Mommas who have had pre-term labour « Back to Group Discussions

[typebug]

I'm having a funny day, lots of what I think is just braxton hicks but also painful lower abdominal aches that are fairly constant even when I'm not standing. I also had a mad dash for the bathroom at one point that really got me wondering. Anyone care to describe how the warning signs felt or materialized for them? There seems to be quite a list of regular symptoms of pregnancy which "may be" pre term labour online and I'm not wanting to jump the gun and go down to the hospital for no reason. 

*******update*******

I just had my MW call me back and I'm on bed-rest for the weekend to wait and see what happens. She's hoping this is just a little warning and maybe a reaction to a belly and baby growth spurt. Going into the hospital Monday morning to do a check-up.

If anyone has suggestions for how to relax these muscles bring it on!

Edited by typebug - 11/17/12 at 4:30am

[Brambleberry]

number 1: relax!  try not to stress about it.

a little alcohol is a good relaxant, but avoid red wine because the tannins can irritate the uterus.  If you have a magnesium supplement or calcium with magnesium, take as large a dose as is safe.  Don't drink any pregnancy teas with red raspberry leaf.  Get plenty of water and be sure to drink something with electrolytes in it (like emergen-c or gatorade) as a percentage of the water you're consuming. 

Someone posted a link to a good forum discussion on preterm labor a while back that had a nice list of suggestions at the beginning. 

[odinsmama]

Yes, exactly what Brambleberry said. An Epsom salt bath is also good.
Take care!
One of the things that was mentioned by several women in the preterm labor thread was that if your gut is telling you something is happening that shouldn't be, or that something is wrong, don't hesitate to get to the hospital.

[HouseofPeace]

oooh- so sorry!  good advice above and praying for it to just be pregnancy!  

can only really second everything above!!! and wanted to chime in w/ blessings and rest.  

[odinsmama]

Here's the link to the preterm labor thread. Hopefully it will reassure you. Keep us updated!

http://www.mothering.com/community/t/385821/signs-of-preterm-labor

[MaybeJ]

I'm hoping that rest, rest and more rest does the trick!  If you're really worried - don't hesitate to get checked out!

[typebug]

Thank you to all of you for the support! Husband is on the other side of the world right now so it's been far too easy to lie here and debate with myself. Hugs to Brambeberry and Odinsmama for all your suggestions. They were really helpful. I did the bath which slowed things down. I also drank lots of water, took electrolytes and magnesium and stayed in bed.

I used my contraction counter to monitor what was happening and was relieved to confirm that the contractions were still BH because they did slow down to once or twice an hour when I was in bed as opposed to every few minutes if I stood up. Lots of lower abdominal pain (which I'm calling ligament pain as it seems most likely). That pain didn't really improve with lying down and was pretty uncomfortable when I went to sleep that night.

Today I'm feeling a major shift. The abdominal aches are less and I was able to make breakfast without a single contraction but I'm being good and just staying right in my bed. Midwife said she's calling this a warning light that I was doing too much but she's not very worried because it didn't come along with any bleeding. That would have been the official signal to head into the hospital as far as she's concerned.

I have to go in to the hopital for our supporting Dr to check me on Monday. I fly out on Tuesday (13 hour flight!) so I guess it's good to just get that double check. Does anyone have a clue what a Dr is likely to want to check in this kind of case? I'm not a fan of medically unnessecery scans but if a scan tells them anything in this situation I'll allow it as that would seem like a logical application for it. Anything I should be wary about a hospital wanting to administer?

[loveandgarbage]

Glad your contractions calmed down. How scary for you. I don't have an answer for you questions... hopefully someone else will!

[odinsmama]

Good for you, for continuing to rest even though you feel things are slowing down. Never a bad idea to overdo it on resting!

I wouldn't think a scan would be in order, but maybe an internal exam to see if you've dilated? I really don't know.

[typebug]

Originally Posted by odinsmama 

Good for you, for continuing to rest even though you feel things are slowing down. Never a bad idea to overdo it on resting!
I wouldn't think a scan would be in order, but maybe an internal exam to see if you've dilated? I really don't know.

Thanks! Also I read that thread you posted. Great info there. I had no idea mint was an irritant! I had been drinking chilled mint tea all day the day before this happened because I was tired of water. Live and learn!

[MaybeJ]

I'm glad things seem to be improving with rest!

