Pre-Term Labor Questions

Hi All,

I've heard many stories about using nephedapine and magnesium to stop pre-term labor. I take nephedapine and magnesium on a daily basis to keep migraines under control (they are frequent and severe during pregnancy). If these medications stop pre-term labor, will they cause me to stay pregnant longer than if I weren't taking them? In other words.......am I going to be pregnat forever? I know I won't....but will it slow me down? Not only that, will it affect my contractions once they start?

I would appreciate any input or thoughts on this. Thanks in advance.

Merry Christmas
and
Happy New Year!

 

I took niphedapine for PTL while I was pregnant but I can tell you that pills arent *magic* as they dont always stop labor. They are essentially a muscle relaxer so they are thought to relax your uterus therefore reducing contractions. However, I can think of a few times I had to go to the hospital and get shots of turbutaline because the niphedipine wasnt doing enough and the contractions were still coming and consistently!

I think drs do them as a preventative measure but I think when babies are ready, they are ready and theres no stopping them

 

With the Nefedipine, my peri used it to relax my uterus. Had full out labor started, he said it would have not worked to stop it. Not sure on the mag.

 

Magnesium sulfate can sometimes stop contractions, but like the other drugs (terbutaline, etc), it doesn't always work. It's a muscle relaxer as well.

I would imagine you're on a low dose of magnesium sulfate because when I was on IV mag, I couldn't walk, had a catheter, couldn't see, etc.

 

Thanks everyone for all the information, it makes me feel better. The doses probably are too low to make a difference. I'm sure once these little babies want to come out, nothing will stop them! :woohoo::banana: :itwins: :banana: :woohoo:

 

Nothing will stop real labor. I was on hospital bedrest 11 weeks before my babies were born with mag, treb, and niphedipene around the clock. I took a dose of niphedipine 4 hours before my babies were born. Niphedipine is just a blood pressure med. Why it helps with contractions is sort of unknown and studies have actually shown it to be ineffective. They theorize that it's effectiveness is in our heads. Who knows, but I can tell you once my babies were coming, they were coming and nothing was stopping them. GL!!!

 

I was put on magnesium through an IV for pre-eclampsia. They scheduled my c-section for the next morning, because I had to deliver due to the Pre-E. When I was admitted to the hospital, my cervix was not dialated at all - this was around 6 pm. After being on the magnesium for about 4 hours, they checked my cervix again since I was having more and more contractions and found I was at a 3 and the c-section needed to be moved up since I was in labor. So it seems the magnesium certainly didn't do anything to stop it, not that it was the reason for me having it. But I imagine your body will start the labor process once it is ready, no matter what. I think in my case with being sick with the pre-eclampsia, my body knew the babies needed out, so that's what triggered the labor process to begin.

 

Thanks for the information everyone. I was just concerned that the medication would delay labor. My OB is watching me really closely because he thinks I'm working toward Pre-E. Maybe the medication is helping my body from actually getting Pre-E.....who knows.

 

I'm not sure about the nifedipine exactly, but I do know, like a PP said, that mag sulfate is used for controlling BP as well. Preventing PTL is an unlabeled use for both of them actually. I helped a woman deliver a baby who was on a mag drip due to PE and her labor was generally no slower than anyone else's. And FWIW, you will NOT be pg forever, although it may seem like it

 

QUOTE(WaterGuzzler @ Dec 24 2008, 06:22 AM) [snapback]1121347[/snapback]
I'm not sure about the nifedipine exactly, but I do know, like a PP said, that mag sulfate is used for controlling BP as well. Preventing PTL is an unlabeled use for both of them actually. I helped a woman deliver a baby who was on a mag drip due to PE and her labor was generally no slower than anyone else's. And FWIW, you will NOT be pg forever, although it may seem like it

Thanks for the reassurance. It sure does feel like I've been pregnant forever already. But I can wait another few weeks. My OB has me so busy that time is flying by so fast! :banana: :itwins: :banana:

 

QUOTE(E&Msmom @ Dec 22 2008, 09:34 PM) [snapback]1120034[/snapback]
I took niphedapine for PTL while I was pregnant but I can tell you that pills arent *magic* as they dont always stop labor. They are essentially a muscle relaxer so they are thought to relax your uterus therefore reducing contractions. However, I can think of a few times I had to go to the hospital and get shots of turbutaline because the niphedipine wasnt doing enough and the contractions were still coming and consistently!

I think drs do them as a preventative measure but I think when babies are ready, they are ready and theres no stopping them


I've been taking niphedipine through my entire pregnancy to control migraines (I've taken it will each of my pregnancies), so I don't think they would do the job.
I went into preterm labor over the New Years holiday, so I got some of my questions answered. I was put on a magnesium drip and given a turbutaline shot and steroid shots. I was hospitalized from 12/30/08 and released on 1/2/09. The contractions stopped by then. I'll be cooking these babies a little longer.....wooooo hooooo! :clapping: :clapping:

 

QUOTE(Soon to be Mom of 4 @ Jan 2 2009, 11:24 PM) [snapback]1130809[/snapback]
I've been taking niphedipine through my entire pregnancy to control migraines (I've taken it will each of my pregnancies), so I don't think they would do the job.
I went into preterm labor over the New Years holiday, so I got some of my questions answered. I was put on a magnesium drip and given a turbutaline shot and steroid shots. I was hospitalized from 12/30/08 and released on 1/2/09. The contractions stopped by then. I'll be cooking these babies a little longer.....wooooo hooooo! :clapping: :clapping:


YAY! Keep 'em cookin'!

 

At 35 weeks they usually take you off of ANYTHING that would affect blood pressure. It can affect bleeding etc during delivery so it's best to NOT be on it anymore at that pt. I took my last dose at 34 weeks cuz anything after that was fair game in my eyes!!

I'd ask your Peri about it cuz I know mine did NOT want me on it anywhere near my c section due to the bleeding risks.