5th c section, irritable uterus this pregnancy since 20 wks

[mamatrujillo]

hello ladies. I have yet to post anything in any forum since i found out I was pregnant. I will be 21 weeks tomrw. but since last weekend I started having horrible cramps, pain and contractions. I went to the hospital and was diagnosed with an Irritable Uterus. But other than being put on bed rest they didnt tell me anything to expect. Here is a bit of history of my prior pregnancies:

#1 emergency C section due to placenta previa
#2 stroke at 20 weeks, and again day 2 after she was born, c section, preterm
#3 emergency c section, preterm delivery stroke 3 hours after and 1 day after delivery
# 4 preterm labor at 30 weeks, was able to keep her in until 35 weeks, emergency c section.

Other surgeries I have had on my poor uterus is 2 laparoscopies for endometriosis and 1 for an ectopic pregnancy in march 2012. had a total of 3 mc before this baby stuck. Assisted conception with estrogen pills and Clomid.

I also fought cervical cancer for a little over a year. So, has anyone been diagnosed with anything similar? anyone had Irritable Uterus and still made it to 36 weeks? I am on progesterone shots but they still havent helped w contractions. Its really difficult to be on bed rest w 4 children at home ages 2,4,5,8. How do i mentally prepare myself for the possibility of a really early delivery? And how much does this diagnosis increase my chances of an early delivery when i have a history of preterm labor and delivery with 3 out of 4 of my last? will this baby come even earlier now?? help! my dh and i are concerned. weve been through so much already and the dr wont stop my contractions

I just caught the date this thread was started and am hoping you are hanging in there okay??? I will be having my 5th c-section in a few weeks. It sounds like you have been through soooo much to have your beautiful babies, you poor thing! I hope you were able to get some more answers from your doctor and that the baby is staying put! I wanted to add, that the preterm labor diagnoses seems to be a common thing to throw out there- I was having contractions a couple of weeks ago, they were NOT braxton hicks..anyway, the doctor agreed that they were real contractions, but the term preterm labor was mentioned, I've never heard of the irritable uterus diagnoses before! The doctors confused me with the preterm labor thing because in one hand they would mention that it sounded like preterm labor and advised me to come to the ER if/when my water broke (or hopefully before that)...so, after telling them that the contractions had stopped they didn't correct the preterm labor thing, they only repeated the advice....anyway, my point is, is that I've learned a lot from this thread, thank you! (Sorry, not sure if I am making sense- it's late and I'm tired). Anyway. Just wanted to offer some support- I'm sorry you are going through all of this and I hope you are well!

Oh- and a far as trying to follow the strict bedrest thing with other kids running around- I totally understand the challenge! My youngest is almost 1 1/2, and it would be impossible to follow a complete strict bedrest as my older two have school-but I am currently resting as must as possible because of some of the complications I am having and some of the things I do a lot with my kids is turning little things into games (they are young enough to where seeing how fast they can do this, or that is fun for them, lol), we watch movies camped out on the living room floor- my oldest loves the opportunity to cook- makes him feel so grown up, plus he get to learn new things, etc. Remember that while you don't want to put too much on them, it is great for families to work together- they want a healthy sibling, just like you want a healthy child, they may not understand what is going on right now, but I am betting it makes them feel good to have such an important job in helping their mommy out

Hang in there!!!

Thank you so much hun for your very supportive and encouraging words! I did see my dr last week and even during my ultrasound i was having contractions! He explained it to me that the nurse at labor and delivery used the term Irritable uterus because honestly they couldnt really explain why i was having contractions. and because my cervix wasnt dilating at all, that was the diagnosis given, yet i was sent home with strict preterm labor instructions. He said I am having contractions , real ones but that they arent causing cervical progression but he is still monitoring me very closely. I have another ultrasound next week. My little man is doing great. I have only gained a total of 5 lbs, but my dr said i should catch up on that during my last couple months.

to add to our situation, my husband has to have surgery himself on march 12th to fix a torn rotator cuff. so he will also be out of work for several months, if not more because of what his job requires physically. and we have to move by the 20th of march. lol So i am gradually sorting and packing up the house now. Thankfully its tax season and we are paid several months in advance on most of our bills. The kids are gradually getting better at helping me out around the house. the new school they will be going to has a bus so i wont have to stress about driving anymore!

