Nervous

I gave birth to my son at 29 weeks with no steroids and he is completely fine (now five). I think 36 weeks should be okay.

I had my second son at 36 weeks without steroids and he is a healthy, happy little boy! Good luck. You will do fine!

You could still possibly go for one or two more weeks after you mucous plug falls out. However, I was induced at 35 weeks and my son was just fine. It can be done. Good luck!

L.,
My oldest daughter was born 35 1/2 weeks without anything for lung development. She was 6lbs9oz and healthy. She is 9 yo today and had no problems. My blood pressure sky rocketed and they had to induce me.
God be with you and your lovely new baby and family.
You will be fine :-)
W.

L., I had my daughter at 35 1/2 weeks and she was completely heathly. I'm sure that everything is going to be fine. Keep your chin up and best of luck with the birth.

Yep, my daughter was delivered by emergency C section at 32 weeks. I am allergic to steroids so they couldn't even give me steroids in the little bit of time we had before her delivery. She was just a little over 4 lbs, but basically a very healthy baby.

She graduated from high school with academic honors...she also played three sports at the varsity level. She is now in her second year of college and has maintained her honor roll status.

All kids are different...all preemie stories are different...but they are not all negative.

Think positive, try not to worry and enjoy every minute you have with your babies (even those late night feedings)...cuz' they grow up all too fast!

Best wishes!

I'm a labor & delivery nurse. We see LOTS of babies born at 36 weeks, and they do fine. We don't use steroids unless there is the possibility of babies being born before 34 weeks. But you can lose your mucus plug weeks before you go into labor. You and your baby are going to be fine. Try not to worry, and just enjoy the little bit of time you have left with your pregnancy!

L.,
I haven't had a child without having injections, but I did have a baby at 35 weeks and she had a lot of breathing difficulties. Please talk to your doc about the best treatment for your preemie.
D.

My daughter was born at 35 weeks due to Preeclampsia. That's when the mother's blood pressure is high and she's bloated all over. They induced me and she was born. She weighted 4 lbs 12 oz. Her lungs where just fine.

My second son was born right at 35 weeks and weighed 6 lbs and 9 oz. They say it's a little harder for boys and he was a classic case. They took him to the NICU a couple of hours after he was born because he had minor labored breathing. They put him under a heating lamp that night and the next morning he was fine. They moved him to a regular crib, but he had to stay in the NICU for 9 days. Babies don't learn to suck until 36 weeks and that was his only problem. He had to stay until he learned to eat on his own which actaully happened the day he would have been 36 weeks. He came home 2 days later. Otherwise, he was completely fine and ended up being in the 99th percentile beginning at his 2 month checkup. He's 2 now and almost as big as his 5 year old brother.

My son was born at 36 weeks with no problems at all. However, I have heard of even full term babies needing oxygen. I think it depends on the baby. My son weighed 6 lbs. but was content to sleep all the time so he had to be woken up for feedings. He never really did the hungry cry until he was a month old (his actual due date).

My Grandson was born at 36 weeks 9 years ago with out steriods and he is healthy smart and full of life. please follow the doctors advise. God Bless

S.

I was induced at 35 weeks without steroid injections... We were home within 12 hours....no problems. I had also lost my mucus plug. My situation was that there was a hurricane coming and I am more than 1 hour away from the hospital dialated to 4 and experiencing intermittent contractions. My doctor and I made a "better safe than sorry" decision to induce so we would lessen the chance of labor during the storm's low pressure. Relax.

My first child was born just shy of 36 weeks. My water broke. He was perfectly fine and had no respiratory problems at all. My mucus plug came out around 32 weeks with him. His worse problem was jaundice and an immature stomach. However my 2nd child was born at 39 weeks and was on oxygen for 30 hours. She had all the respiratory problems even though she was "full term" So I guess it depends on the child.

Hi, I started losing my plug at 36 weeks with the last pregnancy I had, my 6 1/2 mos old , but I didnt end up having her until I was 37 weeks and 4 days gestation, and that was cause my water broke, you could end up going a little longer and not have to worry about giving birth at 36 weeks. Good luck!

L.,

I have 3 children. The first was born at 38wks, the second at 37wks, and the third at 35wks. I did not have steriod injections with any of them, and they all 3 were just fine. So be encouraged and trtust the Lord and hisperfect timing.

I gave birth to twins at 30 weeks. They were in the NICU but are now very healthy boys!

Good morning!
My son was born 7.5 weeks early. He had several birth defects that required surgery so we waited for his lungs to develop; which was about a week before that. I had several amniocentesis' to ensure his lungs were developed.

