Anyone else cramping/contracting? - Page 2 « Back to Group Discussions

[Quinalla]

Glad you got some reassurance!

I had a bunch of BHs yesterday, I was so busy at work I let me fluid intake slip, so I think that is part of what did it. Also, the babies were both rearranging themselves a ton yesterday and lots of stretching and kicking, it was keeping me awake some last night. They seem to have calmed down today, not sure what positions they are in now, going to have to wait for more kicks, but I actually had some rib kicks yesterday which I haven't had yet and I'm pretty sure there was a butt sticking out my right side high at one point too. And my belly seems to have gotten bigger overnight too, so maybe the BHs were just getting the uterus to stretch a bit more too.

[berrymama]

I had so many BH contractions with my previous 2 pregnancies. More than I am having now actually. Back then, I worked nights and would literally contract every 3-4 minutes all night long. My coworkers once put me on the monitor for fun and it 'looked' like I was in active labor. I was not of course, but it freaked out our charge nurse when we showed her the strip because she thought I was going to have to be admitted.

What I am having now is different...constant and painful, like strong menstrual cramping with tightening too (hard to tell when tightening starts because the cramping is constant). I am going to get back to doing inversions and breech tilts because I am pretty sure her change in position triggered all this. Turn baby, turn!!

[timesway]

berry-that just sounds identical to my tight tummy.. because its never not cramped.. its hard to work out how often, but still some tighteningds on top.. argh confusing much.. i think mines gone transverse now but im not sure.. he feels like he goes all the way round the sides!! how do u switch a baby from transverse.. thats worse then breech isnt it? :S got my next scan on 11th will have to wait for then to find out! (and i guess by then the fluids reduced so will have more of an idea if hes gonna be the right way round or not..) hope the comfort of knowing things are ok (ish) helps you to feel  abit more ok about it all :)

[jessmn]

Thought I'd update with what I learned at my class about preterm labor:

What is a contraction?

• lasts for at least 30-40 seconds
• may or may not be painful
• tightening over the entire surface of the uterus

If you put both hands on your belly with your fingers a bit spread, you should be able to dent your belly. If it's hard and unindentable, then you are having a contraction. The reason to use both hands and spread the fingers is so that you don't mistake a baby butt or head for a solid feeling. The instructor says any contraction is a contraction, even if you don't feel the tightening and it's not painful.

Also, we learned we should have our hands on our bellies for about 30 minutes at a time, at least twice a day. This way you kind of get an idea of what your "normal' is, and when your body does something outside of your normal. Then you can also begin to identify contractions from gas, baby body parts, and movement of the baby.

She said to expect occasional contractions, especially:

• after orgasm
• after climbing stairs
• after running to catch the bus, etc
• evening or nighttime (she explained why but I can't remember now)
• with a full bladder
• when dehydrated

Preterm labor contractions are contractions before 37 weeks, 10 minutes or less apart, and 6 or more per hour.

Vague symptoms of preterm labor contractions include:

• menstrual-like cramps
• a low backache - I wish I had a picture for this but she showed us on her body - it's like halfway up your butt area to your lower back. So even lower than you might think of "lower back".
• pelvic pressure
• intestinal cramping with our without diarrhea
• vaginal discharge: mucous (again, what's your normal?), fluid, or bright red blood
• a general feeling that something is not right - apparently this is very frequently said by women who are admitted for pre-term labor, it's just something they can't really describe

Early changes to your cervix:

• a feeling like your period is about to start
• vaginal rather than abdominal pressure
• feeling that the baby is down too low or about to fall out
• feeling like you won't last until your due date
• feeling like things are opening up

If you experience preterm labor symptoms, before you call:

• empty your bladder
• drink a glass of juice or water
• lay down for one hour
• and during that hour, if contractions or other symptoms continue, call your provider or labor and delivery

If you call, list any reasons you are at risk for preterm labor, how far along you are, and your specific symptoms

FYI These are all my notes and I'm not a doctor or nurse or anything. I just thought I'd pass on what I learned in class because I thought it was interesting and were ways of describing things we could all relate to. You should probably take your own class or always call your doctor if you have questions. I feel like even for me, this is more for knowledge and reducing my fears than hard set guidelines to follow. She said that once the cervix starts opening up, you can't reverse it, so you want to do what you can to prevent preterm labor and go to the dr immediately because there are some drugs and things they can do to help.

[lisedea]

Thanks jessmn!

[nstewart]

Thanks Jessmn!  Very good info!

[jessmn]

No problem!

What's weird is I am wondering if I have anything of these symptoms. Whenever I learn something new, I feel empowered and knowledgeable, but then eventually get worried I'm experiencing the symptoms, especially around something so often paired with the word "vague". Sometimes I think I feel a menstrual-like cramp, but not very strong. Or that my insides hurt, but could that be a baby kicking/leaning into something? And I always have pelvic pressure! *sigh*
 

[berrymama]

It is just so strange because I have intense cramping (like my first contractions felt with my previous labors) often throughout the day (only goes away if I lay down for a while), tightening almost constantly while up moving around, and bouts of 'contracting' (my belly is hard as a rock all over) every 3 minutes, intestinal cramping during those times. BUT they say...everything checks out normal (cervix is soft, but not dilated, ffn negative), go about your life and try to ignore it. Ha! yeah right. I can't even stand up straight when this is going on.

I am supposed to go back to work next week and am still undecided about what to do, because right now I feel like things are stable because I am able to sit down if needed. I feel like if I had to force myself to work through all those things, my cervix WOULD start to change.