I have now made it to 24 weeks! please let me know how your c section goes! I am quite nervous. How has your uterus ben doing at your prior incision site? My dr is mostly concerned with me tearing again. I am growing much faster and larger with this pregnancy and now the concern is that my uterus wont be able to handle the pregnancy very long. we already have a plan in place for a delivery around 34 weeks. You are the only other woman I have talked to that will be having as many c sections as myself. I would love if you kept me updated on your healing process this time around. I know every dr does things differently. but is your dr giving you the option of how they are going to stitch you up? my last dr used staples and they tore. I am hoping my dr this time around will use dissolving stitches and the glue. I can only hope!!

Please keep me informed on how you are doing. I am glad im not alone in my experience! not many woman have had so many c sections. this will be baby number 5 for me in 8 years! lol i am planning to get my tubes tied during surgery. or having a hysterectomy at my 6 week check up. my biggest fear is of my endometriosis coming back again full force. I know my hubby and i are done having babies, but im struggling w the idea of not having my uterus anymore. does that sound wierd?

 

[SuperKat]

Of course hun! That is what this forum is supposed to be about, supporting each other! I read through all of the posts on here, and the other poster you were going back and forth with seemed more interested in being right, and arguing with you, than supporting you- I felt bad reading your posts- it seemed like you were and having to defend yourself over and over (or that's how it looked to me, anyway), rather than getting any support for what you are going through.


It sounds like you have a whole lot of stress to deal with!!! I was really stressed out when I found out I was pregnant with #5, we planned to stop with #4, DH was supposed to get a vasectomy, but we ended up conceiving before it happened. I was told after having baby #3 not to have any more because of the amount of adhesions I have. During my third c-section they couldn't seem to stretch the incision enough to get the baby out and had to use the vacuum (which seems crazy...to have to use a vacuum during a c-section...). I haven't had the complications you've had with your pregnancies. My complications have been related to pre-eclampsia and spd, but that seems to be it, although with this pregnancy I developed gestational diabetes.

I've been stressed out because with my 4th child I went into labor at 38 weeks and was so afraid of uterine rupture, the contractions were horribly painful, but the fear I had during them was worse. They screwed up on the due date and have me scheduled for a c-section when I will be 40 weeks 2 days....which again stresses me out because I am convinced I will go into labor around 38 weeks again. So, I worry about uterine rupture, and then the other issue is that once I go into labor, the medication for the spinal isn't effective and I end up feeling the c-sections (they give me other drugs so I end up being so out of it that I can respond much, but I can obviously still feel it, and it still hurts).

My doctor talked to me about the possibility of needing a hysterectomy after this c-section, I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. I worry that I would feel like less of a woman without my uterus. A friend told me that they can leave the ovaries intact and that way your body still produces the hormones, that doesn't sound as bad to me- but still, I'd like my organs to stay put!)

I will keep you updated on how the c-section goes. I am remaining positive about it, I am sure I will stress as I get closer, but for now, I am not letting my mind go there!

I am glad that your baby is hanging in there!!! I can't imagine having the issues with the irritable uterus and preterm deliveries you've had, that's got to be really overwhelming and incredibly stressful!!! I've never delivered preterm and I freak out over the menstrual cramps and real contractions I've had! I'd be a complete mess if i had delivered babies prematurely on top of it!

My doctors haven't discussed how they will cut/sew. I am allergic to metals though, so they never do the staples on me. You should be able to request the dissolvable stitches though, just tell them you are allergic to metals! haha It is much more convenient.

I don't know of anyone in real life that has had as many c-sections as I have, I have read a couple of threads on here of women that have had 5 or 6, and that is encouraging. But the people I know in the real world thing I am crazy, and my family freaked out when they learned I was pregnant again. Instead of getting the "Congrats!!", I got the, "ooh, is it safe to be pregnant again?" lol. Ugh. People!

Will your doctor be doing anything anytime soon to prepare for a preterm delivery given your history? have they ever discussed hospital bed rest?

 

[mamatrujillo]

Of course hun! That is what this forum is supposed to be about, supporting each other! I read through all of the posts on here, and the other poster you were going back and forth with seemed more interested in being right, and arguing with you, than supporting you- I felt bad reading your posts- it seemed like you were and having to defend yourself over and over (or that's how it looked to me, anyway), rather than getting any support for what you are going through.


