terbutaline pump?

Just wondering if anyone has been placed on the terbutaline pump early in their pregnancy?

I started on Saturday just before my 22-week mark. Within two hours, it had taken my contractions from ten an hour to ZERO. I am told that I still have an incredibly irritable uterus, but it appears that the dynamic cervical change has stopped as an effect of the t-pump.

I am a minimalist when it comes to medications (I don't even take Tylenol or Advil), but changed my tone and took my doctor's advice when I saw how many contractions I was having in an hour. It is obviously nothing to play around with.

However, it still raises concerns. Docs tell you to stay drug-free for your pregnancy, and then decide to pump you full for the next three months. It just doesn't seem to add up . . .

 

With my first son, I was on a terb pump/bedrest/home monitoring from 23 weeks until around 35(?) weeks. It knocked out my contractions at first, but I remember that eventually I was still contracting even on the pump, but my cervix was not shortening anymore. A couple of times, I was sent into the hospital for a "Mag wash" which made the pump effective again. You'll read a bunch of stuff about the effects of long term terb use and I don't know if any of it is valid or not. My son ended up being born in my 36th week and he's almost 5 now and is a picture of health with absolutely no issues at all.

This time - when preterm labor started, I mentioned that to my OBGYN and they acted like the terb pump was not really used much anymore - kind of a dated idea. I'm at home on bedrest taking Procardia this time around (after doing Mag in the hospital)

I know it's hard to justify to yourself taking meds when pregnant (I'm like you and hardly ever take anything ever), but the babies have to be given a chance to grow and develop. If they were born now, it's just so early and the chances for problems from extreme prematurity just outweigh all of my apprehensions about taking medicine to stop PTL.

Are you seeing a High Risk Peri also? I see one every couple weeks in addition to my reg OB and they consult on all of these things. Hang in there!

 

I'm not on the terb pump, I just take Procardia for a mildly irritable uterus, but I know that my doctors and the hospital I'm in still use it. I did have 2 of the terb shots.

I agree with the PP in that sometimes the benefits of keeping those babies in out weighs the risks of the meds.

 

I took oral terb for three months, so definitely not the same situation you are in. BUT, I was also pumped with lots of other drugs, including the narcotic Percocet. BUT, my babies arrived at 34 weeks, completely healthy and with no NICU time. Every drug I took was completely worth it.

 

I was started on Indocin to relax my irritable uterus at 16 weeks, then they added Procardia at 22 weeks. They took me off the Indocin at 26 weeks and kept me on Procardia until delivery.

My peri group did not do terbutaline or magnesium sulfate, at least not in the case of an irritable uterus.

 

I was on the terb pump with my first dd from 20 weeks until I came off it right before 36 weeks when she was born. I still contracted like crazy on it but it didn't change my cervix. I was on home monitoring and it got to the point that they allowed up to 13 and hour before they called my dr. I have a very irritable uterus. I had several terb shots given as well and about 3 times went in for a mag wash as well...nothing every made my contrax completely stop, just slow down.
With my first ds, I did not want to go the route of terb again bc I hated the racey heart feeling it gave me. They gave me procardia and that stuff worked so much better (and it lowers your bp and since I had severe pre-e with my dd, that was a huge help).
With my twins they wouldn't give me any meds...I don't know why. Probably could have helped to keep them in longer!

 

Hi Times Two-- I am not on the terb pump, but I wanted to send you a hug! I'm in a similar boat. On Friday, at exactly 22 weeks, I started contracting like crazy. I went to L&D. The monitors showed I was contracting every 2-3 minutes and then every 5-6 minutes. The doctors couldn't find an explanation. Because my cervix wasn't dialated and because my FFN was neg, they sent me home. I was still contracting every 5-6 minutes when I left the hospital. I have a follow-up appt with my OB on Wed. I wonder if they'll put me on medication too. I hope the terb pump does the trick for you, though I know it must feel weird to take medication while pregnant. It's one of those things where the benefits outweigh whatever risks there may be. It sounds like lots of people have had healthy babies while on it. That's a good sign! Take care.

 

I was on the T-pump & bedrest from 21 + weeks to delivery at 31.6. I had a very irratiable uterus as well and went from allowed to have 8 contractions an hour to 15....I also had home monitoring through Matria, it depended on if they were regular as well....often I had bursts of contractions if I was up too much, had to use the restroom, or was dehydrated. I was high risk to begin with and had other complication, but surprisingly I had a shorted cervical length, but it never went shorter than 1.2.

Procardia did not work for me at all and oral Terb did little. I also did 3 rounds of Mag sulfate in the hospital....but as you see I have 2 year old twins that are very healthy and are simply the loves of my life! If you have any ?s PM me.

 

i went on the terb pump at 25 w after a week in the hospital and on mag. The ctx weren't affecting my cervix but they were concerned that over time, all my ctx would take their toll. So i got a pump and was monitored thru Matria. I had mostly good days on it - fewer than 5 ctx/hr. But I had a few really bad days too and a few horrible nurses (who were downright MEAN and accusatory when i had so much as 6 ctx, instead of my allotted 5. but that's another subject . . .). I occasionally had to get an additional dose of terb thru the line to calm my uterus, but I never had to go back into the hospital for a mag wash or anything that drastic. I delivered at 34w1d due to pre-e, NOT ptl - so I guess the pump worked for me!

I'm not into unnecessary meds either but the way I saw it is this: the terb pump sure beat the mag sulfate and an extended hospital stay or bedrest. It allowed me to keep working FT (and earning a paycheck!) literally until the day I delivered. the boys are (thankfully) 100% healthy - certainly born in better shape than they would have been in at 25w.

but i will say there's nothing fun about the pump - it made me miserable. Sleeping, showering, and even getting dressed became an ordeal for me. I remember all too well and am definitely sympathetic to what the next few months hold for you. But you just have to remember that it really is what is best for your babies. AND you will feel SOOOO good when the docs finally let you pull the line out of your leg for good!

PM me if you have q's or need a pep talk . . .

 

Hey there. I know how you feel. I'm on the pump right now, and have been since 27 weeks. That was after 3 days of mag and almost going toxic on that. I HATE medicine, too, and it's been a real struggle to submit to it.

There are some complications from long term use that my doctors warned me to look out for. Matria should be asking you about these when you talk to them, but if they're not your pulse should never be over 120 and you should never be gasping for breath. You need to let your docs or Matria know if that's happening. From what I've read these are very rare, though, so don't worry too much.

You definitely have a long road ahead of you, but it will be so worth it when the babies come.