A constant pump for contractions?

First I will tell you my story. (Sorry if it is a little long.) I went in for an ultrasound to check my cervix and measure the babies on Monday. I had been on bedrest for about 10 days or so before that due to a short cervix. The day I was initially put on bedrest I got my steriod shots. At my ultrasound on Monday my cervix measured 0.8 so I was sent directly to L&D to be admitted. As soon as they got the monitor on me it showed that I was having contractions every 2-3 minutes and not feeling a single one. I was given a bretheen shot and started on Magnesium when that didn't help. Luckily I was only on the mag for about 24 hours because it made me so sick!!!

Since then (5 days ago) I have had several episodes where I have had to get the bretheen shots. (I am also currently taking Procardia every 8 hours.) They had me also taking 2 bretheen tablets (total of 5 mg) every 4 hours but decided to give me one bretheen tablet every 2 hours. So far that seems to be working well. When my OB came in and saw me this morning she said they are going to start me on a pump to give me a constant steady dose of the bretheen and it can give me a larger dose when/if I need it. She explained to me that the pump was like those that some diabetic patients have to use.

My question is what kind of experience does anyone else have with this? Just curious about what to expect. My OB said they would be bring in someone from home health to come into the hospital to get this set up so I don't know if it will be done later today or if it will be tomorrow.

Thanks for any input!

 

I was just put on that same pump. I was having so many contractions, it was either that or my doctor was going to put me in the hospital for the rest of my pregnancy. My insurance also approved a home fetal monitor. This is all done through a home healthcare company. It has really helped my contractions a lot in just the 3 days I've been on it so far.

I hope you get some relief! Please don't hesitate to PM me if you have any more questions!

Susanne

 

Susanne,

I am so glad that you get to stay at home with the pump. They are making me have mine while still in the hospital!

 

I just wanted to send you a ((Hug)) you already are such a wonderful mom to your two little wee ones. While you are on bedrest use the time to get some great reading done. I highly recommend the following books....

Happiest baby on the block

Happy sleep habits happy child


really helped me to read them before my two arrived -- after that you will have no time

I hope your contractions stop up very soon for you. I had them as well, but not nearly as bad as you.

Heather

 

Heather,

Thanks for the words of encouragement!! It is amazing how perfect the timing was for me to read that post. My husband and 2 year old daughter left my hospital room about 45 minutes ago and I still have tears streaming down face. I really needed the pick me up! Thanks!!!

Gina

 

I had the pump with my first daughter. I had a terb pump. They put it in me the first time, then you have to switch the needle to the second leg every 5 days or something like that. I found it to be sooo much easier than having to take the meds (especially the ones in the middle of the night). The terb had bad side effects unlike Brethine so I hated the contant high heartbeat and jittery feeling but you shouldn't have that with Brethine (I was on that with my 1st son). The pump didn't necessarily stop the contractions but maybe helped with the intensity of them. The day I was taken off the pump I had her (although it was bc of pre-e, not ptl oddly enough).

Good luck!!