freaking out, really painful braxton hicks and just had a pop and gush

[Krikkit]

Hi Mrs Hendo, I hope your holding out ok.

I agree with the ladies on here, question the Drs - push back, get the answers you want to hear. Don't let them placate you, - don't leave with a question in your mind that everything is 100% ok.

In my personal experience, I have recently had a Dr tell me in not so many words "don't you know who I am" blah blah blah.. to which my response was my body my baby - justify your reasons why I need this treatment. My OB referred me to this lovely gentleman (who is commonly known as GOD in the OB world over here in Perth), and I get to finally meet him face to face today as all previous correspondence has been over the phone. I have left a lasting impression - I am not stupid, nor am I 100% trusting in what Drs say - they are not God.

I have been forewarned by my OB to be "nice" cause he knows how feisty I am - lol... I reassured him that I will try to be on my best behaviour and my husband is coming with me to be the referee!

[Rumpleteaser]

Trust your instincts, don't assume things will go away, keep asking questions and keep intouch with Ob/MW.
In the lead up to 32 weeks when I starting going into labour I was getting BH and sharp lower abdo pains which I dismissd as normal PG aches and pains, I was also carrying very high and flet quite restriced in my movements. At 32 weeks I started getting abdo pain lasting 10 min at a time every 2-2.5 hrs. I was checked out by the hossie where I had no painful contractions, though had a non painful one when Ob was there at the 2.5 hr mark, she did a VE and found that I was beginning to dialate, I was kept in. I was given meds to stop the labour and I was monitored for signs of infection and bub was monitored on a reg basis to. Bub had dropped right down at this point and I felt more comfortable, though still had an irregular lower period pain ache. Further VE showed I had still dialated furhter and bubs head could be felt, I was not allowed home, When my water broke at 33 weeks, It was a sudden gush, may have only been 50 mls, but that is fair amt of liquid, I continued to have small gushes, esp when bub moved. After PROM I got less aches and pains and still felt more confortable. You may not need to stay in hosptial, but if you/they have any concernes see if they will give you the seriod injections to help bubs lungs.
In the mean time, rest! No laundry, vaccuming, housework, you must rest. Also check your temp 2-4 times day, you might be at risk of infection if your water are leaking. Don't hesitate to call Ob/MW if you are concerned, feel unwell, increasing in pain/fluid, get temp.
I hope all symptoms settle down.

[*Elle*]

oh hun after reading this thread I just want you to know you are not being a pain to anyone, and honestly to bad if you are LOL, they are there to help you, and being that you are worried they should be helping to put your mind at ease, I hope you are able to see your OB today and find out whats going on xx

[BlackRose]

Good luck Mrs Hendo!

[danniellabella]

Thinking of you and hope that everything will be ok. You should question the OB more and demand an internal or swab test or something. I think your OB should be taking things more seriously especially as you're 32 weeks.

[alioops]

When DD1 threatened to come prem my waters hadn't broken but the lady across from me's had. They didn't want to do many internals because of the risk of infection. They did internals on me to keep an eye on it but there was less risk on me. If you read this before you go in take the stuff you had leaked on incase they can test it.

[*Beema*]

Thanks Beema,

You guys have been really great i dont think i would have made it through the last 24 hours sane if it wasn't for everyone on here. I read your birth story and wow...

I just almost wish it was more clear cut. I guess i am naturally such a detailed person i just feel like i am neither coming or going.

Hopefully ob will just do a swab for me today that would be great then we'll know for sure.

Aww thanks hun, I hope it didn't freak you out, it was all very quick...

I hope you are meeting with your OB and he is being thorough in his assessment, I really feel for you, you should have to be going through this, I don't understand why it is so often the case that people forget that just because it is your first it doesn't mean that you can't have a prem. And don't really take your concerns seriously, or want to fob you off as a stressed, worried FT Mum

I understand what you mean by clear cut as well, as it was for me by the time we got to the hospital there was no denying I was in PTL, but it seems that if it is not blatantly obvious one can be ignored and shoved to the side, which is so unfair and I truely believe that if our medical practitioners were more attentive in these possible cases of PTL that they may be able to prevent or delay the delivery of more premature babies.

I have a good friend who after 2 prems (35wk and 38wk), was begging to be monitored more closely and she was basically shunned around, with her concerns being ignored until a mutual friend managed to get her help through a high risk OB and by then it was too late and she was already dilating and funnelling (had a cervial suture placed in) and went on to deliver her wee little boy at 25 weeks. But if they had just listened to her earlier on and how well she knew her body, she could have highly likely baked him for a lot longer.

