31 wks and anxious about preterm birth again

I had the twins at 34 wks. Since getting to 30 wks this time, I've really been anxious about delivering early again. I know it's not likely, but it still scares me. Anyone else in the same boat or have been? I've had no issues with this pregnancy as far as preterm stuff... so I really shouldn't worry. Course, I didn't with the girls either. But, man... I want everything ready by 34 wks this time. I was sitting in the NICU with the girls thinking of all I had to do... get their bedding washed up, clothes washed, etc.

 

I think it's perfectly natural for you to have these fears. I know I did. I think especially being on TS and communicating so much with so many other twin moms gives us a skewed view of how many babies are premature.
Try to put all that aside and relax. There is no justification for your worries.
My circumstances lead me to choose a scheduled c-section for my singleton, which I had at 39 weeks, with no signs what so ever of going into labor.

 

My girls also came at 34 weeks & yes I was worried about having Emmett early, although in my case the anxiety was due mostly to the fact that labour before 37 weeks would have risked me out of a home birth. Emmett arrived at 39+6 after weeks of steadily increasing BH contractions. I agree with Meximeli - preterm birth in a low risk healthy singleton pregnancy is very rare but we forget that because as twin mommas it seems everbody's babies came at least a little bit early.

All that being said, if you feel better having everything ready to go for 34 weeks, then do it. It's one less thing to worry on. Just know that come 40 weeks you'll probably be going stir crazy.

 

This is a different baby. This is *just* 1 baby. Its natural for you to be worried a bit but just keep in mind this baby may just go overdue. Gasp! Lol.

 

I am SO there with you. But I keep my spirits up by comparing now versus then and being freakishly positive in my thinking - not something my inner cynic is prone to doing. By 30 weeks last time, I was on bedrest and lamenting my limited mobility. Now, I have no restrictions, have had no irritable uterus signs (or fun visits to OB triage for contractions and shots), and have great check-ups. That said, this time around I am much more delicate about what I do. I have become the rules girl and follow very cautious prudent advice instead of constantly questioning "why all the restrictions?" My biggest infraction is lifting more than 25 lbs because Twin A is 27+ lbs and Twin B is 26+. But that's it.

So here's positive thoughts that we both have 8+ more weeks of being large in the hot summer!

Also, FWIW, with the girls I had everything ready by 20 weeks and celebrated every milestone: earliest viability, 70% survival rate, 90% survival rate, etc. This time around, our crib is still in the box, the bedding is still in the bag, and we don't have even a condensed list of names. I am gambling that he won't arrive before we get it together.

 

I was definitely nervous around 27 weeks (as that was when our boys came) but now I'm cruising to 34 weeks and laughing at myself for all my worries! I'm wishing you an uneventful next few weeks and before you know it you will be on the other side of the milestone. I still cannot believe that we are 3 weeks away from a full term baby who will hopefully come home with us!

 

I was definitely crazy worried with my pregnancy after twins, who were born at 31 weeks. I had no idea what signs I had missed and of course blamed myself for their early arrival. I most definitely did not want to do the NICU thing again!!!!! My doctor did cervical length checks and a few FFN tests just to ease my worries. My son was technically preterm at 36 weeks but was an 8 pound chunker and we all went home the next day. With this pregnancy, I am actually taking progesterone shots to help prevent another preterm birth, and I am STILL worried about having her early! I guess the worrying never really stops. You are doing a great job and we all will be celebrating our babies soon... but not TOO soon!!!!