good vibes her way. Spend time with her - she is VERY scared and nervous.

Please let us know how is works out.
2009-11-20 10:30 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...

My son was born at 28 weeks and 2lbs. 5oz.  He is now 11 and is doing great - he is on the autism spectrum and was behind in some of his milestones, but otherwise, he is a typical 11 year old!  My husband and I adopted him at 5 months, so I don't know his NICU history, but they must have done amazing things! 

All the best to your friend and her baby - I'll be thinking of them.

2009-11-20 11:16 AM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
My son was born at 31 weeks - 2lb and 11oz. We spent two months at the NICU. The early arrival was predicted about three days prior to it happening so they also gave my wife (and son) the steroid injections. I assume this helped tremendously as he had relatively no problems with breathing. He was on a CPAP for a few days then just low flow of 02 because the altitude was > 5000ft.

There were babies there that had arrived from 24 weeks on. It seemed like most past 30 weeks had minimal complications while those in the 24-30 range had much more to deal with. It seemed that they started babies nursing/bottle at 34 weeks (prior to that is all through a tube or IV). I think 34 weeks is some kind of developmental milepost where the suck and swallow reflexes are becoming better coordinated.

The silver lining was that as we drove away from the NICU after 2 months, we felt well prepared to handle a "newborn" at home. You basically get hands-on training with all aspects of baby care from the NICU nurses.
2009-11-20 11:56 AM
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On your right
Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
As a current NICU nurse, 33 weeks isn't really all that difficult of a stay in the NICU.  If we assume that prematurity is the only issue, it's very likely that the baby might only need 3-6 weeks in the unit.  Sure, that sounds like a long time, but the baby should still be living in a person for that long.  Generally around a week or so of the due date is when discharge from a NICU happens with a regular stay. 

That stay would involve a CPAP machine, that gives a constant pressure of air to the baby's nose, which will help keep the lungs partially inflated (mostly at the bottom) to help reduce the energy it takes to breathe.  (Think of a balloon, where the first time you blow it up it takes a lot of pressure, but if you let most of the air out but not all, and try to blow it up again, it's much easier)  Also an IV, and a feeding tube for formula/breast milk.  A few weeks in an isolette/incubator, then out to a crib, bottle feedings, and then home.

The longer the baby stays in, the less we have to do as a NICU staff.  With water breakage, they will probably want to give antibiotics just to be sure that there's not any sort of infection going on.  With the water intact, the baby is in a closed environment, but after the break, it's not a closed system anymore.

In regards to how early a kid can be born and still "make it", Japan has had a small number of 22 week gestation kids survive, and in the US, 23 weeks is the earliest I know of.

Hope that helps, and feel free to PM me if you have any general-type questions.


2009-11-20 12:12 PM
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Mountain View, CA
Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
My youngest sister was born six weeks early. She had tried to be born another two weeks earlier, but the doctors were able to stop the contractions. She was in the NICU for six or seven weeks, I think, but after that she grew up as healthy and active as the rest of us. If anything, she's the smartest and most creative of the bunch.

My mom says that one of the hardest things about Nat's being preemie was not feeling like they could really interact with her. But then she and my dad realized that Nat's pulse oxygen level went up when we held her and talked to her, so she could tell that what they were doing was helping.

Anyway, I wouldn't worry too much about the baby coming at 33 weeks. Nat was born 20 years ago (wait, really? my baby sister is turning 20??), and things have improved even more for preemies since then.

Wishing the best for your friend and her baby!
2009-11-20 12:44 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
We had our twins at 34 weeks. My wife was on bedrest at the hospital for 10 weeks - not fun but we learned alot about pre-term birth. I know at 28 weeks, they thought that the babies would make it, but might have some lasting issues. At 32 weeks, they pretty much said you're going to have a normal baby over the long term, but he/she will have to stay at the hospital for a while. In fact, it was sometime in the 32nd week that they moved my wife from one hospital with a "level 3 NICU" back to our normal hospital, which had only a "level 2 NICU". In other words, they thought our normal hospital could handle it. In our situation, our daughters were 5 lbs. and 5 lbs. 4 oz. They stayed in the hospital for about a month, mainly because the sucking reflex is one of the last things to develop, so they had to be fed through a tube until they figured it out.

Anyway, as I think most of the other posters have said, I think you should try not to worry about it. The baby will have to stay in the hospital for a while, but longer-term has a really really good chance of just being a normal kid.
2009-11-20 12:59 PM
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
I believe I am a 33-week baby... and I am *relatively* normal.

Best wishes to the new mom and her little one.
2009-11-20 1:09 PM
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Master
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Subject: RE: BFF to give birth at 33 weeks...
triOK - 2009-11-20 1:59 PM I believe I am a 33-week baby... and I am *relatively* normal.

Best wishes to the new mom and her little one.


I think this applies to me too ... not sure they talked in weeks then but I came mid-june when I was expected late in July.  Aside from being in NICU for three weeks and very teeny.  Made it through to adult-hood without any major concerns or health issues.

That was also 29 years ago and technology has improved ...

Best of luck to your friend!
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