Reason for premature birth?

stader

I was wondering if you ladies were given a reason why you went into labor early. My doctor never gave me an answer and over a year later, it still really bothers me that I don't know what went wrong. I delivered at 34 weeks and was told by my doctor that I just might have a "sensitive, irritable uterus" and also that "these things just happen sometimes". I did have a slight UTI prior to my labor but my doctor said that they'd knocked that out with antibiotics and that it would be very unusual for a UTI to cause premature labor. What were you told?

lemen99

My reason was pretty clear - I have an incompetent cervix.  I'm really thankful I had a black and white answer.  It would be scary to be not so sure!

AlwaysSunny925

I think most of the women here were given a reason.  I was put on bed rest due to an incompetent cervix and a bulging bag.  I ultimately gave birth when baby A's placenta detatched.  Why did I have an IC or bulging bag at 25 weeks?  I don't know.  Why did the placents detatch?  I don't know.  The only answer is that is sometimes happens with multiples.  Althought I have "an answer" it still doesn't satisfy me. 

ladybugbella24

I have an incompetent cervix. I too had a UTI before going to to labor and was given antibiotics. I believe that having an infection had to play some part in causing my preterm labor. But like you, I wasn't given a clear answer. I've been reading that MOD is doing research on the link between UTI, bladder and other infections and preterm birth. Hopefully one day we will have an answer.

Pips09

I don't have a clear answer. I had a placenta previa which they think contributed to my PTL (by putting pressure on my cervix), but they can't say for sure. 

KatFCo

I wasn't given an answer. All I knew was that it wasn't an infection. Now that I'm pregnant again with a new doctor (4 years later), she thinks it was just spontaneous preterm labor, for which there is no known cause.

At the time, I was told it's hard to figure out sometimes with the first and might be easier to figure out if it happens again, likely because they're watching more carefully.

cutcopypaste

My reason was incompetent cervix. A lot of the time if they don't catch IC before you go into labor that could be the underlying cause. But a lot of the time it just happens for no known reason. That's one of the biggest problems with PTL, if they don't know what causes it they can't prevent it.

njdcgirl

Another IC here. I also had an infection, which may had been caused by the cerclage (got 4 days prior to DS being born) or I could have had the infection first, which could have caused the IC. We just don't know. I also have suspicions that my IC was caused from all the procedures I had done trying to get pregnant. In the 18 mos prior to having DS I had two operative hysteroscopies, and three IVFs.

jacque_z

lemen99:

My reason was pretty clear - I have an incompetent cervix.  I'm really thankful I had a black and white answer.  It would be scary to be not so sure!

 

This exactly.  

Mrs Dougherty

I too had IC with DS#1 born at 26wks 1day  and with DS#2  my cervix was shorter one side then the other so i couldnt just have the stich cerglage i had to have an abdominal cerclage and surgery at 14wks pregnant with the same insision as a csection was very painful but it keeped my cervix long that time but i did have 6 times of going into the hospital to stop contractions and delivers at 36wks 5days.

DomesticDiva0429

The reason I was given was just like yours. I was a " we don't know why this happens sometimes" or " irritable uterus"

Lavender444

It would be scary to not know.  My reason was pretty clear too. I had a placenta abruption.

Without knowing the reason, they will watch you much closer if you were to get pg again. I know that's little comfort, but it's at least something.

ondjima

They took Reese via emergency C-section to be cautious. I fell on Sunday and on Monday I was bleeding and contracting. The dr. was unable to find a reason for the bleeding so decided to take the baby out. But even after the c-section the dr. could not give me a reason for the bleeding. So I sort of have a reason.

katie4253

My placenta failed and they have no idea why.  Thus the reason we probably aren't having more babies...

littlesir

i had severe HELLP. no prior symptoms.

TapDancingLlamas

I had HELLP and gestational diabetes. I have lupus so my doctor thinks it was an autoimmune reaction to the pregnancy ultimately.

mrsV719

I had severe Pre-e... like PP... no symptoms until it was in full swing and my BP was 220/120. It sucks not having an answer... but for many of us, it still sucks to have an answer. 

hewinked

I was never given a reason either.  When I went into the hospital, they said I was a little dehydrated.  That has stuck with me, and I get so worked up about how much water I'm drinking in subsequent pregnancies.  I was given so many bags of fluids while hospitalized, and it never stopped the contractions.  My water broke when I was at the hospital.  I don't really know if dehydration led to PTL, but it's something I feel guilty about.  I wish I had an answer, too, and it's been 3 years since my preemie was born.

