What's the smallest they will let a baby come home?

Question

I'm not sure how to really phrase this question. I mean what's the minimum weight they will let a baby come home. Does it even have anything to do with weight if say the baby is about 4 lbs? What if the baby is about 4 lbs but is breathing and eating by itself. Would they let the baby come home?

I don't have a preemie baby. I'm 33 weeks pregnant and I have a feeling that this baby is going to come early. Ive had a lot of contractions lately that only seem worse when I'm walking or standing.

Answer 1

I'll put it this way: we had a 4 pound son who was in the NICU for 17 days. The nurse we had said the smallest she's had gone home was around 3 pounds, but even then he had to go home on oxygen. Oh, and he was born weighing 15 ounces.

Just because a baby is eating, breathing and thriving, there's always a chance that the baby will take a step back. The NICU usually likes to see a baby that has gained weight (we went home at 6 pounds) AND continues to grow.

Answer 2

It all depends on the situation. My daughter was born at 24 weeks, and they didn't give us a weight that the baby would have to get up to before she went home, but they instead told us that she would go home around her due date. She went home 4 days before her due date, and was 5 lbs 12 ozs. NOw it is all dependant on the baby's situation though. Some of our friends baby's went home bigger, and some smaller. It all depends on the problems they encounter, and how well they do with growing and feeding. Do you have a preemie babe?

Answer 3

I saw a 4 lb baby go home because mom and dad took the classes for the breathing apparatus and the baby was gaining weight.

Answer 4

The baby has to weigh at least 4lbs and be able to eat and breathe well. The baby must not have any apnea spells for a certain amount of time (every hospital is different on the length of time). Also, they want the baby to be at least 36 weeks gestation before sending the baby home.

Answer 5

Yes. If the baby is excelling in all areas and has had no trouble for several days or so. My baby was 6lb. 12oz. but was 4weeks early. Even though his size was great for a preemie, he had oxygen issues for awhile. His doc said his standard was that he had to be "complication-free" for at least 48hrs. before he would consider sending him home.
I know someone that had a 4lb. preemie recently, and she came into the world w/no complications at all and went home after just 3 days.

Answer 6

My son grew to become into 9 a million/2 weeks early. He grew to become into interior the well-being center for one month. The circumstances for him going domicile have been: He mandatory to take each and every feeding by using breast or bottle and eat a minimum of one hundred forty or so ml interior an 8-12 hour era, carry his own temperature, shop feedings down on a similar time as mendacity flat, pass the carseat attempt, and have not any apnea or spells. He grew to become into nursing at 32 weeks, off the oxygen exhibit screen and IV by using day 3, out of the isolette interior an afternoon of commencing the weaning technique, and while given the alternative. took each and every feeding from me and cleared 2 hundred+ ml interior the 8 hour era in the previous he grew to become into released. Age and weight does not count because of the fact my son went domicile in the previous 35 weeks and grew to become into below 5lbs. At purely 4 weeks early and no respiration issues, infant might desire to be domicile quicker than you may think of!

Answer 7

I had my daughter at 33 week and 4 days she was delivered my emergency c-section, she was born 4.3lbs, while in the hospital she lost 1lbls, they told us that she would go home around 5lbs, after about 8 days in the hospital she was able to take and keep down 8 feedings a day, she ripped her feeding tube out few times before, and then they disided not to put it back in, she started to maintain her temp alo out of incubator in open crib, 2 days later she was discharged and went home at 4.9lbs, now she is almost 7 month and pushing close to 20 lbs

Good luck, and if you do have a premy, please, please breast feed her, even if you can't breast feed her right away, pump and breast feed her, it will make a world of difference, did for mine

Answer 8

Our preemie came home once it was firmly established that he could maintain his body temperature, eat and digest without any issues. He was 3.5 pounds when he was born and probably about 4.5-5 pounds when they let us bring him home (15 days). They never gave us a target weight that he needed to hit. I think they really just want to be sure that they are fully developed internally. It's hard. As I recall, no one could ever give us the specifics that we were dying to hear. Best of luck to you!

Answer 9

In pretty much the entire country, 4 lbs. is the limit. There are rare exceptions and sometimes it's because the baby isn't expected to survive.

Answer 10

My friend had a baby she was 2lbs 3 oz when she came home.. i dont really think it mathers how much the baby weighs ...i think its more about how the baby is eating and if she/he is gaining the right amout of weight! GOOD LUCK but if i were you i would try too keep your baby in your belly the longer posible. I had a premature baby. he was 5lbs 5oz and he had lung problems. he is now a heathy 22 1/2 lbs one year old but still dont go and try to have your baby now!!!!