Can I get a sympathy hug? Or encouraging words? AW:PTL

RobinR91

Hi Everyone!

I went to my routine MFM appt yesterday. Babies look lovely, no issues there. Cervix was shorter (2.4 ish, it was 3.1 two weeks ago) and she asked if I felt contractions. I said no, because, I don't feel any. She said she wanted to be sure, and hooked me up to a contraction monitor. I had 5 contractions in 20 minutes. She put me on pericardia, modified bedrest, and told me to come back next week. She also ordered me a home contraction monitoring system, which I will use twice a day and a blood pressure cuff once a day (mine is high)

Procardia is gross. I had the worst headache from it last night. I puked from 2-4 am because I had to take it on an empty stomach at 2am (I have gestational diabetes, didn't want to wreck my fasting number, and sadly don't respond well to medicines). SO I'm super annoyed at my body for not accepting something that could help the girls. I want to make it MUCH further than 26 weeks 4 days. Any words to the wise how to keep this sh!t down? Or does it get better? Should I call my doc?

 Oh, andplusalso--its my birthday. DH said something great as I was puking last night. He asked if I needed anything. I mumbled "hair band" he got me one and said "Here hon, I'm so sorry. Happy birthday though" lol. Timing is important :-)

 Thanks for listening to my vent. Can a cervix get longer if these contractions get under control? 

caden

I'm sorry PTL really sucks. My cervix was soft at week 20 and while it did get a bit longer, then shorter again, then sometimes longer again, I never got off bedrest until delivery and I did dilate/efface early. BUT I delivered at 35w1d and I was induced, so don't lose hope! I hated my meds too -- and I even missed my 30th birthday, so I feel you there. It really sucks. There's no doubt about it. (((hugs))))

Venus04d

Yes, a cervix can get longer if you can pump the brakes on the contractions. It also may have measured shorter simply because you were in the midst of contractions at the time it was being measured.

Take your procardia with food. I had a terrible time adjusting to it at first, but after a few days my body slowly started to accept it and now it doesn't bother me at all and I take it every 4 hours around the clock. I would also go strict bed rest until your next appointment at least. Stay horizontal as much as possible. I know it sucks, but it's really the ONLY thing we can do to try and help. 

Big .::HUGS::. and I'm so sorry. I hope you get some good news at your next appointment.

AmyJoy728

I was on procardia and couch rest from 27 to 36 weeks. My cervix never got checked after they found it shortened, but I wound up being induced at 37 wks. My bp was always low, so I ate salty things and drank Gatorade and didn't have any problems with being nauseous.  

Housefull

I had my trips in June at 33w5d.  I was on Procardia from 21 weeks to the end, eventually having to take it around the clock every 4 hours.  I don't remember it making me sick, but it did make me very lethargic and gave me really low bp. After every time they increased my dosage it took my body a couple days to adjust and then things were fine.  However, I do think the Procardia really worked for me because one time I saw not my normal doctor and he acted like eh, Procardia.  So I didn't take it around the clock, well within a week I ended up back in the hospital for ptl.  Thankfully, they were able to stop the contractions and when I got out of the hospital, I set my alarm around the clock to take my med.

At 28 weeks, I had the same at home contraction monitoring.  Do you know what your threshold or contraction limit will be?  I am kind of surprised she sent you how at 5 in 20 mins.  My threshold was 5 in an hour.  Any time I had 5 or more on the monitoring I had to eat, rehydrate and test again for an hour. 

Rest, stay hydrated, take your med, and happy birthday!  

nghithy

I went through the exact same thing you are at the same time.  I am currently 35 weeks and next week is my c section.  You will make it there.  Take your bed rest seriously.  It took 3 weeks for my cervix to go down to nothing.  Procardia made my heart rate go up at first and now mainly heart burn.  I'm getting off it in 4 days.

Bed rest sucks if you're a type a like me.  I watched chinese movies, netflix, read 2 books.  Pretty much that's all because I'm not even allow to sit.  Makes it hard for me to do anything else.  Watching TV seem to be the easiest and most comfortable thing for me.  Every time I sit higher to write or organize my desk I start feeling my contractions so I go and lay back down.

 Happy birthday!!!!   

retallica

YGPM!!!!!

Also, I am sorry you are having such a rough time right now!

Oh and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! 

tangerine3lz

Happy Birthday!  Ugh, so sorry you are going through this.  I hope you feel better and that all goes well from here on out.  Keeping my fingers crossed for you!

Switzerland87

So sorry! Especially that you're having to deal with this on your birthday! 

It takes a little time, but your body will adapt to the Procardia. I went into PTL at 25 weeks 2 days, and ended up carrying to full term (37-3). You can do it! Just keep in close communication with your doctor if things don't get better with the meds. 

 

 

mysteriousmommy

My PTL started at 27 weeks, and while granted I was carrying twins and not triplets, strict bed rest helped me to hold out until 37 weeks. 

Also, my cervix did lengthen back out after the contractions were stopped.  I was under 2cm and funneling at 28 weeks and then at 29 the funneling was gone and my cervix was back up over 2cm (don't remember the exact measurements).  

Good luck!