BritanyV

I had pPROM but really they can't give me a reason for why that happened.  My cervix was fine.   My placenta was infected, but no way to tell if that is the reason for the pPROM or if that happened because of the pPROM. 

andreakirchoff

I wasn't given a reason.  The nurses at my labor and delivery said that they only figure out abaout 30% of the time why.  I had a completely textbook pregnancy until my water broke at 33 weeks and 5 days.  All that they could tell me was that my white count was slightly elevated.  I wish that I had an answer so I would know what to anticipate for the next little one....but don't.

paige0328

Same situation as you... I was given no answer. I had unexplained PTL (Dr also said I had an "irritable uterus"), followed by PPROM 4 weeks later.

haziedaze

I was having tons of contractions from 19 weeks on, but my cervix wasn't changing. At 27 wks the contractions picked up, I was 1cm and long. Then at 29 w3d the contraction intensified one night and I started bleeding; DS was born 16 hrs later. I definitely had a partial abruption, but we aren't sure whether the contractions were at all related or it was all due to the abruption.

LnR70707

I had no reason either.  I had a brief BP spike 2 days before I was admitted for PTL.  Looking back, I wish I had demanded an internal....maybe if I knew I was dilating and went on bedrest I could have bought more time.  Because of IVF, I had monthly monitoring with an MFM, including cervical length checks through 27 weeks....everything always looked great (aside from my large subchorionic hematoma, but that resolved by 24 weeks).

courkie03

This was pretty much the same for me. Easy, textbook pregnancy until my water just broke during the childbirth class at 33 weeks 4 days (My husband claims DD was just as bored as he was in class. She definitively figured out a way to leave early). Best guess my doctor gave was that it looked like the placenta was starting to tear away from the uterine wall a little. I don't know if playing around in bed before class had anything to do with it, but something didn't feel quite right then.

Wally3

Water broke at 34 weeks.  No reason.  Every test / doc appt was perfectly normal, including the appt 10 hours before ds was born.  We are starting to ttc #2 and I'm very nervous with no answer or warning.  Part of the reason it took me so long to try again.  I feel like I will never be able to believe that everything is fine.

HenryUmma

I am just like you! My water broke at 34 weeks for "no identifiable reason."

Butttt, my husband and I have our suspicions.

Just before I went into preterm labor, we had vigorous sex. This precipitated bleeding, which worried me because it wasn't the usual light spotting. We went to the hospital to check out the bleeding (the docs weren't too worried because they kept telling us on the phone that sex can cause bleeding) and found out I was pretty far dilated having contractions. Soon after my water broke.  

 

lrrb

Well I had twins so thats one reason but mine were born at 33 weeks and my water broke.  I was having NO issues with the pregnancy at ALL when my water broke, in my sleep at 33 weeks.  They have no reason, no answers, I had no infections and no pre-term labor at all.  In fact once my water broke they had to actually put me into labor bc contractions where not coming.  I just think my tiny body (only 110lbs pre-pregnancy) couldn't handle the weight of the babies 5.6 and 4.13 when born.  

Happy2bNappy

I PPROM at 31wks, was put on hospital bedrest that only lasted for a week because DS decided he was ready to make his appearance. I was not given a reason but one thing I know for sure I was under extreme stress at work for many months.

SushiNoMore

My son was born on a Tuesday.  The previous Friday, I called my OB to ask what the symptoms would be if my water were leaking.  She said that I didn't need to worry - I'd have fluid running down my leg.  I wish I would have gone in to have it checked, but hindsight it 20/20.

The OB who delivered me suspected that I may have IC, but my cervix was measuring great at the anatomy scan.  The NICU thought it may have had something to do with my low-lying placenta (I had a low-lying placenta at the anatomy scan, and I was due for another check of it the Thursday after my son was born).

Basically, we have no idea why he came so early. 

