Irritable uterus?

JamaicaMon! · September 2011

Has anyone else been told they have this around this point in their pregnancy? What was your outcome? Did you go on bedrest because of it?

I was having quite a few BH yesterday, so I called my doc and they told me to go to L&D. Went and got checked and was told my uterus was showing signs of irritability. I wasn't having regular contractions, they were pretty random but often enough that they called my doc and she told them to give me 3 doses of terbutaline. It seemed to quiet my uterus down some, but not completely. They also checked my cervix, which looked really good, long hard and closed. And did an FFN, which came back negative. Based on all of that, they decided it wasn't necessary to keep me overnight and sent me home.

I have a follow up appointment with my OB this afternoon, but was just looking for some comforting stories/words. Of course, I'm hoping this isn't a surefire sign that these babies will come early.

everam01 · September 2011

I started having regular contractions around the midpoint of my pregnancy and was kept in the hospital overnight around 30 weeks on procardia. I did end up on bedrest at 33 weeks before delivering at 36w5d. My cervix never really budged, though.

OrangeSmoke · September 2011

Yep, I went in for an irritable uterus at 23 weeks.... I didn't end up going on official BR, but I did stop commuting at that point. Eventually I stopped working all together at 32 weeks.

I really believe that my taking it easy helped me cook my boys to 37w3d.

Hope that helps!

Hopeful1! · September 2011

I had the exact same thing happen at 24 weeks 5 days except my cervix was thinning so I was put on modified bed rest and procardia. At 35 weeks I was 4 cm dialated, at 36 weeks I was 5 cm, at 37 weeks I was 6 cm and still had not gone into labor. My doc was concerned that if I did go into labor the twins would come too fast to make it to the hospital so I was induced at 37 weeks 1 day. So after all that worry and monitoring I ended up having to be induced. There is definetely a chance that you will make it to term. I did my best to stay off my feet as much as possible (while still caring for a then 18 month old) and you have to stay hydrated. Good Luck!

JamaicaMon! · September 2011

Thanks ladies. Your stories are definitely reassuring so far!

susanb1102 · September 2011

I had a very similar situation at 26 weeks. After a long week of work (on my feet a lot) I started having a LOT of BH (like every 5-10 min) despite laying down and drinking water. Ended up overnight in hospital, got Toradol and Nifedipine and the ctx, "irritable uterus" (a term they used for me too) quieted down. But the biggest thing was going on modified bedrest-- after I was discharged I had to stop work, and honestly its been the best thing ever. I still walk around and stuff but I sit/lie down a lot and swim and nap and I have very few ctx. And I'm almost 32 weeks!!! People w/ twins just contract more (per the OB) so its very common and doesn't mean you'll have preemies, at least not micro-preemies. But def take it easy/ bedrest/ whatever the doc tells you and your chances are good you'll go for a while. At 26 when I was in the hospital I was an emotional disaster thinking I was about to deliver and that obviously hasn't happened at all.

susanb1102 · September 2011

ps. I love your kids' hat in the picture. is it from etsy?

ams8099 · September 2011

I had an irritable uterus from 27 weeks until I delivered at 35 weeks. I had a few other issues that requires me to go on bedrest a bit earlier at 24 weeks.

kmb585 · September 2011

YES! My damn ute caused me much grief during both pregnancies. With DS#1 I was on modified bedrest from 26-33 weeks (delivered at 39 weeks), and with the twins I ended up on modified bedrest at 24 weeks, and spent weeks 31-34 on hospital bedrest. Because of all the irritability w/ the twins, a + FFN, and a shortened cervix w/ funneling (discovered at 29 weeks) I spent 18 days on IV mag sulfate, which was not fun.

My OB's goal was just to get me to 34 weeks, but once I made it there things seemed to calm down and I eventually made it 37 weeks and 6 days, so after all the hype the babies stayed put.

Every pregnancy is different but an irritable uterus doesn't necessarily preterm delivery. Hopefully your OB is very cautious as from what I have learned irritability can turn into PTL very quickly so just try to take it easy and keep those babies cooking Big Smile

caden · September 2011

I also had an IU. I was on terbutaline pills until week 34 + progesterone shots (17P) once a week. I was on bedrest for 15 weeks and was induced at 35w1d. I could tell whenever i cheated a bit on bedrest that it caused more contractions. My cervix decided to start dilating and effacing at some point during those 15weeks as well. Some weeks it stayed the same, then it would shorten or start funneling, then be fine again, etc. I was in and out of L&D for various PTL scares, but ended up being find. GL!

kkghotty · September 2011

Yes, I was told I had an irritable uterus at 29 weeks (I was measuring about ten weeks ahead at that point). I was not having regular contractions either, but they gave me a shot of terbutiline in L & D. I was already on "restricted activity", which is sort of like modified bedrest, at that point anyway (this was strictly a precautionary measure...my OB is very conservative with his twin mamas). I just continued on my restricted activity and was told not to leave the house except for doctors appointments, etc. After that one little episode, I never had another contraction that I felt until my water broke at 32w1d. My OB thinks that my water breaking was not related to my irritable uterus. In fact, I made it a full four days with Baby A's sac ruptured before I went into labor (long enough to get steroid shots). My twins were born at 32w5d and were in the NICU for a little under a month as feeders and growers. They are 6 months now and perfectly healthy.

ardilla · September 2011

I had PTL issues beginning at 22w1d. They actually kept me on mag sulfate plus some terbutaline and procardia for 5 weeks, then weaned me off to just oral terbutaline and the procardia. My OB and MFM said I had a very irritable uterus.....it just wanted to contract. I was on full time bedrest and made it to 36w0d, which is when they took me off the meds. It is really good that your cervix wasn't changing. Mine was down to between 1.9 and 2.1 when I was first admitted, and soft. It continued to shorten, but my docs said really we would start to see shortening anyway after about 28 to 30 weeks. Hope that you get some reassurance at your appointment this afternoon!

lisa&andy · September 2011

I started BH at 27 weeks, countless L&D trips, trebutaline, and always told it was just an irritable uterus. I never had a postive FFN, no cervix changes so I was always sent home. I never went on bedrest for it, I delivered at 35w2d due to pre-e.

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