PreTerm Birth Naturally

Hey everyone, this is my first post on here. Been trying to search the internet for answers but have not come across anything decent, so I thought I would ask opinions.

Over the weekend I went into PreTerm Labour. I'm 34 weeks 5 days.

Basically what happened was I went into hospital, contractions 3 minutes apart, 3-4cm dilated, membranes intact. I was hooked up to continuous monitoring and a drip of antibiotics. I had wonderful plans of drug free natural labour, minimal intervention and freedom to be in any position I pleased. But all this was thrown out the window when the midwife told me I was not allowed to do those things. I was devastated for a few reasons. First the obvious, that I couldn't do it the way I wanted to; second, that I had not informed myself properly about Preterm birth; thirdly, it seemed that squeezing any sort of information that I could use to make an informed choice out of any doctor or midwife seemed impossible. Praise God that the contractions stopped, and now I have an opportunity to inform myself properly in case it does happen again.

Now, I am incredibly healthy. All tests showed I was fine, no infections. Also no problems with baby, she is completely average size, right amount of amniotic fluid, etc etc.

My question is, in a hospital setting, do I have the right if I am pre-term to demand the labour experience that I want? Is it too risky if I am not hooked up to continuous monitoring? Do I have to take antibiotics "just in case"? Keep in mind, this is later pre-term. I would not consider this labour experience pre 34 weeks.

Thank you for your feedback :-)

I had drug free births with both my boys. DS1 was late pre-term. I did have continuous monitoring, but we used the telemetric ctg so I could move around, labour in the shower etc. I'm pretty sure they gave me IV ABs but cant remember. We had a great birth, but I had an IM running interference for me. I used TENS & hypnobabies for pain relief.

My birth story is in my sig but it comes with a warning. DS1 died after birth from a congenital disease.

For us, having the CTG monitoring later proved that DS1 was perfectly fine during the birth. His heartbeat was strong the whole time. If they cant give you the use of the telemetric machine and insist on CTG, just jump off the bed & pace or bounce on the fitball.

Remember, everything is negotiable. I just did my thing and didnt give anyone the option of saying No. Dont ask, do. Just smile sweetly and get on with your birth.

If you havent written a birth plan, I recommend you do so now.Also, take some cookies or muffins in with you to give to the mudwives. It may help them warm to you.

You can have what you want, with monitoring it should only be for 10-20min an hour if they are concerned not continuous. If you are comfortable with the pain levels than you don't need drugs. Did they give you steroids jic?

With dd1 I went into labour at 34, my membranes ruptured, my amniotic levels were too low and dd was breach so it was an emergency c sect. However with dd2 I went into pre term labour at 35 weeks, but she was engaged so my ob was happy for me to have a vbac even though I had gd, I was put onto nifedipine until my waters started leaking at 37 weeks. She was born naturally with just a bit of gas as I pushed. With ds pre term labour started at 34 +3 when he fully engaged, again my ob was happy to deliver at anytime but ds hung in there until 39+4 cheeky thing was happy hanging about but I wasn't able to move without having contractions for 6 weeks.

Forgot to add I was given oral AB not an IV so that is an option.

Its up to you hun.

I personally would not refuse antibiotics or monitor if I went into preterm labour again no matter what gestation was. Ifmy body was trying to expel the baby early then I would want all based covered to ensure there was no infect and to ensure my baby was still alive and well.

Having lost an extreme preterm baby there is nothing I would refuse just "for the sake of my idea of a perfect birth". My baby's health and my well being far out weigh any intervention methods what so ever.

I am not sure about your rights to refuse treatments when it comes to preterm labour to birth the way you want, because the Drs do have an obligation to your unborn baby.

I really cannot put into words what I really want to say, but there are still risks to babies born 36 weeks and under. Mothers rights are one thing but I cannot understand why someone would risk their baby's health and well beingin order to achieve "the perfect birth" (in that mothers perspective) ....... in saying that though I come from a perspective of a mother who has lost a baby so my opinions on the matter and very much "do what you want to my body, just ensure my baby is healthy and do what is necessary"

Nae x

Thanks you ladies for your very quick responses! I REALLY appreciate them.

I think you all have definitely highlighted for me the fact that I need to do take more care in this situation - I really had no understanding to begin with. I think being set in my mind as to doing things my way, and always questioning doctors put my ego in front instead of the health of my baby.

If it does happen again for real, I know that I will be approaching it with a different mindset, and feeling out the situation as it comes.

I am very sorry for the mums that have suffered loss, thank you for your honesty.

