contractions

Besides dehydration and UTI, are there other things that can cause an increase in contractions? Constipation? Tiredness? I had a huge increase for a couple of hours last night (10 or so an hour for two hours). It was stressing me out. This morning it's much more manageable. I was at the doctor yesterday and I was sort of tired even though I lay in bed all day long. I'm not sleeping very well these days because of rib pain and back pain. I've been struggling with constipation (sorry if TMI) because of the bedrest and having to start iron supplements. I wonder if there is any chance I'll eventually worry less after the babies are here.

 

I would call your doctor and see what they recommend. That sounds like an awful lot of contractions. Maybe you need to go to L&D?

 

I agree. With that number of them, I would go get checked out. Can't hurt to get it checked out to see what is going on.

Dianna

 

Been there, spent the night, and was released. I don't want to go in every night. They did subside, so I'm just wondering if there is something else that triggers them that I could control. They seem to be greater on days I go to the Dr.

 

Hi Beth,

I often get 10 an hour for many hours in a row. It's worse if I'm sitting up. I've been in L&D multiple times for them, so I undestand not wanting to go in every night. They told me to call them if the contractions change in quality, not quantity (though if I get it every 2 minutes I should call). So, I'm supposed to call if they become painful or I have to breathe through them. I don't feel very comfortable with these instructions, but what am I supposed to do? The doctors keep telling me that some people are simply "blessed" with more contractions. As long as it isn't doing anything to your cervix, you should be fine (the jury is still out on me--I have softening but I wasn't dilated at my last L&D visit). I'm only 25 weeks, by the way.

Anyway, I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you on how to reduce contractions. It seems like everything triggers them.

~Malie



QUOTE(Beth*J @ Dec 4 2007, 01:08 PM) [snapback]520403[/snapback]
Been there, spent the night, and was released. I don't want to go in every night. They did subside, so I'm just wondering if there is something else that triggers them that I could control. They seem to be greater on days I go to the Dr.

 

Beth,
You said you were at the Dr yesterday, I know for me I always contract more after being up and going to the Dr. My uterus is highly irritable and I contract more in all of the examples you gave, also if the babies change positions or if they are extra active. I can relate to the constipation and yes, it makes my contractions miserable especially in the evenings.
I know this is hard and an anxious time and I know what you're going through. Are you going to your Dr weekly for cervical scans?

 

QUOTE(SoBlessed @ Dec 4 2007, 12:32 PM) [snapback]520454[/snapback]
Beth,
You said you were at the Dr yesterday, I know for me I always contract more after being up and going to the Dr. My uterus is highly irritable and I contract more in all of the examples you gave, also if the babies change positions or if they are extra active. I can relate to the constipation and yes, it makes my contractions miserable especially in the evenings.
I know this is hard and an anxious time and I know what you're going through. Are you going to your Dr weekly for cervical scans?


Yes. I'm actually going twice a week now. The u/s tech told me yesterday there was nothing left to measure, but the dr. checked manually and said it's still there and about the same, but Baby A's head is so low it's hard to measure with u/s. She wants to see me again Thurs., but I don't know if she just wants to talk about contrax and see how things are going or if she will check the cervix again. Thanks for the comments. It helps to know I'm not alone.

Thanks, Malie, for your comments too. I guess we are both just "blessed."

 

I went to the Dr today and he said I get to start coming twice weekly too. I won't know what to do getting out of the house so much My cervical length is right above 2 for now.

 

Count me in - my story echoes yours in nearly every detail - up to 10 an hour, went to triage 2 nights in a row, am not trying to "tolerate" the increase in contractions each evening so I dont have to go back , as well as when I stand, sit, pee, move, or have the babies move, which they do NEARLY all the time. ITS MADDENING. I've made a deal with myself that I'll go if something changes, but my threshold has risen since going through this for the past 5 nights. Today I have been moving around more even though I am on modified bed rest, including going to the Dr for a cervical scan, and BOY can I tell the difference - TONS more contractions and pressure. I HATE THIS!

Ok, back to the couch.

 

QUOTE(shamrocklily @ Dec 4 2007, 01:21 PM) [snapback]520425[/snapback]
Hi Beth,

I often get 10 an hour for many hours in a row. It's worse if I'm sitting up. I've been in L&D multiple times for them, so I undestand not wanting to go in every night. They told me to call them if the contractions change in quality, not quantity (though if I get it every 2 minutes I should call). So, I'm supposed to call if they become painful or I have to breathe through them. I don't feel very comfortable with these instructions, but what am I supposed to do? The doctors keep telling me that some people are simply "blessed" with more contractions. As long as it isn't doing anything to your cervix, you should be fine (the jury is still out on me--I have softening but I wasn't dilated at my last L&D visit). I'm only 25 weeks, by the way.

Anyway, I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you on how to reduce contractions. It seems like everything triggers them.

~Malie



My case is sort of similar to Malie's and I received the same instructions from my doctor. It started at 27 weeks and I am now 31 weeks, and still not dilated, so at least you know it may not automatically mean PTL.

more factors that trigger contractions: tiredness, the simple fact of walking, taking stairs, infection, stress, but also things on which you can't act, like the size of your belly, how much fluid is present in the placenta(s), the babies' movements etc...

 

I just got out of the hospital with PTL. They gave me some instructions on things that can increase contractions: not just UTIs but "holding it" (not going to the bathroom when you need to), sex, dehydration, stress...

What I have been doing is trying to keep a diary of when I get the most contractions and what I was doing before (to see if there is a pattern). Maybe there is something in particular that you are doing shortly before to trigger them that you might not be thinking of.

 

QUOTE(MommaK @ Dec 6 2007, 04:37 PM) [snapback]523796[/snapback]
I just got out of the hospital with PTL. They gave me some instructions on things that can increase contractions: not just UTIs but "holding it" (not going to the bathroom when you need to), sex, dehydration, stress...

What I have been doing is trying to keep a diary of when I get the most contractions and what I was doing before (to see if there is a pattern). Maybe there is something in particular that you are doing shortly before to trigger them that you might not be thinking of.


That's the thing. I'm not doing anything. I've been on bedrest for 9 weeks and only get up to go to the bathroom and shower. I shower in the morning, but my increase in contractions is in the afternoon or evenings.

 

You always want to be extra cautious but just so you know I was on Procardia from 28 weeks on and always had that many. The contractions just never changed my cervix at all. So if you start feeling a difference in intesity make sure you call. They ended up keeping me in the hospital for a few days just to monitor me and find the right combo of meds that helped slow them down.

 

The dr. is already seeing me twice a week to be sure my cervix doesn't go shorter than it is (1 cm approx.). I'm guessing I just have more in the evening that seem to subside an hour or two later.

 

dear beth

i'm not much help but just wanted to let you know i am thinking of you :love0028: ...i am only 24wks and been having bh, but my cervix is long and closed at 4.5cm...i find that dehyd, walking, turning over in bed, sex, orgasm and :blush: even foreplay gives me extra strong ones but they are only bh...yours are the real thing arnt they?

..hope your bbabies keep baking, take care and remeber, no matter what, you got them this far, and you have done a great job...chin up!