FTM and worrying

stlmomma27

I am a FTM and I worry all the time about preterm labor. I asked my doctor how common it is and she said that it isn't that common. IDK, I just worry about it.

I'm 21 weeks and I mean what do you do if you go into preterm labor?

Can they stop it? How long does that usually last? It just really freaks me out. I can't wait until we are in August because then I'll have my baby boy in my arms early September. 

Is there anyone else that has these fears? 

mrs.kapow

PTL is not common and it's unlikely for *most* people, from what I know. (Not a doctor, obviously.)  There are plenty of other things to worry about before then.

Viability is at 25 wks (someone correct me if I'm wrong), which means your child has a greater chance of surviving than not IF you were to deliver.

They should try to stop labor before 37 wks, though, unless your life or your child's life is in danger. This would be done through a combination of drugs and rest, from what I've seen. 

mishfull

I don't know a lot about PTL - I know in some cases though they can stop it with medication. 

I wouldn't say I don't have these fears in the back of my head, there are so many "what ifs" that are going on - what if the baby is early? what if late? what if I go into labor at work? what if I need a c-section.

At the end of the day there's not much you can do about any of this - pray for a healthy baby and prepare what you can. Other than that it is really out of our hands, worrying about it won't change it plus worrying just puts more stress on you and the baby.

I have a feeling this little guy is coming two weeks early. My due date is August 21 and I am preparing for him to come August 7 - mommy intuition I guess. If you have concerns do what you can to prepare the nursery and get things in order, that may help for you to know that if one of the "what ifs" does happen you are as ready as possible.

 We will have our nursery ready by the end of June, hospital bags packed and ready (and in my DH's vehicle) by en of July. 

But in the end, just enjoy your pregnancy and don't stress out over the things that you can't change.  

 

MichelleL1118

If you think you're going into labor, you should call your doc or go to the hospital. PTL is rare, and can usually be stopped by a variety of meds (sometimes just one, sometimes several in conjunction with each other) and usually requires bedrest (sometimes at home, sometimes in the hospital).  Viability is considered 24w, but barring a true threat to your life or the baby's life, they will try to stop labor before 36-37w in most cases.

Daniella4

Have you had any signs of PTL to make you think this is possible for you? My doctor told me that for FTM most of the time don't even get to go into labor on there own b/c they're body hasn't "rehearsed it" so to speak. So I would think unless you are having some kind of labor signs, it would be the least thing to worry about as the other PP have said.

DianaChristineB

If you don't have any risk factors you should really try not to worry. Seriously, pre- term labor is not very common. Yes, they can often stop early labor with meds and hospital bed rest, but that all depends if you're water has already broken, etc. I have these fears myself, but my cervix has been measuring short so I am being monitored very closely. Try you're best not to worry if you have no real reason to. Oh, and viability is 24 weeks.

judahsmommy1

Preterm labor is very rare and if you do experience it, there are things you can do to stop it. Viability is 24 weeks, although there is a survival rate starting around 22 weeks. (22 week the survival rate is 0-10% 23 weeks is 10-50% 24 weeks is 50-70%) That being said, that your location also affects survivability rates. If you're in the best NICU survival rates are higher than if you're in a small county hospital. Starting at 23 weeks every extra day you go adds another 3% chance of survival. Statistically (I believe) super premie girls have a higher survival rate than super premie boys.

If you do experience PTL they will likely give you medications to stop contractions and steroids to mature the baby's lungs. The earlier they are able to do that, the more likely it is to be successful. (So giving medications when you're dilated to a 1 is going to be much more effective than giving them when you're dilated to a 5.) So if you think you might be having contractions, it's important to call sooner rather than later. It is extremely rare, so you don't need to stress about it. I've discovered that I'm a lot more jumpy between 19 and 24 weeks, just because I'm so close to viability that I'm a LOT more aware of every twtich.

miketherdswifey

I have had a lot of friends and family have babies and only one of them went into labor early.  They gave her some kind of drugs and she was on bed rest for a few days.  She ended up making it to 38 weeks and everything turned out fine.  I feel like it is WAY more common to be overdue than go early - especially with first time moms.  I am having the opposite issue - I had to be induced at 42 weeks with DD so this time I am not even expecting that I will go into labor on my own (even though I know every pregnancy and delivery is different.)  I know I should prepare to go into labor on my own just in case but the idea seems so foreign to me.