Preterm Labor

[Cheshire]

Anyone else dealing with preterm labor? I started having regular contractions at 18 weeks and went to the ER. They had just changed their rules on L&D visits from 20 weeks to 18 weeks so ER sent me to L&D (yeah - much better than being stuck in the ER).

Of course, after being hooked up to the monitor my contractions went away and I was sent home.

Around 23 weeks went back to L&D with lots of contractions. Same thing, hooked up, contractions slowed down, they did a check and my cervix was closed and they measured it by ultrasound and it was 4.5 cm long. Get sent home.

Then, last Thursday had really painful contractions for about an hour and then the non-painful ones off and one. On the way to work Friday morning they were painful again so I called my docs office just to see if she could see me. They had me come in and she checked me and I'm at 2cm. Ugh. She sent me with my FFN test in hand over to L&D. They could run the test in a hour instead of waiting 24 hours for the doc's office's lab to run it.

At L&D I was having regular contractions lasting 1 minute and they were between 3 and 5 minutes apart. The FFN came back negative, thank goodness. The doc wanted my contractions to stop before letting me go. So, one terbutaline (sp?) shot and one procardia pill later my contractions stopped.

My uterus was so happy for about 24 hours. It's been so long to go without contractions I didn't remember how nice it felt. I'm really worn out by them. Now, they are back but not as regular or as strong.

I'm on procardia now - I'm not sure how well it is going to work. Anytime I get up and move I have a contraction. Actually, I can just rub on my stomach and give myself a contraction.

I'll be 31 weeks tomorrow. I'm just wondering are any of you going through the same thing??? How are your midwives/docs dealing with it? How are you dealing with it.

My doc didn't give me many instructions through the nurse at the L&D and I don't see her again until week after this one. I'll probably call early this week with a couple of questions.

I'm taking it super easy and DH is a trooper! He's picked up on so much of the housework this weekend, cooking and grocery shopping, too. I know I can continue to take it easy if it means staying out of the NICU. I might be stir crazy but I'll do it while sitting on my bum.

Just looking for any other stories or BTDT. Thanks!

[minimunklemama]

BTDT with all of the pregnancies.In and out of the hospital etc.My uterus just doesn't like to house a babe!
Good thing is though all labors were successfully stopped and I delevered at 37 weeks,37 weeeks and 38 weeks:
I somewhat took it easy but how easy can you take it with a handful of toddlers?
I was 2-3 cm from 31 weeks with my last and he went the longest.
I get them regularly with this pg too,last night they were every 7 mins for hours.I just took some tylenol pm and went to bed.
It is when they started to make my back ache that I get concerned.I can't stand terbuline but I know my body well enough after 3 successful pg/births when to go in.
hang in there,
we are in the home strech

[NaturalMindedMomma]

I am having the same thing, but mine is most likely induced by yeast and BV infections. I literally had so much yeast, my urethra was infected and swollen shut and I couldn't pee.

THey over hydrated me and gave me the necessary stuff did a FFN and sent me on my way. The FFN was negative.

I am not dialating (I am 1 CM on the outer Os which is normal for multips), BUT baby is already at a -2 station. With my first I was 2 CM by 32 weeks. My midwife will attend me at home at 36 weeks if babe feels to be 5 lbs or over, which right now she is already feeling to be over 3. I am also 31 weeks. I am so excited to be getting close. Now just 5 more weeks until 36 weeks!

I'm sorry your having PTL, the contractions are annoying. Have they talked to you about pelvic rest yet? I am already on pelvic rest until 36/37 weeks. Nothing inserted vaginally. Anyway, I feel for you mama. HUGS

[Raene]

I have a chance for preterm labor because I have a subchorionic hematoma. I have had cramps/bleeding from 13-20 weeks, and then just cramps (no bleeding) after 20 weeks.

I take Cramp Bark. It's a tincture and it's completely safe in pregnancy and stops cramping/contractions. Really helps. Also great for afterpains, or so I've heard.

[Jilian]

I second the cramp bark tincture. I used it with a lot of success for PTL with DS2. I think most of my PTL was caused my recurrent UTIs and a kidney stone. Once I got the UTI situation under control the PTL seemed to slow down quite a bit. I was on pelvic rest for a short period too. Uricare tincture and raw garlic work really well for UTIs. I also took acidopholus regularly. He stayed put until 40 weeks, 1 day. I did have to go to the hospital for terbutaline a few times though, then they finally sent me home with an RX for it. I only needed it once at home.

[spiritedmama]

Sorry mamas! Hugs to you all. Only a few more weeks!

[Cheshire]

Thanks, everyone, for the info. I talked to my doc again yesterday and forgot to ask about pelvic rest but I figure it would probably be best. I'll ask her at my next appt.

