Did anybody else's doc do this?

I'm 29 weeks with twin girls and have been having some crazy braxton hicks since 22 weeks. Nothing has changed yet (woohoo!!!) and my fetal fibronectin screen came back negative today, so I know that is an excellent sign. We never really know when something has gotten to the point where we should be concerned at this point, so last night I started having very frequent and fairly intense contractions (though they were not painful). I laid on my side and drank a ton of water and after 3 hours decided it was time to call. The doc said to come in today, so I did and they hooked me up to a contraction machine during my 3 hour glucose test- she said she just wanted to monitor my contractions. My cervix has started to soften, but thank goodness has not started to open, so I felt better. My question, though: after 2 contractions a triage nurse came in and gave me a shot of something to "stop the contractions"- she said 2 is enough to show that they need to be stopped. I've been noticing that the b/h's in the evenings have gotten much more frequent and intense, so I thought.. okay good they can see what I'm feeling. The medication stopped the contractions for the rest of the time I was being monitored. Then the doc walked in and said- you only had 2 contractions- you can go home. We don't need to make any changes at this point.... okay, why would they stop the contractions if they were trying to monitor them for frequency and intensity over the 3 hour time frame? And why would the doc not see that the contractions had been stopped.. don't get me wrong.. I'm very thankful that we've made it this far and everything seems to be going well, but am I correct in thinking that the more contractions you have the more chance you have of something changing your cervix? I'm just wondering why they would stop them and then send me home as if they knew how many I was experiencing. Ideas?????

 

I think they stopped the contractions for the reason you mentioned- to stop it from changing your cervix... It seems like they saw enough to know they needed to stop them... I know when they monitored me they could tell me how many contractions I was having- most of which I didn't feel. I was further along though and was never given anything to stop the contractions.

 

This sounds very familiar!! I have been having BH contractions since 16 weeks and fortunately they haven't changed my cervix either. I have never been monitored since I used to be a L & D nurse and used to work with my OB Dr so she is a little less cautious with me. I am guessing they gave you Terbutaline which is very common and since your cervix had started to soften, they probably wanted to give it ASAP to stop it from changing further. How long did they monitor you after the shot? If it was for awhile, they probably assumed they weren't going to come back and you were okay to go home. You are right in the fact that more contractions you have, the greater the chance of them changing your cervix. Did they put you on anything orally once you went home or give you instructions to come back if they start again? I am on Procardia as needed and take it when my contractions become regular and if that doesn't slow them down, I am to go in. I would call your Doctor and ask for specific directions on what to do if your contractions start again. There is no way to know if your contractions are changing your cervix so it is best to be cautious but it is a good sign that the fetal fibronectin test was negative. Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!!!

 

I guess this is what is really confusing me about the whole situation- I had the contractions and then they stopped them after two with the Terbutaline and then the doctor came in and acted as if I had only had 2 on my own during the entire 3 hours (she seemed to ignore the fact that they had stopped them with the terbutaline). They then sent me home with no way to stop the contractions (other than water and sitting down when I feel one). I've been home for a couple of hours and I am now back up to 4-5 an hour. I'm guessing that number will rise again in frequency and intensity the minute I start to get back on my feet again tomorrow morning. Why would they stop them today and then not pay any attention to the fact that they have been increasing in general-? Is it because the fetal fibronectin came back normal?

The reason I'm so concerned about this is because the more I'm on my feet, the more intense they seem to get and my DH and I are trying to make a wise decision about cutting back at work and my activity level in general. The doctor was not at all concerned with this and really hasn't had anything to say about cutting back. They tell you to call if you have more than 6/hour, but I just kind of laughed because I would be calling every night if I followed that rule!

 

I can see why you are confused but I am sure that the Dr. ordered the Terbutaline so I'm assuming she knew the contractions were stopped. I figured you would start contracting again soon, as the medicine doesn't last very long in your system. I am the same way, I contract more/harder in the evenings and if I am up and around a lot during the day. I also contract way more than 6/hour and my dr said that 6+ is too much for me at this point (I am 27 weeks). I am not as faithful about taking my Procardia as I should be as it makes me feel like crap but I am trying desperately to stay off of bedrest for as long as I can since I did that with my 1st and it sucked (but not as much as NICU babies would so I should behave). I would definitely call your dr and see if he/she wants you on something and would maybe consider decreasing your work schedule since your cervix has softened. They do put a good amount of faith in the FFN test but there is still a chance that you could deliver and I have read on here that some doctors don't think it is as accurate with twins.

