bedrest with negative FFN?

QueenLouie

This past saturday night i started having contractions that were pretty consistent, coming every 2-3 minutes and lasting about 30 seconds long, they weren't getting stronger in intensity or getting closer but this is exactly how labor started with my daughter so i got pretty worried and called my doctor- i am only 27 weeks. it wasn't my Dr who was on, but his partner who i have never met (frustrating) and he told me to go to the hospital. I get to the hospital and get hooked up to the monitors and sure enough my contractions are showing up on the monitor, they weren't very intense but definitely consistent. They did a FFN test and started me on a bolus of fluids, the fast rush of fluids seemed to slow down the contractions so they slowed my fluids and within 5 minutes they started coming frequently again- so they did ANOTHER bolus of fluids, which slowed them and then sure enough when they stopped the fluids again, the contractions came right back- this is what we did the whole first night- rushing fluids and then stopping and contractions coming back. the FFN came back negative so the dr wasn't worried that labor was eminent for me, just seemed concerned with stopping the contractions- after they realized the fluids were only a temporary fix they gave me a dose of sub Q terbutaline which was also just a temporary fix- the contractions would stop and when the medicine wore off they came right back. after two nights of this ordeal they were finally able to make the contractions stop and they sent me home on bedrest. Well since i have been home my contractions have been on and off but still happening for atleast a few hours a day. has anyone else had a similar experience? I am supposed to see the perinatologist this friday and he is going to make a decision if i need to stay on bedrest, it seems like anything i try to do makes me contract, last night i sneezed really hard and had contractions for an hour and a half afterwards, i dont know what to expect, not sure if they will keep me in bed or send me back to work and it is frustrating just wondering- if any of you mommies had a similar story please tell me! i am worried that these contractions are going to have an effect on my cervix even though they aren't labor- has anyone else had a negative FFN with no dilation and a thick cervix and still been put on bedrest??

kjg5445

sometimes women just have an irritable uterus. i had contractions from 28 weeks to delivery at 37 weeks, ended up in teh hospital several times on magnesium and ended up on a terbutaline pump for 4 or 5 weeks and on bedrest (it did dilate me to 3cm by 32 weeks)

it may not be dilating you now but it doesnt mean it cant in the future. if the doctor puts you on bedrest its because he thinks its the best thing. good luck!

ETA: i had two POSITIVE FFN's at 32 and 34 weeks and still didnt deliver til 37 weeks so a negative FFN is a good sign!

QueenLouie

did you have an FFN done when you were in the hospital the first times for contractions? was it negative at first and then at 32 weeks became positive? my uterus MUST be irritable because even a sneeze or a quick change in position triggers my contractions!

newbmom347

I had a very similar situation as you...Long story short--went to hospital twice for contractions with second visit resulting in 5-day stay. On the first visit,I got the terbutaline and contractions slowed significantly and there was no cervical change, so I was sent home with Procardia and restricted activity. Went back a few days later. they did the FFN--it was negative. But they decided to admit me anyway to administer the magnesium sulfate. Initially, no cervical change from prior visit but while on mag, dilated to 1cm and effaced 80%. Again, they were finally able to get contractions to significantly slow down and sent me home on modified bedrest with  a higher dosage of the Procardia. I have good days and bad days in regards to contractions and I've lost my mucus plug. I also was told that I have an irritable uterus. 

QueenLouie

I am so relieved to know i am not the only one! nothing like this happened with my first pregnancy, i had your regular average braxton hicks contractions now and then but never more than 2 in a row, this time around i have contractions for hours! i was discharged from the hospital on a sunday and ended up back there on a monday and LUCKILY my contractions stopped on their own by the time i was getting hooked up to the monitors, i layed there for two hours and not one more contraction came- they still did another FFN (negative again) and sent me home but i almost feel as if i am going crazy or my doctors think i am being a nutcase! why are these contractions coming? it is so bizarre! I am worried that i don't want to be the crazy lady calling the doctors every day but they say to call if i have more than six contractions in an hour- if i did that i would be calling them three times a day! Can't wait to see the peri on friday and get some of this sorted out-  all this uncertainty is too much for one girl to handle- sheesh! how far along are you?

QueenLouie

oh wait DUH haha i just saw the pic on the bottom of your post that says in BIG BOLD letters how far along you are haha woops!