Went to Ob then to hospital

I had my routine cervical ultrasound yesterday. 2 weeks ago it was 3.6 cm. WHen the tech got done I asked her what it was and she said 2cm... WHAT? In 2 weeks? I had my Ob apt right after and I figured he would put me on restrictions, well he sent me to L&D (which is attached to his office at the hospital) They put me on monitors and started procardia. I don't like it because it gives me a headache and lower my BP even more, this morning it was 104/46. My OB is now getting a peri in the mix and I am waiting for them to come in and they will repeat the cervical ultrasound to see if the rest helped to lengthen my cervix or not. The Peri just came in... he is not my OB but I have to trust his expertise. They will repeat u/s soon and if my cervix is 1.5 or under I stay in hosp if it is still 1.9 I can go hm on strict bed rest with weekly checks. He doesn't think I will get to 33 weeks so disheartening. Any advice from anyone who has been in my shoes? I am feeling a bit discouraged. I want healthy babies so to hear a Dr say that I will prob have problems at 30 weeks is not the encouragement I need at this point.

 

The procardia made me really sick so I switched to terbutaline...

I did not have measurements of my cervix, but I was 70% effaced and 1-2cm dilated at 30 weeks, was put on strict bed rest (having contractions every 5 min) and made it to 36 weeks. Just make sure you can really rest@! GOOD LUCK :grouphug:

 

I was those shoes too.

My shorter-than-normal was found around 13 weeks. (That's when a MFM specialists was brought in for me.) I was monitored every 2 weeks. When I went in at 21 weeks and few days, it had shortened drastically. I went to the hospital to see if I was contracting. I was not. So I went home on very strict bedrest. And had to come the following Monday. (This was all on Friday.)
I went in that Monday (exactly 22wks) and it had shortened more, even on bedrest. So they did an emergency cerclage and I was admitted to strict hospital bed rest. For the first few weeks in the hospital I was only allowed out of bed for a shower every 2-3 days and for BMs. Otherwise it was a bedpan and I had to stay in bed. I was also on Procardia and also had the terb shots twice while in the hospital.

Against all odds and all my doctors' expectations, I was released from the the hospital exactly 13 weeks after being admitted. 35 wks pregnant! I got to be home for a few days before I went into labor and had the babies. From about 24wks until I was discharged, my cervix measured in less than a cm. (I chose not to hear the measurements after I was admitted because it stressed me out so bad and I knew we were doing all we could.)


My advice is to listen to your doctors and do exactly as they say. It's frustrating and hard some days, but in the end it's worth it!

 

I haven’t been in your shoes, but I still wanted send my good wishes for you. We’re at about the same stage (26 weeks). Let us know how things go, I’ll be thinking of you.

 

Absolutely you can make it further! I was dilated at 20 weeks and still made it to 31. If I had never dilated, I feel confident I could have made it full-term. If your cervix is becoming incompetent (I know, horrible word!) then you will have to greatly restrict your activity, possibly complete bedrest. I spend my 11 weeks on hospital bedrest. But between laying flat on your back and the meds they have these days, it is amazing how far you can make it. I'm sure this news must be incredibly disheartening and you feel pretty discouraged. Just don't lose hope! :youcandoit:

 

Around 29-30 weeks I was dialated 2cm and was 80% effaced. I stayed that way until I was forced to give birth via c-section at 35 weeks because of my Pre-Ecalmpsia. I was on strict bedrest also in and out of the hospital. Only allowed to get up to use the bathroom pretty much.

I had an irritable uterus with constant contractions I want to say starting around 26 weeks. I was given the terb shot a couple of times but it made my heart rate too fast and I had panic attacks so they put me on Procardia twice a day and I took that until I delivered.

You can do it, there is hope, lots of it! Even if you deliver at before you wanted to there is still a wonderful chance that your babies will be perfectly healthy and developmentally normal.

A friend of mine delivered at 29 weeks. Her girls were in NICU for months but they are over a year now and are right on target, healthy as can be.

Just stay positive! Good luck!

 

:grouphug: I am sorry you are feeling so discouraged.
You can absolutely make it further!! Just take one day at a time, do as your doctor tells you and remember your only job now is to keep those babies in a little longer.
It's tough and some days will be super hard, but you can do this!!

Take care and keep us posted!

 

I've been there too!

I started having some contractions at 22 weeks, so they started monitoring me weekly. From 1 week to the next my cervix went from 3cm to 7mm. :shok: This was at 24 weeks. They immediately sent me to L&D and I remained in the hospital for 11 weeks, only getting up to use the bathroom. I had a few L&D scares (contracting from drinking *too* much water if you can believe it, thinking my water broke, etc.) but I made it to 35 weeks when they figured out that twin B wasn't growing any more and had absent end diastolic flow, so they delivered. I totally could have made it another couple of weeks if it weren't for that.

