How long in NICU?

I dont know if you ladies can help but perhaps you went through it or know of others.
If I delivered at 33-34 weeks with a baby girl that has steriod shots how long of A NICU stay have you seen. I am waiting for the neonatologist to see me.

Re: How long in NICU?

every situation/baby is different, but having said that, here are some things i've been told by my doctors and by other moms:

-my docs have told me that 32 weeks is a huge milestone. by that point, especially with the steroids on board, your baby will probably not have major breathing issues. i can vouch for that personally - i was a 32 weeker myself and never required any assistance with breathing.

-i have also been told by my docs that as far as fetal maturity goes, african american girls > african american boys > caucasian girls > caucasian boys. so your little one's race and gender put her at an advantage!

-one of my friends recently gave birth to her baby girl at 33.5 weeks, and she had no complications except for a little jaundice - spent a couple days in the NICU under the lamp and then was put in front of the window at home every morning for a couple weeks

it sounds like you may be reaching a point where it's more harmful to keep the baby inside than to have her out. if you do indeed reach that point, i would rest assured that your baby will most likely be fine. keep the faith

Re: How long in NICU?

Every baby is different. My nephew was born at 32 weeks and stayed in NICU for a few weeks. Then my niece (same genes) was born at 31 weeks and refused to even go on a respirator. She stayed in for maybe a week, but she wasn't even on a respirator or in the incubator.

Re: How long in NICU?

I almost had an emergency section with DS at 32 weeks. The nicu team at Stony Brook said it all depends on how well he can handle being outside the womb but most likely 6-8 weeks.

Re: How long in NICU?

My twin nephews were delivered 6 weeks early and stayed in the NICU for four weeks. HTH

Re: How long in NICU?

every baby is different.

I wa sborn at 35 weeks and I was there for 5 days, no breathing help needed...and this was oer 30 yrs ago. And I was only 4lbs.

My Friend had a 7lb 5 oz baby at 35 weeks, and he was there for 2 days week with breathing help.

Re: How long in NICU?

my DD was born on her 34th week weighing 3 lbs 1.7 oz. she didn't have any problem except for a little jaundice. i received the 2 shot of steroid during my 29th week so she never had any breathing problem. she had to stay a little over 3 weeks in the hospital most it in the regular nursery to gain weight. she came home when she weighed 4 lbs.

Re: How long in NICU?

My mom was born 10 weeks early and was in the NICU (if that's what they called it back in the stoneages) for 7 weeks. She had all sorts of complications due to "immaturity" and even died a time or two technically. My point being, it took only 7 weeks way back then and look at all the advances we have now!


My only word of advice is this: fight to hold her as much as possible. My grandmother was not allowed to even touch my mother and they never bonded and they always had this distance between them.

When my son had to spend a few days in the NICU (due to some vomiting issues), I would sit for HOURS straight holdling him leaving only to eat and at shift changes (policy).

Message edited 8/4/2007 11:15:49 PM.

Re: How long in NICU?

I had my son at 34 weeks and he stayed in for 10 days. Before I had him the neonatologist spoke with me at 32 weeks and went over everything with me. It helped me to have a better understanding of what to expect and what to prepare for. I do know they said every day you hold out makes a difference, it helped me to keep track as the days went by that every day he was better off if I had to deliver him that day, than he would have been tha day before.

Re: How long in NICU?

I deliverd my twins boys at 32w6d they stayed in the NICU for almost 4 weeks . HTH and good luck it is not the easiest thing but they are healthy and on a really nice schedule

Re: How long in NICU?

The Dr's usually say that most babies come home at their due date. My boys were born at 35 weeks and one stayed for a week and the other a month. Each baby is different so it is hard to judge but the due date is what they like to stick with.