I also was nervous but he is 10 and more than the picture of health. He was 4 pounds and 1 ounce and only had to stay in the hospital because of his other complications (nothing from being premature).

You will do well I'm sure! Congradulations!

While losing your mucus plug is certainly an indication that your body is preparing to go into labor, I believe that you can lose your mucus plug up to 2 weeks before you actually go into labor. My water broke at 37 weeks with my first child and so my experience with mucus plugs is somewhat limited....but my best friend lost hers about 10 days before she actually delivered child #3. Keep a close watch for other signs of labor and call your OB if you have concerns.

If you are 36 weeks you are fine that is rith there at full term. My last child was born back in Nov 07 at 36 weeks and weighed a at wopping 7lbs and 9.5 oz. My other kids weighed only 6 so for me that was lot. But she was perfectly fine. I lost my mucus plug at 34 weeks and was told normally you will be giving birth within about 2 weeks after that and mine was right on the money. Has ur ob/gyn did any test to see if the baby is still growing and developing well. but more than likely the baby is ok if u are 36 wks.

Hello I am a birth doula and you are more than welcome to write back with ANY questions (that is including the strange and funny ones!) I usually lost my plug at 36 weeks and I had my baby around we 39. Everyone is different.

H.~ birth doula(labor coach), mama to three and military wife.

.

Really like most have said every child is different. I was not givin steriods when I went into labor early. I was 35 weeks and sick from food poisoning, that in return started my labor. My baby did need steriods after he was born and he did stay in the hosiptal for a while. He was in great hands. It does happen that there lungs aren't mature but they can give steriods after the baby is born if there are issues. I would just talk to your doctor about your concerns. Congradulations!

K.

try not to worry, i lost my mucus plug almost a month before i was induced with my son. just b/c you lost it doesn't necesarily mean you will go into labor soon.

Of course all babies and deliveries are different but my son was born at 36 weeks and we had no significant problems at all. The first 36 hours he had a little trouble maintaining his body temperature but we were able to keep him in our room the whole time (4 days for "just in case") we were there. He was perfectly fine besides having a very nervous first time mom who didn't get the delivery experience she had hoped for.

I know of 2 ppl that had their babies early, at 35 and 35 1/2 weeks, and they did not require steroids for lung maturation. My older sis had her son at 35 weeks, he came so fast, 2 1/2 hours of labor and he was here, they noticed he had trouble breathing at birth, he spent 2 hours in NICU, and he's fine! No breathing problems since, and he's now almost 2. My best friend, who had a terrible pregnancy, gave birth to her daughter at 35 1/2 weeks, and she was born healthy, and still is to this day. Your second child may have been a unique situation, or the doc's were just being precautious. I wouldn't worry too bad about whether your next child may need steroids for their lungs, b/c they may not need it at all. Every child is different. If the doc suggests steroids, ask him if it's really that necessary; cause it may not be. Good luck and CONGRATULATIONS!!

My baby was born at 36 weeks and was just fine. Losing your mucus plug does not mean labor. You can go for days or even weeks before labor starts. Wishing you all the best!

I had a baby at 35 weeks without steroid shots, and one at 34 weeks with just one shot 12 hours before she was born . . . and both had fully developed lungs. . .

My son was born at 36 weeks and I was told white boys lungs are typically not developed well enough at that point. Sure enough my one month early 7.5 lb boy got to stay in NICU for 4 days. It wasn't ideal but my baby came home just fine. Today he is a handsome 10 year old boy that is almost as big as me. It does not appear to have held him back in any way!lol. It will be fine. Not ideal but fine. He belongs to God.

Hi L.:
My son was born at 35 1/2 weeks without steriods and was a whopping 7 lbs 6 ozs, had no breathing problems, was never ventilated, etc!! There's hope! Try not to worry and good luck!!

My son was born at 32 weeks. If he had any steroids, it was just during labor, but I don't remember any, and he never had a problem breathing. I lost my mucus plug a week before going into labor with him. When I had premature contractions with my next baby, my doctor said that if I could hold out until 36 weeks she'd be just fine, but 34 weeks would be okay. I'm really pretty surprised that they used steroids at 37 weeks--that's pretty much full term in almost anyone's standards. Maybe they had some particular reason to think he needed the help. But if you're healthy and the baby has been growing and developing right on schedule, you should be okay. Don't worry, just pray!

My daughter was born at 36 weeks exactly - she was little (4 pounds, 15 ounces and 18 inches long at birth). My water broke in the middle of the night - no warning, certainly no steroids. She was and is perfect - the doctor's all called her small and mighty! She only stayed one night in pediatrics for jaundice but never even had to go to the NICU. Good Luck!!!