Wondering what to expect (sneaking over from 3rd tri)

erinb31 · September 2009

So here is what we are dealing with right now... It has been a long few days, and DH and I are wondering if anyone else out there has been a similar situation and how it played out. I know that every pregnancy and every baby is different, but any incite you can provide us would really be appreciated.

We're at 33 1/2 weeks today with our first baby, a boy. We went into the hospital Wednesday night thinking I just had a very small spotting issue, and when I got there, I went into labor (no reason found). The medication they put me on (procardia) slowed things down from having strong contractions every 2 or less minutes to milder contractions 6-8 minutes apart. I was taken off of procardia due to an allergic reaction-- the docs were hoping to send me home on it with the hopes it would end contractions all together. I am still having contractions at random intervals, but nothing is progressing past every 6-8 minutes, no have I gone past 3 cm dilated and 50% effaced (as of yesterday in the hospital). My water has not broken, and I have not lost my MP.

The doctors are saying the baby should be okay if he is born now because I had steroid shots for his lungs, but they kept saying they'd prefer he stay inside at least another week if possible (I'd like to make it to mid-October at least, but DH and I are taking it little by little). I get to stay home on a very strict bedrest until further notice. I have an ultrasound on Monday and a follow-up appointment on Tuesday.

So I guess we're wondering if anyone on here has had a similar situation and what happened? My doctors have briefed us that we could go into labor tonight or we could go as long as 40 weeks, so I know we can't really "expect" anything.

lizal · September 2009

Did they check you for placental abruption? I started having contractions Wednesday the 2nd and no medication would stop them. I started bleeding and then they had to do a csection to get my baby out at 31 weeks, 5 days. He is in the NICU. They did an ultrasound in the morning and did not see anything that looked like an abruption but it ends up that's what I had. I started bleeding heavily in the afternoon and that's when they saw a clot on the second ultrasound I recieved in the afternoon and they suspected I had an abruption. I never started dilating but my cervix was shortening. They gave me magnesium sulfate, terbutaline and procardia. THey told me basically if the contractions weren't going to stop with meds, that it was my body's way of saying it was time to get the baby out. Your situation sounds a little different than mine, but still similar. Do they have any idea what's causing the contractions?

gizmo909 · September 2009

I don't have any experience with the contractions, etc. that you're experiencing, but I did have DS close to where you are (34 weeks 1 day). I had him via emergency c-section due to decreased fetal movement and fetal distress... my placenta was shutting down. I didn't have a chance to get any steroid shots because it all happened so fast. It's good that you are getting those, they seem to really help with lung development. As you said, every baby and every experience is different, but DS was in the NICU for 22 days. He had some breathing issues, feeding issues, and problems with his heart rate dropping... all typical 34 weeker problems. He's been home for 4 weeks now and is doing great. Hopefully you will be able to keep LO inside as long as possible, but it's good you've made it this far. If he is born soon, prepare yourself for some NICU time. It's the hardest thing I've ever been through, but you can do it. This is a great board to come to for support as well! If you ever have any questions, need to vent, or need anything, feel free to PM or page me. Good luck!

erinb31 · September 2009

Congrats on your new addition-- I hope you and your son are doing well! I can only imagine the past few days you have had from what we have been dealing with here.

The doctors have no idea what caused the contractions. The only thing they really noticed is that my uterus is extremely easily agitated- I would move for 2 seconds in bed or slightly need to go to the bathroom, and the contractions would get so much stronger. They initailly thought I might have had a yeast infection or UTI, but I didn't. I have an ultrasound on Monday so if there is an abruption, I hope they see it. My doctors have told me at this point they will not stop labor because the steroid shots have been administered, and it would be worse for me and baby to stop it... so if labor starts getting serious now, he is coming!

KellyMichelle · September 2009

I'm sorry you are going through this. 33 weeks is a pretty good place to be, obviously full term is best, but at 33 weeks alot of milestones have been passed and your baby has a very good chance of being born healthy with no he lasting problems. If he were to be born nog w I would expect he would need some breathing support and a feeding tube. Usually they start learning to eat at around 34 weeks. Good luck. I hope you end up not needing us, but if you do everyone here is very helpful.

