is this weird?( MFM not stopping labor)

tootlebug

so my MFM said that once i hit 34 weeks, they wont stop labor if it starts.  perhaps i didnt hear him right?  this was severa weeks ago.  i know 34 weeks is a great milestone for twins, it just seems early for me still for them to not stop labor if they can.

im 33w1d today and it's just weird to think that a week from now, if something happens they wouldnt stop it....

ninjabridemom

I think this is pretty standard.  It's what my docs said, too.

 

It doesn't mean the babes won't need NICU time or anything, but it's the first "safe" point for delivery.

atc282

I was also told 34 weeks.

That said, that was also about the time that I started getting monitored even more frequently (twice weekly BPPs)...not sure though if that was due to my one DD being SGA. 

OrangeSmoke

ninjabridemom:

I think this is pretty standard.  It's what my docs said, too.

 

It doesn't mean the babes won't need NICU time or anything, but it's the first "safe" point for delivery.

This.  I was told at 32 weeks.

 

cookiemonster03

Our MFM said 34w as well.

ninjabridemom

atc282:

I was also told 34 weeks.

That said, that was also about the time that I started getting monitored even more frequently (twice weekly BPPs)...not sure though if that was due to my one DD being SGA. 

 

Yes, definitely make sure you're getting monitored more frequently.  As of 32wks I go to the MFM every week for a non-stress test (and growth scans every 2 wks) and my regular OB every other week.

kafunder

At 32w, I was told they didn't mind if my cervix shortened any more but I should still continue strict bedrest. 

At 35w, they let me off bedrest and said they wouldn't stop labor after that point. 

tootlebug

yes, im getting monitored regularly. 

 

tootlebug

it's just that all i hear is "keep'em in as long as possible, keep'em in there!".  and now it's "oh you'll be 34 weeks, everything's okay now.".  and then it's "oh just a little NICU time.". (these comments are not stemming from this board, they are just a culmination of comments from MFMs/docs/nurses, other women who have been pg with twins IRL, etc)  i just thought that the goal was to avoid NICU at all costs.  it it more dangerous to use the drugs to stop labor after 34 weeks as opposed to just letting them out? 

i know these are good questions for my MFM, whom i will see tomorrow.

Kristen61607

I think that's pretty standard. My OB said if my water broke or something after 34 weeks, they wouldn't try and stop labor and would deliver. But, as I went into PTL at 31 weeks, she didn't want me off strict bedrest until 36/37 weeks. She made sure I knew that the longer they were in, the better!

krismott25

mine said the same thing. i'm guessing because the risks out weight the benifits.

jcath

I think it has to do with the side effects of the treatment to stop labor versus good success outcomes for 34 weeks.  My OB definitely wanted to keep my girls cooking until 37 weeks but I was also told they wouldn't stop labor after 34.  

ninjabridemom

jcath:

I think it has to do with the side effects of the treatment to stop labor versus good success outcomes for 34 weeks.  My OB definitely wanted to keep my girls cooking until 37 weeks but I was also told they wouldn't stop labor after 34.  

 

I agree with this.

 

It isn't as if my doctors said "We won't stop labor after 34 weeks, *fingers crossed!!!!!*"  They WANT them to stay in as long as possible -- even past 36 weeks!  But there's a point, like PP said, where the risks of keeping them in outweigh the benefits.

 

Also, no one should be saying "Oh it's just a little NICU time."  Where have you heard that?!  I'd smack a B lol.

kthappy76

I was told the same thing. I had a cerclage, but I was already having some contractions at that point. Did you get the steroid shots to help their lungs? I got those at 32. I'm sure there are tons of data that made them decide 34 is the magic cut off for letting things go. Most twins only go to 35-36 weeks. Ppl make it seem like not a big deal, but the human body is not designed for multiples, so yes they do want you to go as long as you can, but if things get going and you're past a certain point, there is only so much they can and need to do given the technology available to help them on the outside. So the NICU is good in this respect, as the prognosis for twins in late preterm is quite good.

tootlebug

kthappy76:

I was told the same thing. I had a cerclage, but I was already having some contractions at that point. Did you get the steroid shots to help their lungs? I got those at 32. I'm sure there are tons of data that made them decide 34 is the magic cut off for letting things go. Most twins only go to 35-36 weeks. Ppl make it seem like not a big deal, but the human body is not designed for multiples, so yes they do want you to go as long as you can, but if things get going and you're past a certain point, there is only so much they can and need to do given the technology available to help them on the outside. So the NICU is good in this respect, as the prognosis for twins in late preterm is quite good.

no steriod shots.  im not having any "issues" right now perse, with the exception of the gallbladder attack last weekend that caused me to dilate 1/2-1cm.  (i was closed 2 days prior). i get checked again tomorrow. 

tootlebug

ninjabridemom:

jcath:

I think it has to do with the side effects of the treatment to stop labor versus good success outcomes for 34 weeks.  My OB definitely wanted to keep my girls cooking until 37 weeks but I was also told they wouldn't stop labor after 34.  