It concerns me that there are some members in the medical professsion that just aren't listening, if I were in their position I would be much happier if my patient came and saw me more, than not. I have seen my OB, 5 times already this pregnancy, and that was up to 10 weeks! The last two times I said to her, gee you are going to be sick of seeing me by the end of this pregnancy and she said absolutely not, I would prefer to see you as often as need be to prolong the pregnancy, and I have her private mobile and am to call her 24/7 when ever something changes, as we are searching for clues which may lead to ways to prolong this pregnancy as long as possible. Term for me it highly unlikely - although I am still aiming and focussing on it, but I can deal with what comes with having a prem. As I have been there before and I have heavily exposed myself to the world of premature babies, and I feel that I can be more prepared mentally and emotionally for what ever comes along. It will not be easy road but it will be a little easier to understan as I will have educated myself...

I am that you get some clear cut definitive answers today, big hugs xxoo

[Toomanytoomany]

This is what happened to me when I threatened PTL at 32 weeks, and that was *without* any suspicion that my waters were broken.

A speculum exam was done to check out my cervix, and to check for pooling of fluid. Had there been fluid, they would have done a swab to check if it was amniotic fluid.

There wasn't any fluid, but regardless, I was given two shots of dexamathasone to mature the baby's lungs just in case, I was given a drug (can't remember what it is called, starts with "n" and is a tocolytic, that is, it stops contractions) and given pain relief. I stayed in hospital for 24 hours while they made sure it was "just" an irritable uterus and baby wasn't making an early entrance. (He actually arrived a day after my due date.)

That was what should happen. That's what you should insist on happening. You aren't being a nuisance. The main thing to establish is that your cervix isn't opening yet (as a primip, it shouldn't be, different for us grand multis LOL) and that your membranes are intact, and that you are not having contractions that are a) regular and strong enough to make a difference to your cervix and b) distressing the baby. That's what you want to ask about: are these contractions and cramps indicating cervical change, and are my membranes intact? If they can assure you that these things are okay (and tell you how they know these things), then really you just need to rest, take some raspberry leaf tea and do what you need to feel comfortable. Then ask them for the threshhold of what you should be concerned about and when you should go to the hospital - how far apart for contractions, etc, fluid loss, that kind of thing. Then, when you experience those things, GO IN, regardless of how silly you feel. They aren't just there to deliver babies, they are there to support pregnant women.

(With one of my prior pregnancies, I had a hindwater leak at 36 weeks that healed up and that baby was born at 40+1 also.)

[*Beema*]

ToomanyToomany, I thought if you were at risk of Pre-term delivery you should avoid Raspberry Leaf Tea, because in its concentrated form it can result in uterine contractions, which is not advisable if you are already indicating signs of PTL. Definitely where there is not sign of PTL, it is highly recommended, and I support it's use, and can be safe in pregnancy in low doses to start with and slowly increasing. Someone can correct me if I am incorrect, I have been told to stay away from it But I have read conflicting information about it, with some saying it is ok and other saying it is not safe, but I am going to avoid it either way

[Rainbow_Mumma]

as I had my son at 25 weeks and went into preterm labour at 26 weeks with DD1 (thankfully they stopped hers) but I have been told to avoid RLT now to try avoid anymore early labours

[Kitt3n]

Yep RLT strengthens the muscles - not sure about it bringing on anything but as a precaution I would avoid it.

[squidipa]

sending a top up of love thoughts and hugs and prayers

[Toomanytoomany]

No, RLT is a uterine tonic - paradoxically while it gets your uterus ready for labour, it can also soothe the ratty contractions of an irritable uterus. It won't bring on labour - I have used it to great effect over at least four pregnancies.

[Rainbow_Mumma]

just goes to show how different drs have totally opposite thoughts and beliefs on things!!

Has anyone heard anything from Mrs Hendo?

[starangelk]

I'm in Mrs Hendo's Belly Belly group and I haven't heard from her......I am a bit worried. Hoping all is going well.

[Pandora]

Does anyone in your baby group have a number to txt her? Who's her birth announcement person?

[Mrs McAwesome]

Hi guys i'm here, bubs is still in place. I have been sleeping all afternoon sorry i missed you all.. I have a bit of an update for you all.

I spoke to my OB who said he couldn't see me today (but that was ok cos i am without car today) he wants me to ring him tomorrow with an update. So far have not lost any more fluid and cramping has slowed down a bit. It's still very much there, and quite painful but really irregular. I have antenatel classes tonight and will be seeing my favourite midwife so i will be having a big chat to her and hopefully she can be a bit pushier for me cos i really want an internal done to check that everything is going ok and my cervix is still closed.

I am a bit annoyed that the hosp and my ob are acting like its nothing serious but i am also trying to trust my instincts on this as well. I feel well prepared if anything was to happen quickly. I am thinking now it may have been my hind waters from the research i have been doing and what others have said, which apparently can mend themselves.

I am on leave now from work until my maternity leave kicks in next week so am still in my pj's at 5.30 at night.

Thankyou so much everyone for all your kind words and encouragement. As a FT mum and someone who has had so many miscarriages i have been very anxious all pregnancy. I was hoping everything would just be cruisy for the next few weeks.

[Persephone1]

Mrs Hendo, rest up chookie, and take care. Let us know what the MW said and make sure you follow up with your Ob tomorrow. Good luck.