22 weeks with an "irritable uterus": help!

[babytobe]

I'm 22 weeks along (first pregnancy), and today my midwife told me it sounds like I have an irritable uterus. Anyone else experiencing this, or know anyone else who had this? I'm a little bit concerned, but not sure how concerned I should be....

I have a physical job (I massage for a living), and the last two times I was at work, I had an "episode" of bad cramping (menstrual-like cramps), that also extended into my low-back (started while I was massaging). It only lasted a few minutes the first time, and then I was fine. The second time it lasted longer, but once I rested it went away. Both times it really scared me though. It came on really strong, and was painful enough that I couldn't stand straight. That was several days ago. My midwife told me to take it easy and put my feet up for a few days, and then when I go back to work, just try working a half day. Well the last several days I haven't had any more "episodes" of cramping, but I feel some dull kind of cramp-like something going on in my uterus, off and on, all day. I FEEL like my uterus is on the VERGE of cramping more again, if that makes sense. And whenever I stand for a bit, I feel like I NEED to sit.... like my uterus is going to start cramping if I don't sit.

So today I got checked out at the hospital, just to make sure that everything was okay. Everything was totally fine. Baby is healthy and everything looks normal. But I'm afraid to go back to work tomorrow. The midwife said to just stop right away if I notice anymore discomfort, or I start feeling the cramping again. I just feel like it's totally going to come back, and I'm afraid of going into pre-term labor! If I'm starting to feel any cramps before work tomorrow, I certainly won't going to work. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on here.......I'm wondering if I'm going to need to stop working all together, or if this is something I can manage.

Any advice or feedback would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Darlin65]

Sounds like what I have going on but no official diagnosis. Mw just writes it off as braxton hicks from being active and says it's totally normal and some pregnancies they can be worse than others. Unfortunately for me they've just gotten worse as my pregnancy progresses. I was up in the kitchen the other day making a from scratch dinner and was miserable by the end. I can't even go shopping without it acting up from being on my feet. I don't think it's anything for concern but listen to your body and rest if needed

 

[BabyMaybe917]

Have they measured your cervix? I'm just shy of 21 weeks and an on bedrest in the hospital, hopefully home for bedrest tomorrow. I started having cramps that kept getting worse and turned into contractions. After being admitted and released on meds for that at my follow up I was found to have a short cervix too. So i had a specialist consult and was admitted again for funneling and more meds.

 

[babytobe]

Darlin65, I probably would be less concerned if I didn't have a physical job. Then I could sit when I need to! If it happens again tomorrow then I'll definitely schedule an appointment with my doctor. That sucks that you're getting the same thing... I feel for you! I'm afraid of it turning into what BabyMaybe917 has...

BabyMaybe917, they didn't check my cervix. I thought they might, but maybe they didn't, since I haven't had any strong cramping since Thursday. Is your cramping/contractions under control now? I wish you the best. It sounds like you're getting good care. May our babies stay comfy and "bake" in our wombs 'till they're good and done!

 

[Darlin65]

I have to have my cervix and placenta monitored because of placenta previa and so far mine looks good so I don't think it's a sure thing that you'd have issues. I'd say only if you are feeling pressure down there would I start to worry

 

[BabyMaybe917]

Darlin65, I probably would be less concerned if I didn't have a physical job. Then I could sit when I need to! If it happens again tomorrow then I'll definitely schedule an appointment with my doctor. That sucks that you're getting the same thing... I feel for you! I'm afraid of it turning into what BabyMaybe917 has...

BabyMaybe917, they didn't check my cervix. I thought they might, but maybe they didn't, since I haven't had any strong cramping since Thursday. Is your cramping/contractions under control now? I wish you the best. It sounds like you're getting good care. May our babies stay comfy and "bake" in our wombs 'till they're good and done!

I would request them to next time, that can also put your mind at ease! I've had cramping for most of my pregnancy due to other complications but the contractions were a completely different feeling so you should notice a change IF it happens to you. My contractions have stopped now just working on getting my cervix stable. And yes, most definetely our babies need to finish baking!!!