It sounds like you have a whole lot of stress to deal with!!! I was really stressed out when I found out I was pregnant with #5, we planned to stop with #4, DH was supposed to get a vasectomy, but we ended up conceiving before it happened. I was told after having baby #3 not to have any more because of the amount of adhesions I have. During my third c-section they couldn't seem to stretch the incision enough to get the baby out and had to use the vacuum (which seems crazy...to have to use a vacuum during a c-section...). I haven't had the complications you've had with your pregnancies. My complications have been related to pre-eclampsia and spd, but that seems to be it, although with this pregnancy I developed gestational diabetes.

I've been stressed out because with my 4th child I went into labor at 38 weeks and was so afraid of uterine rupture, the contractions were horribly painful, but the fear I had during them was worse. They screwed up on the due date and have me scheduled for a c-section when I will be 40 weeks 2 days....which again stresses me out because I am convinced I will go into labor around 38 weeks again. So, I worry about uterine rupture, and then the other issue is that once I go into labor, the medication for the spinal isn't effective and I end up feeling the c-sections (they give me other drugs so I end up being so out of it that I can respond much, but I can obviously still feel it, and it still hurts).

My doctor talked to me about the possibility of needing a hysterectomy after this c-section, I know exactly what you mean. I feel the same way. I worry that I would feel like less of a woman without my uterus. A friend told me that they can leave the ovaries intact and that way your body still produces the hormones, that doesn't sound as bad to me- but still, I'd like my organs to stay put!)

I will keep you updated on how the c-section goes. I am remaining positive about it, I am sure I will stress as I get closer, but for now, I am not letting my mind go there!

I am glad that your baby is hanging in there!!! I can't imagine having the issues with the irritable uterus and preterm deliveries you've had, that's got to be really overwhelming and incredibly stressful!!! I've never delivered preterm and I freak out over the menstrual cramps and real contractions I've had! I'd be a complete mess if i had delivered babies prematurely on top of it!

My doctors haven't discussed how they will cut/sew. I am allergic to metals though, so they never do the staples on me. You should be able to request the dissolvable stitches though, just tell them you are allergic to metals! haha It is much more convenient.

I don't know of anyone in real life that has had as many c-sections as I have, I have read a couple of threads on here of women that have had 5 or 6, and that is encouraging. But the people I know in the real world thing I am crazy, and my family freaked out when they learned I was pregnant again. Instead of getting the "Congrats!!", I got the, "ooh, is it safe to be pregnant again?" lol. Ugh. People!

Will your doctor be doing anything anytime soon to prepare for a preterm delivery given your history? have they ever discussed hospital bed rest?

Thank you hun so much. i really appreciate it. yes, i did feel quite attacked on some of the other replies. I came on here looking for support, not to be judged and practically put down for my situation!

I cant imagine making it to 38 weeks! I have not made it that far since my 1st pregnancy! i started rupturing with number 4 and had to have an emergency c section at 35 weeks. Thankfully all of my babies were small so they didnt have too much trouble getting them out.

I have the SAME problem with the medication! It completely wore off after 20 minutes during my last surgery and I was nearly screaming on the table! they almost put me out entirely. I felt everything! they say its a really rare occurance. They kept me in the post op room for nearly 2 hours because i was in agony and they were trying different cocktails of meds until it calmed down. They kept the spinal in for a day and the nurse couldnt get it out! the on call dr let an intern stitch and staple one side of my incision and it tore on day 2, then the nurse left one of the staples in when they took them out so i ended up in the er less than a week after surgery w a staff infection and a giant "SMILE" on my lower abdomen! I would just love to have a pregnancy go normally for once! this baby was planned, we had 3 losses before this one stuck. we just wanted one more. just in case my cancer came back. If i do get a hysterectomy, im going to leave my ovaries.

I dont understand why your dr would risk it by not changing your surgery date to 38 weeks instead of leaving it at 40! I was a practicing massage therapist for 6 years and I had to induce labor using accupressure with several of my clients. I didnt know they could even use a vaccume during a c section!! I know that if labor starts at 37 weeks they wont stop it. they will take the baby out. I havent experienced pre eclampsia, or diabetes. those both are scary. i am so glad you are getting close to having your baby.

