Ways to Stop/Prevent Preterm Labor?

[treehugginhippie]

I have a friend who is under the care of an OB. She is 33 weeks pregnant with her 3rd and had preterm labor about a week ago which was stopped with terbutaline (had preterm with 2nd too). Still having frequent ctrx but not enough to be alarmed about. She wishes to use alternative methods to prevent/stop preterm labor again before the last resort (hospital). No other health issues and baby is doing great.

I've researched online and found this advice. I wanted to see what you thought of these plans:

Prevention:
-taking a liquid cal/mag supplement (is a capsule just as effective too?)
-lots of fluids
-getting enough protein (I assume 80-100 grams?)

Stopping:
-warm bath in epsom salts
-herbs such as wild yam, crampbark, black haw & false unicorn root (My question would be what order should these be tried? Also use them as tintures, right? Any precautions in taking any of these?)

Edited to add that I found the Threatened Miscarriage Brew from my WWHFTCY by Susan Weed. Would this be good for preterm labor?

1 tablespoon dried Black Haw root bark or Cramp bark
3 tablespoons dried Raspberry leaves
10 drops Wild Yam root tincture (in the book it also states tinture is less effective so I assume dried herbs are better)
10 drops False Unicorn root tincture
60 drops Lobelia herb tincture


Thank you very much!!!!

[mwherbs]

viburnum prunifolium or opp-- one is cramp bark and one is black haw- they are both smooth muscle relaxants both will lower bp- and help to slow down contractions- cramp bark is used more often to relax uterine contractions

false unicorn is so rare that I question that it would be the "real thing"
wild yam-- is an ant-spasmotic -- could work but the stronger plants are the viburnums

lobeila might work but it also is very strong and has an effect on the baby as well-- so nope I wouldn't use it.

--------------------------------
something to consider is live culture foods-- and I would want to change vaginal pH- there is a big German study on just this- changing vaginal pH to prevent PTL-- you can read the info at this web address-
http://www.saling-institut.de/eng/04infoph/01allg.html

here is one recent study
Arch Iran Med. 2006 Jul;9(3):213-7.

Association of bacterial vaginosis, trichomonas vaginalis, and vaginal acidity
with outcome of pregnancy.

Azargoon A, Darvishzadeh S.

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vali-e-Asr Reproductive Health Research
Center, Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran 14194, Iran. [e-mail]

BACKGROUND: Bacterial vaginosis and Trichomons vaginalis are believed to be the risk factors for preterm labor birth and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.
The objective of this study was to investigate the association between bacterial
vaginosis, T.vaginalis, and vaginal pH with preterm labor birth and preterm
prelabor rupture of membranes after excluding other known risk factors. METHODS: In this cohort study, we enrolled 1223 pregnant women with gestational age of 16 - 36 weeks from Amir-Almomenin General Hospital in Semnan, Iran, who had no known medical risk factors for preterm labor birth. Bacterial vaginosis and T.vaginalis were determined on the basis of vaginal pH, saline wet mount, and Amsel tests. The principal outcome was delivery before 37 weeks of gestation and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes. RESULTS: Bacterial vaginosis and T.vaginalis were detected in 16.0% and 5.5% of these women, respectively. Bacterial vaginosis was positive in 65 (33.1%) patients at 16 - 20 weeks of gestation and in 134 (66.9%) patients at 36 weeks of gestation or during labor (developing preterm labor birth or preterm prelabor rupture of membranes). The frequencies for T.vaginalis were 20 (29.9%) and 47 (70.1%) patients, respectively. All patients with bacterial vaginosis and T.vaginalis had a vaginal pH > or = 5. There was a significant correlation between bacterial vaginosis and vaginal pH > or = 5, with preterm labor birth (OR: 5.99; CI: 3.79 - 9.49) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (OR: 2.34; CI: 1.07 - 4.99). Moreover, a significant correlation was found between vaginal pH > or = 5 with preterm labor birth (OR: 5.82; CI: 2.96 - 11.39) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (OR: 4.11; CI: 1.62 - 10.12). There was no significant correlation between T.vaginalis with preterm labor birth (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.22 - 2.17) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (OR: 1.22; CI: 0.29 - 5.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of bacterial vaginosis or vaginal pH > or = 5 at 16 - 36 weeks of gestation is associated with an increased risk of preterm labor birth and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes.

Publication Types:
Comparative Study

PMID: 16859053 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[Mindi22]

There is something called a buckled sacrum maneuver that I learned at a chiropractic seminar with Dr. Jeanne Ohm. To find someone that has learned it, I would search on the www.icpa4kids.org website and find a DC that is certified in Webster's technique, since that would mean that they have taken this particular seminar. It's supposed to help stop preterm labor, and can be taught to a partner to perform while not in the office.

[cfiddlinmama]

Large doses of magnesium work well. You don't want to drink lots of plain water - add EmergenC to it, or drink Smart Water or Recharge. Another thing that worked really well for me was a small glass of wine. With my 4th it was the only thing that would stop the contractions. Lying with your hips elevated can take the pressure off of the cervix. I agree with mwherbs that lobelia isn't the best choice. Best wishes for your friend.

[olive&pimiento]

mwherbs- thank you so much for posting the info and links. While I have heard of infections being a risk factor for ptl, I had not heard of treatment with lactobacilli. Are the preparations described in the German study available in the US, and if not, what do you recommend for changing the vaginal pH?

[pamamidwife]

i was going to second the magnesium. magnesium aspartate esp - 400 to 600mg/day from what a few studies have published.

[mwherbs]

I also agree with using magnesium- in the amounts Pam mentioned
----

the thing with the infections is that it does multiple things- and the studies on treating the infections with conventional antibiotics did not show that it reduced the amount of preterm labor/birth- the body's natural flora that helps to keep bacteria down by maintaining a acidic pH (lactic acid forming bacteria) and by peroxide (H2O2) producing strains of lactobacillus - that work just like peroxide in cleaning away bacteria -- and live lactobacillus has been shown to reduce inflammatory process- so direct vaginal application and eating live culture foods are what to do- live culture yogurt is one way to get large amounts of lactobacillus into the body- both by eating it and direct vaginal application- there are lactobacillus supplements that can be bought - but really the less expensive way that has the most in it is going to be live culture foods- - In the west the yogurt I would trust to have good "live lactobacillus" is Nancy's yogurt

[treehugginhippie]

Thank you everyone for the great info. Lots to consider...thanks!