 

[twokiddos]

I was diagnosed with an irritable uterus with my DS #3 at 34 weeks. It actually sent me into early labor and I was in the hospital with mild contractions coming every 3 minutes and dilated to 1cm. They gave me meds in the hospital that slowed the contractions but my uterus was still "irritable". I was sent home with a prescription that I had to take till 37 weeks and I went on to deliver a perfectly healthy baby at 39+5 Stay VERY hydrated and rest as much as possible. The medication was horrid but well worth the extra weeks he needed to finish baking.

 

[Darlin65]

Funny the terms they give this stuff. With DS I was diagnosed with an "angry cervix"

 

[2Pups4Kids]

This sounds EXACTLY like what happened to me this morning. Dr at the hospital didn't mention anything about irritable uterus but he said to follow up with my OB, which I am tomorrow. Hmm..

 

[babytobe]

I went to work today, but one of my clients didn't show up, so I only ended up doing 2 massages, which was great! I felt fine. Yay. I'm feeling less crampy in general today, so maybe my irritable uterus is become less irritable again? I'm feeling much less worried about it now, since I'm feeling better.

Twokiddos, thanks for sharing your experience. I am definitely trying to stay as hydrated as I can, and rest when I'm able. I had kind of increased my activity level just before the cramps had started at work (I started walking, doing yoga, and trying to do kegals and some pelvic exercises that are supposedly good for birth preparation). Maybe I just did too much activity in one week. Sometimes I do feel like the Kegals tend to irritate my cervix too. Which is annoying, because I really want to have control of my bladder! Anyhow, Twokiddos, it's encouraging that you carried full term and had a healthy baby. Sucks that the meds were horrible, but anything for a healthy baby, right?!

2Pups4kids, hopefully your uterus calms down too! Good luck with your GP

 

[gaves99]

I have been getting the pains and cramps now every day for a few weeks. I went to dr 2 weeks ago and the said they didnt know and suggested I go to l&d to hook up to a monitor when it happens. I felt like a baby doing that so I havent gone. The past few days have been horrible and VERY uncomft as we speak. These last me hours tho!! I think I am growing too bc the pain has been moving up. I have a dr appt tomorrow for my glucose test and will DEF be asking again.

 

[squirrel.]

I had a terrible uterus with my son. From 26 weeks onwards I had strong braxton hicks contractions every fifteen minutes on a good day or every three minutes on a bad day. Often they would last 30 seconds to a minute, but on bad days they could last up to seven minutes each. I was admitted to hospital for three days when it first happened because they thought I was going into pre-term labour and my cervix was funneling (opening from the inside) with each of these contractions. They put me on nifedipine to stop labour and then watched me carefully. After three days when nothing happened they released me with a prescription of nifedipine and a progesterone pessary and told me to jump on a plane and head back home to the UK (we'd been in NZ travelling at the time). Not wanting a massively preterm baby abroad, we did head back a week or so later. Back home the doctors didn't seem as concerned and told me to stop taking the nifedipine. They checked me quite a few times - internal exams with speculum and CTG minitoring of baby, but never told me what was wrong or what was causing it. I had to find out that it was probably an irritable uterus online, because it's not a term that's used to much by doctors around my area. I carried on having these contractions every single day till I was induced at 40+5. They never led to preter labour luckily, but they were damned uncomfortable towards the end. I also had a very hyperactive uterus (that's the only way I can describe it ) during labour. I had contractions every other minute from the start till the end (38 hours later!!). No starting off far apart for me. I think my uterus just liked contracting.

This time the braxton hicks have started again this week at 15 weeks. I know what I'm feeling and can reach down to the top of my uterus and feel it go rock hard, but my midwife didn't believe me. She said it was too early. So not true! Every woman gets gentle tightenings of uterus from about 7 weeks and many women do in fact feel braxton hicks from around 16 weeks. I also know what I felt! I had literally thousands last time, I know one when I feel one. I have a consultant appointment in a few weeks and will push them to diagnose an irritable uterus and hopefully give me some medication to try and calm it down. It's just so uncomfortable all the time!

