Birth at 36 Weeks

If you make it one more week, baby will be "full term". Every baby is different, but you have a good chance of little to no hospital stay for baby for every day you are closer to 37.

My middle child was born at 37 weeks 0 days. He had low blood sugar and jaundice and had to stay one extra day.

You may end up going a couple of weeks longer anyway. I started contracting at 32 weeks with my youngest. I was in the hospital a total of 6 times. I didn't think I'd make it past 35-36 weeks, but I didn't end up delivering him until 38 weeks. You never know.

In August I had my second son at 35 weeks and 6 days, a day earlier than his older brother. He was small -- 4 pounds 5 ounces -- but didn't need a NICU stay and was recently deemed "a little piggy" by his pediatrician. So he's just fine, as was his brother who was even smaller at 3 pounds 7 ounces and had to stay in the NICU. (I had preeclampsia both times.) But he's an incredibly active, adorable 2-year-old now.

My water broke and daughter was born at 36 weeks and I went home after 1 night since she was born at 8:30 PM. Besides having to go in for jaundice checks the first 10 days she ended up just fine. She is 14 years old, smart, healthy, funny and an all around great kid. PS: she was 5 lbs 14 oz and was in the 95% for height and weight after her first year.

My son was 35 weeks. He had to stay in until he reached 5 pounds, he started off at 3.3 lbs. They let him go at 4 lbs 13 oz right at 5 weeks.

He was a tiny thing.
He had lots of ear infections that first year.
I had to keep a round the clock schedule of feedings to keep his weight up for about 2 months.
He is now almost 6 feet tall and 180 pounds. Obviously, he did fine. :o)

I had my son at 37 weeks 0 days. From what my Midwife told me that day, boys lungs take longer to develop. We were very worried about him needing to be sent to the NICU, but he turned out to be a whopping 8lbs 4oz and perfectly healthy. He had no trouble eating, or breathing. His lungs were just fine. We were lucky.

My youngest was born at exactly 36 weeks. She weighed 5 lbs 5 oz and she went home with me. No NICU time. The weight thing to go home I think varies by hospital - when my oldest was born at 29 weeks, 2 lbs 8.4 oz she went home at 4 lbs 4.2 oz. They went by maintaining body temperature, tolerating feedings and growth.

My nephew was just born at 36 w 4 d. He was perfect!! No problems at all. Good luck!

At 37 weeks your baby will be full term. You are so close...hang in there:)

Hi there and congrats on your soon-to-come bundle of joy! I'm sure you're excited, exhausted, anxious... I think a lot of factors come into play before anyone can adequately answer the question of health of a 36-weeker. Smooth pregnancy so far? Baby's weight/measurements adding up to this point? All of your levels in check? That being said, I'll give you my own testimony: my DD was born at 34 weeks, had severe growth restrictions (less than 3rd percentile), and had been given quite a grim prognosis for the duration of my pregnancy. Low amniotic fluid, possible oxygen restriction to the brain, high risk for stillbirth, etc. etc. etc. I stood strong and prayed over that baby every chance I got. She was born kicking and screaming via an emergency C-section, weighed only 2 lb, 11.6 oz, but needed hardly any interventions and no transfusions, though she did have to stay in the hospital for 4 weeks until she reached 4 pounds. She is now almost 9 months and doing wonderfully. So, without knowing any of your specifics, I'd venture to say that your baby will be fine, even if he/she does have to stay in the hospital for a bit. They are the most resilient little people and they were designed to fight! Best of luck to you and your little miracle!!

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My friends daughter was 35 weeks and 4 days weighed 6.5 and was only in the hospital the 4 days my friend was during her c section. And now she's a happy heathy almost 6 year old. Good luck

My 2nd was induced at 36w due to high blood pressure. She came out 6lbs 3oz, stayed in the room with me during our 2 night hospital stay and came home with me. I bet you and the baby will be fine. Do you know the gender? Girls lungs develop a little faster than boys.
Good luck!

My son was born at exactly 36 weeks, and he was perfectly healthy. He went home with me two days later, no problems at all. He was 6 lbs 1.9 oz.

My daughter was born only one week earlier than that though, at 35 weeks she was 5 lbs, 10 oz, and was in the NICU for two weeks. So.. it all depends on the circumstances.

Hopefully you'll get that extra week in, but don't worry too much if you don't. I'm 31 weeks with twins right now, and 36 weeks is my goal. I'll be thrilled if I make it that long. I'm starting to get that feeling like I'm close to the end already, too, and I really hope it's not true.

Good luck, I hope everything goes well for you, and of course - congratulations! :-)

My daughter was born at 36 weeks and 6 days I think. She weighed 7 lbs 6 oz very healthy but I had to have her then and not later because my blood pressure was high and kept rising. Now she's 20 months and still heathly besides the obvious cold :)
She stayed in my hospital room and we went home together after a 2 day stay
Good luck!

My second was born at 36 weeks. She weighed 6lbs 2oz and came home after the normal 48 hour hospital stay. There was just a lot more to do as far as breastfeeding and supplementing to keep the weight up. She wanted to sleep all the time and I would have to wake her to eat which was a struggle. Good luck!

