33 Weeks Pregnant: Is It Safe for Baby to Deliver Now?

Question
I WAS WONDERING IF I WENT IN TO LABOR RIGHT NOW WOULD MY BABY BE ALRIGHT IF HE WAS DELIVERED AT THIS POINT IN MY PREGNANCY?

Answer
Dear Levenia,

Obviously we want babies to get as close to 40 weeks as possible in order to give them the safety of the uterus in which to grow and develop. However, babies born between 37 and 42 weeks of pregnancy are called "full term". Babies born before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy are called premature or pre-term.

According to the March of Dimes, about 12% of babies in the United States are born pre-term. Of those, the majority (84%) are born between 32 and 36 weeks of gestation. Babies born pre-term face a greater risk of serious health problems for several reasons. The earlier a child is born, the less she will weigh, the less developed her organs will be, and the more complications she is likely to face. These babies may require care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which has specialized medical staff and equipment that can deal with the multiple problems faced by premature infants.

About 24,000 babies a year - most of whom were born before the 34th week of pregnancy - suffer from a breathing problem called Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS). Babies with RDS lack a protein called surfactant that keeps small air sacs in the lungs from collapsing. Treatment with surfactant, which is now pretty routinely given with any premature labor/delivery, helps affected babies breathe more easily. Since treatment with surfactant was introduced in 1990, deaths from RDS have been reduced by about two-thirds.

Premature babies sometimes stop breathing for 20 seconds or more. This interruption in breathing is called apnea, and it may be accompanied by a slow heart rate. Premature babies are constantly monitored for apnea.

Premature babies are more likely than full-term babies to develop jaundice because their livers are too immature to remove a waste product called bilirubin from the blood. In addition, premature infants may be more sensitive to the ill effects of excess bilirubin. Babies with jaundice have a yellowish color to their skin and eyes. Jaundice often is mild and usually is not harmful; however, if the bilirubin level gets too high, it can cause brain damage. This generally can be prevented because blood tests will show when bilirubin levels are too high, so the baby can be treated with special lights (phototherapy) that help the body eliminate bilirubin. Occasionally, a baby may need a blood transfusion.

There are many other conditions which can occur with premature babies - I've only listed a few common ones. Babies born between 32-35 weeks usually fair pretty well. More than 98% of babies born at this time survive. Most weigh between 3 and 7 pounds, and most appear thinner than full-term babies. Some can breathe on their own, and many others just need supplemental oxygen to help them breathe. Some can be breast- or bottle-fed, although babies born at less than 34 weeks or having breathing difficulties will probably need tube-feeding. Babies born after about 34 weeks are unlikely to develop serious disabilities resulting from premature birth, though they may remain at increased risk of subtle learning and behavioral problems.

I hope this information has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well and a few more weeks before the baby arrives!!

Brenda