[dawngloves]

Do your OBs do all micro deliveries via C/S even if mom is not Pre E or baby is not in distress?
I've heard many talk about the baby wouldn't survive a vaginal delivery, but we do all our PTL and such deliveries vag and I see no difference between them and C/S babies. Well, maybe a little more bruising.

[kids]

My understanding is that there is a higher risk of brain bleeds in vag delivered micropremies. I have no clue where I got that bit of information or if it is accurate.

[iceNICUnurse]

In my hospital they would try a vaginal first if everything is OK.
I have not seen any differance in the babies but maby the vaginal ones have a better outcome, are more redy...I am not sure.

The OBs have that in mind that if the baby does not live the mum will not have to have a scar on her tummy as well as the scar in the heart.

[Jolie]

I think there was a thread on this a while back. When I was pregnant with my first, and was dilated to 4cm in active labor at 28 weeks, I questioned my OB about this. I seem to remember a study published about that time which showed a better outcome in term of head bleeds with preemies delivered by C-section. She wasn't convinced of the benefit, but promised to section me if my labor couldn't be stopped. Probably helped my cause that the baby was transverse. Fortunately, 6gms/hr of mag worked its magic, and labor was stopped, for a while anyway. After 3 or 4 more admissions for MgSO4, and terbutaline at home, she arrived at 37 weeks! She's now almost as tall as I am. Scary!

[dawngloves]

You know Jolie I thought so too, but could not find the thread.
I can understand the rationale behind vaginal deliveries and brain bleedsd. But honestly I have not noticed a difference in my unit. Had c/s babes with b/l Grade III and vaginals with resolved Grade I. My take on it is anything < 27 weeks is gonna have some sorta bleed anyway.

[rnc4preemie]

Our OB's won't section unless the baby is breech or transverse or there is Hx of previous C/S. It seems to make sense that the C/S would be protective of the head, but I haven't seen much difference either.