Lora:

Mine is a horror story - sorry. Nicky was born at 36 weeks - APGAR score was a 2, he had pneumonia and was in the hospital for 9 days. Under normal circumstances - he would've been FINE...however, I had a high leak so his amniotic fluid had been contaminated for one week - and I KNEW my water had broken but when we went to the OB and they did an exam - no leakage was happening and they did the litmus test and nothing...he is now 9 years old.

Greg was born at 34 weeks - he was in the NICU for 7 days. Only problem was his biliruben...we knew he was coming early - he was due May 10 and I went into labor on 26 Jan...I was on bed rest from that point forward and they did a LOT to ensure that he stayed in there as long as he did to "bake"...he was born 26 March. He's now 11 years old.

GOOD LUCK!!!

My 36 weeker was induced on Friday. Ccsection Friday evening after failing to dialate past a 5. Born 5lbs 15 oz. He nursed well.Sunday we went home after breakfast. He's now a happy healty talkative 3. 5 yr old boy. (even if he is wearing size 2T shorts)

I delivered at 36 weeks with two of mine. They were both scheduled C-Sections after an amnio confirmed that their lungs were mature. They were both fine and healthy but the doctors in the hospital made my life miserable. Hospital policies say that babies born at 36 weeks need this and that and I can't breastfeed because of AB&C and we have to test this and that blah blah blah. It was a nightmare! My babies were fine and I would have been too if they would have just left us alone. But hospital policies are hospital policies, I suppose. My daughter was under 6 pounds so when I got home the nurses called every day to "remind" me to supplement since she was under 6 pounds. I never did and she was great. My babies were healthy and thriving and fine but i had a problem with their hospital policies...LOL With my fifth, I managed to talk my doctor and my babies doctor into letting us go home two days after my C-Section even though "hospital policies" said we need to be in the hospital for much longer. Whew! Maybe our insurance company sided with me... Anyway, for your sanity, hopefully, your baby will wait until 37 weeks. Otherwise, I think your baby will be fine. Good luck and congratulations!!

I gave birth at 35 weeks and we all went home the next day :) Perfect birth!

It's amazing what a week can do..I gave birth at 34 weeks and he stayed for 2 weeks...it's a term difference due to the maturity of the baby. 34 weeks is Premature.

35 weeks is Preterm and my aunt and I both had 35 week babies and they both went home...Enjoy your new baby :)

My youngest daughter was 36 weeks, 6 lbs, 8 oz and we went home from the birth center the same day. She did great.

I gave birth to my twins at 36 weeks. They were within normal weight ranges and my son came home with me. My daughter stayed an extra 3 days because she had a weak suck. They both had APGAR scores of 9.9. Don't worry about it.

My first was born at 36 weeks.... he did great 6 lbs 14 oz and came home with me 3 days later.

I read your "So what happened" - but I'd still like to let you know that my daughter was born 3 weeks early. She was slightly jaundiced and a bit on the small side, but otherwise healthy. We went home from hospital together. She's now a very sporty and academically gifted 15 year old - so no bad effects from having come along earlier than expected! Good luck with your new bundle of joy! :)

My youngest niece and nephew were born at 36 respectively. My sis has health issues so her doctor decided to give her a c-section as early as possible. My niece was TINY (less than 5 lbs) and had to stay in the hospital for a week, she had trouble regulating her body temperature and got tired easily for the first month, so she had trouble eating enough to put on weight. My sis was constantly busy feeding her and keeping her warm.
My nephew was bigger at birth and had no issues whatsoever.
They are 4 and 6 now and normal kids.

As a mother of twins, I know many, many women that gave birth at 36 weeks (or sooner!). 36 tends to be the mark where the baby is healthy enough to skip the NICU and go home with mom. Good luck!

I had my son at 36 weeks and 2 days. He was healthy as can be. Everything worked like it should.

I was exactly 37 weeks and all was fine

My youngest son was born at 36 weeks. I was induced since my babies tend me be larger then I can handle but I ended up having a C-section. He was fine and the lung development was good. He went home with me but ended up getting jaundice. Not really a big deal but it broke my heart. He is very healthy now and he is a happy 7 year old.

According to my OB's dating my son was born at 37 weeks exactly. According to my dates he was closer to 36 weeks. He had very low APGAR but I believe it was more because of a very difficult delivery. He also had a nuchul cord so he wasn't breathing well, and due to a possible hematoma they kept him in the NICU for 4 days. He came home New Years Day a very happy baby and is a very energetic 3.5 yr old. Providing everything goes smoothly with delivery I'd say you have a very good chance of bringing your baby home with you. BTW he weighed 6.2 lbs

Two out of my four children were born at 36 weeks. Healthy and home with
me a day or two later.

I gave birth to my son at 36 weeks exactly. He was healthy, no breathing problems, never had to spend time in the NICU or leave my sight. The only health issue he had was jaundice, so he spent a day in a billibed. He was able to go home with me on time. :) I was so scared when I went into labor but he was perfect! :) Just small. 5lbs 14oz. :) I also had my daughter at 37 weeks and she was healthy as can be! She was a little jaundiced, which is common in preemies I was told, but didn't even need a billibed.

I gave birth at 35 weeks. Small baby 5lb 7 oz but healthy over all.

I was hanging on by a thread with my last two, dialating and effacing a little bit each week for the last 6 weeks. You would be surprised at how long you can go like that. I did have them each at 38, 38, 38, and 37 weeks.

my neice was born at 35 wks. while she is an exception she had no issues.