Advice for a friend-28 weeks and preterm labor

[MamasBoys]

A friend of mine is 28 weeks pregnant with her 3rd baby.  She was all set to have a natural birth at a freestanding birth center.  (She's never had any complications or preterm labor in her last two pregnancies.)  Well, she's 28 weeks and an ultrasound revealed that her cervix was almost completely effaced and 1cm dilated.  Her cervix measured .6 and the bag of water is bulging.  They've had her in the hospital this weekend and another ultrasound today will determine if any cervical change has occurred and whether they will keep her permanently or discharge her on strict bed rest.  I know she's received 2 steroid shots, a medication to stop contractions when they begun to be frequent on one occasion, and progesterone suppositories.  I am a trained doula but have little to no experience whatsoever with preterm labor, or premies in general and am at a loss for any advice or information to give her.  Is there anything natural she could be taking or doing to help prevent any more preterm labor?  What do you wish you'd known or what do you wish you'd done differently?  Thanks in advance for the help! :)

[pigirl]

I don't know anything natural to prevent/stop preterm labor, but as someone who very unexpectedly had a preterm baby I can say I was grateful beyond measure to have a doula there with us for the delivery.  I'd been planning on delivering at a hospital, but not the one (with the NICU) where we ended up having to go.  So I didn't know the place, or the doctors, and my whole birth "plan" was thrown out the window.  We had hired a doula the afternoon before my water broke-- nice timing!-- and she was there with us for my labor and delivery, and that was priceless.  We had to make a lot of decisions around induction vs. expectant care, and the doula helped us figure out what we wanted, and helped us communicate that to the doctors.  She made everything just a little less scary by being with us, and advocating for us.  I also ended up having a very long labor (98 hours!), and she was the one to run out to get us juice/snacks, to run errands and the like, so that my husband could stay at my side the whole time.  So my best advice is to have a doula with her, ideally one who's worked before at the hospital where she'll be delivering.  I may be preaching to the choir here, but man alive am I grateful that we did.  :)

p.s. my tiny little preemie baby is now a happy, healthy 3 year old!  I know I always liked hearing about other people's "happy endings" in those early NICU days....