I have just been discharged for the second time in a week for regular tightenings. The dr's have'nt really given me an exact answer as to why I am experiencing contractions so early. They have mentioned to me on a number of occasions that I might have an Irritable Uterus. I have never heard of this. The only book that I could find anything in was in the "What to Expect when Your Expecting". This only had a small paragraph though.
So, i was just wondering, has anyone else been through this themselves??? If so, what can i do too manage it? What can i expect??
After weeks of what we thought were very early Braxton Hicks, I had a threatened pre-term labour at 24 weeks/3 days. At the time they thought DS was coming and were going to try and put a stitch in but my cervix was closed, and I wasn't effaced or anything.
They told me I had an Irritable Uterus and was put on strict rest and Nefedipine tablets twice a day for the rest of my pregnancy to help relax it.
Well they have'nt actually diagnosed it as yet so they have'nt suggested anything to me. At the moment its just come in when you have tightenings for longer than half an hour. Otherwise i just try and relieve the pain myself by either laying down, taking panadol or having a hot shower.
I have to go back into the hospital on Friday to have a Fetal Fibronectin Test. This is where they take a swab and if they find a certain type of protein, you may go into labour in the next 2 weeks. If its negative your not likely to go into labour.
DS was my first, so I had to quit work straight away and spent the rest of the time either in hospital or at home on complete bed rest. Also had steroid injections to help his lungs just in case. Pretty much as soon as we stopped the Nefedipine - at 36 weeks, the contractions started again, but it progressed slow, so was eventually induced at 36w5d. I honestly believe the Nefedipine helped get us through.
Good luck with your test, hope bubs is ok and you hang on for a while longer.
I have an irritable uterus this pregnancy and also had one my last pregnancy.
I had threatened PTL last pregnancy a few times and had to get the steroid injections and at the time was put on ventolin (I think that's quite outdated now). I was supposed to be on rest with DD but that was impossible with a lazy XH and a baby/toddler to look after. I was in and out of hospital constantly, I even was put in a big city hospital hours away for a few weeks as they were so worried about her coming early, but I had to leave because DS wasn't getting looked after properly. She eventually came - would you believe- 2 weeks overdue.
This pregnancy I started having BH contractions from 16 weeks. They have intensified and I have them with regular intervals at least once a week now. Due to my last experience, I know what is the irritable uterus and what is labour, so I just ignore it, rest with my butt in the air (anti gravity) and rest for a good few days afterward and it settles down. I have been to hospital a few times this pregnancy, most mostly ignored it as it's hard to get there as it's far away and I just have had the gut instinct that things will settle down. This is only due to having an irritable uterus last pregnancy, having this many contractions and this much pain is normal for me in pregnancy.
The only way it's really starting to get to me is now in the last weeks the pain I have all the time from my uterus is horrible eventually and I'm really over it. I am in prelabour, I have been for a few weeks and I know this is going to just worsen as the time gets closer. It's part of this irritable uterus thing. I'm being really careful now with movement, lifting and being on my feet too long as I desperately don't want to have bubs before 36 weeks, after 37 weeks would be even better. I've had one preterm bub and one overdue bub and I would much rather go overdue, it's so much better for the baby and so much less problems. So for now, I'm just controlling it by resting, going antigravity positions when the regular contractions start and giving it 2 hours before I bother calling the hospital and doing a lot of self talk techniques about holding the baby in. We've gotten this far, so something is working LOL.
Irritable uterus doens't always mean PTL, but it can be an indicator of it, put you at a higher risk. I don't recommend ignoring things like I did and do, I only do this because I'm now further along and also because I have been through it all before and just 'know' it's not labour at this point. And also because I have a rather big fear of hospitals LOL.
I'd also love to hear how your FFT goes and please keep us posted. GL and prayers that your little bubba stays in there for a long time yet.
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Irritable Uterus...
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