Signs of preterm labor - Page 2

[Periwinkle]

bump for twin mama

[dinsgirl]

What about interstitial cystitis? I have that and it seems to be causing a lot of discomfort. How would I know if I have an irritable uterus or it's just the IC causing me issues?

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by dinsgirl

What about interstitial cystitis? I have that and it seems to be causing a lot of discomfort. How would I know if I have an irritable uterus or it's just the IC causing me issues?

When you say "causing me issues", what issues specifically?

[dinsgirl]

Oh - sorry - that's from another message I posted today. I'm in my 25th week now and started this at my 19th week and I have BH a lot! Sometimes I feel like I'm in one perpetual contraction all day. My dr is monitoring me closely and my cervix is good at this point. I monitor them to make sure I don't go over 4 per hour (my dr said go in at 5/hour). I also have a lot of pain that I've associated with my bladder (the interstitital cystitis) in the lower abdomen. I'm pretty sure that the lower abdomen pain is the bladder just from the symptoms but I had been blaming the bh on the bladder as well. I hadn't heard of an "irritable uterus" before so now I'm wondering which I'm dealing with in regards to the bh.

[Periwinkle]

Aw that stinks. I really don't know anything about interstitial cystitis... is it an infection? If so, infection is well known to increase the risk of preterm labor (even gum infections have been linked to early delivery).

Regardless, I think an "irritable uterus" should be fairly easy to distinguish from I.C. if you can feel/count contractions. If for example, this is your first child and you are kind of constantly contracting 4+ times an hour, or if you don't drink enough you contract, or you stand for too long or do any sort of activity and you contract, or eat or drink the wrong thing and you contract... basically, doing "normal" stuff sets off your uterus and makes you contract a lot. BH you can feel at 19 weeks (esp. for a 1st pregnancy) is early -- not unheard of, just something that should raise an eyebrow and make you take a closer look (which is sounds like you're doing).

I guess, at the risk of being overly simplistic, it doesn't matter WHAT is causing you to contract this much, the issue is minimizing those triggers (read the whole thread if you haven't already for tips on how to do this). And fundamentally, you can contract 700 times a day but if your cervix is a steel trap lol and not budging -- meaning NO shortening, NO funneling, NO effacement -- then it's a pain in the butt / uncomfortable but your baby's not going to be born without cervical change.

The only time you have to worry about having an irritable uterus is a) if it's causing cervical change (i.e., preterm labor), and b) if you have a history of preterm labor and/or preterm delivery.

If it's your first pregnancy, you don't have a "history" to go on, so the assumption should be that everything is NORMAL, and you should only get alarmed if your cervix is changing this early. If you're really concerned about it, get a transvaginal sono and watch what happens to your cervix when you contract. My cervix would be long and closed on a normal exam or sono, but then boom I'd contract and it would funnel so badly there was barely any length left to it. Horrifying.

[dinsgirl]

Wow! This is my 3rd - but it's been 10 years since the last one. Just for fyi, IC is a bladder condition that is not the direct result of infection but frequent infections can lead to it. It is actually where the lining of the bladder has leisons and hemorrages on it causing flares of pain, leaking and frequent urination. Feels like an infection but treated very differently. I've had a lot of pain with this pregnancy because of it and wondered if it was the cause of the bh. I don't have a history of bh this early - started with my daughter at 7th month and she was born at 37 weeks.

Today I decided to get all dizzy and nauseaed to the point that I almost passed out. We went to urgent care and no medical reason other than possibly blood sugar fluctuations or b complex is low. This has been a rough pregnancy on me but baby is really good - if I can just make it to week 37!!!

[Borboleta]

One symptom I had both times (the first I lost at 21w, the second I managed to get to the hospital in time - curreently 30w) was diahrea.
If my bowels start behaving weirdly and I have this feeling that something is not right I just go to the ER.

[rominick]

Preterm labor and bleeding

Hello,

I am new here and just got out of the hospital for bleeding and contractions. I am 31 wks and 3rd pregnancy. I am also 43. I was coming up the stairs the other day and it felt like my water broke, however, it was all blood and I continued to bleed for about 5 mins where I could feel it running out, then it slowed and lasted for a few hours. It was bright red and started up again the next morning for about an hour, then stopped again. When mild contractions started (during the night) in my lower back, I knew I would have to go in. So ended up getting the four steroid shots and contracted off and on. No more bleeding and now at home on bedrest.

Has anyone had anything like the bleeding that I described or have any idea? I have no placental abruption, Previa or placent adhering to scar tissue (I had 2 previous C/S). Cervix is long and closed tight.

