For those who had PTL

ShanaNChris

Little background on me: I used to be on this board a lot when DD was born in 2008 (and smiled when I saw that I am still listed in the Pregnant after Preemie check-in with my full-term 2nd pregnancy)...

Anyways, I am pregnant with #3 and have been having horrible cramps for about the last 3 weeks, they come and go, but are usually between 5-7:30 p.m. (I have never been in any kind of labor 2 C-sections) I was planning on asking my OB about it at my appt today. Yesterday we had our anatomy scan and the tech told me that she could see that I was having contractions. When I asked my OB about it today he seemed unconcerned. He told me to call if they went longer than 20 minutes, I told him it usually lasts a couple of hours. Then he said to call if they take my breath away. And then told me to call if there is pink, tan or bloody discharge. I told him I was having pink. He said, but wasn't that when you fell off your deck 2 weeks ago.

I'm probably just being totally paranoid bc of my history, but was wondering if you were in PTL, how do you know?

 

kelly422

Are the cramps painful or just uterus tightening like BH?

jcsntms06

If you lay on your left and drink lots of water do they still not go away? Are you timing them?

I would be upset if my ob wasn't concerned. Can you get a second opinion? 

LnR70707

With DS I didn't know because most of it was back labor and what I thought were BH.    This time I know what contractions feel like so I call whenever they get frequent and timeable.   So far my cervix hasn't changed so it is just "threatened PTL", with DS I was already 4cm and 80% effaced.  I was 34weeks and had lost pieces of my MP in the 2 weeks before that, so that is a primary sign I'm keeping a lookout for this time.

Brummy14

I'd be kinda peeved if my OB seemed that unconcerned, as well. I started having non-stop BH contractions at 22 weeks, and that landed me in L&D for monitoring. Everything looked fine, they started me on Procardia (after a shot of Brethine to calm them down while I was there), and send me on my way.

The contractions continued, around the clock, from there. By 26 weeks my cervix was shortening enough to earn me modified BR (and I had a positive FFN during my L&D visit days prior). Shortly thereafter I lost my mucus plug (another tip to L&D), and then about a week later one of the sacs ruptured -- and I was in the hospital for five days before my water completely broke.

Now, that said, while my pregnancy was a cluster -- my OB always had a "better safe than sorry" approach -- so anytime things changed - I'd call, and they always sent me in to L&D (it was essentially every week from week 22 on). I really appreciated that approach -- especially with twins.

MinaE01

My water had ruptured and contractions began a couple hours after. But looking back, I had a lot of BH episodes that week. I even asked my OB at my 32 week apt, and she shrugged it off.

 If I were you, I'd get a 2nd opinion. Considering your history, I would want a more proactive OB.

ShanaNChris

Thanks for all your replies...sorry I am bumping from phone at work.

I have had two times that I actually needed to stop what I was doing walking, etc bc the pain was that severe, but that was last week. If I feel like that again, I am going to call to get checked. I had Braxton Hicks with my first, but it never got this painful. As far as my OB goes, I had a really horrible OB my first pregnancy, switched OB's and my new OB ended up saving my life. He knows my history and I believe that if felt something was really wrong, he would be doing more about it. I'm just going to need to pay attention more when I'm having them and call. Thanks ladies!!

thishappyhouse

please at least push for a cervical scan so that you can be sure that the contractions are not productive.  If you have had 2 healthy pregnancies most OBs have a high threshold for PTL, but that does not mean that you still aren't at risk for an early delivery.  Trust your gut in situations like this.