 

I would highly recommend Dr. Barbara Luke's "When You're Expecting Twins, Triplets or Quads". I believe it helped me carry to 37w 5d and has very good dietary & supplement information for multiple pregnancies. The calcium/magnesium supplement alone can help keep you from contracting.

Good luck!

 

The reason the dr probably sent you home is because the meds worked. Many people will continue to contract through the meds...thats a huge concern. I would call and tell them the contrax have continued and ask if they can give you some meds to take at home to keep holding them off. Its a good thing they were able to hold them off after 2 contrax...you don't want it to do anything more to your cervix. Def call and ask for some meds if they are still coming.

 

Sorry to hear you are dealing with the annoyance of contractions. I am 28 weeks on modified bedrest and have been having BH contrax since about 15 weeks but had my first trip to L&D triage at the end of 25 weeks and then two more trips during week 26 to L&D. They put me on 20mg Procardia every 4 hrs. the first trip in and wanted me to call if 6 or more an hour. Well, that happened a few days later so that's when I continued that dosage of Procardia and added Terbutaline 2.5mg every 4-6 hrs as needed. My cervix is still closed at 3.25 as of FRI. and the fFB test was neg. at 26 wks. My uterus is very irritable and I pretty much have to take my Terbutaline every 4-5 hrs to keep my contrax under control. I can't imagine how many I would have with no meds.(took these meds with my 2nd singleton pregnancy as well) I haven't been in to L&D since wk 26 but call often b/c I can get lots of contrax at different periods throughout the day, mostly evening and then they settle. I have noticed that they are starting to get harder and have them in the middle of night too. The contrax are pretty much all I focus on throughout the day b/c they can give me lots of anxiety and don't want to overlook anything. I really want to have the steroid shots for the twins' lungs soon. They have talked about it but still no definite week.

Never feel like you are calling in too much and question them on the medication. I know that Procardia alone doesn't work for me b/c I need the Terbutaline too. Maybe the meds would help you feel a little more comfortable and at ease.

 

This is why I'm so confused... I keep reading that other people's docs do totally different courses of treatment when their patients have constant and increasing braxton hicks. My doctor is monitoring us every other week (which I assume is normal at 29-30 weeks with twins anyway)but she doesn't seem the least bit concerned about the increase... as for me... I would just like the chance to sleep through the night and not be woken up with these darn braxton-hicks. Laying down and drinking a ton of water isn't doing it for me anymore!

 

Did you call the dr today and tell them the contrax have picked back up? Ask them for the meds at home. Don't be afraid to be your own advocate. If you don't feel like you are getting the treatment you want/need, ask for it.

 

I had "irritable uterus" common with twins and can happen with singleton pg. It results in BH contractions. I had it towards the end but surprisingly it went away the last month or so. I know in the U.S. some moms got medication to stop the contractions but it didn't seem to help. It is different if there are cervical changes which I didn't have. Sometimes I took Codeine on some nights it was too much since I had symphis pubis as well. Twin pg are tough to go through

Heather

 

I just came back from the doctor and thought I'd update. All of the contractions are starting to have an effect on my cervix- I went from a 3.75 to a 2.25, which I know is still okay, but the doctor finally put me on Procardia 1x/day. I'm very happy with that and am anxious to try it to see if it makes a difference.. anybody know of side-effects with this med??

 

I've been on Procardia since 26 weeks every 4 hrs (20 mg) as well as Terbutaline. I don't have any real bad side effects but it can make you feel like your heart is beating harder and I can feel like my energy is drained. I know dizziness and headaches are common but I haven't had that. How often are you contracting w/out meds? I sure hope this med gives you some relief from constant contracting, what is your dosage? I took Procardia with my 2nd pregnancy as well and didn't have any side effects.