Childbirth at 35 weeks of pregnancy

The experience of giving birth can be erratic, and occasionally babies decide to arrive earlier than anticipated. Parents who were anticipating a few more weeks to prepare may be taken aback when labor begins at 35 weeks of pregnancy. Even though it’s considered preterm, babies born at this stage typically have a good prognosis if they receive the appropriate medical attention.

A baby is still growing and developing at 35 weeks, but the majority of their vital organs are still in good working order. Despite the possibility of less developed lungs and the need for additional care after birth, advancements in medicine have allowed babies born at this stage to thrive.

It’s critical to be prepared for an early delivery if it becomes necessary. Your baby will receive the necessary care from the hospital staff, and knowing what to expect can put your mind at ease during this unplanned period.

Topic	Details
What is 35 weeks of pregnancy?	35 weeks marks the beginning of the 9th month of pregnancy. At this stage, the baby is considered preterm but may still have a good chance of survival with proper medical care.
Signs of Early Labor	Common signs include contractions, lower back pain, and changes in vaginal discharge. It"s important to consult a healthcare provider if these symptoms occur.
Possible Complications	Babies born at 35 weeks may face issues like breathing difficulties, feeding problems, and jaundice. They might need extra care in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Care for the Baby	Specialized care might be needed to monitor and support the baby"s development. This can include assistance with breathing, feeding, and temperature regulation.
What to Expect for Parents	Parents should prepare for a potential NICU stay and be ready for additional medical appointments. Emotional support and practical help can be beneficial during this time.

Despite being considered preterm, giving birth at 35 weeks of pregnancy typically results in healthy babies, thanks to advancements in medical care. But as they complete their development outside the womb, babies born at this stage may still encounter difficulties such as feeding problems, breathing problems, and the need for additional support. Parents may feel more prepared and supported during this unplanned event if they know what to anticipate.

Is it normal?

A typical pregnancy lasts ten months on the lunar calendar or nine months on the calendar. 40 weeks is the equivalent in obstetric weeks. The baby and mother benefit greatly from a birth date that is closer to the expected date of birth because the final weeks of pregnancy are critical for the baby’s growth and acquisition of subcutaneous fat, which helps the baby retain heat long after birth.

The lungs create surfactant, a unique material made by the alveoli in the lungs. After their first independent breath, it will prevent them from sticking together and allow them to breathe freely.

Giving birth at 40 weeks is a relatively uncommon occurrence. Most of the time, babies are delivered on the day that the obstetricians have chosen, either slightly earlier or later. However, "earlier" and "later" are not approximations.

Births that happen on a day between the 37th and 42nd obstetric week are considered urgent, meaning they happen on time and are perfectly normal. Of course, for both mother and child, the closer to 40 weeks, the better.

By all current obstetric standards, a baby born at 35 weeks gestation is considered premature. This definition will be accurate and correct whether the baby is born at 35 weeks or 34–35 weeks into the labor process.

It should be noted that, out of all premature births, the majority of cases occur between weeks 34 and 37 of pregnancy, according to medical statistics. About 15% of "rushing" babies are born before 31 weeks, and no more than 20% are born before 34 weeks. And if childbirth at 35 weeks is pathological relative to the norm, then this is one of the best periods for the baby’s future prognoses out of all the categories of premature births.

At this point, the child is fairly well-formed, all of his internal organs are operating, he has developed some reserves of subcutaneous fat, and he does not fit the current definition of a deeply or severely premature child. There are, however, some subtleties as well, which we will go over below.

Reasons

The mother’s extreme illness or the child’s condition could be the cause of childbirth, which the doctor will encourage during this obstetric period. Most of the time, if a cesarean section is deemed necessary to preserve the child’s and his mother’s lives, it is the preferred course of action.

Decisions regarding early delivery are made based on a number of factors. They can be divided into maternal and fetal categories based on certain conditions, and there are a lot of them. In the first scenario, a woman may experience an acute episode of a severe chronic illness, such as renal failure, and a further two to three weeks of pregnancy may result in the woman’s and her unborn child’s deaths.