Let me know if the dr lets you have the baby sooner. and let me know if you need help finding any links to acupressure points I am glad you found my thread. its really hard to find ppl these days that can be understanding. I have gone through the same criticism with friends and family when we got pregnant. Asking us how we can take care of another, and if we are crazy, we havent had much support or help. my husband is being amazing and planning my babyshower with some of his coworkers because I cant get any family involved. my mom and i talk several times a week, but only see her maybe twice a year. if i could give you a big i sure would ! you made me feel like someone understands and that is just a great feeling!!

 

[SuperKat]

If you don't mind me asking, how did you know you were rupturing? I am always worried about that, but have never really gotten a clear answer on what to be aware of. I had some round ligament pain with my last pregnancy that had me in tears and I was sure something serious was happening, and the doctor I saw was completely unhelpful, they basically said, "oh, if you are rupturing you will know, and you will have a very very short time to make it to the hospital before you die, like being hit by a bus". Dummy. I couldn't believe my ears. And when I came back with an equally morbid response, she says, "oh, you really need to be more positive!" LOL. (I was messing with her, my response was, "oh okay, that makes me feel better, if it happens it won't bother me since I'll be dead so it won't matter anyway". 'm not even sure if she heard what she was saying to me, my response shouldn't have come a such a surprise.

Ugh...feeling the surgery is the worst. Every time I would say something about about it hurting I would hear, "ooh, are you okay?" then watch them inject more stuff in the IV and the colors would change. I was having soooo many hallucinations during my last c-section, I didn't even recognize my husband and couldn't recall if they had delivered the baby or not.

Your experience sounds absolutely horrendous. The cancer is terrifying too, I can't imagine =/

The issue with my due date is that when they did my 9 week ultrasound they changed it. All my other scans match the LMP date, but they are sticking to the 9 week due date, which I KNOW isn't right....the only way it would be possible, would be if I ovulated 10 days later than I should have, and if my husbands sperm lived for 10 days in my uterus and fertilized the egg. Everything I have read says it is possible for the sperm to live about 5 days, but that it usually only last for 72 hours....so, I believe they were off on their measurements during that 9 week u/s. (9 week u/s showed a due date of 4/24. My LMP says 4/15, 20 week u/s says 4/13, and the "just for fun" u/s showed a due date of 4/16). So...according to them, they are scheduling my c-section for 39 weeks (they said new laws prevent them from doing it before 39 weeks, I don't think I will even make it to 39 though). So...I don't know. I guess it doesn't really matter....regardless of what they schedule the c-section for, I am convinced I won't make it that long. And to top it off, with this gestational diabetes this baby will probably be big (my oldest son was almost 10 lbs).

That's so sweet that your husband is planning a baby shower for you! I'm not having one this time around because my youngest child is not even 1 1/2, and I had one with her, so I still have almost everything, shoot, she is still in a crib!! Haven't figured that one out yet...lol. Going to have to move her over to a toddler bed soon, she does seems so small for one!! I figured i can keep the new baby in the bassinet for as long as possible and by then she will definitely be ready for the toddler bed.

I am glad I found your thread too!!! Having a big family is a lot of work and full of sacrifices, but it is worth all of it!!!Money is always right for us, but all we need are the basic things to survive. We aren't materialistic and i don't feel like there is anything I am missing out on. (well...aside from sanity...I do have moment where i feel like I am going crazy, but I don't think it matters how many kids you have for that to happen, LOL ).

Btw- will your hubby be able to collect disability or anything for his surgery? His timing for the surgery could actually work out really well for you, it will be tough for him to do stuff with one arm, but he will still be able to be a huge help taking a lot of stress off of you!

Please keep me updated on how things are going for you as well!!!

 

[SuperKat]

I just noticed that we are both expecting boys as well! Got any names picked out?? We are going with Cameron Joesph. =)

 

[justhoping]

Of course hun! That is what this forum is supposed to be about, supporting each other! I read through all of the posts on here, and the other poster you were going back and forth with seemed more interested in being right, and arguing with you, than supporting you- I felt bad reading your posts- it seemed like you were and having to defend yourself over and over (or that's how it looked to me, anyway), rather than getting any support for what you are going through.

