PTL/possible early birth - what to expect

Daisiesinmygarden

Our plan was to have a pretty med- free labor. However, I've been having some pretty nasty contractions since 30 weeks, resulting in 2 trips to L&D where they monitored the contractions and gave me a shot to stop them. Since the Fetal Fibronectin test was negative they sent me home. The baby is measuring over 2 weeks ahead and I have a LOT of amniotic fluid in there. I don't have GD.

I was 50 - 60 percent effaced and went from a 1 to a 1.5/2 as of Sunday before last (2nd time in L&D). The contractions aren't usually consistently closer together, but they are getting more painful, so I imagine I am still thinning and dilating.

This is my 4th baby and while they say they are all different, that hasn't been true - until now. This has been an easy pregnancy but I have never had any PTL or effacement/dilation. In the past, I've been soft, but unchanged when I went in at 41 plus weeks (first two were induced, third was spontaneous the weekend before induction). I know that you can walk around thinned and dilated for weeks, it's just not typical for me and with the contractions, large baby and lots of water, I am trying to look at all the possibilities.

I am wondering what will be different in a 35 to 36 week labor compared to a full term labor? I am 34 weeks, but according to the test, I shouldn't go into labor before then (as long as my water doesn't break - then all bets are off). Can I labor in the tub. Do I have to be monitored constantly. Will they keep me in bed, on my back etc? Do they push an epi or pit more than usual (I am thinking of them wanting to manage the labor and delivery more than usual)?

I'll do whatever needs to be done to get this baby here safely, but I am just wondering what how this usually goes.  What should I expect? My hospital is very pro-natural birth for full term, complication free L & Ds.

TIA

Celyn

CFM might be likely, but I wouldn't expect that Pit or an epidural be routine use with PTL at a hospital that is pro-natural.  Every hospital is different in regard to tubs and interventions though.  It's best to case your care provider to know what they would prefer to do/suggest.

LollyBug18

Daisiesinmygarden:

I am wondering what will be different in a 35 to 36 week labor compared to a full term labor? I am 34 weeks, but according to the test, I shouldn't go into labor before then (as long as my water doesn't break - then all bets are off). Can I labor in the tub. Do I have to be monitored constantly. Will they keep me in bed, on my back etc? Do they push an epi or pit more than usual (I am thinking of them wanting to manage the labor and delivery more than usual)?

I had DD at 37 weeks, so full term, but the nursing staff didn't seem to act any differently had I been further along. When I went in for a false alarm 4 days before that, they mentioned the possibility that she might need to spend some time in NICU but I don't feel like they did anything differently, at least in triage. But I really have no idea how different that would have been had I gone any earlier. Those seem like questions your hospital/midwife/OB/birthing center would need to answer since they'd be different at different places. GL baking that baby a little longer!