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Getting contractions under control?

azimumazimum member
in High-Risk Pregnancy
Hi all,

I've been battling with a couple of issues through out this pregnancy, and now my latest obstacle are frequent contractions. They are strong enough that they have caused my cervix to shorten and put me at high risk for pre-term labor/delivery. Has anyone else experienced something similar, and if so were you able to get your contractions to stop, or at least slow down? My MFM prescribed me albuterol, which only worked sometimes. I asked my OB for something stronger, and she gave me nefidipine (I think it's the same as Procardia). I should be picking up my prescription for that today, but while I wait I figured I would see what others had tried? 

FWIW, I'm on bed/couch rest, I chug water non-stop, even added electrolyte water and coconut water (just a little, I CANNOT stand the taste!), and I empty my bladder frequently. I've also started a potassium supplement (as my test results showed a mild deficiency), and added a calcium/magnesium supplement that is supposed to also aid in muscle relaxation according to my acupuncturist.

Thanks in advance!
-FTM, 24 weeks w/ singleton
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Re: Getting contractions under control?

  • atkinsonfamily3atkinsonfamily3 member
    Hi! I am 28 weeks and I am high risk also for preterm. Both of my other pregnancies resulted in preterm births. I have been having a lot of contractions since about 18 weeks. My doctor strongly believes in No Bed Rest. Bed rest itself adds stress to the body, more than going about light regular activities would do. I usually cannot stop contractions but do find that laying on my left side and drinking water can help a bit or at least break the consistency cycle.
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  • azimumazimum member
    Hi @atkinsonfamily3 would you mind sharing what was the cause of your previous preterm births? I'm so afraid if I don't get these contractions under control I'll end up in preterm labor also! I'm drowning in water but I will try to lay on my left side more and see if that helps.
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  • collegebound08collegebound08 member
    I started having contractions at 17 or so weeks. I have a long cervix to start so I'm lucky in that since... Starting out I was at like 50 something and now I'm at 30 so quite a drop. The specialist put me on Indomethacin which works great but can be hard on you stomach so it has to be taken with food. I would check with your dr about Indomethacin and some other possibilities to at least get you to a safe point in pregnancy. Good luck
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  • PlainJane8350PlainJane8350 member
    Have you looked into progesterone at all? I was on vaginal suppisitories for a short cervix, I found the March of Dimes website helpful when I first found out.
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  • azimumazimum member
    Thanks @collegebound08 and @PlainJane8350! I have been on progesterone suppositories for about a month now. I don't have my next appointment for another couple weeks, so not sure yet if it's helping my cervix, but it hasn't done anything for my contractions. The nifedipine helps sometimes, but I'm starting to think this might be my new normal with the daily contractions. Talked to my OB about it earlier this week and she said as long as they don't become TOO frequent or have a pattern, then to continue to do what I'm doing! 
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  • PlainJane8350PlainJane8350 member
    It sounds like you're doing everything that you can! I'm sure everyone will be sending positive thoughts and prayers your way, here's hoping you'll get encouraging news at your next appointment. :)
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  • kidcapri100kidcapri100 member
    @azimum I too have been having frequent but mild contractions. I chalked it up to Braxton Hicks but found out that the correct terminology for what I'm experiencing is "irritable uterus" (was in L&D for another reason however they discovered this when they hooked me up to a monitor). The difference is that they are a bit more painful, more consistent (not consistent enough to be real contractions) but lack the peaks and valleys that BH have. Sometimes it tends to lead to cervical shortening or funneling, but after a 'manual' exam my cervix was closed and all looked ok. I go back in a week to get measured so we will see!
    You're totally doing the right thing by being proactive and following up with your doctors. When I left L&D that day I was told that anytime you don't feel right to trust your intuition.
    As for treatment I was told to take it easy and lay down when I'm feeling the contractions (lots of water, too). If they start a consistent pattern and get more intense over the course of an hour then get my butt to L&D ASAP.
    I'm currently almost 29 weeks so hoping this little peanut stays put!
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  • azimumazimum member
    @kidcapri100 that's so interesting! i had read about irritable uterus and even suspected at one point that may be my case too, but drs haven't diagnosed me as such so i'm just moving forward thinking they are BH. also my contractions aren't mild, they are pretty strong though never painful. i'm curious, do you have any particular triggers that irritate your uterus, or does it appear to be random? 

    so happy to hear your cervix is closed! looks like i'm just a few days behind you (28+1 today), so hoping the very very best for both of us! there was a time i didn't think i would make it to 28, but so grateful to be here. next milestone for me is 32! what about you?
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  • breezypipbreezypip member
    I also have been having what I would say are BH, and I am on progesterone for a shortening cervix. My latest appointment it had shortened to 1.7cm down from 2.1 where it WAS holding steady. They also said my cervix was soft, but so far not dilated. I mentioned being worried about the BH contractions because some days they're frequent (2-3x/hr), but the doctors didn't seem to think it was a factor with my cervix since they aren't easily timetable or painful. I've been told to drink a lot of water when they happen and lay down. I'm almost 26 weeks now and they said if I do start to dilate they will give me steroids for the baby's lungs. I'm really hoping my cervix will stay strong and keep my little bean in until at least 32 weeks!!
    BabyFruit Ticker
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  • kidcapri100kidcapri100 member
    @azimum No particular triggers however I do notice when my bladder is full it can bring on a few. It's all completely random, and sometimes even happens when I'm laying down.
    I was told stress and dehydration could be other triggers but I drink a ton of water and don't think I'm necessarily stressed?
    The most important thing I was told was that as long as it wasn't affecting the cervix and I wasn't dilating I should be fine.
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  • oregontrailmomoregontrailmom member
    I'm also having a crazy amount of contractions and I'm only 20 weeks. I go in for cervical lengths every two weeks and get the weekly Makena progesterone shots. I've dealt with preterm labor in my last two pregnancies so my OB is watching me me like a hawk.
    I'm noticing that once it's been 5-6 says since my last shot my contractions get way more intense and frequent so I'm wondering if I need to add another form of progesterone into the mix.
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