I spent yesterday and today in hospital with threatened pre term labour after a bloody show, lots of contractions and period pain sensations, some softening and dilation of the cervix. I've had steroids, Nefidipine, lots of pain killers, and now I'm at home keeping an eye on things.
I'm very frustrated because I had everything organised to start modified maternity leave at the end of next week but it looks like I'll have to stop almost completely now. And I have to take it very easy which is not easy with four kids at home. I was so looking forward to an easy month at home being mum and looking after the family. Now dh is majorly stressed trying to get everything done.
I've always had prelabour contractions from about now, but never dilation or anything. Doctor says I have an extremely irritable uterus and with the state of my cervix and my previous quick labours, if anything happens it's going to happen really quickly.
I'm happy to receive advice, other experiences and moral support!!
I had threatened pre-term labour with IU and cervical changes from 24 weeks. Had quite a few nights in hospt off and on. Longest was a week with my legs crossed in a delivery room...my contractions were very strong and down to a minute appart when the drugs and steriods were given and that worked!
We used Nefe...(cant spell or say it still) drug each day and took more when contract got closer and stronger. Had to quit work at 24 weeks and stay home from then on. Easier for me as that was with bub number one. I had contract every day until delivery at 36 weeks (birth wt 1.6kg).
The drugs worked well for me as they kept things to a dull roar and I think the rest at home and in hospt was worth its weight in gold.
It was hard work especially with other pregnancy complications and a baby with heart disease needing open heart surgery at birth in another state. Anyway, we made it.
I am now 12 weeks preg with number two and my OB thinks I have a 50/50 chance of the IU and preterm labour again. I could deal with that but not the other stuff that happened with the preg.
Sounds like you will need to call in all help to get some rest, having kids to look after is going to make it really hard to actually stop doing things. I would be calling in family and friends for cooking and cleaning as well are running around picking up the kids etc. If you are anything like me that wont be easy to do but the alternative isnt good.
I can't imagine what a pain it must be to have to take it easy with 4 kids at home...what a joke huh.
Hopefully you can hang in there for a few more weeks, sounds like they've done everything they can to stop it and prepare bub should it make an early appearance...I guess all you can do now is wait.
My best friend experienced this with her last pregnancy - she was in hospital three times between 33 and 36 weeks with pre term labour...and just as quick as it started, it stopped and she hung on until 39 weeks.
Awww, TM, this has to be so scary. I'd probably lose it in those circumstances. I am glad that they have done all they can, and so long as your membranes are intact they can keep putting it off. I don't know what more to say but that I hope your DS can hold on for just a few more weeks. But I can certainly understand that the idea of putting your feet up with 4 kids under them is a near impossible ask!
Just try your absolute best - take everything slow and easy, don't let them push you around (the kids or the doctors!). If work wasn't so stressful you could stave off maternity leave for the opportunity to put your feet up, but leaving early sounds like your best option. Take care of yourself, and don't stress about liberal use of the square babysitter in the loungeroom!
I had exactly the same situation last pregnancy - was 3cm dialated from 30wks, on nefidipene patches 3x day til 36wks, 3min apart contractions for the whole last trimester, loss of plug, bedrest and 5 seperate hospital stays of 2 days or more for pre-term labour (from 20wks-36wks).............
Ds was kicked out at 37+6, by my choice! No sign of labour in sight either after all that.
So while you should act as if your life depends on keeping him in there via any means possible, you may very well still be kicking round at 38wks or later so dont panic and stress yourself.
Good luck, I really hope you make it to 36wks atleast!
While i wasnt dilated i was in and out of hospital from 34 weeks with contractions with my last bub.
After loads of rest he hung in and actually arrived a week overdue. I too have very fast labours so i know how scary that can be.
Please try to rest i know how hard that can be and can only imagine with four at home already.
sending loads of
DD1 tried at 34 weeks. I decided to stop working and driving until she was out. Cheeky little thing stayed in till 41+2!! We did the Neonates tour, the steroids, the nifedipine and plenty of monitoring.
Rest up as much as possible, get someone to spend the day with you while DH is at work, so the kids have someone else to go to.