erinb31 · September 2009

gizmo909:
I don't have any experience with the contractions, etc. that you're experiencing, but I did have DS close to where you are (34 weeks 1 day). I had him via emergency c-section due to decreased fetal movement and fetal distress... my placenta was shutting down. I didn't have a chance to get any steroid shots because it all happened so fast. It's good that you are getting those, they seem to really help with lung development. As you said, every baby and every experience is different, but DS was in the NICU for 22 days. He had some breathing issues, feeding issues, and problems with his heart rate dropping... all typical 34 weeker problems. He's been home for 4 weeks now and is doing great. Hopefully you will be able to keep LO inside as long as possible, but it's good you've made it this far. If he is born soon, prepare yourself for some NICU time. It's the hardest thing I've ever been through, but you can do it. This is a great board to come to for support as well! If you ever have any questions, need to vent, or need anything, feel free to PM or page me. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your support! I am so scared because everything seems so up in the air right now. I am grateful that LO will probably be okay if he comes now, but it definitely is going to be hard. I admire how strong the ladies on this board really are.

gizmo909 · September 2009

erinb31:
gizmo909:
I don't have any experience with the contractions, etc. that you're experiencing, but I did have DS close to where you are (34 weeks 1 day). I had him via emergency c-section due to decreased fetal movement and fetal distress... my placenta was shutting down. I didn't have a chance to get any steroid shots because it all happened so fast. It's good that you are getting those, they seem to really help with lung development. As you said, every baby and every experience is different, but DS was in the NICU for 22 days. He had some breathing issues, feeding issues, and problems with his heart rate dropping... all typical 34 weeker problems. He's been home for 4 weeks now and is doing great. Hopefully you will be able to keep LO inside as long as possible, but it's good you've made it this far. If he is born soon, prepare yourself for some NICU time. It's the hardest thing I've ever been through, but you can do it. This is a great board to come to for support as well! If you ever have any questions, need to vent, or need anything, feel free to PM or page me. Good luck!

Thank you so much for your support! I am so scared because everything seems so up in the air right now. I am grateful that LO will probably be okay if he comes now, but it definitely is going to be hard. I admire how strong the ladies on this board really are.

I completely understand being scared out of your mind (as I'm sure most of the ladies here do). I didn't really have a chance to be too scared before I had DS because I went in for a regular 34 week OB appt and DS was born 4 hours later. It progressed from just talking to my OB, to getting an internal, having 2 NSTs, having a contraction test, and all of a sudden nurses running in the room having me sign forms as they pushed the bed to the OR. It was "we're going to run some tests just to be safe" to "you need a c/s now, the baby will be here in less than 15 minutes". I didn't really have a chance to freak out too much because I was in shock. All of that came after! Hopefully you will be able to keep LO in even longer, but you should feel better knowing that you've gotten him to a good point and past a lot of major developmental milestones already.

jkipp82 · September 2009

I had DS at 33w5d (but due to HELLP, no contractions). I did have the steroid shots a couple of weeks prior because they had suspected possible Pre-E. DS was on a ventilator for about an hour, but otherwise just had to learn to maintain his temperature and eat (and he spent a few days under the bili lights for jaundice). He spent a total of 21 days in the NICU and is doing FABULOUS now at 2 months!! WOOHOO...I almost forgot this morning that he is 2 months today!

I also have realized from on here, that as an ALMOST 34 weeker, DS was pretty small (just from my observation of what others on here post), only 3lbs10oz. If he was slightly bigger (4lbs) I bet he'd have spent less time in the NICU - because they wouldn't even attempt bottle feeding or much time outside of the incubator until he was OVER 4lbs.

Mrs. Peterson 07/07/07 · September 2009

I did not have bleeding but I had contractions starting at 26 weeks. They put me on procardia and luckly they slowed down enough for me to be on strict bedrest.. they had no idea why I was contracting... 34 week my doctor insisted that I stop taking the Procardia... a day later I was in labor with a placental abruption... it was a very scary time ( from 26 weeks through NICU).. he was in the NICU for 2 weeks.. but he meets all of his milestones and is thriving! please page me for any questions or just to vent...

Mrs.Babbsy · September 2009

Didn't they try terbutaline/brethine? GL!

erinb31 · September 2009

Mrs.Babbsy:
Didn't they try terbutaline/brethine? GL!

Because of my reaction to procardia (after my 3rd dose, I turned into a tomato, was having some trouble breathing, and I felt like someone was sitting on my chest-- my EKG was not totally abnormal, but they think everything was out of whack because of the procardia because as soon as it was out of my system, I was okay), they were afraid to put me on brethine.

I really can't thank you ladies enough for sharing your stories and offering your support. It really helps to know that things will probably be okay even if it is a huge challenge.

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