She said she wanted to get me off of the medication as soon as possible, so at 34 weeks. She said at that point if I go into labor she won't stop it. She's very confident that since the FFN test came back negative that I'll be in good shape for the next two weeks. She said not to be overly confident and reminded me that if I have any change in discharge or blood to come right back to the hospital or if my contractions really change (if I feel I need to be checked out, trust my gut kind of thing).

We'll see what happens. I'm so tired of the contractions and they are wearing me out. I can take it but I want to make sure baby girl isn't bothered by them. Each time I've been on the monitor she's been fine but I just hate that she's having to get "hugged" so often.

Knowing me I won't go early - just an annoying 8 weeks or so left. I'd like to go a little early just to have her here safe in my arms.

Same time last year our second son died after his birth due to complications so I'm anxious for the next few weeks to fly by uneventfully and then have a safe, healthy, quick delivery.

Keep us in your prayers.

[NaturalMindedMomma]

Aww cheshire, I'm sorry your having PTL. I will send you baby stay in vibes.

[FayeO]

Glad to read this thread b/c I was feeling freakishly alone. I just got released from the hospital after 5 days on magnesium and bed rest. A VERY long five days. I am due August 14 so when I was admitted I was only 29 weeks and 3 days. Very scary.

My first child was born 6 weeks early but this whole "contractions at 29 weeks" thing is new to me.
My FFN also came back negative and I didn't show any signs of dilation or effacement on the internal ultrasound.

I think I just have a very conservative doc and, quite frankly, I was somewhat relieved to be in the hospital and being monitored.
When I went in, one week ago, I was having very mild contractions 1-2 minutes apart. In the next couple of days, my contractions became more spaced out (but stronger!). Finally, they tapered off.

Now I am home on complete bed rest (other than getting up to go to the bathroom) for at least two weeks. After that, I might get a few minor restrictions lifted. But this will be a long haul. My doc wants me to go to 34 weeks min. 36 weeks ideally.

Does this protocol seem normal to everyone?
(btw I am still having contractions although they are more infrequent and mild). I have terbutaline on hand, just in case...

thanks for your input.

Faye, age 34 with one DD (born 1-15-03)
Little baby boy due on August 14-09

[minimunklemama]

Originally Posted by FayeO

Glad to read this thread b/c I was feeling freakishly alone. I just got released from the hospital after 5 days on magnesium and bed rest. A VERY long five days. I am due August 14 so when I was admitted I was only 29 weeks and 3 days. Very scary.

My first child was born 6 weeks early but this whole "contractions at 29 weeks" thing is new to me.
My FFN also came back negative and I didn't show any signs of dilation or effacement on the internal ultrasound.

I think I just have a very conservative doc and, quite frankly, I was somewhat relieved to be in the hospital and being monitored.
When I went in, one week ago, I was having very mild contractions 1-2 minutes apart. In the next couple of days, my contractions became more spaced out (but stronger!). Finally, they tapered off.

Now I am home on complete bed rest (other than getting up to go to the bathroom) for at least two weeks. After that, I might get a few minor restrictions lifted. But this will be a long haul. My doc wants me to go to 34 weeks min. 36 weeks ideally.

Does this protocol seem normal to everyone?
(btw I am still having contractions although they are more infrequent and mild). I have terbutaline on hand, just in case...

thanks for your input.

Faye, age 34 with one DD (born 1-15-03)
Little baby boy due on August 14-09

wow,5 days on mag.you poor thing

sounds overly conservative to me,but better to be safe.

I was in for a week with my last babe at 32 weeks.on all sorts of meds,no fun.Dialating and effacing.My doc was very laid back so for her to keep me in that long I knew it was needed.That being said I only had moderate restrictions when I left and the babe stayed put until 38 weeeks:

[momoftworedheads]

Hello!

With my second son, I had PTL issues at 32 weeks, I delivered him at 37 weeks. I was in the hospital for a day and then put on bed rest at home and had weekly NST's and BPP's until I had him.

With this Pg, the PTL issues started last week, at 28w2d. I started having a lot of pressure, contractions for hours and pain in my lower back. I called my Drs office, they told me to lie on my left side and drink 2 glasses of water and take it easy.

I had more issues the next day, so I was put into a PTL program by my Ins Co. The nurse comes out tomorrow to monitor me and go over PTL signs/when to go to the hospital, etc and then a nurse calls 1x a week to check and see how everything is going with the Pg. I'll see my Dr tomorrow but he does not feel I'll make it to 37weeks this time either.

Take care and hugs to everyone who is having PTL issues!

Jen

[FayeO]

Well, good luck to all the PTL mamas out there.
Hopefully these ambitious little babies will just stay PUT until the time is right.