Oh I should add there is nothing wrong with feeling "ripped off" if you don't get the birth you planned either. I feel so ripped off by my first experience but then my focus shifted to doing what was necessary if that makes sense. :hug:

PLease have a chat with your care givers and do not be afraid to ask questions and demand answers.They may not tell you things when they are in the thick of trying to slow down or stop labour but they sure as hell should discuss what they were doing and why afterwards.

ALso ensure you discuss your birthing options at each point so if you happen to run into a spot of bother before 37 weeks then once you reach term etc.

Its one thing to come in here andask and get informed but your hospital may just have some policies in place for these types of births.

Here's to no more preterm issues for you though *raises glass of water*

Nae x

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I think you all have definitely highlighted for me the fact that I need to do take more care in this situation - I really had no understanding to begin with. I think being set in my mind as to doing things my way, and always questioning doctors put my ego in front instead of the health of my baby.

If it does happen again for real, I know that I will be approaching it with a different mindset, and feeling out the situation as it comes.

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Thing is, it's up to your caregivers to actually explain this to you, rather than just insisting you do x or y. Of course you wouldn't do anything to knowingly harm your baby! Why would they assume asking questions meant you would put your baby at risk? It's totally unacceptable - except under extreme, life-and-death circumstances - for medical carers to do anything without your ok.

Hope baby stays put for a bit & all the best

Yeah, I should have mentioned, the things we were able to do were compromises. I didnt just give in, but we did compromise. For a pre-term, I would always have CTG. 1) because on our previous experiences & 2) because pre-term is a high risk.

You want a good birth and that can be done taking into account the needs of both Mum and bub. Which is why I say negotiate. Work with your care providers. You dont need to stay on a bed, but still have CTG. You might not want Abs, but agree to having a cannula put in. Or whatever.

There's bothing wrong with questioning your care providers. The more informed you are throughout, the more empowered you feel, whatever happens.

Hopefuly bub stays baking a lot longer

I was happy to have wireless CTG but declined IV antibiotics with DD2. I was 35+6 and had premature rupture of membranes but had spontaneous onset of labour just after they broke. My midwife was quite happy to negotiate and didn't pressure me or question my decisions.

My decision not to have antibiotics was that I had the same thing happen with DD1 I had no temperature, my blood tests and urine tests did not show an infection and I wanted to avoid DD getting thrush on the way out then going through the oral/nipple thrush cycle with her.

With DD1 I was 36+1 and had premature rupture of membranes, as labour didnt start immediately they gave me some IV antbiotics in hospital then sent me home on oral, I went into labour about 3hrs after discharge. I took antibiotics in that case as labour hadn't started and there is an increased risk of infection with PROM if left too long

I had vaginal births for both DD's and was able to be active with both, walking around the ward, showering etc. I did not need any analgesia except back rubs and heat packs. I did have oxytocin after birth as I tend to bleed. I was able to have skin to skin contact straight after with both DD's. With DD2 the only people int he room for the birth were myself DH, my midwife then DD2 when she came earthside. DD1 I had more people but that was becuase of the time of day, I had 2 Midwives and a neonatologist.

I hope you have people caring for you during your birth that are open to discussing things with you. If they want to do something ask why and ask what alternatives there are. If they tell you the risks of not doing something ask them the risks about doing it! Any medical intervention whether around birth or otherwise has two sides there is the risk of not acting and then there are risks when medical intervention occurs. Its then up to YOU to make a decision.

So for me it was possible to have a natural vaginal birth twice with late preterm labour. I hope you get to term and either way I hope you have a positive birthing experience

Oh thank you ladies! You are all so wonderful on here!

I have just called the hospital to book an appointment with the midwife to talk about what happened, and what my options are if it does happen again.

I think the reason I was so unhappy about everything was that I did ask questions every step of the way, but they were never answered properly. Even when the labour stopped and I was kept at the hospital for a couple of days, it seemed like absolutely nobody knew what was going on each time I asked a question. My husband had even called up and demanded answers only to be shrugged off. The hospital I have chosen I have given birth at before, and had a really good experience with the staff. This time the only staff that went out of their way to help me and answer my questions as best they could were the two staff members that told me they work at a different hospital as well, and seemed to have more experience with Preterm labour as the other hospital in our area takes babies a lot earlier. The one I had chosen takes babies only from 34 weeks.

Anyways, I will be talking it over with my care providers now.
I really appreciate all your support about this! Thanks for inspiring me to take it up with them!
xox