PTl

morgandegan

Hi everyone, I am desperately seeking PTL success stories!  I am currently in the hospital on bed rest after going in Wednesday for contractions.  I am barely 20 weeks and this is my first pregnancy after losing my daughter last Thanksgiving, so I'm so discouraged.  She was delivered just shy of 25 weeks and died 36 hours after birth. My cervix funneled and shortened to 2.9 on my U/S Wednesday morning.  When I went to the hospital for contractions that night, it was 1.7.  They've since been able to calm the contractions with Procardia and bed rest.  I am back to 2.5, but still showing funneling.  I'm told as long as they can keep contractions at bay, my cervix will be okay.  I have been on 17P shots since week 16.  I'm just so nervous because it is so early.  Does anyone out there have advice or success stories?  Thank you so much.

jlm538

Hi! I just wanted to say I've been through the exact same situation, except this is my first pregnancy. I'm so so sorry for your loss. I first went into ptl at 20 weeks and the doctor told me I'd deliver that night, but I didn't and I'm still pregnant at 36 weeks, 2 days because of home/hospital bed rest and p17 shots. My best advice is to follow the doctor's advice religiously and if you have questions, be sure to ask ask ask. Best of luck! Be sure to join the bed rest check in for support!

morgandegan

Thank you so much!  Congratulations to you!  Were you on any meds to help keep the uterus calm?  So happy for you, 36 weeks and days is incredible!  Good luck with the rest of your pregnancy!

jamiem538

No daily medication, my doctors told me that my contractions weren't severe and constant enough. I had magnesium twice and indocin once while on HBR.

morgandegan

How constant were your contractions?  At what point did you get the mag?  I was told I am too early for that right now, but I'm on Procardia, Indocin and received a shot of terbutaline.  I'm hoping one of them starts to work consistently and will keep these episodes at bay...

jamiem538

I was given mag twice because the contractions were causing cervical changes. They never got to a steady, predictable point. I got it at 24 and 28 weeks. At 24 weeks I had it for 36 hours and it did nothing, so I got indocin and it helped knock them out. At 28 I had it for about 10 hours and didnt need indocin. I hope that something starts to work for you. It's so scary to constantly be on different medications and just waiting...

morgandegan

That's good to know.  Right now 24 weeks is my goal for "viability."  It's great that it was able to work twice for you.  Was your cervix shortening, or dilating?  Mine has been shortening, but so far no dilation-thankfully.

jamiem538

I was diagnosed with shortening and funneling at 19 weeks. It steadily went down, then up, then down to .6 over a few weeks. I started dilating to a 1/2 at 20 weeks and I'm at a 2/3 now, 90-95% effaced. I've gone back and forth from 1-3 cm and when the baby was breech, the water bag was buldging. Once that happened, I switched from progesterone suppositories to the shots and I truly believe that I would have already had her without them.

morgandegan

Amazing!  So happy you are able to carry her for so much longer!  And now you are 36 weeks?!  Was the shortening and dilating caused from IC or PTL contractions?  When did you start the shots?  Sorry for all the questions, but your story is very inspiring :-)

jamiem538

Don't be, I sought advice from so many ladies on here when I needed help. I'm so happy I can help someone else! I'm 36 weeks 3 days now and the doctors are talking about a possible induction before 38 weeks, since the baby is measuring at 5 lbs (at 36 weeks, 1 day) and they think she may have IUGR. Personally, I think she's just small because I am and so are all the women in my family. Anyway, how ironic would induction be now?! The shortening was caused by IC and I had the misfortune of also going into PTL on several occasions, which caused the dilation. So while I was contracting and dilating, my cervix was becoming more and more effaced. I started the shots at 24 weeks because the doctors were worried about causing infection and possibly breaking my own water through the use of the suppositories that I had been using for a month. I stayed on home bed rest from weeks 20-23, HBR from weeks 23-30 and home bed rest again until 35 weeks. My body is completely shot and I feel like I can't move. I used to be a long distance runner, so I've never been this inactive. But it's going to be worth it in a few weeks!

morgandegan

That's so awesome!  IUGR?  Stopped growing?  Yes, induction would be super ironic!  Did your docs ever discuss cerclages?  Or was that out of the realm of possibility due to your PTL?  I think I'm going to be looking at hospital bed rest for a while and then home.  I am comfortable with that as long as I can get into the late 20s.  I think you're right, everything is worth it when the end product is a healthy baby! 

jlm538

She hasn't completely stopped growing, but her growth has slowed down and she's in the 6th percentile. 5th percentile marks Intrauterine Growth Deficiency, or IUGR. A lot of times, those babies are better off out than in because of unseen issues like a failing placenta or cord flow issues. We haven't been officially diagnosed and the doctor said she could just be a peanut. We'll find out for sure on Wednesday when we have our next ultrasound with the high risk doctor. I was originally sent to the hospital for a cerclage, but the doctor wouldn't do it because of my contractions. I wasn't even feeling them at that point. So I got sent home, only to return in a week with PTL for the second time. 

morgandegan

Geez, you have really been through the ringer.  Congratulations for getting where you are; what a feat!  Now that you explained it, my friends son had IUGR, and did do much better outside.  He was delivered a little earlier than 36 weeks, but did very well!  Wednesday is coming up quickly!  Good luck with the visit, you're so close!