Dr. Marjorie Greenfield
Specializing in pregnancy and birth.
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 Ask Dr. Greenfield
Average Hospital Stay for a Preemie | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Greenfield,
What is the average stay in the hospital for a preemie that was born at 34 weeks?— Kristi072795 | | | ANSWER |
December 4, 2001 | | | Dear Kristi,
In general the pediatricians who specialize in newborn care (Neonatologists) say to be prepared for a preemie to stay until approximately her due date. While this holds pretty true for very early gestations, it isn't written in stone at 34 weeks, since by that time many newborns do fairly well. For example, most 34 weekers don't require major help with breathing but many have trouble with sucking well or maintaining their body temperature. Often, since it isn't known why the baby was born early, preemies are treated with antibiotics for possible infection, just in case a uterine infection was the cause of the premature labor.
One of the biggest problems with having a fairly healthy near-term preemie is the distress you go through being separated from the baby while she is in the newborn ICU and you are recovering from the birth. Although many parents worry that being separated from their infants for the first days of life will ruin the baby's bonding, this isn't true. Moms and babies can certainly bond even if they are apart for the first days, weeks, or even months.
So overall, hospitalization for as little as two weeks would not be unusual for a 34 weeker. Of course, in most cases it is still better to stay inside of mom until after 36 weeks, at which time most babies go home from the hospital in the usual two days.— by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. |
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