Is it possible to deliver at 36 weeks

According to March of Dimes, late preterm deliveries accounted for 6. Previously, ACOG considered 37 weeks as a full-term pregnancy. However, because many babies born at 37 weeks experienced complications, they changed their guidelines. Now, the recommended time for a baby to stay inside the womb is at least 39 weeks unless medically indicated. Some infants born in the late preterm period are physiologically and developmentally immature when compared to full-term infants and are at higher risks of sickness and death.

Risk of infant death or sickness decreases significantly with each passing week of gestation. Understanding which babies are most at risk for sickness and death can help healthcare providers prepare for possible complications.

In comparison, the mortality rate for babies born weeks was Babies born at 36 weeks are more at risk for developmental problems, both physically and mentally, when compared to their full-term counterparts. Babies born at 36 weeks gestation are at a higher risk than babies born at term for the following:.

According to research posted to the American Journal of Perinatology , late preterm children of preschool age were less able to follow directions and perform memory tasks when compared to their peers born at full-term. Another study revealed that late preterm infants showed reduced developmental outcomes at 9 months of age when compared to full-term infants. However, these differences were not apparent at 2 years old but reemerged in kindergarten children concerning preschool reading, preschool math, and kindergarten reading.

Being aware of these complications can help parents, teachers, and healthcare providers target surveillance and early intervention. Although babies born at 36 weeks are generally healthy and are at lower risk for health complications than babies who are born earlier than this, they may still experience some health issues.

Sometimes, it is difficult to identify whether the complication is due to early birth itself or a medical reason that triggered the early delivery. As a result of these complications, babies may need to be admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit NICU or readmitted to the hospital after going home. There is a variety of medical reasons why a baby is born at 36 weeks.

Late preterm birth is most often due to a woman going into labor early. However, a medical condition that the mother or baby has developed may also cause preterm delivery. If you have any of the following symptoms, you should contact your midwife, doctor or hospital.

If this happens, trust your own instincts. See your doctor or midwife, or go to the hospital. Some premature labours can be stopped or delayed. If your baby is growing well and getting all they need from your body, the longer your baby can stay in your womb, the better. One way to prepare is by talking to your health professionals and asking some questions about premature birth.

In Australia, most premature babies survive. And survival rates keep getting better as medical knowledge gets better. Survival is affected by how premature a baby is. For example, moderately premature babies are more likely to survive than extremely premature babies. Most premature babies go on to develop like full-term babies.

Extremely premature babies born at 28 weeks or less have an increased risk of developmental problems. But even in extremely premature babies, severe developmental problems are still quite uncommon. Premature babies and their parents might have an unexpected and sometimes stressful start to their life together.

Another possible breathing complication is the onset of apnea. This is primarily due to an underdeveloped brain that can cause the breathing process to stop for a while without receiving a trigger to continue breathing. Babies usually have a weak immune system.

Preterm babies are more susceptible to bacterial attack and illnesses because their bodies are not completely developed.

Preterm babies, thus, have a greater risk of infection. Most premature babies contract jaundice due to their underdeveloped livers and weak liver function. Infrequent excretion of bilirubin results in its accumulation as the underdeveloped liver cannot filter it out. This leads to jaundice.

The most common symptoms of jaundice are yellow skin and eyes. Some preterm babies may also suffer from Patent Ductus Arteriosus, which is a congenital heart defect wherein the ductus arteriosus, a temporary blood vessel, does not close soon after the baby is born. The function of ductus arteriosus is to allow blood to bypass the non-functioning lungs of the foetus.

After childbirth, the blood vessel closes and becomes what is scientifically identified as ligamentum arteriosum. Premature babies thus need a lot of care after they are born.

Caring for a premature baby can be a little different from caring for a healthy, full-term baby. Here are some things you must bear in mind when caring for a preterm baby. Apart from all the medical procedures and measures you would take to ensure continued support for the health of your preterm baby, creating a strong bond between you and your baby is essential. Having as much skin-to-skin contact as possible lets your baby know that you are taking care of him.

Your baby can sense your presence and will love the soothing warmth that your body provides him. This connection also helps the baby calm down and heal faster. Once your doctor deems it fine to let your baby start feeding the usual way, you can start breastfeeding him. This also necessitates that you continue expressing your breast milk even when the baby is not having any initially. If holding your baby and letting him suck on the breast is still a problem, you can choose to feed him using a bottle.

Formula-based milk should be used only if you have difficulty producing breast milk. Finally, being able to hold your newborn baby is a wonderful feeling, even if he is a little premature. Once the necessary care has been taken to ensure that your baby can breathe well, feed well, and can maintain his body temperature, you can bring him home.