Rachie_B

My cervix was shortening (not even measurable) and I was partially dilated at 27 weeks.  At the time they were not sure what was causing it.  After Sophia was born they discovered an infection in my placenta (Sophia also had it).  They are not sure if the infection caused the dilation and shortening or if the dilation and shortening allowed the infection to occur.

adrielegorburu

Im similar to SushiNoMore - My water broke one night at 22 weeks - I had probably been leaking fluid for two or more days before, my "discharge" was very thin. I called my nurse line and the nurse was not concerend. I didnt know how "thin" it was because I was wearing panty liners/pads everyday because of discharge.  After delivery they sent my placenta out and it was infected (entereococcus) we dont know if the infection caused the placenta to rupture or the rupture caused the infection.

jcsntms06

The reason why I had DD early was because of pre-e and ptl. I'm not pregnant with #2 and I'm on 17p shots and being monitored much closer this time around.

thumperbrat2669

Lavender444:

It would be scary to not know.  My reason was pretty clear too. I had a placenta abruption.

I don't know if I would even try again!

 

ClickMama

Water broke at 32 weeks. Unknown why although it is suspected I had abnormally high amounts of amniotic fluid. I had an U/S to check the position of the placenta (had been low before) and was told my baby was 5#5oz. She was born at 4#9oz so not too off. I did learn afterwards that I passed my glucose test by a smidgen (4 points) so maybe some diabetes?  Ultimately, I don't have an answer. 

sweetpea18

I had a sudden onset of severe pre-e.  My mfm thinks that I might have had a slight abruption, too, based on how quickly I dilated. 

cassie.neace@gmail.com

I was told "these things happen" but was never given any specifics. It terrifies me that this could possibly happen again. 

I do wonder if the stress of my job was a factor. I teach kindergarten and was not given an aide this year.  

firstmom2b

Haven't read whole thread, but wanted to chime in...

At 26 weeks, I had 2 to 5 minute contractions for 3 days before I finally went into labor and delivery (I thought I was just having bad RLP cramps) and they prepped me for labor, though thankfully I wasn't dilated. Magnesium over night made them go away and I had a few lingering contractions that week.. got put on bed rest and then modified bed rest every since. 

Dilated to 1/2 cm at 34 weeks.

Still pregnant, thankfully!

Anyways, they have no clue as to why this happened. Something about an irritable uterus. It would be nice to know what caused the contractions, so I could avoid them in the future when we decide to have baby #2 - I'm not a super active person, so it's amazing to me that a bit of cleaning or whatever could have triggered them! I don't do drugs or drink or anything risky like that, though I never gave up caffeine (some days probably drank over min. limit, even).

It's weird that the problem hasn't returned yet, even as baby has gotten bigger, because I've sort of been doing normal activity (it's naturally not comfortable to be on feet or sit in certain positions at this point in time, so I'm naturally doing the modified bed rest thing!). 

TriciaandSean

Around 33 weeks I started to experience symptoms of preterm labor.  I thought I was having braxton hicks and just brushed it aside as just being pregnant.

I had a very easy pregnancy and ran up until 31 weeks.

I went to my first lamaze class and they discussed PTL and I was thinking, wow that sounds just like me.  I asked a few questions in class and then brushed it aside.

A few days later I was feeling really crummy and my mom convinced me to call the Dr.  I made an appointment for the following day and when I went in I was 3 cm dilated and 90% effaced.  The emotions that came over me are ones that probably only you ladies can related to.

I was told to go to the hospital and they would call and let them know I was coming.  My husband wasn't with me so I called him and had him meet me at the hospital.

I won't go into a ton of details, but I was give the two doses of steroid shots, kept for 48 hours and then released on bed rest.  I went back to the hospital within 12 hours with pain, given more medicine sent home and followed up with my doc on Tuesday for my 34 week appointment.

I went to my 34 week appointment and had dilated to 5 and sent back to the hospital.  The following day I had progressed to 9.5 and was told it was time to have this baby.  They broke my water and baby was born about 7.5 hours later.

So really my body was just ready, I was told in the future we'll need to do shots of progesterone on a weekly basis to prevent PTL.

lwmooney87

DD was born at 29 weeks by emergency classical c-section due to severe pre-e. I found out later that the pathology showed that my placenta was 20% abrupted. Trust me, it sucks knowing the reason why as well. It just sucks all around.

kelkel09

i had an incompetent cervix. I was admitted into the hospital at 24wk0d and was kept there on bedrest until my twins were born at 27wk5d.