how do you know it is Pre term labor

With my son I never felt a contraction. I was induced and got and EPI beofre I felt anything.
I worry because I went to L&D last week for some spotting and they said I was showing contractions on the monitor but I felt nothing. I have had random pains in my lower abdomen here and there but nothing I have called my DR about.
At L&D I was just told to take it easy.. I had probably over done it...
When did you know you needed to call the Dr about possible pre term labor..
So Confused..
BTW I am 23 weeks today...

 

With my son I never felt a contraction. I was induced and got and EPI beofre I felt anything.
I worry because I went to L&D last week for some spotting and they said I was showing contractions on the monitor but I felt nothing. I have had random pains in my lower abdomen here and there but nothing I have called my DR about.
At L&D I was just told to take it easy.. I had probably over done it...
When did you know you needed to call the Dr about possible pre term labor..
So Confused..
BTW I am 23 weeks today...

 

It is confusing and the signs aren't always clear. I find it odd that all they did was tell you to take it easy. Did they check to make sure you hadn't dilated any? My preterm labor started about 31 weeks. Mine was just really low pressure. I kind of dismissed it for a few days because I just figured it was pressure - there were two babies in there. At my next appointment (just a few days later) I talked to the dr. about it and they checked me. 3cm dilated. I truly wouldn't have guessed that could have been possible. I didn't have any pain, just the pressure. Anyway, I would definately follow up with your regular dr. I would think they would want you to do more than just take it easy. Good luck with rest of your pregnancy.

 

Nobody really lists any really clear symptoms of PTL. They are always pretty vague and general. That's because the signs and symptoms can be so different from one mother to another. For me it was diarrhea, a cramping feeling, and I just didn't feel right. I think March of Dimes has some great info and a list of signs of preterm labor http://www.marchofdimes.com/prematurity/21239_5809.asp. But really, anytime you even have a question or a doubt, go ahead and call!

 

Your not the only one who is so confused! I have been having 10-12 Braxton Hicks contractions a day. By this I mean my stomach tightens all over until it feels really hard. It is not painful and they last about 10-15 secs. My OB said BH are normal and should be expected esp. if this is your second or subsequent pregnancy. I have no other signs of pre-term labor, so like you, my OB said I just have to slow down!!! She did not check my cervix, she did not want to disturb it.
She told me that if I have 6 or more contractions in one hour that are painful and do not go away when I lay down and drink plenty of fluid----I am in preterm labor and need to come to L&D immediately.
I am constantly worried about preterm labor and so even though I have not officially been put on bedrest, I spend most of my afternoons and evenings laying around and relaxing.
So that is what my OB has told me, but here is a list I was given of warning signs for preterm labor:
1. menstrual like cramps in lower abdomen
2. low, dull backache
3. pelvic pressure
4. abdominal cramping with or without diarrhea
5. vaginal discharge
6. inner thigh pressure or cramping.

If this list doesn't sound like most pregnant women on any given day, I don't know what does! So it is clear as mud to me!

 

quote:
So that is what my OB has told me, but here is a list I was given of warning signs for preterm labor:
1. menstrual like cramps in lower abdomen
2. low, dull backache
3. pelvic pressure
4. abdominal cramping with or without diarrhea
5. vaginal discharge
6. inner thigh pressure or cramping.

If this list doesn't sound like most pregnant women on any given day, I don't know what does! So it is clear as mud to me!


I went to L&D for painless contractions about a month ago and they gave me the same info as above and added: " A general feeling that something is not right." Gee thanks, that last one really helps a lot!

I'm sorry I'm pretty much in the dark as you. Just "try" to listen to your body and try to rest as much as you can.

 

I had PTL at 31wks. The way that I knew that I needed to go to the hospital was that the contractions were every 6 mins. I timed them for an hour. Since they were regular I got worried. Good thing t hat I went in because they were able to stop labor and hold me off for 4 more weeks.

 

I was told the difference between PTL and regular BH is that the PTL contractions are causing changes to your cervix where as a regular BH doesn't. Of course the only way to know this is to have an internal exam.

I don't have regular contractions that I can feel but I can see them when I have my cervix checked. It is very confusing, I must admit.

 

Unfortunately, without the doc checking there really isn't a way to know. I went in for my regular appointment at 29 weeks thinking life was just grand. I left work early with the full anticipation of going back the next morning. Well, the next morning I was being ambulanced to a Boston hospital so I could be put on the highest amount of drugs possible. My peri found there had been alot of changes in my cervix since my last appointment so he sent me to L&D for monitoring. I was contracting every 2 minutes and felt absolutely nothing. I was 2cm dilated, 80% effaced, funneling with a bulging bag and I did not feel any different from before when everything was perfectly fine.

The best advice I can give is to do as your doc says, schedule your appointments as needed, heed all suggestions and if anything at all feels at all different then call. You can never be too careful and generally speaking the docs expect you to call. I was released on strict bedrest after my PTL bout and one night I was stressing that I might be leaking fluid so the next day we went in. I wasn't and everything was fine. When the doc let me go he told me he fully expected to see me a couple more times before the real thing and told me that was perfectly fine with him. He was wrong, the next time I saw him was a few minutes before my children were born but it was soo reassuring to know that he understood what it was like for me and was soo patient and understanding.

 

At 24 weeks I went into L&D with a severe headache and found that I was contracting regularly and I didn't feel anything. They did check me, but sent me home saying just to continue modified bedrest (which I was already on due to bleeding)... they told me to come back if I had six strong contractions in an hour....

 

wow...thats kind of scary. I'm only 21 wks. But I feel lots of pressure alot, and I have lots of (TMI) discharge. I have yet to have an internal exam at my obgyn. I would hate to think I could have PTL and not know it!
Should i ask my obgyn to check next time, my cervix that is?
Or should I just not worry???
When you have never been pregnant b4 it's hard to know what to expect!!!

 

I can honestly say to just go with your gut. If you feel like you should be going to l&d...just go. I put it off and put it off and dismissed it as just bh. (I had two other children and had ptl with them as well). After 5 hours of upset belly, not really hungry and some good contractions I went to l&d just because I felt like something wasn't right. I got there and was 5cm & 50%. I had them 6 hours later. Don't worry about getting there and finding that you are not contracting or are still long and closed...THAT would be the best news. Much better than going to late...