Can you have your baby at 28 weeks and still bring your baby home?

Answer 1

Bringing your baby home from the hospital is not based on how long your gestation period has been, but rather, how the baby does after it is born. At 28 weeks, it is highly doubtful that your baby will be able to leave the hospital right away, but there is a chance. Here is the criteria for bringing your baby home:

*The baby needs to be able to keep his/her own body temperature stable (otherwise they have to stay in the warming bed at the hospital)

*The baby has to have a strong enough sucking reflex to feed (otherwise he/she will have to be tube fed)

*The baby has to eat a certain number of ounces per feeding all at once with minimal coaxing (The exact number depends on the size of the baby and the hospital's policies, generally 1 - 2.5 ozs.)

*The baby has to be able to breath sufficiently on his/her own (If the baby is taking very shallow breaths, struggling, or grunting with each breath they will keep him/her)

*The baby has to have minimal or no jaundice. (If jaundice is at a moderate or severe level they may keep him/her for treatment. This is fairly common in preemie babies)

*The baby has to have a desireable weight. (This varies by hospital regulation. Many hospitals will not release him/her until the weight is 5 lbs.)

*The baby cannot have any other special needs or medical conditions that would require a specialist, surgery, etc.

*The baby does not have sleep apnea while in the nursery. (If the baby stops breathing in the nursery while it is sleeping, they may keep the baby for an extended day or two just for observation).

*The baby has to be gaining weight.

*And last, but not least, and perhaps the easiest criteria: The mother must have the appropriate resources and items for the baby. (My hospital does not allow us to leave until we have given them the name of the pediatrician we are using and until we have a carseat, which is no big deal)

Some hospitals have reasons other than those listed above for keeping babies admitted after the mother is discharged. Some even keep the baby until he/she is 37 weeks, which is considered full term, due to their policies. Your best bet to get a direct answer is to ask your hospital staff what their policies are. Personally, my son was born at 34 weeks and we left together just fine.

28 weeks is really really early though, so your chances of taking the baby home when you are released are...extremely small. Just remember that the hospital has all of these regulations and policies for the safety of your baby. You definitely wouldn't want them to release him/her early and have something bad happen that could have been prevented by an extra week or two stay in the hospital.