 

I agree with this.

 

It isn't as if my doctors said "We won't stop labor after 34 weeks, *fingers crossed!!!!!*"  They WANT them to stay in as long as possible -- even past 36 weeks!  But there's a point, like PP said, where the risks of keeping them in outweigh the benefits.

 

Also, no one should be saying "Oh it's just a little NICU time."  Where have you heard that?!  I'd smack a B lol.

no one has used those words.  but the MFMs kind of give off that vibe when they describe to me what would happen if they are born at 34 weeks.  im sure 34 weeks is nothing to them, im sure they've seen worse.  but it sounds like all NICU time just sucks so i just get frustrated when they act like twins being born at 34 weeks is not big deal bc it would be "just a little NICU time" ; )  they dont use those words but they are kind of just like "whatever" if they are born after 34 weeks.  it's just frustrating and confusing.  on the one hand people have nightmares about NICU (there were a couple posts about this a couple days ago) but then the MFMs are like "34 weeks no big, just some NICU.". 

i think im just overthinking stuff and getting nervous bc i feel like at where im at now it's "crunch time".  i have a tendency to overthink stuff.  a lot.  i actually bought a book called "women that think too much".  !!

ninjabridemom

Aaah okay.

 

I am definitely w you re: crunch time and overthinking things.  To the point that I'm kind of overlooking the 34wk milestone and pushing right for 36, haha, even though if they were born this week or next it'd be "okay."  But it's still pretty terrifying that in 2.5 weeks I could have babies :-|

 

I think a plus about your docs being more open to a 34wk delivery is that you haven't had issues, so your likelihood is pretty small.  They are probably more cavalier about it b/c they don't really expect it.  My docs tend to be this way and I think it's a way to relax us -- very informative and open to my questions but trying not to be too serious until the situation calls for it.

 

Plus, they see a LOT -- to them, 34wks w/ a week or two of NICU time could be the best possible scenario for a lot of their patients.  I keep reminding myself my MFM doesn't just see multiples moms, but moms with all sorts of other high-risk issues.

 

Just keep breathing and take it a week at a time.  I'll bet we have our babes w/in a week of each other, AFTER 34wks for sure

HokieLaw

I was also told once I hit 34 weeks they would not stop labor.  I made it 34 weeks and 1 day before I had to be induced.  

srh08.05.06

My doctor wouldn't stop labor at 34 weeks either.  That is why they released me from hospital bedrest.  They figured if I went into labor, I'd just come in and have the babies - no need to keep me there anymore.

KDR1979

34 weeks usually means lung maturity, but I would also prefer for my OB to at least try to stop labor (at least a dose of Brethine and IV fluids) until 36 or 37 weeks. I may even request magnesium between 34-35 weeks.   I also hope to avoid NICU and to have babies mature enough to latch and breastfeed!

I actually got my 2 celestone (steroid) injections over the weekend though since I'm now on bedrest for a growth discordance.

E&RMommy

It's not that they won't try....it's just that they won't do the full court press.  REAL, true labor can't be stopped by anything.  No amount of tocolytic will stop real labor.

So when they say they won't stop labor they mean no tocolytics.  It does not mean they want you to deliver.  Two totally different things. 

lrrb

I was told they wouldn't stop my labor once I got to 34 weeks.  Well at 33 weeks my water broke (wasn't in active labor) and they didn't even try to stop it and get me steriod shots for the babies lungs they put me into labor using pit. (in my opinion they should have tried to stop it, just bc your water breaks doesn't mean they have to have the baby out right away they would just need to watch me very close of course).  Anyways I to this day think they should have stopped labor and gave me shots....but they didn't and little girl ended up on the vent bc her lungs were so bad.  Little boy was nice and healthy but I always wonder what if.  I would fight to keep them in as long as you can....if you DO go into labor at 34 weeks, I would beg them to stop it or at least give you steriods to HELP the babies once they are out....

kimarino13

My peri's words were, "I start looking for reasons to deliver starting at 34 weeks."  So no, he wouldn't have stopped labor then.

Mrs_MBed

I was also told that.  I ended up going into labor at 35 wks 2d - I was 4 cm 100% by the time I got to the hospital.