Such a decision is typically made in the best interests of the fetus in the case of a severe Rh conflict, if the mother’s blood Rh factor is negative, in a state of severe uncompensated fetal hypoxia, or when the risk of the fetus’s intrauterine death precludes the pregnancy from being maintained for at least one more week.

At this point, spontaneous labor can occur for a wider range of reasons. This covers the mother’s overall health, her long-term illnesses, the pathologies of the current pregnancy, and the state of the unborn child.

The following is only a partial list of factors that may impact a pregnancy and cause an early birth between weeks 34 and 35 or 35 and 56:

• a history of abortions and miscarriages;
• previous surgery on the uterus;
• the mother has previously had premature birth;
• polyhydramnios;
• oligohydramnios;
• impaired permeability of the membranes of the fetal bladder, leakage of amniotic fluid or their discharge;
• functional imperfection of the cervix (isthmic-cervical insufficiency);
• precancerous conditions of the cervix;
• placenta previa;
• sexually transmitted infections;
• dangerous viral diseases suffered at the very beginning of pregnancy;
• heart disease;
• diabetes;
• gestosis with high blood pressure;
• genetic abnormalities of the fetus.

Unfavorable social circumstances that the pregnant woman finds herself in, such as inadequate nutrition, drug and alcohol abuse, smoking, ongoing stress, and hard work, can also result in childbirth at 35 weeks. Women who are over 40 and under the age of 18, as well as those who give birth late, are particularly vulnerable.

35 weeks is the cutoff point for deliveries by twin carriers and pregnant women whose unborn child is presenting breech. Boys are typically born so early.

Features of the labor process

The management of premature labor differs slightly from that of a regular, on-time delivery. Specifically, you should visit the maternity hospital as soon as possible so that medical professionals can examine you and fully comprehend the situation. To determine the only course of action that is appropriate, the risks to the woman and her unborn child must be considered.

Further medical action could take one of three forms: either they decide to wait and see and not intervene in the birth, or they decide to actively participate and intervene right away, or they decide to perform a cesarean section right away.

Premature birth is risky because it can result in pathologies and deviations and is associated with various complications in 30% of cases.

Frequently, contractions during labor are either too strong and fast or too weak and rhythmic to cause the cervix to fully open. Primary labor force weakness arises in the first scenario, while rapid or rapid labor occurs in the second.

If such a problem is identified, the woman is prescribed medication that either increases uterine activity and relaxes the cervix’s muscles, or, if necessary for a fast or swiftly progressing labor, slows down contractions.

Depending on the circumstances, epidural anesthesia may be used during premature labor. In addition, a surgical dissection of the perineum known as an episiotomy is frequently performed on laboring women who deliver their babies earlier than the anticipated obstetric term.

In cases where natural labor puts the mother and child in danger, a cesarean section is performed for vital emergency indications. Most frequently in situations where the fetus is severely oxygen starved, the umbilical cord becomes entangled and causes strangulation, placental abruption occurs, and the uterus and parts of the child’s body prolapse into the birth canal, which can happen when there is a sudden outpouring of water.

Risks and potential consequences for the child

As previously stated, the lung tissue of a fully term baby has formed an adequate amount of surfactant. Premature birth increases the chance that there won’t be enough surfactant to allow for complete breathing, which could lead to respiratory failure. It is the main reason why premature births result in infant mortality.

These children can now be saved thanks to advancements in resuscitation care, but the death rate is still relatively high.

As soon as the baby inhales for the first time, acute respiratory distress syndrome sets in. The symptoms of the syndrome include acute oxygen deficiency and suffocation. If the child receives emergency resuscitation care—that is, is hooked up to a ventilator—he has a chance of survival. The prognoses given by doctors are vague; nobody can predict with certainty when the baby will be able to breathe on his own. A prolonged stay on a ventilator and tube feeding also increase the baby’s risk of developing a respiratory tract infection, which can worsen their condition.