Thanks for any insight and all the great tips that I have already read!

Jane
Mama to Erik 9 (Autism), Julie 6 and Christopher to be, hopefully not until 4/2/07!

[luvmybabygirls]

Hello!!

This is the first time I have posted in this area. I just got out of the hospital for going into labor at 33 weeks and 2 days. According to the chart at the hospital they sent me too. I was not having very painful contractions but I felt nausea and so I went in and I was dialating so they stopped it with the Magneseum Sulfate and gave me the 2 steroid shots. Now I am on Nifedipine and I am not happy with the drug, I am now 34 weeks and a few days and I really am not concerned that the baby is going to have any significant trouble if at all, but the hospital I planned on delivering at won't take me until I am at least 35 weeks and I don't think my little one is going to wait that long. So I found a different hospital that will take me. Does anyone have any advice at this point. This is my second baby and my first one carried until 42 weeks, so this is new to me. I am already dialated to a 3 or maybe even a 4. Any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks

[Lousli]

What sort of advice are you specifically looking for? Do you want to stop taking medication? Wondering which hospital to go to? If your hospital is not equipped to take a baby at less than 35 weeks gestation, they will most likely want to transport you (if early enough in your labor) or your baby after she is born to the hospital with the better NICU.

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by luvmybabygirls

This is the first time I have posted in this area. I just got out of the hospital for going into labor at 33 weeks and 2 days. According to the chart at the hospital they sent me too. I was not having very painful contractions but I felt nausea and so I went in and I was dialating so they stopped it with the Magneseum Sulfate and gave me the 2 steroid shots. Now I am on Nifedipine and I am not happy with the drug, I am now 34 weeks and a few days and I really am not concerned that the baby is going to have any significant trouble if at all, but the hospital I planned on delivering at won't take me until I am at least 35 weeks and I don't think my little one is going to wait that long. So I found a different hospital that will take me. Does anyone have any advice at this point. This is my second baby and my first one carried until 42 weeks, so this is new to me. I am already dialated to a 3 or maybe even a 4. Any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks

Hi, I agree with Lousli... more info would be helpful.

You say you "are not happy" with the drug. Why?

You also say you aren't concerned the baby will have any significant trouble. Why? Babies born 6-8+ weeks early often DO have significant troubles. You have a history of carrying to 42 weeks and have no reason to think this pregnancy would be any different. 40 weeks is full term, but your babies like to "cook" a little longer. Don't assume you're "ready" now.... your baby is much much too early to come out.

Here's a reality check... 34 weekers often need help breathing. Sure, maybe not full intebation (especially if you had the hormone shots) but they would likely still need a nasal canula and even some supplemental oxygen. If they're on a nasal canula, it's very very hard to pick them and nurse them. 34 weekers don't have much body fat, so they have trouble holding their body temperature. 34 weekers frequently have reflux, which is a NIGHTMARE to deal with. And..... 34 weekers are the sleepiest little things you ever saw. They will not "demand feed" they will sleep until they are in a coma if you let them. So that means you need to feed them on a rigourous schedule (usually every 2 hours), and spend EONS trying to wake them up just to take their feeding. They fall asleep at the breast. And speaking of which, breastfeeding 34 weekers can be impossible. They don't nipple well, they have a weak latch, they fall asleep, they can be very sensitive to things in your diet (much more so than a full term babe) which can exacerbate reflux and cause weight gain issues... the list goes on. Each feeding takes a lifetime. It's a nightmare, feeding 34 weekers, trust me. I've done it twice and I know so has Lesley and many other mamas who will tell you the same thing.

Please, mama, I'm all about "thinking positive", but your baby is AT LEAST one and half (and likely two) MONTHS away from being ready to be born.

At this point, I suggest you take that good hard reality check all of us who have been there done that have done, and learn the following very important lesson:

Your #1 job right now is to keep your baby in your womb... not until 35 weeks, but until 40+ weeks. Period. If that takes drugs, it takes drugs. If it takes bedrest, believe me I know that sucks, but follow your midwife or OB's orders to a T and get on bedrest. If it takes a hospital stay, do it. You won't be sorry.

Big to you and please post back with more questions/info.

[Cigilteach]

Something I wanted to mention...

I know without a doubt that evening primrose oil or gamma liniolenic acid causes me to have a lot of preterm contractions. I don't know if I have an "irritable uterus" or what but I am definitely sensitive to EPO. It is often recommended for pregnant women so I thought I should mention my experience.

