Irritable Uterus

a5swanson

Hi all!

I haven't posted (but have been lurking) for like...4 months! Work just got so crazy for me, we moved, I had tons of company the past month and I've been soooo freakin' busy. Now that things have calmed down a bit, I've spent more time on here. I'm 35 weeks!

I searched a bit and it sounds like there may be a few of you that are having a similar problem as me, so I was looking for some insight:

I get weekly Non Stress Tests (due to my Grave's Disease) and in those, they've always noticed that I've had contractions. Every week, they get closer and closer together. Last week, they were every 7 minutes. That night, they started to irritate me, so my OB said to head into triage. I stayed for 5 hours getting hydrated and NOTHING made them stop, but I wasn't dilating at all. They finally released me telling me to drink lots of water and call if there's more pain.

Yesterday, I went for my NST again and they were every three minutes. They wanted me to go into triage again and I basically begged them not to because they weren't hurting (not to mention--I didn't want the $600 bill for triage). 

For those of you with a similar thing going on--what's your OB telling you? Are you thinking you'll deliver early? My OB is very vague about it and basically was just like, "anything can happen! Call us when it starts to hurt!"

shaq818

My ob pretty much says the same thing. I got the steroid shot at 29 wks to help build his lungs. I've been on modified bedrest since then. I was taken out of work at 31 wks bc the size of my cervix keeps going up and down. There isn't much they can do at this point if he does decide to come. I'm 33 wks and 4 days and I'm just hoping to keep him in there until at least 36 wks.

klkonwi

Daily symptoms thread.

mommydlc

I have been sent to L&D 2x now from my doctors appointment. I get weekly NSTs, and am on strict bed rest now. I still get the "who knows" even from what I research there isn't a lot of insight.

OnWayto3

If your cervix isn't responding, it typically just means your uterus is crabby and wants to 'prepare' you for labor. With both of my kids previously, I went full term despite having frequent, painful contractions on a regular basis. This time, same thing is happening. If your cervix starts responding (dilating, thinning, etc) then it is worrisome. Otherwise, it's just a pain.

mlindzz

@a5swanson I've had similar experiences! Doc noticed at 31 wks that my BH were very tight, I'm a FTM and assumed they were normal. She told me to attend the hospital if they were 7 minutes apart or increased in intensity. I've been to the ER three times since, each time contractions are 5, 4 or 3 minutes apart. They get pretty intense, I also start getting hot flashes, but I wouldn't describe them as painful only lots of pressure. After they monitor me for a while each time and report that my cervix isn't changing (remains at 1cm dilated and 50% effaced), that I can return home and try to relax. Just as you had been told. After returning home, particularly after having a bath, they have always regressed.

I had the shot to improve lung development at 31wks and have went on a sick leave from work. Doc said that baby could arrive any day so if there were any preventative options available, I should take them. So I'm doing my best to relax and I'm quick to jump in the bath and lay down for a rest when contractions start again. So far, no visits to the hospital in 10 days, so the doc's advice has been working. They originally thought baby was sure to arrive at week 32/33, but I'll be 34 weeks tomorrow! Doc says with no changes in my cervix, baby could arrive any day or that it's possible baby will wait until I'm 37 wks or so.

shaq818

Same for me as she said above!

mommytobe062015

Was diagnosed with IU at 16 weeks, in my case they sent me for regular ultrasounds to check my cervix but luckily it remained closed and was not thining. I am now 35 weeks and my contractions are anywhere between 5 to 10 minutes apart and they are painful sometimes and now my cervix is finally thining and baby is head down and positioned very low. My Dr just keeps checking my cervix and says unless it starts dialating there isn't much else I can do but not over exert myself and rest. She did say that having regular 'false contractions' could put you at risk for early labour but you could also go full term with no issues- sort of unpredictable.

However, my Dr keeps reiterating that as soon as I get consistant and strong contractions every 5 minutes for at least 1 hour straight then I should go right to the hospital. I feel as though mine are less predictable, sometimes 5 mins, sometimes 10 minutes which is usually the case with IU pregnancies.

Although I hate having contractions all the time, I can at least say I somewhat know what to expect and prepare myself for the real thing....think of it as good practice!

jmroberts2025

I experienced Braxton hicks one on top of the next, and had spotting so I called and it turned out I was dilated to a 1.5 already at 30 weeks. Got the steroid shots for his lungs and lots of meds to stop the labor, then put on strict bed rest at the hospital for four days. They determined I have a very irritable uterus and basically told me no school or work the rest of pregnancy and probably bedrest as well. I'm 33 weeks tomorrow I'm on muscle relaxers and I still get contractions all the time but not one after the other. I will be happy to make it to 34, especially since my baby shower is next weekend! lol bed rest ain't easy!

My question is has anyone been told this will affect future pregnancies? Is it something we should always expect now, or did I overdo it?