Don't let the doctors get you down! There is not a whole lot of things you can actively do, but try to keep a positive attitude and follow their recommendations. My doctors for sure thought I would deliver at 24 weeks, and were astounded that I held out as long as I did.

You *can* do this! You never know what you're capable of until you're faced with it. :hug:

 

I went into PTL at 24 weeks, and was put on strict bedrest. I was hospitalized 5 times from 24 weeks till I delivered at 37 weeks. I was told I wouldnt make it to 30 weeks, but I made it all the way to 37, and I had a scheduled c-section! You can do it. Just do as the doctor says, no getting up for ANYTHING unless it's to pee.

 

Another thing I wanted to add, was to try and think about small goals. My nurses/doctors stressed to me that thinking about the large picture (weeks and weeks in the hospital or delivering very early, etc) could become overwhelming. So instead they encouraged me to set small goals for myself. My first one was making it 24wks. Then a little longer, etc. I also had little celebrations here and there that helped.

Please keep us posted on how you're doing! And please feel free to PM me if you want.

edited for typo

 

At 30 weeks I went from 4cm to 1.9cm. I was not contracting but my docs weren't concerned- well they were concerned enough to give me steroid shots. So I put myself on bedrest and demanded a follow up u/s in a few days. I went down to 1.7cm, but stayed there and carried them to 2 days shy of 38 weeks.

Drink loads of water, eat up and rest. It can be done. :hug:

 

Hi there,
My cervix dropped from 3 cm to 6 mm at 23 weeks 6 days. I was having contractions and dilated slightly. I was not eligible for a cerclage. I stayed in the hospital for a week, and then went home on strict BR. I was allowed to use the bathroom and shower for 5 minutes every other day. I stayed in bed with my hips elevated above my head slightly to take the pressure of the cervix. I took procardia and p-17 shots every week. I was in and out of the hospital 5 or 6 times with contractions, and had every medication. We made it to 36 weeks and I delivered after I started pre-E.
Hang in there. My MFM and OB thought I would deliver at 24 weeks. I was very fortunate to make it so far, and it's possible to keep going despite difficult odds. Please let us know how you are doing. Strict BR is tough, but so very worth it. Hugs...

 

:grouphug:

 

Ive not been there, but I wanted to offer my support! I agree about setting goals. Just take it a day at a time. Hang in there!

 

I had a followup ultrasound today but I am not confident with the sonographer or her measurements. They went from 2.6cm to 1.7cm. At one point she said "If I measure to there then it is 1.7 but what is all this (pointing to the screen) Are you SERIOUS? I have no idea what I am looking at. Then she said she would not send the Dr. all the pics that she thought she was pushing to hard. I expressed my concern to the nurse and to the Peri but he said he looked at all the pics and my cervix was 2.48cm and I could go home. I don't understand... yesterday it was measured at 1.9cm by the ultrasound tech that the peri said is HIS tech and he trusts her and she is sooo good. .. to 2.48 in less than 24 hours? Then he didn't even put me on strict bed rest. He said I could get up make breakfast, hang on the couch.. I could even go grocery shopping... This seems so weird to me. I think I need much stricter bed rest and I think that if my OB had been on call today he may not agree with this. He seems much more strict (he hospitalized me after all). I am on procardia every 8 hr today then 1 time a day. I don't like it because it causes headaches and really lowers my BP. I am home but nervous about that too... we have 6 kids. The older ones can help but there is still stress involved. I appreciate all of your encouragement and stories of success. I do plan to prove the Dr's wrong but all this is very confusing and scary.

 

You are your own best advocate. If you feel like bedrest with no shopping is the way to go, don't go shopping. (Easier said than done, I know!) Many docs don't think you will adhere to bedrest at home, anyway, so they just want you to take it easy and be mindful. If you are still concerned (I tend to err on the side of caution as well) call your OB and ask his or her opinion.

:hug:

 

I agree with Michelle. If something feels uncomfortable to you, then I wouldn't push it.
:grouphug:

I'm sorry the appt was more confusing than helpful.

 

Good luck, listen to the dr and follow very closely.

 

Did anyone mention that your cervix is funneling? I had a funneling cervix. It would change with every ultrasound, but it usually stayed within the range of 1-1.5 cm (this was during strict BR...my shortest length was 6 mm). I would definitely follow your gut instinct. I had an OB and a MFM. They didn't have good communication and I often got conflicting advice. I would usually sort through the different input and pick the most conservative input. I figured I only had one shot to take care of these babies while they were inside me.
Another thought-the procardia bothered me a lot at first. I had headaches and just felt weird. It lessened over time as my body adjusted to it. It might get better for you in time.