Also, I dont carry babies until 40+ weeks, I go at about 37-38. So does my mom and maternal aunts and three sisters. I think babies can be ready at this time, not always at 40+. I'm not into rushing them AT ALL, but just wanted to say that some do come naturally a wee bit earlier and are healthy and ready. I have had two coersed c/sections btw but labor started naturally and was in full swing both times. I just apparently take a long time to birth and docs didn't like waiting. We could cancel out my experience because of the surgeries but that still leave lots of vaginally born healthy big ones at 37/38 being born in my family (and others...)

J

[Periwinkle]

Hi thanks for posting that. Very interesting re: EPO!

Also, I just wanted to say that ITA that babies CAN be ready a wee bit earlier like 38 or whatever weeks. However, I was specifically responding to Luvmybabygirls who said she didn't go til 42 weeks, so for her, delivering a 34 weeker is most likely more than "just a few" weeks early. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

Regardless, I think it's important for NO mother to think that 34 weeks the baby is "nearly" ready. Full term is 9 months, give or take a LITTLE bit, but not a month and a half early. No baby is "ready" to be born at 34 weeks. I see a lot of mamas on here saying they want to homebirth at 31 weeks or saying they want to induce (naturally) at 35 or whatever. It's frustrating when you KNOW what 31, 33, 35 weekers look like. And universally, they don't look or act like babies who are "ready" to be born.

[Cigilteach]

Yes Periwinkle, I hear you. I didn't connect the history, though I mentioned my family's history. Self absorbed pregnant woman here.

I just have to say that my younger sister, who is also expecting, was told by her OB that at 35 weeks the baby is essentially ready?!?! She's now planning to hang out the eviction notice to the very day - it makes me soooo very angry. She's not doing anything dangerous, just things that probably won't make a difference if she's not ready anyway, sex and walking and bumpy car rides etc...but still what a mentality! Let the baby stay where YOU purposely put her/him till he's/she's ready! UGH. I can almost guarantee her brilliant OB will induce her for their mutual convenience ... argh. Sorry this isn't a rant thread but insomuch as I hear ya...

J

[Cinder]

Does anyone have any hints, advice, anything that will ward of pre-term labour? I started contracting a little over a week ago, and today was horrid, I'm only 13 weeks, it started at 12 weeks with my ds, and luckily I didn't start dilating till 19 weeks with him, so hopefully so far the contractions aren't doing anything (have an appt. first thing wednesday morning)...but I'd love something to get them to stop...I really want to make if full term with no drugs this time around, I ended up on terbutaline for 12 weeks and magnesium for 1 week with DS and so want to avoid that this time, I have a hard time not thinking that the terbutaline is the cause of his autism...but obviously autism is better than delivering at 19 weeks.

And obviously I'm babbling, I'm just stressed out and worried! So anything, homeopathics, herbs, anything at all, I'm open to it.

[Cinder]

Originally Posted by luvmybabygirls

Now I am on Nifedipine and I am not happy with the drug, I am now 34 weeks and a few days and I really am not concerned that the baby is going to have any significant trouble if at all,

I don't have any real advice, but I took myself off terbutaline just before 34 weeks, I'd had one 34 week baby already, and personally decided, for me, the side effects of the drug were a lot worse than having at 34 week baby.

[Periwinkle]

Originally Posted by Cinder

Does anyone have any hints, advice, anything that will ward of pre-term labour?

Please read the beginning of this thread. There are LOTS of goodies in here about what to do to prevent PTL... I compiled a bunch of them in a big list and Lesley and others have added a bunch too.

[Cinder]

thanks, I have been staying as hydrated as humanly possible, I have been taking warm epsom salt baths, I've had some gin, taking vitamin c, am not drining tea/coffee/raspberry leaf tea/etc...

I know it probably means I'll need some drugs at some point, I'm just really really (probably unrealistically) hoping to avoid them.

[Bunnybee]

To Luvmybabygirls- I'd also like to know why you don't like nifedipine. My first baby was born by emergency c-section at 30 weeks due to me having hypertension (she was having heart rate decels). I am currently PG again (18 weeks) and on max dose of Aldomet and docs were thinking about adding nifedipine. Are the side effects bad?

[Periwinkle]

Bunnybee, yes the side effects are "bad" (the heart racing feeling, etc.) but the drugs are not dangerous to the fetus. But like any drug, it's risk vs. benefit. Knowing what a 31 weeker is like and what a month-long NICU stay is like compared with knowing what it's like to deliver a healthy full-term baby... I'd withstand an entire year of feeling like that to have a full term baby and avoid the NICU, kwim?