Good luck and I hope you don't get too many more episodes. Rest assured though, it should harm your baby in any way. They may monitor you more closely for signs of preterm labour, but the cramps and tightenings themselves won't harm your baby.

x

 

[babytobe]

I have been getting the pains and cramps now every day for a few weeks. I went to dr 2 weeks ago and the said they didnt know and suggested I go to l&d to hook up to a monitor when it happens. I felt like a baby doing that so I havent gone. The past few days have been horrible and VERY uncomft as we speak. These last me hours tho!! I think I am growing too bc the pain has been moving up. I have a dr appt tomorrow for my glucose test and will DEF be asking again.

Hi Gaves,

I totally feel for you! Today is a bad day for me too. I've been off work for 4 weeks now, and just today I decided to go for a walk, because I was feeling so much better! I hadn't had any uterine cramping for 2 days, which is amazing! But I'm totally paying for it now. My uterus was cramping up so painful an hour or so after the walk, and now my low back is so achy. I can feel the uterus is just still crampy in general. It's not happy with me!

I've done tons of googling and just talking to other women on this website, we are definitely not alone with this irritable uterus thing! I was so happy my doctor put me on medical leave, as I have a physical job, and doing anything active totally sets it off. The recommended treatment seems to mainly be taking it easy, drinking lots of fluids, and making sure you empty your bladder regularly.

My irritable uterus seems to be different than a lot of others.... mostly I'll be fine, except for one two episodes of bad cramping per day (doesn't last more than 2-5 minutes). Some days I'll feel like I have a tight/irritated uterus a lot, but it doesn't feel like contractions like a lot of women describe. When I do get the painful cramps/contractions, I have to make sure I relax and breathe, or else it gets WAY WORSE.

I was really worried at first that it would cause preterm labor, especially when the cramps got really painful. But now I'm not too worried. It can slightly increase your chances of preterm labor, but I had another ultrasound and they said my cervix still looks fine. If you're getting a ton of contractions and you're concerned, just go into L&D so they can check you and put your mind at ease. That's what they're there for!

I would definitely say though, try to put your feet up and not do too much. I was feeling way better before I went on that stupid walk today! Epsom salt baths seem to help too. Hang in there!

 

[gaves99]

Thank you so much. This helps! Relaxing and laying down helps. I know it's a no-no but tonight's were so bad that I used a heating pad on my belly on low. Few min on, few mins off. Relaxing def helped. Very happy I'm going to dr Tomo so I can bring up this actual term. I know they'll have me go to l&d, but the timing if them just sucks. I work full time, 10 he's a day (THANKFULLY from home) but in a high stress sales job. I want to be a SAHM after so badly. Fingers crossed they say something useful Tomo. Thanks again for your help!!!

 

[gaves99]

Update: went to the dr (passed my glucose test!!!) and they are running a bunch of blood work, put me on Zantac and asked that I go to l&d to get checked out. Thinks most likely it is that. This visit was much more productive and listened to me more since its been happening for a few more weeks. Thank you again for your help!!!

 

[babytobe]

Update: went to the dr (passed my glucose test!!!) and they are running a bunch of blood work, put me on Zantac and asked that I go to l&d to get checked out. Thinks most likely it is that. This visit was much more productive and listened to me more since its been happening for a few more weeks. Thank you again for your help!!!

Glad to hear it went well with your doctor! I had a similar experience...the second time I went in after a few weeks with the same complaints, the doctor was much more productive (and the time before that I had seen a midwife, who just told me to rest). I'm sure you'll just be fine in l&d, but it's always good to get checked out just in case. Take care

 

[gaves99]

Finally had my first taste of true BH last night. They actually woke me up a few times. Whole belly would go tight, last 30ish seconds and relax. Happened a few times in an hour, once at midnight and again at 3am. Def not the same feeling as the other pain and tightening which I clearly this is IU. Went to hosp today for blood work to check out kidney, liver and pancreas funtions to rule out anything going on there..

 

[babytobe]

Finally had my first taste of true BH last night. They actually woke me up a few times. Whole belly would go tight, last 30ish seconds and relax. Happened a few times in an hour, once at midnight and again at 3am. Def not the same feeling as the other pain and tightening which I clearly this is IU. Went to hosp today for blood work to check out kidney, liver and pancreas funtions to rule out anything going on there..

That's interesting. I think I've had a few light BH, and yes, I would agree that they feel very differently from IU! I hope your other organs are in good health! Good to get checked out just in case.