For those who have been in preterm labor.

Jake Ian's Mommy

I went to the hospital next to my house today (not my normal hospital), because I was almost 100% positive I was having contractions. Well they told me I wasn't, but that my uterus was 'irritated', and I'm not to sure I believe them. I know it sounds stupid, but I'm pretty sure I know what my contraction monitor strip should of looked like. They WOULDN'T give me a copy of my strip, but below are pictures I found on Google, that are almost exactly what mine looked like. Please tell me if yours was similar. Thanks in advance.

P.S. I'm waiting for a call back from my regular OB, just wanted to see what you guys think about this situation.

 

 

Rachel Bennett

I totally see where you are coming from. I know from my thoughts recentlyif you are in pain and they are telling you they are not contractions then they need to give you some type of answer. I've been dealing with this, this week actually. Been in the hospital twice having serious pains and they see some contractions but nothing major... and then they don't give you an answer to why you are in so much pain and it's the pain that is NOT tolerable.?

Kadyra

They look like what are called variable heart rate decelerations, which are most often caused by cord compression.  Either your cord was being compressed by contractions they weren't picking up, you may have low fluid, or your baby is a fan of squeezing the cord. 

You guys know I don't like giving out specific advice.  I like to answer general questions.  I mean, I'm not your doctor.  You have your own doctors for your own specific questions.  But I don't like this.  We don't send patients home unless they have "happy strips" with nice accelerations.  I'd be concerned, and I'd probably go back and ask for another NST and an AFI.  Talk to your doctor first and tell him/her your concerns.  If you are near term, this could just be a baby getting ready for labor, but if your closer to the second tri, I just don't like it.

Jake Ian's Mommy

Thank you guys. My mom is a nurse at L&D at the hospital I usually go to. I showed her those pictures and she was very upset that they sent me home telling me that everything looked really good. I'm really upset that the nurse I had wouldn't give me a copy of my strip. The baby's heart rate was between 120 and 140 the whole time I was there. Every time I felt what I was thinking was a contraction, his heart would slow down a little bit.

Mrs.Babbsy

Hills are contractions and elevations with a little hill is irritability. I hope I am explaining that okay.