[nstewart]

Jessmn, I know what you mean.  So many things are vague, and then you start thinking about them, and then you start worrying about them...

Berry, I hope you figure things out!  You must be stressed.    I would be leaning towards NOT going back to work, but I don't know what your work/leave situation is.  Do you have the option to be put on short term disability by your MW or Dr?  That's what would happen here, so I would get partial pay while on disability and then my leave date wouldn't start until the babe is born. 

[berrymama]

Originally Posted by nstewart 

Berry, I hope you figure things out!  You must be stressed.    I would be leaning towards NOT going back to work, but I don't know what your work/leave situation is.  Do you have the option to be put on short term disability by your MW or Dr?  That's what would happen here, so I would get partial pay while on disability and then my leave date wouldn't start until the babe is born. 

I was told that I would have to resign because I have a per diem (no benefits) position. I am leaning toward giving it a try to see how I feel so at least I can give it a good chance. DH would prefer I don't go back I think...

[timesway]

eek that sounds so familiar berry.. the tightness and the folding.. my advice would be take it easy.. but i understand it must be hard when your carreer is on the line. actually ..its weird.. each time ive ended up in hosp with something wrong ive had that "not right" feeling when i woke up.. its odd..

Thanks tho jessnm.. that was really useful, altho my tummy is hard like that all the time pretty much (maybe not liek it 5% of the time)

also.. berry i wanted to ask u a question as u mite know the answer.. (or anyone else)  .. Ive just come off my 2nd lot of antibiotics for a uti/kidney infection.. still showing moderate leukocytes(they were very high) , a bit of protein, trace of blood but not much but every wee test ive done (and ive been checking most days because i wanted to know what to do about drs as i still didnt feel well) HIGHEST levals of ketones.. thing is.. im eating and drinking loads.. but i keep not being able to wee even with a catheter.. what could this mean? any ideas? also wondered if this mite be adding to my solid belly..

Additionally ive been feeling kicks which feel like they are falling out of me a bit.. anyone had that?

[berrymama]

Originally Posted by timesway 

also.. berry i wanted to ask u a question as u mite know the answer.. (or anyone else)  .. Ive just come off my 2nd lot of antibiotics for a uti/kidney infection.. still showing moderate leukocytes(they were very high) , a bit of protein, trace of blood but not much but every wee test ive done (and ive been checking most days because i wanted to know what to do about drs as i still didnt feel well) HIGHEST levals of ketones.. thing is.. im eating and drinking loads.. but i keep not being able to wee even with a catheter.. what could this mean? any ideas? also wondered if this mite be adding to my solid belly..

Additionally ive been feeling kicks which feel like they are falling out of me a bit.. anyone had that?

Is your urine test from a sterile catch (catheter)? Is the protein normal for you (it is common with UTIs)? That combined with the low urine output, I would think you should have a basic pre-eclampsia panel drawn (just to make sure). If you have chronic edema and low BP, it would be easier for signs of pre-eclampsia to be masked by your other conditions. I am not sure about the ketones, especially since you are eating normally.

I get kicks straight down (she is still breech). Feels like her feet are in my vagina (though I know they are not)...is that what you mean?

[timesway]

thanks berry,, thats whats been worrying me, my bp is reallly low and yeh odema is a frequent problem for me but my legs are really bad now, and i cant put my feet down without massive pooling/odema.. the protien wasnt there before in the urine dip with the infection.. it depends some infections show only leukocytes.. (especially if they are kidney as my kidneys get infected top down not bottom up like normal peoples so often dont show up untill the last minute.. i wondered if the ketones could be saying im dehydrated.. and maybe the water is just bypassing my bladder and sitting in my limbs instead?

And yes kicks down.. (altho im pretty sure there punches..) but theres been a couple where its felt like they hit where i imagine the inside top bit of my cervix is.. and then they sortve seem to reach down a bit further and hit sides.. im very stretchy so a hard hit i guess could do that..

Im seeing the dr tommorrow.. what checks do they do for pre-eclampsia? the urine has been done from both sterile and non sterile (altho catheter is self cath not indwelling.. so its not quite as sterile..

Thanks i know your struggling lots with yours too so i appreciate you givin me the time to answer my questions :)
 

[berrymama]

Originally Posted by timesway 

thanks berry,, thats whats been worrying me, my bp is reallly low and yeh odema is a frequent problem for me but my legs are really bad now, and i cant put my feet down without massive pooling/odema.. the protien wasnt there before in the urine dip with the infection.. it depends some infections show only leukocytes.. (especially if they are kidney as my kidneys get infected top down not bottom up like normal peoples so often dont show up untill the last minute.. i wondered if the ketones could be saying im dehydrated.. and maybe the water is just bypassing my bladder and sitting in my limbs instead?

And yes kicks down.. (altho im pretty sure there punches..) but theres been a couple where its felt like they hit where i imagine the inside top bit of my cervix is.. and then they sortve seem to reach down a bit further and hit sides.. im very stretchy so a hard hit i guess could do that..

Im seeing the dr tommorrow.. what checks do they do for pre-eclampsia? the urine has been done from both sterile and non sterile (altho catheter is self cath not indwelling.. so its not quite as sterile..

Thanks i know your struggling lots with yours too so i appreciate you givin me the time to answer my questions :)
 

Pre-eclampsia labs check liver enzymes and platelets (those are the biggies). Obviously, I am only an RN, but they get these labs on anyone they even suspect might be developing pre-e or HELLP. It is more complicated with your overlying processes going on.