Has anyone had a second pregnancy where the first pregnancy resulted in a premature delivery?

Question

I had my first daughter earlier this year at 28 weeks and she weighed 2 lbs 10 oz at birth. My husband & I always wanted at least two children - maybe more. After what we went through the first time, I am a bit scared of a second premature delivery.
I have talked to my ob/gyn and he gave me a lot of good advice. I am more looking for real people with real experiences and how they dealt with the stress and emotions during a second pregnancy. Or if you decided not to even try a second time.

My doctor has said which precautions he would take with a future pregnancy due to the complications that caused the first premature delivery. He also stated that I would be seeing a high risk pregnancy specialist in conjunction with my visits with him.
I am just wondering how people dealt with the stress and worry and choice to even have a second pregnancy.

Answer 1

I would say the second time around could be different.First of all, the doc's know now that you are at risk for premature delivery and can take precautions against it.Second, My MIL had a premature baby that was too small too make it and went on to have 2 healthy babies, Born on time.

Answer 2

your risks of having a second premature birth really depend on why you had the first one.. im sure your doctor could give you percentages and statistics if you ask. I had a fullterm birth, then a baby born at 29 weeks, then a full term birth.. the last pregnancy was pretty stressful with worrying tho, im not going to lie about that. just make sure your doc monitors you properly, and ANYthing doesnt feel right, be sure to have it checked out, even if you are at the docs or the ER 3 times a week. better safe than sorry. you also might want to consider switching docs and seeing a perinatologist for this pregnancy.. I did , it made me feel better to see a specialist who dealt with this all the time..

Answer 3

Well i went into labor at 32 weeks with my first, and he was born at 36 weeks COMPLETLY healthy, my second son i went into labor and delivered at 38 weeks and he had breathing problems and was in the nicu for 3 weeks. Its just a matter of how your pregnancy goes. Just because your first was premature doesnt mean your second or third or whatever will be :) besides now days they have so much technology they can save babies born around the 22 week mark. Thats incredible. Babies born that weigh just ounces. Dont let this stop you from having the family you want. Just take care of yourself, eat right, rest more, drink alot of water, and take your prenatals. You will have a healthy happy son or daughter in the end :) Goodluck!

Answer 4

With my SIL's first pregnancy, she delivered my niece 2 months premature due to complications (preeclampsia). While she was tiny (about the size of your first daughter) she was fully developed and is now a perfectly normal 8 year old. My SIL became pregnant again not even 6 months later and miscarried and another year later she became pregnant again and gave birth to my second niece, full term and a little butterball.

Answer 5

my daughter was a preemie by 4 weeks and I went into pre-term at 32. I'm prego again and 10wks and my daughter is 10months. Talk to your doctor about possible steroid shots earlie in the pregnancy. I got them at 32. that may help. I think about it but I dont' worry about going into pre-term again, every different is unique and it's own
Good luck

Answer 6

My nephew was premature and while he was in the hospital in recovery my sister got pregnant again. It was also this lady in the niccu (premature baby unit) that had 4 kids and all of them were premature and she had just had a little boy so sometimes its just that your body can't handle going full term but the lady said all of her kids were fine it was just that they all were premature. Congrats!

Answer 7

my sister had her first son at 31 weeks, and carried to term with her 2nd. She waited 3 years between pregnancies.