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Preemies
Not really an intro, but I have some questions...
First, I just wanna say I hope it's okay that I posted here when I haven't had my baby yet; I just have a lot of questions now that I have a good chance of having a preemie. I figure you guys would know a lot, and maybe could share your experiences with a worried momma to be!
Here's a little background on my situation: Almost two weeks ago I went to L&D because I was having serious pain with consistant contractions. Long story short: contractions slowed/stopped, they did a FFN test that came back positive, and put me on bed rest for preterm labor. My doctor has been watching me closely ever since, and has done a good job at explaining things to me (for the most part). Last week they redid the FFN test and it's still positive. Currently, my cervix is STILL closed and "long". I still have tons of contractions throughout the day, and now cramping and pressure because his head is really low. Last week I was also given steriod injections, just in case.
Here are some questions I have....
Did anyone have a similar situation, and ACTUALLY gave birth within 1-3 weeks after the positive FFN? I know that test is really only accurate if it's negative, and not at all reliable if positive. But, has it been for anyone here? (FWIW, they plan on redoing it again for the 3rd time next week).
Did any of you going through PTL have contractions throughout the day, but your cervix stayed closed, and when did you finally START to dilate/change? I am, as well as my doctor, surprised that I am STILL holding strong and not progressing, but I am worried it could change at any moment.
And, how long were you going through this PTL stuff? ie: When did you first learn you had PTL issues, and how many weeks until you actually delivered? Somedays I feel like I'm fine and silly for worrying so much and there's no WAY I'll have this baby yet, and then other days I have like..a panic attack and think I might go into active labor the next day. It's messing with my head!
I'm sorry this is so long; I just wanted to hear some real life experiences from someone. If I am stepping on any toes or offending anyone in ANY way for posting here, I am sorry. I just want to hear your stories! Thanks, ladies... :-)
This discussion has been closed.
Re: Not really an intro, but I have some questions...
I think there are a lot of momma's here whose stories are really different- either they had no warning or had to be delivered for other reasons. My story actually is similar, but the most important thing is I actually know a lot of women who had contractions like I did but went on to have normal pregnancies and didn't deliver till term. So there's just no way to know...
I started contracting at 19 wks. They were initially about 2-3 per hr, increased with walking and with a full bladder. Cervix was long so they monitored me and tested for infections. My contractions increased slowly but nothing drastic, could contract every 2-3min at times but never for more than 1 hr and not all were painful.
At 27 wks one night my contractions were every 3-5 mins for 2 hrs and then I had a little gush of blood. We went to L&D, they confirmed contractions but cervix was long and 1cm. I stayed for 48 hrs, was on nifedipine which helped a little. They sent me home and did the FFN at d/c since they have to wait 48hrs after bleeding.
2 d later they called that the FFN was neg, told me I could go back to work. I went back part time, took it easy, slammed water, but continued to contract 3-5 times per hour. The worse was actually in the middle of the night, they were stronger and more consistent. OBs said I "would know" if I actually went in to labor and to come in if things changed.
At 29w3d I was home on the couch after dinner. Contractions suddenly were very painful, the pain was much lower. They were 5 mins apart. After 1hr I went to the BR and noted lots of bleeding. We rushed to the hospital. When I got there I was 3cm and just continued to progress from there.
They don't know what changed, what pushed me over the edge. It may have been a partial placental abruption given all the bleeding I had, but who knows what caused that too.
Bottom line- I was glad I had a "PTL" bag packed with a change of clothes for DH, travel tolietries and a pillow. I did know when things changed. It felt a lot more consistent, the pain was lower and the bleeding was a give away. GL, hoping little one stays put and you end up being one of those that just contracts like crazy but nothing else happens!
BFP#2 3/16/11, beta 138; 4/12 Baby/HB DS born 9/10/11 at 29w4d due to partial abruption and PTL
BFP#3 8/19/13 Another boy! 17P, modified bedrest and Nifedipine helped us have a termie! DS2 born 4/19/14 at 38w5d.
Since this is a preemie posting board, I'm guessing that most people who respond will be those that actually delivered early. But, I've been coming to this board for about 5 weeks now b/c I wasn't supposed to make it this far....so there is hope! I can't tell you how my story ends, b/c lo's still hanging out in there at 35+ weeks!
Here's what happened for me: at 29 wks 5 d, I went to to l&d b/c I had been contracting and spotting for about 12 hours (I had been in for contractions twice before, but they had stopped when I got there and I felt stupid and they sent me home, so I waited a while longer that time). When I got there, I was contracting every 1-2 minutes, they were pretty painful, and I was 1cm dilated. They tried terbutaline twice, which did nothing, then put me on Magnesium for 48 hours so they could give me betamethasone shots for lo's lungs. They got the contractions slowed and let me go home after 8 days on nifedipine. The nifedipine worked for a couple weeks, but at 33 weeks, I found myself back at l&d and on magnesium again (this time for one day). Again, they got the contractions slowed, gave me another set of betamethasone shots. My cervix stayed the same, and I went home. I'm still contracting every 2-ish minutes with spurts of much stronger/painful contractions that last for an hour or two, and my cervix has opened a little farther and has shortened, but lo's still hanging out in there! I've been admitted 2 other times since then (pretty much just live there at this point), and it sucks really bad, but he's still cooking and that's all that matters.
Stay positive and try not to stress too much, I've definitely noticed a correlation between me being stressed and worked up and the intensity of my contractions. If your lo shows up today, there is sooooo much they can do these days. But, hopefully that won't become a reality for you and you'll get to meet your lo closer to your edd.
I had a positive FFN at 30 weeks and delivered at 35w3d, so it wasn't reliable for me. My peri said that a positive result generally (but not nearly always) means that you have a 60-70% chance of delivering within 2 weeks.
I had cramping (which were contractions) pretty regularly, on and off. Me telling my OB was what made him refer me to my peri. I saw him at 27 weeks, and my cervix was about 2.5cm, so I was put on bed rest. I began to dilate around 30 weeks, and was about 3cm dilated at 33 weeks. So, all told, I was going through very slow PTL for about 10 weeks. Trust me, I understand how scary it is, basically waiting in bed all day and night and hoping to God that nothing happens. I was there, for 9 weeks
PM me to talk, if you'd like. I've been where you are and talking about it definitely better prepares you.