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UPDATE--am I at risk for preterm labor right now?  

post #1 of 22
6/4/07 at 6:40pm
Thread Starter 
I don't want to call my midwife's emergency number, and I was wondering if some of you could help me figure out the list of symptoms I have going on here. Some of this might be a little TMI. Here goes... in chronological order.

This is my 3rd pregnancy to go beyond the very-early-miscarriage state. I had a stillbirth/late miscarriage at 22 weeks in 1997 and had my daughter in 1998, 3 weeks late by their dates, right on time according to mine.

I'm 33 weeks right now. Active happy baby, good heartbeat and size every time the mw has checked (I'm having a pretty low-tech pregnancy). I've had a lot of BH contractions in the last couple of months. A few weeks ago I started having some REAL contractions every once in a while--I know the difference, and these were the intense, can't-catch-your-breath kind--but never more than one a day or less. On one occasion I had three in a row. On the mw's advice, I went to bed, drank fluids, and everything seemed fine.

These last couple of days I've felt distinctly weird. More specifically, I feel exactly as I did before I went into labor with Charlotte. Here's what's happened:

-My appetite has gone from huge to very picky. I can barely eat. This is common in pre-labor for me.

-My stomach has been "clearing itself out," if you know what I mean. From pregnancy-constipated I've gone to... quite the opposite.

-I'm extremely emotional, and threatened to divorce my DH last night.

-I had a rush of energy yesterday that resulted in my going to the supermarket at 10pm in a rainstorm. Also, I ran yesterday (at the supermarket--in the rain). I have multiple sclerosis and impaired mobility--I usually can't run. Yesterday evening I could.

-I woke up several times in the night with "aching." Not contractions per se... backaches and lower ab pain. I dreamed all night that I had my period and wanted a heating pad.

-Newest symptom? Just lost a peice of my mucous plug.

-No "serious" contractions yet today, but the general sense of "achiness" has continued.

Thoughts? Should I call the mw? Start thinking about what to do in the event that I need to go in to the hospital? How seriously premature is a 33 week baby? DH is at work and I'm freaking out a bit...
post #2 of 22
6/5/07 at 3:22am
hmm can't believe there are no responses so far! I hope you are feeling OK now. I'm not a professional but I would probably call and check in with the mws if I was having all those symptoms. They might be able to suggest something to make it better and I am certain they would like to know what's going on. Take care!
post #3 of 22
6/5/07 at 3:25am
I hope everything is okay. I would also call.
post #4 of 22
6/5/07 at 3:55am
In your situation I would also call. Most of what you describe does not worry me but the dreaming of the pain, and the mucus plug aren't great signs at 33w - plus, if you don't feel right, that's not good.

Any chance you could have a urinary tract infection? Those really can cause pre-term type of activity.

Hope you are doing ok!
post #5 of 22
6/5/07 at 12:41pm
Yup, I would definately call the mw. And certainly, if you're concerned about something as potentially serious as a 33 week preemie, USE THE EMERGENCY NUMBER! That's what they provide one for. Personally, I'd rather know sooner rather than later that a client of mine might be at risk for preterm labor. And yes, the mucous plug is an important "sign"
post #6 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:13pm
How are you feeling today? I've been thinking about you.
post #7 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:24pm
Thread Starter 

Update

Thanks BSD!

I'm on bed rest and feel like utter crap. I think I had a touch of an abdominal flu, and I seriously feel like it's been gearing my body up for labor. I want to keep this little one in for at least another three weeks, so I think "modified bed rest" is going to be the way to go. My mw is coming tomorrow for a checkup and she's going to check for any infections, etc.

So, I lie here willing the baby to stay in... get ready for a few weeks of misanthropic posts.
post #8 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:36pm
I hope everything is going ok. STAY PUT BABY!
post #9 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:42pm
So sorry you're on bedrest. One year ago I was in the same situation and held my baby in till 37 wks. Hope you have some good help and good reading.
post #10 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:47pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by olive&pimiento View Post
So sorry you're on bedrest. One year ago I was in the same situation and held my baby in till 37 wks. Hope you have some good help and good reading.
I'm glad to hear you were in the same situation and still had a homebirth... that's heartneing.
post #11 of 22
6/5/07 at 9:59pm
Ouch, that sucks. Stay put, baby!
post #12 of 22
6/5/07 at 11:14pm
Forgot to add-
33 weeks is not so premature as far as lung development goes. It is right on the borderline of when they think the baby is developed enough not to need the steroid shot for improving breathing. I'm sending you all the baby stay in vibes I can.
post #13 of 22
6/5/07 at 11:20pm
Thread Starter 
My mw will deliver at home past 35 weeks if nothing else seems to be wrong, so really I just need another week-and-a-half... The problem is that I can't seem to stay in bed, I'm really restless.
post #14 of 22
6/6/07 at 12:57am
Maybe time to start a flame war in TAO to keep you busy on the computer?
post #15 of 22
6/6/07 at 1:01am
Certainly there has to be something interesting that can keep you in bed!

post #16 of 22
6/6/07 at 7:44am
Hi There,

just wanted to say I feel for you...I had been on modified bedrest for a few weeks and just got off of it. Can your MW give you a fetal fibronectin test? If that's negative, it may be reassuring, and then if it's positive it's good to know too ... I had never heard of it but it tells you (to some extent) your risk of going into PTL the next few weeks. Mine tested negative for the 3rd time and I finally got off bedrest when I was 34 weeks, yay! Now I am 35 weeks...My DS was born at 35/36 weeks so they have just been very conservative with me and I have a lot of contractions (oh yes ,and I lost a chunk of my plug too), I timed them Monday and averaged 3/hour. But I think that is just how I am preggers...

Anyhow I wish you luck...stay in there little one at least a few more weeks!
(((hugs)))
Maura
post #17 of 22
6/6/07 at 10:08am
Hugs mama! Bedrest sucks, but you can do it! I had serious PTL with my 2nd pg - starting at 18 wks. I was on bedrest from 20 wks to 35 wks. Then again with my 4th pg from 30 wks to 36 wks. Watch movies, read books, knit, etc. Oh how I wish I had had MDC during those long months! It's so worth it to keep that baby in to term. Best wishes and hang in there! Stay baby stay!
post #18 of 22
6/6/07 at 2:21pm
So, if you're concerned it's infection of one type or another, what are you doing to bolster your immune system? Taking garlic, drinking green tea (great to help prevent/treat UTI's), taking probiotics, etc? I'd also be practicing deep relaxation and "talking" to your cervix and your baby and telling them both that it would be better for all involved to stay put.
post #19 of 22
6/6/07 at 3:21pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by courtenay_e View Post
So, if you're concerned it's infection of one type or another, what are you doing to bolster your immune system? Taking garlic, drinking green tea (great to help prevent/treat UTI's), taking probiotics, etc? I'd also be practicing deep relaxation and "talking" to your cervix and your baby and telling them both that it would be better for all involved to stay put.
I have multiple sclerosis--boosting my immune system is actually a really bad idea. Unfortunately.

But as it turns out (MW visit today) we don't think it's an infection, just more of a "take it easy" situation--modified bedrest for the next couple of weeks. I'm a little less freaked out after talking to her, she did seem to think there was a risk of preterm labor but since the contractions haven't gotten regular at any point that we can probably keep the baby in.
post #20 of 22
6/6/07 at 3:52pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Individuation View Post
I have multiple sclerosis--boosting my immune system is actually a really bad idea. Unfortunately.


Dr Klenner cured MS with C. He believed it was a vitamin deficiency disease.


Stay put baby!! Rest well mamma
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