Due to the brain’s early response to oxygen deprivation, brain cells are rapidly destroyed in a hypoxic state. As a result, nobody will be able to predict how the distress syndrome will turn out. The degree of brain damage and the reversibility of these processes will determine their outcome.

Premature babies are more likely than full-term babies to have brain disorders, and this is due to factors other than just the distress syndrome. At 35 weeks, the brain’s structural maturity is not as high as that of a fetus at 38, 39, or 40 weeks. Cerebral stroke cases are occasionally reported right away, during childbirth, or a few hours after the event.

The exact form that a cerebral hemorrhage will take in the future cannot be predicted. The hematoma’s size, location, depth, and degree are the main factors to consider in this case. The effects could later show up as mild, unexpressed neurological disorders, or they could cause severe mental illnesses, paralysis, damage to the central nervous system, and impairments to the senses of hearing and vision.

Naturally occurring labor at 35 weeks of pregnancy is also associated with a higher risk of harm to the unborn child. The biomechanical processes of childbirth may be disturbed due to the nervous system’s relative immaturity, which could injure the cervical vertebrae and other parts of the spine.

In addition, rapid labor increases the risk of birth trauma several times over.

In order to reassure women, it should be mentioned that a baby born at 30 weeks has a much higher chance of suffering serious consequences than one born at 35–36 weeks. You must therefore have faith in the best.

The birth weight of the child is a significant factor. According to average statistics, children weigh between 2500 and 2700 kg at 35 weeks. This weight is more than adequate to allow the baby to maintain body heat after birth and prevent thermoregulation issues. Situations can differ, though, and some babies at this stage don’t weigh more than 2 kg. Reanimating such babies is undoubtedly necessary.

Puppies born at 35 weeks fall into the second group in the classification of degree of prematurity. The first includes babies born at 36–37 weeks, but it is thought to be the most favorable in terms of diagnosis. More erratic is the second group. However, a third and fourth group also exists, in which the child is deemed heavy, very heavy. As a result, childbirth at 35 weeks of pregnancy is not as good as it could be if the baby was delivered a few weeks earlier, but it is also not as bad as it could be.

A newborn and full-term child are slightly different from the outside. The primary differences are in height and weight; additionally, there may be visible lanugo residue on the skin and less plump cheeks. The infant can be put to the breast right away if there are no complications or distress syndrome during delivery, as he possesses all the necessary reflexes and can swallow and suck.

The majority of babies born between 35 and 36 weeks not only live, but also develop into healthy adults, much to the happiness of their parents. Nonetheless, these newborns continue to spend the initial days of life in a specially heated crib, monitored by neonatologists and resuscitators.

Danger for a woman

A woman who had to give birth before the full 35 weeks of pregnancy may be susceptible to a number of postpartum complications, the chance of which is always higher following an early delivery.

These laboring women are more likely than others to suffer from perineum and genital tract ruptures. Cervix injuries are common. All of these situations can be handled by the obstetric team in the delivery room, but for obvious reasons, the baby’s recovery will take longer after birth.

There is also a slight increase in the basic risks for inflammatory and infectious complications following childbirth.

Long-term healing of the perineum’s stitches and uterine contractility issues could complicate the recuperation process.

Given that a premature baby needs special care and attention during the first year of life, postnatal depression is a common and dangerous condition that often develops in women after premature birth.

Although having a baby at 35 weeks can be a little frightening, many of these babies thrive with the correct care. Hospitals are well-equipped to provide any additional support that they may require, particularly with breathing and feeding. The main goal is to ensure their comfort and well-being.

It’s critical to maintain your optimism and have faith that your child is in capable hands. You will receive expert guidance from the doctors and nurses at every stage. Your baby will receive the specialized care they require to grow stronger, even though they may spend some time in the NICU.

Don’t be afraid to get help and ask questions if your baby is born early. Being surrounded by individuals who are cognizant of your situation can be extremely beneficial. Just keep in mind that after overcoming their initial obstacles, many preemies go on to lead happy, healthy lives.

Video on the topic

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