Really?? Well to me it really looks like somone really loves attention , well two people since your calling me out...I was merely pointing out contradictions that someone who has been through so many times would not have, and many others saw on here I was just tired of someone posting something they obviously are not really going through because there is noway on earth they would have gotten so much wrong with it, especially since they gone through it (so many times)...and ill leave it with that as I really do not want to give more attention to this......
but thanks for your post in pointing out how rude I was.......
I have been through that many times and many women here are going through it....its sad that someone needs to make up stuff for attention and im sorry admin....i wasnt going to say anything more but SOMEONE has to say something nasty and draw it out


sorry admin and everyone..

 

[SuperKat]

This is a support forum..meant for support. It was childish to jump on her thread in an attempt to "call her out". I don't understand why you feel the need to go out of your way to do that? Just move on and ignore her threads if they bother you so much.

i wasnt going to say anything more but SOMEONE has to say something nasty and draw it out

Are you saying I am being nasty for saying you were rude to the OP? So, you were not nasty for badgering her the way you were, but I am nasty for saying that I thought it was uncalled for? Pot calling the kettle black?...

Well to me it really looks like somone really loves attention , well two people since your calling me out

<-- wouldn't that be another 'Pot calling the kettle black' moment?


Stating that the information that the OP has presented is inaccurate and therefor untrue seems presumptuous to me...Some people are not well informed by their doctors, and there may be more going on that you are aware, or than is being shared. But none of that is relevant...she posted on a support forum for support, if you can't offer that then isn't it better to just move on?

I understand that all kinds of us go through all sorts of things- just because you question the accuracy of what she is claiming doesn't give you the badge of "forum police", does it? Don't take it so seriously, trust me, I've seen threads here and there on these boards, some utterly ridiculous...makes more sense to ignore them if they bother you than to jump in attack mode- because the reality of it is that you really have no idea what the person on the other side of the screen is going through, all you know is what they are posting.

 

[mamatrujillo]

I just noticed that we are both expecting boys as well! Got any names picked out?? We are going with Cameron Joesph. =)

We are naming him Jakob'e Michael cameron was one of our original choices too! its a great name!

 

[mamatrujillo]

hey hun, sorry I didnt reply sooner. yesterday was a bad day lol I want to thank you for coming to my defense. I dont feel like i should have to show documentation of my medical history to anyone, or to get support from people lol but only my dr and I know my history and what im going through!

I knew with my last pregnancy that i was rupturing because i felt intense horrible pain on my left side and it got worse after a contraction. the on call dr actually apologized when they did my emergency c section because they were actually getting ready to send me home when all of a sudden they rushed into my room to get me ready for surgery. I too have heard the terms from medical professionals that you have had. but i know my body really well. I knew something was wrong when I had my ectopic last year. i felt it and i was only 5 weeks along when most women dont find out until after they rupture.

i have had my due date changed many times w other pregnancies, but nothing quite as drastic as yours! usually just within a couple days. I know when I ovd because i was using an opk, and was on Clomid so my dr is going by that. I am lucky that I have such an understanding dr who listens to me. He knows I know my body more than anyone! My cousin went through the same thing you are right now! Her baby was measuring 2 weeks ahead of her due date! she was in and out of the hospital w high blood pressure issues, kidney issues etc. and they just kept sending her home until yesterday. they finally delivered her via c section 2 weeks away from her scheduled c section because they didnt want to risk anymore complications. I am hoping that once your baby measures large enough and the lungs are developed they will do your surgery before the baby gets too big!

I totally understand how you feel with the little one! my youngest just turned 2 in december, and she was still sleeping with me. but i have started transitioning her to sleeping w her older sister. I never used a crib w her. Im terrible at that lol. I breastfeed and this time around im hoping to get one of those bassinets that connects right to my bed!

I cant remember the last time i had my sanity either! lol But i grew up with 7 siblings, and my husband has 11 and our parents made due with far less than what we have. My husbands surgery is kinda a bummer, he is scared. but the good thing is that he does qualify for short term disability for 6 months. So the plan is that he will stay home for the 6 months while our little man arrives and then im going back to work after 6 weeks while he stays home with the kids when he goes back to work my cousin is going to watch the little ones. I know ppl think were crazy, but thats ok I cant imagine my life any different! And I can literally say i have stared death in the face and smiled to bring my babies into this world!!