What are the risks of delivering your baby 3 weeks early?

My baby sister had been born due to emergency C-Section 4 months early, they said she was going to die because her lungs weren't developed. She was born kicking and screaming. She didn't need any air, no respirator, no help. She was only 2 pounds 3 ounces so she was in an incubator for the majority of her first year of life, but she did so well, and if she can make it, with no real help, so can a baby that's only 3 weeks premature. Medicine is so far advanced right now that if the doctor has no quams with delivering early, it'll be all right, if he was worried he would have said so. So breathe easy, get her to relax, because both her and the baby don't need the stress, and it's going to be okay. Congrats!

No worry there. Medical science has achieved so much advancement in its field already, coping with situations like this is peanuts, very easy. They say that premature kids are very intelligent. I have a friend who has three kids - they were all born prematurely. The eldest was only 7 months in her tummy then he was born, the second one was short of some two weeks or more then she was born, and the third one was short of a week or two then she was born. They were all in the honor rolls from elementary till high school. I don't have any idea about their performance in college because I have not seen her anymore. A mutual friend told me that they went through on scholarships, too. That should make you look forward to a brighter future for your grandchild.

Three weeks early would be 37 weeks. Her doctor should have told you that a baby born at 37 weeks or later is FULL term. That means the baby will be fine. I actually had my daughter at 37 weeks and she was just fine. :)

I have read that the risks are higher for prolonging the birth than giving birth early. She needs to relax. I would think being anxious could bring on the birth sooner. Keep us posted.

Ofcourse waiting for 40 wks is ideal in any pg. 36 wks is when the lungs are developed and the baby just gains weight.About 1pound a wk. Its pretty safe to have a baby after 36wks. So dont worry and enjoy the wonderful birth of the baby. Congaulation.

There actually is no real risk there. My daughter was born 3 weeks early, and she has never had a breathing problem or any other kind of problem really. The due date is an average. Anything from 2-3 weeks before to 2-3 weeks after that due date is considered normal, and the baby is considered full-term. Some doctors prefer to stay closer to 2 weeks early or late. Others realize that 3 weeks either way isn't a big deal. My mother in law is actually a doctor, and she told me that my daughter being born three weeks before the due date was still full-term, even though one of the nurses in the hospital I delivered at felt that the baby was a bit too early. Bottom line? Don't worry. As long as there aren't other problems (such as the child being in a position other than with the head towards the pelvis, etc.) there isn't anything wrong. The baby is pretty much full term now and s/he will be perfectly fine. S/he will be able to breath on her/his own (provided there are no congenital defects that an ultra-sound would have very likely already pointed out). Now is the time to start planning the hospital trip, and making sure that everything is ready for baby's arrival. Good luck to you and your daughter, and have fun with that new baby girl/boy!! :)

I don't think there will be any risk because its normal. Ofcourse its risky if it is more than 5 weeks.

If I'm not mistaken Due Date is really the 40th week so if your daughter's due is on April 25 I think it will be ok for her to give birth now. My son was born on November 27 I was only 37 weeks and 4 days pregnant but my due date was really December 21. He's already full term when I gave birth to him and there are no complications whatsoever except the pedia thought he has jaundice but his skin is really yellowish like his dads. DOn't worry too much because I know the doctors will take care of your daughter and your grandchild. Good luck and congratulations.

At 37 weeks the baby is full term and easily able to cope with being born. Their lungs are usually fully mature and only in very rare cases are there any problems. Even if she were to go into active labor, if there WERE to be any concerns about the babys lungs, they would have admitted her to hospital and given her an injection of steroids to mature the baby's lungs. Chances are she may stay at 1 1/2 cms for a while. Really it just means that the baby's head has engaged and is readying itself for labor. She has absolutely nothing to worry about. Babies are being born earlier these days and with medical science the way it is, they can work miracles with little worry. Congratulations on the impending birth of your grandchild. Let us know how she gets on.

Your grandbaby should be fine. I had one baby four weeks early and the only thing wrong was alittle jaundice (yellowing of the skin). He grew like a weed! He is now four and looks like a six year old. Good luck, enjoy your new bundle of joy!

I gave birth last October 1, 2006 to a baby boy. I was supposedly to be due on the first week of November. My gave birth to a little boy, 4.6 lbs. It was not his time yet, that's why. Right after I gave birth, he was sent to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. His lungs were not fully developed yet. After 3 days, he was okay. Now, he's a healthy baby boy!

I have three children, my first was born at 41 weeks and the next two were each born at 37 weeks. I had no problems with any of them, except the huge size of the first (9 pounds 6 ounces...OUCH!). Don't worry, the baby will be fine if born 3 weeks early, it is in the "safe zone". Congratulations!

there is no matter in delivering babies before there time cuz it is likely to deliver before the time in 3 months imagine this and the baby will be normal without any complications

At three weeks early the baby would be fine. If the baby does come your daughter will have some steroids given to her for the baby's lungs. Baby's are considered "full term" around 37-38 weeks. Right around where your daugter is. The doctors would not take the baby if there was any danger at all. Labor can be stopped. I was a the same place as your daughter three weeks out as well. I ended up delivering 9 days late and I had a 10 pound baby. Good luck to you and your family.

If your daughter goes into labor three weeks early, there are medications that can be given that will finish maturing the lungs. I have a friend right now who had a baby at 21 weeks. He is doing well, there are problems, of course. I just point that out to say that we have a great deal of ability to save early little lives. Three weeks early may even be normal for your daughter. Did you deliver right on schedule? Were you early, or late? That might be an indicator. The reason the doctor would not try to stop active labor at this point would be that it would be easier on the baby than some other remedies designed to stop labor.

There is nothing to worry about as the baby is already in it's full term. I gave birth to my baby 5 weeks before her due date. We are so thankful that everything had been normal and she is healthy even if it is a premature delivery.

The baby will be fine. Sometimes, as you know, the due dates aren't always correct. Two of my four children were born three weeks early and they turned out just fine. However, a baby born three weeks early is still ok. I'm sure the doctor would express concerns if concernment is due.

What my doctor told me was that as long as the baby reached her 36 weeks inside the womb it is safe for her to be delivered. Because I gave birth on my second baby 2 weeks earlier than expected and he's a healthy baby boy when he came out. He came out on the 37th week of my pregnancy. And I think it is safer to give birth on the 7th month than on the 8th because that is when there is still some developments happening inside the womb. I am not just not sure what that is. Have your daughter take most of her time at home so when emergencies come she can soundly deliver the baby without flaws. And, prayers are the best always. No doubts about that.

There is Absolutely nothing to worry . My son was Born around 3 weeks early. He was a normal child, With everything going on right for him. He is 4 yrs old now and is in perfect health and a real hyper active young fellow. Dont worry it must have been decided very much earlier by Almighty that he must be born on such date and time. Everything will be fine dont worry.

According to my training in nursing school, 3 weeks premature is hardly any cause for concern. Modern medicine can actually enable a baby to survive after only 23 weeks. 37 weeks is about as close as you can get to full term so there is no need to worry.