PTL update from L&D- 26 wks

DebbieJS77

Hi girls-

I don't post very much, but visit this board daily and have followed lots of girls stories. Many of you have such positive stories that it is nice to come here to ready how long so many of you have stayed pregnant. I wanted to share my story and see if anyone has any advice or encouragement for me.

First off, I had a previous loss and 22wks due to undiagnoxed pPROM. As of today I am thinking it was defintiely PTL. Today I was checked in to L&D because I felt like I was having contractions. When I got here the monitor was showing that I was contracting every 15 minutes. They said that fell within the normal of 4/ hour or less but they were glad I came in for monitoring. Then they checked my cervix manually and said it felt a little open on the bottom but was definitely closed at the top. They did a vag u/s which showed a very, very small start to funneling but a nice closed cervix length of 2.1 to 2.3cm (no dialation). After they checked me, my ctx went to 2-3 minutes apart. I went in to full in panic mode and thought our baby was coming any minute. They said not to worry, that checking the cervix manually can increase ctx and they should go back down within a half hour. Slowly they went from 2/3 minutes to 4 minutes to 8 minutes after about 2 hours. Then they gave me nifedipine meds to stop contractions and an IV. After that my ctx went down to only a few an hour and now I don't have any on the monitor at all. My only concern that I know from before that the monitor doesn't always pick them up so I am sitting here wondering I am still having them and no one knows. But regardless I am concentrating on even if I am still having them they are not as intense as before since I can't feel them. So things are getting better. They are checking my cervix again tomorrow at 10am and 10am can not come fast enough because I am dying to know if it has changed significantly.
They gave me the steriod shot and I get another one tomorrow so they said minimum I will be here until Friday. I asked the nurse how long I would be here and she said I might leave friday or I might be here for 6 more weeks, it depends on what happens in the next few days. I am not in a hurry to leave so I really would like to stay as long as possible!!!

So, that is my story. I look forward to hearing from other Bumpies on any advice or success stories. I hope my baby can cook for another 8 weeks!

forgiek

I'm sorry I have no idea about this but you are in my t&p's.  Keep us posted.

elizb137

I don't have advice either, but many T&P to you that little one stays put!

BeccaLandes

Around 27 weeks, my cervix measured at .6 cm, and I was having some contractions (I think also as a result of the manual cervical check, through which my OB confirmed my cervix was still closed).  I was also funneling.  I spent one night in the hospital while they monitored my contractions, but the next day, when I wasn't contracting, I got sent home.  I had gotten my steroid shots at 24 weeks exactly.  At 27 weeks, my OB said, "Please just make it to 30 weeks."

I'm now 36 weeks... I stayed on bedrest for a long time, and my cervix never got longer than 1.6 cm, but what was there did the job.  I think if you are careful, given how long your cervix is, that you should be fine.  They may keep you on meds to make sure you don't contract, but I am sure that will give you some peace of mind anyway.  

Good luck, keep us posted.  And join our daily check-in, it offers great support!

DebbieJS77

Becca- thank you so much for your post. I have followed your story closely and told my husband about you this morning when we were admitted and found out I really was contracting. I also just read him your post above and it made us both feel better.  You are our role model right now!!!

bbjoys

I was put on bedrest at 25 weeks due to PTL as well.  I was admitted again at 30 weeks for bleeding, and I was dilated a cm, as well as had a shortening cervix.  I was contracting every 2 minutes that last time I was in L&D.  They kept me for a couple of days, and I also got the steroid shots because they thought I would deliver within a couple weeks.

I continued my bedrest after that, and thankfully have been able to keep the LO inside.  Here I am, about a week from my EDD, and he's still cooking!

I know it's scary, but you just have to trust that you are doing everything you can to keep your baby safe.  Listen to your doctor and do what you are told.

Hang in there, and good luck!  I hope everything works out for you.

Mrs.Stover2B

Hello -- short cervix is rather common I'm finding out!

I had some discharge at the end of 21 weeks, had cervix length checked at 22 weeks and it was ,8cm, admitted to the hospital for one week.

I went home on bedrest for 3 weeks with weekly cervix checks.  At 26 weeks, my cervix shortenend to .7cm, back to the hospital.  Home now!

I also take nifedipine 4x a day, got the series of 2 steroid shots, and had a negative Ffnt test.  I never had any contractions however, no dialation either. 

This board and the stories posted, give me hope, there are many women here who entered plt ealry  and are now past the 30 week mark.  I love to check in and read about those on bedrest, like myself and those going through the same issues!!

Thanks everyone.

 

shipoopiisforme

i don't have any advice but wishing you well and hoping you can keep that baby cooking longer!

srh08.05.06

Hi - just wanted to give you my story.  At my big ultrasound at 20 weeks, I found out my cervix had shortened to 2.4 cm.  I went on modified bed rest and stayed steady for over 10 weeks.  At about 31 weeks, I had dilated to 1 cm.  A few days later, I called my OB because I was having some cramping/tightening.  My doctor sent me to L&D and by the time I was being monitored for awhile, I was having contractions pretty close together and my cervix dilated to about 3 cm.  They had me so scared that I was delivering that night.  They gave me my first steroid shot and also started me on niphedine to stop the contractions.  I was on the medication for 48 hours in order to make sure I got both steroid shots in.  Afterwards, I was put on hospital bed rest for 2 1/2 weeks.  My doctor kept me in until I hit 34 weeks and at that point, since my cervix hadn't dilated any more, she let me go home.  My doctor/hospital won't try to stop labor after 34 weeks. 

While I was being monitored, I had some contractions I couldn't feel.  This freaked me out for awhile when I was in the hospital.  I kept worrying I would be having a lot without knowing.  The nurses and doctors convinced me that if I can't feel them, they must not be strong enough to change my cervix.  That must be true because during my stay, my cervix didn't change at all - even though I had plenty of contractions I did feel.  I've had some stronger ones this week so I am nervous to get my cervix checked at my appt today.

Hope everything goes well and your cervix has not shortened or dilated.  Just know there are plenty of girls on here who had a short cervix / PTL and made it much farther in their pregnancy than expected.  Good luck and keep us posted!

GiGi1221

It's so scary to be in L&D.  I'm glad you found this board as the women here are amazing and the stories are very encouraging!

My cervix was (and still is measuring) around 2.5 since 23 weeks with funneling as well.  I was having some contractions but they didn't effect my cervix.  We met with the neonatologist that explained the challenges of having our babies that early.  He begged us to make it to 28 weeks.  After 7 weeks of bedrest- here we are at week 30.  The steroid shots are very important.  Will they five you a ffn test? I had a positive one at 24 weeks- I've since had 3 negatives so don't let it freak you out!

My advice to you is to stay as POSITIVE as possible! I take time out during the day to sit quietly and focus on my cervix- I take little bricks and stack them in my mind to seal my cervix off.  You can envision your uterus- relaxing into a soft fluffy pillow.  Whatever works for you! Your mind is very powerful! Use it!

Lots of thoughts and prayers to you! You can check out my blog for more of my story or please feel free to e-mail me at tagsale1221@yahoo.com.