Pre-Term Labor

[tomi_idelle]

Hey All,

I just found this thread and thought i would ask a quick question to see if anyone had any ideas. I had pre-term labor with my first and ended up delivering at 37 weeks having HELLP syndrome. I am due Feb 21st with #2 and just met with my doctor and he is far more concerned my chances of pre-term labor reoccuring than anything else. I was just wondering if anyone had heard of any vitamins or herbs or even exercises that may help ward off pre-term labor. My doc is telling me I may be on bedrest at 30 weeks, and I can't imagine being in bed for 10 weeks with a toddler...Yikes. I looked through the other threads and didn't seem to find much on pre-term labor so I would appreciate any info anyone has.

Thanks so much,

Tomi

I also just wanted to say congrats to all the mommas here...Feb is going to be a great month

[ksera05]

Did you have an incompetent cervix or just PTL?

[flapjack]

I think the high-protein diet has been shown to help, but I have no idea. Sorry

[MamaBBrown2003]

How early did your labor start? 37 weeks is usually considered full-term.

Now, my beautiful dd1 was born without much warning at just 36 weeks, and all my care providers were freaked that I could go even earlier with my second. I even weaned my first daughter during the pregnancy so that nursing wouldn't cause me any preterm labor. I began having some contractions at 36 weeks again, but they stayed mild and sporadic for quite awhile. By 38 weeks, I was 4cm, but still no active labor. That darn baby stayed in for nearly 42 weeks. So much for the dangers of preterm labor! My ds was born at 41 weeks without ANY preterm labor at all.

I have no clue when to expect this little one. Somewhere between the middle of Jan and the first week of March, I guess.

[aslmere]

I had my first at 32 weeks after 4 weeks of hospital bedrest. I literally was not allowed to get out of bed(even to use the bathroom) for 4 weeks. It was worth it though.

I went on to have two more both at 42 weeks.

So there is hope.

I didn't do anything differently as far as diet or herbs so I can't help you with that question.
But I understand how you are feeling.

[eilonwy]

I had PTL with the first as well, from 32 weeks on; he was born at 37w3d.

I never went into labor at all with the second, and hardly had any contractions at *all* during the pregnancy-- she was born by emergency c-section at 39w1d.

The fact that you've had preterm labor once most assuredly DOES NOT mean that you'll have it again. Absolutely nothing changed from pregnancy #1 to pregnancy #2; if anything, my life was *more* stressful during the second pregnancy because I had a toddler to contend with! Tell your cp to chill.

[operamommy]

I'm not sure why your doc is so concerned either. Could you explain a bit more, please? I went into labor with ds2 at 33 weeks. Luckily we stopped it and after bedrest I didn't end up delivering till past my EDD. Anyway, my OB isn't concerned about my having pre-term labor again really at all. Last appt. when I asked I was told there's a 20 percent chance of it happening again, so not that much at all!

[LoveChild421]

I think with HELLP syndrome (which is pretty much VERY severe Toxemia if I'm not mistaken right?) there is an increased risk of it occuring again in subsequent pregnancies.

Here is some good info from a midwife you might want to check out: http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/pih.html
http://www.gentlebirth.org/archives/pih.html#Treating

What were your HELLP symptoms? There are things you can do nutritionally to keep your blood pressure low and keep your kidneys and liver functioning optimally. First of all, when it comes to blood pressure, your water intake is CRITICAL, as is your magnesium level. You will want to aim to drink a gallon of pure water a day (keeping a gallon jug with you is a good way to see how much you're drinking). You want to stay very hydrated so that your kidneys can function well. When my BP started to get scary high in later pregnancy with my son I kept it low by drinking lots of water and taking magnesium supplements. You want to look for a high quality form like Magnesium Citrate or Glycinate which you generally will only find in health food stores or from a naturopathic Dr. Calcium is also important (although most people are more deficient in magnesium than calcium). You want to look for Calcium Citrate also- don't buy calcium carbonate because it isn't absorbable by the human body, waste of money and can cause kidney stones.

If I were you I would go see a Naturopath and make sure your kidneys and liver are functioning well- if they aren't they can give you things to help correct whatever imbalance is presence.

[5kids4me]

i've delivered 2 of my children early before 35 weeks. This is my 5th.. My oB doenst seem to concerned about me delivering early either... I am actually hoping to go to 41 weeks this time