Delivery Decisions ~ 32 weeks vs. 34 weeks

Once you are inpatient (YAY!) you and your partner should discuss with your doctors when you will deliver.  Some doctors strongly advocate 32 weeks.  Others recommend 34 weeks.  This decision is highly personal and only YOU can make the decision.  It also depends on how your monitoring has been going, how your babies have been growing (equally, concerns about TTTS, possible IUGR, etc), your doppler flows, possible cord entanglement. 

We are not neonatlogists or perinatologists.  We strongly recommend you discuss the decision of when to deliver with a trained medical professional who can discuss the pros/cons of delivery at each gestational age.  Here are some things to consider though and are based on our observations of fellow momo moms who had babies at various gestational ages between 32 and 34 weeks.

• The risk of mortality may increase each week your babies remain in utero beyond 32 weeks
• At 32 weeks most of the greatest risks associated with prematurity are no longer a major concern
• 32 weekers, on average, have about a 1 month NICU stay
• 34 weekers, on average, have about a 2 week NICU stay
• 32 weekers often need additional breathing assistance, to include a ventilator; and may require oxygen for several days or weeks (normally down to CPAP or nasal cannula within a few days)
• 34 weekers often breathe on their own, but still may need breathing assistance, to include a ventilator
• 32 weekers can still suffer brain bleeds
• 32 weekers can have Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC)