Pre labor

[MoonWillow]

I really think I am having it. This baby has definitely dropped and I have been having contractions all day (since last night). They haven't intensified, but they are consistent. And I've been super nauseous. I'm not ready and neither is this baby! :
I know it doesn't mean that I will go tomorrow, but it usually means real labor is pretty close right? Even if it's a few weeks well, that's too soon! Anyone else experiencing this?

[FireflyFan]

Do they continue the same length of time apart when you are lying down?

Are you eating? Drinking water?

Maybe a glass of wine would help stop it?

**HUGS**

[Jude Rose]

If it really is pre-term labor, the hospitals can give you some meds that will stop it. I have heard so many stories where women went in, got their labor stopped, and then carried for many more weeks and sometimes all the way to term.
If you are at all feeling there's something wrong, please don't hesitate to get checked out. It could be totally taken care of.

s , I hope it's just false alarms.

[MoonWillow]

Thanks guys. I hope I don't have to go in. I think I'll see how tonight goes.
Is that true about wine? I hadn't heard that but I like the sound of it
I haven't timed them but they haven't intensified. I've just noted their consistency. I didn't have a normal labor last time so it's kind of like the first time for me.

[FireflyFan]

You could use www.contractionmaster.com to note the consistency... I wish that site had been around with #2 'cause I had prodromal for three days!!!

Keep us updated!! You're in my thoughts & prayers.

[MoonWillow]

You were? Oy! Well that makes me think. Does it seem like a similar situation to you? Anyway thank you for the link and I will keep you posted.

[FireflyFan]

*nod* It does sound similar... my ctxn were not very intense for the prodromal, but they were consistent (about 15-20 min apart all the ding-dong days).

I dunno, were you planning a hospital birth? If so, have you called them to see what they'd say?

[MoonWillow]

I timed them last night with the "contraction master" (lol neat invention!) and they are consistent but still erratic. I haven't called but maybe I will today of this continues. I think I am in denial because I am so not ready!
What I am wondering about is how they stop your labor with drugs. If they can do that then how are any babies born prematurely? KWIM?

[phillychiquita]

Hugs to you mama.
Just for the record, My midwives told me at the last appt. that if I had any symptoms of that sort whie I was traveling (I have been flying all over the place lately), to drink a glass of wine and keep my feet elevated, and then call them if that didnt slow things down.

Hang in there and keep us posted!

[Jude Rose]

If it's not caught early enough, the drugs don't work.
I can;t remember what they give you. Magnesium something is one of them. The other starts with a T. They have side effects-make you feel like junk, I guess.
I really would call someone and see what they think.
Wait. I already know what they'll say. Come in so we can check you out.
I guess call only when you're ready to go in.
Hugs, mama.

[MoonWillow]

Ha ha! Yes that's what they will say. The contrax seem to have lessened if not stopped today so far so though (fingers crossed). Thanks for the support!

[sehbub]

Originally Posted by MotherWren

I timed them last night with the "contraction master" (lol neat invention!) and they are consistent but still erratic. I haven't called but maybe I will today of this continues. I think I am in denial because I am so not ready!
What I am wondering about is how they stop your labor with drugs. If they can do that then how are any babies born prematurely? KWIM?

Because they can't stop all labors, and sometimes your baby is just too stubborn. The main thing is making sure they stop your labor long enough to get the steroid shots in (48 hours needed for full effect) if you're less than 32 weeks gestation. But trust me, stopping it at all is helpful, and could mean the difference between having a baby or not.

It would be nice if there was a panacea for pre-term labor, but unfortunately every case is different, and it's really hard to guage what's gonna happen at any given time, KWIM?

[sehbub]

Originally Posted by MotherWren

Ha ha! Yes that's what they will say. The contrax seem to have lessened if not stopped today so far so though (fingers crossed). Thanks for the support!

I'm so glad! Stay really well hydrated.

[WinterBaby]

Originally Posted by Jude Rose

If it's not caught early enough, the drugs don't work.
I can;t remember what they give you. Magnesium something is one of them. The other starts with a T. They have side effects-make you feel like junk, I guess.
I really would call someone and see what they think.
Wait. I already know what they'll say. Come in so we can check you out.
I guess call only when you're ready to go in.
Hugs, mama.

Magnesium sulphate is the one, most frequently used for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia I believe. It's vile to be on. Terbutalin is the one you're thinking of with the T I think. It sorta feels a little like being on speed- can make you jittery. Not so terrible. Even if pre-term labor can't be arrested entirely, they try to buy enough time, like 48hrs, to get the lung-maturing drug into you, which is of signifigant value to a pre-term infant.

[a~...Mamacitaa~...]

Originally Posted by WinterBaby

Magnesium sulphate is the one, most frequently used for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia I believe. It's vile to be on. Terbutalin is the one you're thinking of with the T I think. It sorta feels a little like being on speed- can make you jittery. Not so terrible. Even if pre-term labor can't be arrested entirely, they try to buy enough time, like 48hrs, to get the lung-maturing drug into you, which is of signifigant value to a pre-term infant.

i went into labor at 27 wks with Ds2 and i was put on Magnesium suplahte for three day threw an IV.. cus terbutalin rasie blood sugar and im Gd... it makes you feel like crap....you feel really high and spacey and tired... the come off of it is just as worse....then when i went into actually labor at 37wks with the same son i was given terbutalin right before being rushed to have c/s.. to stop the contractions... niether one is no funn..

[e123vg]

i had a shot of terbutalin with my first pregnancy and this one. it made my heart race and i got really hot. made me feel like i had waaaay too much caffine. not soo bad. i definetly don't want any magnesium, i hear it makes you feel sick to your stomach. anywho, i'm glad your contractions are stopping for now. this happens to me all the time. for instance, yesterday, pretty rushed stressful day, got my contractions started. so i lay down have two glasses of water. if that doesn't help, i drink some caffine. and lay down again. usually they stop right before i go to bed, and i'm another day closer to my due date. although if they don't let up, and they get closer i would definetly go to L&D.

[MCKMN]

I am REALLY happy too hear they have tapered off..

What does prodomal mean? I suppose I can do a search on it *lol*

[MoonWillow]

Wow! That's a lot of info. Thank you all very much.
MCKMN I believe that prodromal labor is similar to Braxton Hicks with the exception that prodromal actually leads to labor at some point although I haven't seen an exact timeline anywhere, just the opposite actually
Magnesium, that's interesting. Isn't that used as a diuretic?

[sehbub]

I've never heard of magnesium as a diuretic, I just know that it's liquid evil when you've been on it for four days, and off and on it for three weeks. But, as I sit here staring at my now 7 1/2 month old 30wk preemie falling asleep on her daddy's shoulder, I realize I would happily (alright, maybe not HAPPILY) get hooked back up to that IV again if it means the same outcome for this baby.

It's a full body muscle relaxant, which means you're not really able to sit up, or roll over, or read a book because you can't lift your arms to turn the pages, you have to be catheterized for urination, and heaven forbid you feel the urge for a bowel movement, you have to be lifted bodily and put on the bed pan. You are not allowed to ingest ANYTHING (I wasn't even allowed to have ice chips unless I promised not to swallow them) because of the severe nausea that generally accompanies extended time on mag sulfate.

Believe me, the hell of mag sulfate is much easier to get over than the hell of the NICU. Like I said, even knowing how awful it is, I would do it all over again for a baby who had a chance to get the steroid shots and never had to be on oxygen.

I am SO glad your ctxns stopped!

[MoonWillow]

Wow! I had no idea. So glad it helped you guys!
What I am thinking of is Milk of Magnesia, and also a natural colon cleanser that I use occasionaly called Colosan which contains magnesium. Both things are white and chalky. It's amazing the qualities that this stuff apparently has. Must go read more....