 

I am going to take the more conservative approach to the bed rest. I can send DH to the store,, he goes with me enough to know how I shop, and the older kids can help. The hard part is asking for others help when the older kids are in school and DH has to be gone. ANd it is hard when our2 1/2 yr old needs something from me because she just does not understand. How do I know if the restrictions I am doing are not enough? How would I know if something was wrong like my cervix shortening more? Could I have contractions even on procardia? I have been on my couch with my feet on the ottoman most of the night.. just up to shower and use the bathroom and to go upstairs once. Has anyone had the cervix go from short to long like mine did in less than 24 hours? BTW no funneling mentioned.

 

Well, I was really paranoid and careful when I was on BR. If I felt anything different that continued for very long, then I would call my doctor. They usually give you some kind of guideline for contractions. I think it was something like "if there are more than 4-6 an hour, call the office." But please check with your OB. I don't know if I'm remembering correctly. I ended up going to the L & D unit another 4 or 5 times. One time, I was constipated and it really increased my contractions. Once that was taken care of, I went back home. Another time, I had some significant back pain that didn't go away after a long nap. It turned out I was dehydrated, and it was causing more contractions. At times, I worried about what the medical staff would think if I went in AGAIN and it turned out to be "nothing". But it didn't really matter in the long run. It's better to be safe than sorry. I'm glad I went in every time. They would give me stronger IV meds and fluids to settle down the contractions and send me back home after a day or two.

If you ever see stars or have vision changes, call your doctor. I had this when I almost delivered at 24 weeks, and then later when I started developing pre-E at 35.5 weeks.

 

You can call the doc and ask to be rechecked in a couple of days. I'm betting one of those measurements was incorrect- it's not an exact science. But getting a 3rd measurement ought to sort of tell you where your cervix is actually at. :hug:

 

You can still have contractions on procardia, but you will feel them. It's a good idea to keep track of how many you are having. Did they tell you to call if you have 4-6 per hour? Your cervix definitely could have changed that quickly. Well, more accurately, the reading can change. If she could get an angle that showed 2.48, it's likely that your previous shorter measurement was incorrect. Did they do a transvaginal both times to check it? Or just an abdominal? I was in the hospital for cervical issues/PTL for 11 weeks and they would check me all the time. I saw it change pretty drastically in short periods of time depending on my position, the position of the babies, how full my bladder was, how hard the u/s tech pushed on the wand, and where they measured. Trust your body and call if you are worried! Hang in there and try not to stress too much.

 

You most definitely can still have and feel the contractions on Procardia, even if you're taking it twice a day like I was. Believe me! When I was on hospital bedrest around 32 weeks I was getting the Procardia still but the contractions were horrifyingly painful and I remember screaming and crying and they ended up giving me two terb shots to calm them on top of the Procardia.

 

The Peri gave me Procardia XL to take once daily and then the 10mg to take if I have any break through contractions. I just want to get through this weekend and get a new appointment with MY OB this week and see what he thinks about how much bed rest etc and to repeat the ultrasound to see if my cervix has changed. Seems to me one of the ultrasounds could have been off.. but what one? The one that said 1.9 or the one that said 2.48. It is crazy because my cervix could be shortening even more and I don't know it and maybe am doing too much. I had an allergy attack last week that led to a lot of sneezing and blowing my nose, then the drainage led to coughing... I am worried that all the pressure could have caused changes.Since I felt like I was going to either blow or cough the babies out. I am trying to stay confident and positive but with so many questions it is hard. But this forum has been amazing

 

Not exactly the same issues, but at 22 weeks I was taken out of work (never put on strict bed rest, just reduced activity) due to to many trips to L&D for contractions that they were able to pick up on the monitor. At 26 weeks my cervix started softening and dilating. At that point I was given steroid shots in case the girls came early. And I started pigging out on all the protein/fat I could to put weight on those babies. At 30 weeks I was 2 cm dilated. 34 weeks was at 3 (they never did do a cervical u/s, just a lot of biophysical profiles) at 35 weeks I was 4 cm and having contractions every 10 minutes or so even WITH the procardia. We almost delivered at around 35 weeks and 2/3 days, but they were able to stop the contractions and sent me home.

I held on until 36 weeks and 4 days, the girls were born at a hefty 5lbs each and neither one of them stayed in the NICU, I think in part becuase of the steroid shots.

 

Does added protein and calories really help add weight to the babies? I put on my weight really early on and have since slowed. I have gained 39 pounds in 26 weeks and I eat very well.. very little sweets or junk but I do protein and veggies and I will do a protein bar for a snack once or twice a day. My Dr only wanted me to gain 40-45 but at this rate I don't think I will stay in the guidelines. I have slowed to a pound a week or a pound every other week. Both babies were doing good at 24 week u/s. Baby A was 1 pound 10oz and B was 1 pound 11oz. I have heard that fast weight gain early on is key.. but what do I do now? I eat when I am hungry but there is not as much room in there and I am drinking sooo much water that I often dont feel hungry. BTW what is a biophysical profile and how can that determine what your cervix is doing?