30 Weeks, Preterm Labor This Morning!

Hi Ladies,

Hoping some of you might share some insight on your personal experience with PTL in your last trimester. I will be 31 weeks on Monday, fyi. I had two prior scheduled c/s with my first two children, so I have NO idea what real labor contractions are like, until early this morning! OUCH!

This morning at 2:25am I woke up to painful contractions that had horrible period like cramps throughout. I had 5 in an hour. So I got up and drank two glasses of water, got back in bed and started timing again. The next contraction came at 3:25am and I had 6 by 3:45am. I called my doctor and of course he said to come on up to L&D. These contractions were strong and VERY different from my daily norm of b/h contractions that were just uncomfortable tightening.

By the time the nurse had me hooked up to the monitors, my contractions were 3-4 minutes apart. I then got an iv of fluids and a shot of Terbutaline......okay, this drug is straight from ****. I wanted to crawl out of my skin and it came on like a freight train a few minutes after being injected into my arm. I wont go into the details, but not a fun feeling.....it got the job done and the contractions stopped thank God.

Funny thing is, they didnt check my cervix, or give me any instructions(like bedrest today, etc.). And it was not discussed about steriod shots for the babies lungs. My uterus is stretched to the weight limit of what my last pregnancy was....8lbs 5oz, which is what my 3 year old son was at birth. Wondering if I should expect to deliver early??

Did any of you deliver early after a bout of PTL? Did you have more PTL in the coming weeks? I hope my uterus can hold out for a couple more weeks.

Scared and worried -jillian in CT

 

How scary Jillian! I hope everything is okay. When are you supposed to follow up with your OB? :hug99:

 

Wow, how scary. I can't believe they didn't check to see if those contractions were dilating or effacing you and I cant' belivce they didn't discuss steriod shots.

I went into PTL at 30 weeks (had been dilated to 1 cm since 27 weeks)...started having contractions adn went into L&D...I was admitted to be observed adn monitored from 30-32 weeks. I was sent home. went back 3 days later b/c I was having a lot of pain and contractions...found out it was my gall bladder irritated (I had stones) which was causing the contractions. I stayed 3 days that time for pain management. I was sent home and there for 2 days when I started contracting a TON again...went back in (this time around 33w4d) and was admitted and placed on mag sulfate. I was on that until 34w. They took me off of it that morning and said they would no longer stop labor, but use terb to keep contrax at bay until that didn't work anymore. By later that evening, I was back on the terb shots adn I delivered at 34w1d at 4 cm and 100% effaced. The meds werent't working anymore.

it's so different for everyone. My babies were 8#6oz. combined...so my uterus coul;d've been "maxed" out, but people obviously have bigger singletons than that and also carry twins a lot longer. so, it's hard to give you an "answer."

Oh, I had steriod shots when I was admitted at 30 weeks.

 

Okay, just talked to my doctor and my questions were answered.

The reason my cervix wasnt checked was because the Terbutaline stopped the contractions and they didnt want to agitate anything further to keep me contracting.

Steroid shots were not discussed because the Terbutaline stopped my contractions, I guess if they couldnt stop them that was the next step.

And common sense prevails.....lay low, take it easy and lie down. Thankfully my husband is able to work from home, since week 24. Bruce took care of the kids today and just left to bring them over to my parents house to sleep over so we can have a quiet night.

Thanks Ladybenz for checking in and the other poster for sharing your experience. NOW I know what labor contractions feel like, wow! You vaginal delivery gals are heroes in my eyes.....I loved my c/s's and have no other perspective. It is truly amazing what our bodies are doing and can do!

I hope I dont have another bout of ptl....it was a pretty scary thought to think about my two little babies being born today! I am not ready! And neither are they......just need to hold out a few more weeks.

Have a great weekend and thanks for the support! xojillian

 

I had PTL at 29 weeks (had the steroid shots too). bed rest at home for 8 weeks, then had to be induced at 37 weeks

Good luck to you.


amanda

 

That is scary! I can't believe they didn't check your cervix. I'd call your OB and ask about the steroid shots, I really believe those were key in my girls' excellent outcomes (they were born at exactly 31 weeks). I battled an incompetent cervix and PTL from 16 weeks on though.

