Published
Yep, right before I went on leave we had twin boys born around 35 weeks - mom was induced without checking for lung maturity. They were the sickest kids on the unit for a few days there - went from a little RDS/TTN to full-fledged PPHN within 24 hours of each other. And for the same nurse, on consecutive evening shifts!!! Both were on nitric, one had chest tubes, the whole shebang.
I have seen a 37 weeker get RDS. So it's not out of the realm of possibilities for term kids to get real honest-to-goodness RDS.
I am old enough to remember the natural course of that disease, and it's not very nice. They get worse and worse and worse for the first 48 hours and if they're still alive, they usually start getting better. Grim.
Hey, when I got to work last night - in WELL BABY nursery - we had two kids under 35 weeks. One was 34 on the nose, the other was by dates 36+ but Dubowitzed to 34 and change. I kept waiting for them both to crump, but they didn't. At least not on my watch. People forget those kids can turn on a dime.
I tell ya, if this keeps up, we'll have 32-weekers in there soon. :uhoh21:
dawngloves, BSN, RN
2,399 Posts
Never trust a 35 weeker!
Not as Mature as They Seem: Caring for Near-Term Infants
Babies born between 34 and 37 weeks gestation are at risk for complications.
http://news.nurse.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070104/PEDIATRICS/70104006/1015/PEDIATRICS