Doctor not stopping labor after 32 weeks?

When I was first admitted to the hospital and it was decided I would stay until 28 weeks, I had a doctor tell me that they would not try to stop my labor after 32 weeks. Isn't that awfully early?
I am on procardia now and will probably continue that even after I go home on bedrest (if all goes well). I have had a round of steroid shots at 24 weeks and will get another at 28 weeks. Do you think that could be why they would let me have the twins as early as 32 weeks? Will their development be that much more advanced? I will of course ask my doctor this as well but wanted some input from you ladies.
I was pg with quads and had a reduction and I think 32 weeks is usually the norm for quads so would they go by that?

TIA

Traci

 

When I was first admitted to the hospital and it was decided I would stay until 28 weeks, I had a doctor tell me that they would not try to stop my labor after 32 weeks. Isn't that awfully early?
I am on procardia now and will probably continue that even after I go home on bedrest (if all goes well). I have had a round of steroid shots at 24 weeks and will get another at 28 weeks. Do you think that could be why they would let me have the twins as early as 32 weeks? Will their development be that much more advanced? I will of course ask my doctor this as well but wanted some input from you ladies.
I was pg with quads and had a reduction and I think 32 weeks is usually the norm for quads so would they go by that?

TIA

Traci

 

I had a NST (non-stress test) and a level 2 ultrasound at 32 weeks exactly. It showed a possibility that my twin A had low fluid. They were not too concerned and told me that at 32 weeks, your babies have a 99% survival rate & a 99% chance of no long term effects. That said, you want to 'bake' them as long as possible, but it is a huge milestone to reach. HTH!

 

I had heard most doctors won't do anything to stop labor after 34 weeks. Maybe since you have had the shots to help with lung maturity, you can safely go a little earlier? I also heard the chance of survival without long term defects is pretty good after 28 weeks, so anything longer than that is just icing!
Helen

 

The only thing I have to lend is that my ob had told me if the twins made it to 32 weeks, then I could deliver them at my hospital, if they were before 32 weeks, then I'd have to go to a higher level hospital. So I'm thinking that at 32 weeks, she would have been fine delivering them. They were born at 34w5d.

 

I think it depends on the situation. I was in the early labor at 32 weeks, they gave me 2 injections to stop contractions. THey said at 34 weeks they would not stop it. Of course I didn't have any labor signs since then.

 

My doctor told me that after 32 weeks, the risk/benefit ratio of the drugs used to stop labor starts to shift. In other words, the risks of taking those drugs may begin to outweigh the benefits. I also had already had steroid shots at 24 weeks when I was told this, so it may also have to do with already having gone into PTL once so early on. He did say he would make a half-hearted attempt to stop it, but that if the labor was not easily stopped, they would go ahead and allow me to deliver. Maybe that's what yours meant as well? Hopefully, as in my case, it won't be something you have to worry about.

Suzanne
34 weeks 4 days, g/g

 

In my years of reading on TS, I have found it quite normal to have a doc set out a gestation then when that is reached the doc then extends that to another point bringing the member here to post something like 'but she told me 32 weeks, now she is telling me 33 weeks'. I wonder if this might be the case for you as well?

 

My labor was stopped twice, once at 29 weeks and once at 34 weeks. I delivered at 36 weeks. At 29 weeks I had the works, mag sulfate and terb then went home on terb. At 34 weeks they just kept me overnight and gave me shots of terb. My doc had said he wouldnt try to stop it after 35 weeks.

 

My peri also said they would not stop labor after 32 weeks. Right now I am 26 weeks and going in for a cervical length check every 2 weeks that my doc said he will stop checking for at 32 weeks. At that point he said he feels confident that if I did go into labor it would more than likely be ok

 

given your circumstances - 32 weeks is a great milestone! they will
keep such a close eye on you!! and you may go much farther than that!!
lots of ladies that have had preterm labor issues earlier on go on to have to be induced! BEST WISHES!!!!

 

At 28 weeks when I was given the steriod shots, and four days of mag. and then sent home on nephedipne - they told me once the pills stopped working they wouldn't try to stop it anymore... my understanding from the peri was, if they try everything to stop it and it doesn't work - sometimes your body knows things they don't - in my case, the boys were born at 29 weeks after everything stopped working - w/TTTS which had yet to show any signs on our (by that point) weekly ultrasounds - and if I hadn't have delivered when I did, we wouldn't have the outcome we did ...

 

32 wks would make me too nervous. Mine said 34 and I was comfortable with that. I did have a friend who's doc wouldn't stop after 32, but her twins were mo/mo and apparently that was the concern.

 

32 seems a bit early. My doc would not have stopped it after 34 weeks.

 

Our goal was somewhere around 32-34 weeks. I was on hospital bedrest from 24-25 weeks, and then again from 28 to 32 weeks. My doc finally discharged me at 32 weeks when he felt like we were in a safe place.

He did say that he would probably try and stop labor if I had to come back in again before 34 weeks. But he felt it was safe enough to send me home, and with lots of meds just in case.

I ended up delivering in my 34th week. At that point, he for sure was not going to stop labor.

 

I think my doctor said at least 34 weeks. But I would push for stopping it at 32 weeks if I were you. I know the babies will most likely be fine, but they will have to be in the NICU at that age.

Kate - If you delivered at 34 weeks, 4 days, that's actually your 35th week. You had completed 34 complete weeks and were actually closer to 35 weeks when you delivered, which is great.

 

My peri said if he could get me to 34 or 35 weeks he would be happy - but I've had a lot of complications. He also said I could deliver here in town once I get to 32 weeks, rather than travelling 3 hours to a hospital with a level III NICU.

So my goal for now is simply 32 weeks, but if they make it 34 I will be thrilled!! He won't let me go past 37 weeks.