 

How scary for you. I'm glad your questions were answered. I think I too would ask about the steroid shots, just in case. I truly believe they really helped my two.

 

Don't have any advice but wanted to send positive vibes your way.

Hang in there. *hugs*

Dianna

 

You can also ask about the terb pump if PTL starts up again. I haven't been on the pump, but my nurses have told me it's a lot better than the shots as side effects go. (I know what you mean about it making you want to crawl out of your skin!!)

 

Thanks ladies, great messages. This board is great, if you need support....you get it. It is so nice to connect with so many people who have either had twins or are currently pregnant.

I will ask about the steroid shots, my next appt is Monday after Thanksgiving and hope to establish a plan of action if ptl happens again. I know how important those shots are, I am determined to have healthy babies.

Going through ptl this morning really scared me, it was not a comfortable feeling thinking I would deliver early. I dont know if I am really ready to do this! My dd is 4 1/2 and my son is 3 1/2....I have not been in "newborn land" in so long. I am pretty excited to meet these little blessings though! just not today

Big hugs back to you guys, thanks for listening

 

I went into pre-term labor at 28 weeks and ended up being induced at 37 weeks. Did they send you home on any meds? I was on Procardia from 28 weeks until 35 weeks and it just kind of slowed down my contractions but I still had an average of 6-10 an hour, they just weren't doing anything.

 

I'm on bedrest for PTL and my Dr. does weekly ultraounds and checks my cervical length, you may want to ask your Dr. if this is something he/she would do. It can be reassuring. You're right, terb is no fun. . . . Mag is worse, let's hope you never have to go there I'm on Procardia right now and it's not too bad.

 

How scary!! I went into preterm labor at 25 weeks, and I know exactly what you mean about Terbutaline being the drug from ****!!! I would definitely ask the questions you posted to you doctor. You have some very valid points! But just remember, you have already made it this far, which is HUGE! That is so awesome. I was not so lucky. I would call your Doctor and get some answers. In the meantime, put yourself on bedrest, try to relax (I know that is easier said than done), and drink lots of water. Take care and good luck!

 

i went to l&d almost once a week after 32 weeks for contractions 3-4 mins apart.. i delivered at 38+3

 

Hi Ladies,

Two full days since the ptl labor episode......just b/h contractions, and not a lot of them either. I am blessed that my husband's boss has let him work from home since week24, when I cut back on my activity level. SO with Bruce home, I am lying down more and he is such a help with our older two children. He is all over me now, since the ptl episode and wont let me do anything and is bringing me water by the gallon!

I dont have my next ob or high risk ob appointment until Monday after Thanksgiving. Thinking I will call my high risk ob on Monday and see what she has to say about my ptl and if she wants to do a cervical length check this week instead of the following week. She tends to be more proactive than my regular ob and has been checking my cervix every 2 weeks since the first trimester. Just want to be reassured that my cervix is not changing!

Anything else that I might have missed? Definitely want to avoid another bout of ptl and terbutaline!

Thanks for all the support, I dont know what I would do without this message board! xojillian

 

QUOTE(Jillianstwins @ Nov 18 2007, 09:40 AM) [snapback]500927[/snapback]
Hi Ladies,

Two full days since the ptl labor episode......just b/h contractions, and not a lot of them either. I am blessed that my husband's boss has let him work from home since week24, when I cut back on my activity level. SO with Bruce home, I am lying down more and he is such a help with our older two children. He is all over me now, since the ptl episode and wont let me do anything and is bringing me water by the gallon!

I dont have my next ob or high risk ob appointment until Monday after Thanksgiving. Thinking I will call my high risk ob on Monday and see what she has to say about my ptl and if she wants to do a cervical length check this week instead of the following week. She tends to be more proactive than my regular ob and has been checking my cervix every 2 weeks since the first trimester. Just want to be reassured that my cervix is not changing!

Anything else that I might have missed? Definitely want to avoid another bout of ptl and terbutaline!

Thanks for all the support, I dont know what I would do without this message board! xojillian


So glad to hear your hubby is home helping you Does lots of water help keep away contractions?

Dianna