[Adaline'sMama]

Originally Posted by typebug 

Thank you to all of you for the support! Husband is on the other side of the world right now so it's been far too easy to lie here and debate with myself. Hugs to Brambeberry and Odinsmama for all your suggestions. They were really helpful. I did the bath which slowed things down. I also drank lots of water, took electrolytes and magnesium and stayed in bed.

I used my contraction counter to monitor what was happening and was relieved to confirm that the contractions were still BH because they did slow down to once or twice an hour when I was in bed as opposed to every few minutes if I stood up. Lots of lower abdominal pain (which I'm calling ligament pain as it seems most likely). That pain didn't really improve with lying down and was pretty uncomfortable when I went to sleep that night.

Today I'm feeling a major shift. The abdominal aches are less and I was able to make breakfast without a single contraction but I'm being good and just staying right in my bed. Midwife said she's calling this a warning light that I was doing too much but she's not very worried because it didn't come along with any bleeding. That would have been the official signal to head into the hospital as far as she's concerned.

I have to go in to the hopital for our supporting Dr to check me on Monday. I fly out on Tuesday (13 hour flight!) so I guess it's good to just get that double check. Does anyone have a clue what a Dr is likely to want to check in this kind of case? I'm not a fan of medically unnessecery scans but if a scan tells them anything in this situation I'll allow it as that would seem like a logical application for it. Anything I should be wary about a hospital wanting to administer?

I've never had preterm labor, but I did have prodromal labor last time. One thing to remember is that just  because contractions slow down, doesnt  mean they were just BH. BH contractions do not move your body towards labor at all, and are not helping you to dilate or become effaced. The doctor will likely check to make sure the baby's station is still negative (that the baby is not engaged) and your cervical dilation and effacement. 

Last time, around this time in pregnancy, I had a bout of contractions like this and when I went in to be checked, I was dilated to 2. So, they werent BH like I thought- they were real contractions, they just stopped. It happened several times again throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy, and I was dilated to 4 and 90% effaced at 37 weeks. 

Lots of rest. Try not to be anxious :)

[typebug]

Originally Posted by Adaline'sMama 

I've never had preterm labor, but I did have prodromal labor last time. One thing to remember is that just  because contractions slow down, doesnt  mean they were just BH. BH contractions do not move your body towards labor at all, and are not helping you to dilate or become effaced. The doctor will likely check to make sure the baby's station is still negative (that the baby is not engaged) and your cervical dilation and effacement. 

Last time, around this time in pregnancy, I had a bout of contractions like this and when I went in to be checked, I was dilated to 2. So, they werent BH like I thought- they were real contractions, they just stopped. It happened several times again throughout the last few weeks of pregnancy, and I was dilated to 4 and 90% effaced at 37 weeks. 

Lots of rest. Try not to be anxious :)

Oh wow, ok. I was thinking if they slow or stop when i lie down they are definitely Braxton Hicks. I'm heading into the hospital anyway first thing in the morning ;) Hopefully I'll have a good idea of what's going on at that point.

[Chloe'sMama]

let us know when you find out.  Hoping its nothing.

[loveandgarbage]

Also hoping it's nothing!

[typebug]

  I'm in the clear!!!!

Initially the nurses were quite concerned because I arrived in quite a bit of pain. They monitored the contractions at the hospital for quite a while to see how big they were. The Dr took a look at the read-out and felt around my tummy. He felt it was a persistent round ligament/braxton hicks combo going on and it was a sign that I'm doing way too much and need to get off my feet. I'm cleared to fly on Tuesday but I have to rest a little more. Girlfriends just dropped off food and I'm feeling the love right now. Thanks everyone for the help and encouragement this stressful weekend. 

Random travel tip: I'm asking the airline for a "meet & assist" at the airports where I have to re-check baggage. If any other moms are flying over the holidays you can ask for this and someone will meet you at the gate as you get off the plane and haul your bags off the carousel for you. You do not have to disclose a disability and you can request a meet and assist without the wheelchair. I usually set this up for my mother but this time I figured I should do it for me. I'm not sure if the smaller domestic airlines do it but worth asking them too.

[kellybeth]

i'm so glad everything is okay! 

[Adaline'sMama]

Oh, good! Im so glad everything is okay :)

[Jenny01]

Glad to hear everything is ok too!!

[odinsmama]

Great news! Hope you can continue to make time for rest.