Hang in there. I have no words of wisdom, just offering my support. Little Man, you hang in there... Mumma is not quite ready to have you earthside yet...
I am glad that they have stopped the labour for now, I have PM'd you as well.
Unfortunately for me I had had a PPROM and by the time we got to hossy I was 8cm a so there was not stopping labour for me and we didn't get the steroids or anything else. I was planning to cut back to 3 days a week that week, so I didn't get a chance to rest up. But I was lucky it was just the two of us!
I also have a 50/50 chance of a Prem with 33% chance it will be between 31 and 35 weeks, so we are planning on a 30 week pregnancy with the hope we defeat the odds and go FT !!
Is there anyone else who can help you out at home other that just DH, just to take the pressure off? Because the more you rest the longer bubs will stay put, and it is a lot easier resting now than have to go back and forth into SCN/NICU a few times a day. Take it easy.. as much as you can.. as every day is a bonus!!
Thank you everyone for the lovely support! It literally brought a tear to my eye to log on this morning and see all these messages. I don't have much in the way of family, and not a single person from our parish has rung to see how things are going so I was feeling a bit sorry for myself last night.
Rommy'sMommy, what an ordeal you had! I've had threatened preterm labour with four of my other five pregnancies but there's never been any cervical changes before this one. I have an extremely irritable uterus (matches the rest of me LOL). I've never gone early, though. Always at term, or over!
Tobily I had a similar experience as your friend with my last dd - thirty weeks was contracting regularly, had all the shots and everything, and then by 33 weeks it had all calmed down and I was induced at term.
Inertia I'm meeting my boss on Weds to discuss how I can work from home as much as possible. With the kids off at school all day and me having to stay off my feet, I know I'll go insane, and there's only so much time I can spend on Bellybelly I have some projects to finish for work that can be done remotely. My urgent need this week is to get my stuff ready for handover for my replacement, who we are just about to appoint. I am so fortunate that I have enough sick leave to pretty much cover any time off I want before I start maternity leave.
Anna, how did you find the Nefidipine treated you? I've had Ventolin in the past and I thought it was vile - but that stuff - I couldn't stand up without feeling like I was going to pass out because of the headache it gave me. The steroids are stuffing me around a bit too - I've got the big chipmunk cheeks. Mind you it's cleared up my heat rash nicely I'm not on any medication now, thank goodness.
Beema - thank you for your pm. Do they know what triggered your early delivery? I hope that things go very straightforwardly with this one
I'm in a much better frame of mind today. My eldest dd who has left home has offered to come and keep me company during the week when I want it (she's unemployed atm) and will cook the odd meal for us. I'm thinking of paying her to clean the house - and that will help her out financially too! If I can keep working from home, that will make me happy, and that time in hospital with the little babies all around me has moved me further down the track towards looking forward to this little one making his grand entrance.
The nefidepene was horrible. I hated every second of it. Gave me the worst headaches and nausea. I also had quite a few morphine shots while in hospital to help relax my muscles so it was pretty full on and awful. Just my enourmous fear of a premmie (I would have had to be shipped off to Melb which was 3hrs away at the time and completely inconvenient) kept me on the stuff til 36wks when my OB was happy for labour to occur.
ETA - thinking about the horror of my last pregnancy I cant believe I went back one more time Funnily enough this time round Ive had no pre-term labour issues up until the last 2 weeks but even those contractions have been minimal and in bursts. I have no idea if Im dialated or not (prob am). He's safe to come from now so Im betting he goes to term or beyond. Amazing how different pregnancies can be.
Sorry to hear of all this, tmtm! I am glad you are feeling better about things today, anyway.
Just wanted to pop in and wish you all the best for these last weeks - I am glad your DD is able to help you out.
Take care, and I pray that this little guy stays put a bit longer.
PS, don't you just *hate* the term, 'irritable uterus'? But LOL @ your comment, 'matches the rest of me'
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Threatened prem labour at 33 weeks. Sigh.
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xxoo
Funnily enough this time round Ive had no pre-term labour issues up until the last 2 weeks but even those contractions have been minimal and in bursts. I have no idea if Im dialated or not (prob am). He's safe to come from now so Im betting he goes to term or beyond. Amazing how different pregnancies can be.
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