Here we go again-contractions again smh

[Jaycrew]

Last week i went to L&D for contractions. even though I had contractions they hydrated me and sent me home. i was told i was just a fingertip dilated but to follow up with Dr and he will treat me himself. Thats fine. i know how to check my cervix which i pretty much leave it alone because it should be. But for understanding sake - I checked it (please dont judge me) and i could not completely fit my finger in. Just the tip of it, with a tad "flare".

The last few days particularly the night before last i could not sleep because i kept getting them- regardless to potty or resting,or the laying on left side, and sleep.

Today i got on to work and they started again- seemed to be about every 4 mins then slowed to like 7 mins. I then just felt "tight" constantly but the contractions just spread to about 10 after drinking. By 1 i walked to get lunch but as soon as i stepped out the office i thought maybe they would stop if BH but - Instead they started coming every 3mins. But i said "well maybe once i eat i will feel better", I walked to get my food and i could feel them still every 3 mins in my back then moving to my belly and lasting almost a min- I had to stop walking at each one. came and sat down gulped down my water and they seemed to have slowed down back to every 10 mins. now they are every 3-5 mins it seems.

2:58 , 3:00, 3:04,3:07, 3:10,3:13,3:17,3:22 etc. i noticed also i got really jiterry like my sugar had dropped. Im not diabetic. But for some reason my sugar has been dropping lately. I start getting flushed, jittery and shaky feeling, nausea, and irritable. that's why I finished my quest for food even though i had a pretty healthy breakfast.

I just was curious and went to the bathroom and checked my cervix - which to be honest - was not expecting anything. It was very hard to reach but I could fit my finger in it. I immediately just thought oh my God, I have to be feeling something else. I checked again and sure enough - the opening felt like i was putting on a ring (the opening) and I could fit my finger past the middle of my fingernail if i wanted to and freaked out because i could feel the inside of it. So i stopped.

The point is - I know i need to go - but wth do i tell my Dr - Like Doc i checked my cervix and i believe im 1-2 dilated. First off - he'd think i was nuts and second- when i followed up with him last time - he just shook his head and said - "yeah - I mean there's nothing that we would do at this point or that the hospital would do either" I love him but Damn! what do i do just sit here because they wont do anything? im just under 22 wks.

I feel defeated- i know a lot of you would give the same advise i would give and go to the hospital. have any of you heard anything like what he said? I not trying to have a baby premature at all - I have been there and done that and thank God it was only at 34 and 36 weeks. Ive had preterm labor in my last 3 pregnancies. Its not where we need to be. I saw my cousin deliver at 25 wks and that was hard. I just cant imagine that they would do nothing???

I dont know if im venting or what - im just not understanding.

I hope i dont come across as a wacko...for checking my cervix. this is the only forum i feel comfortable enough to disclose these types of things because majority of us are comfortable with our bodies and are mature enough to handle it. That's why I love BnB.

I'm going to my local hospital and will keep you all updated. im not even going to bother calling my Dr unless they confirm that I did dilate further. if that is truly the case then i will notify him and see what he wants to do. if the hospital i go to makes more sense than him and he has no game plan- then screw it- im staying at that hospital. (he's not affiliated with my local hospital.)

 

[Yo_Yo]

Hope everything's ok honey. They definitely should sit up and take notice if you have had to pre term babies before.

 

[EmzyJA]

Oh bless ya. So sorry you're going through this and really hope everything is ok. I think you're doing the right thing going to the hospital, I'd do the same. Also I'm not sure if it would cross my mind to check my cervix or not but I know how to do it. I guess in your situation I can't blame you for doing so. I don't think that by doing so you would have made thing any worse unless you 'swept around it' as they do with a sweep. If you think about it I'm sure it comes into contact when having intercourse so I wouldn't think a little feel could affect much.

Hope you get sorted at the hospital though and all is ok. Hopefully they can give you something to relax your uterus.

 

[Kittycat155]

They should do an ultrasound to check cervix length. You have an internal opening and external opening. Just cause the external is open does not mean the internal is.

 

[babylove x]

I would demand to be taken seriously if your contractions are actually making changes to your cervix than correct me if I'm wrong those are labor contractions, be it "early labor" or not. YOU ARE TOO EARLY. Good luck hun, fx'd that nonsense stops for you and your dr takes you seriously.. As far as I know there are definitely things that can be done to stop that prematurely. xx

 

[Spiffynoodles]

How scary! I had a preterm labor scare at 29 weeks last time, although I was diagnosed with an Irritable Uterus (so the contractions were real, but not affecting my cervix). I can't imagine how worried you must be, knowing that your cervix is, in fact, changing. I've heard of doctors going to great lengths to "do something" for women <24 weeks, so hopefully you get a doctor at the hospital that doesn't mind taking the time to care.

 

[Jaycrew]

Thanks ladies, I'm actually On my way up there - my sis n I talked and she feels like I need to go. My old dr took every precaution with me from the beginning. I have no clue if this is just his belief or practice or what. But I will def update. N - no sweep done one I felt I was inside I didn't fiddle around. :/ N yeah I forgot the internal is what counts too. Prayfully I can just get some answers. Prayfully Im wrong n they can still stop the contractions. It's just unbelievable that they would do nothing at this point. Makes no sense it makes me angry actually the more I think about it.

 

[Hoping4Four]

You are definitely not a wacko! I checked my own cervix with my second and third pregnancies. Last time I was already about 1cm dilated at around 25 weeks and nothing happened.. My waters broke at 39+4 and even then labour didn't start on its own!! So try not to panic too much about what you felt, although I know that's easier said than done.

I've got my fingers crossed for you. Best of luck!

 

[Kittycat155]

I am in same situation with cervix being open a bit-has been since 16 weeks or so. BUT I have no contractions(BH here and there but that is normal enough) Baby is active and no leaks or anything concerning. Hope all goes well.

 

[Jaycrew]

1+cm dilated. Said that I can go home at local hospital that could be normal. Was contracting. Still- I'm leaving well enough alone. Not quite 2. She said if I were 5 cm then they'd be concerned. I'm over it but thankful the baby is active and heart rate is good. I just want the pain to stop. They want me to contact my dr. And let him know what's going on. But what's the point. Didn't see the dr here but the nurse. I feel like my care has really been the sh**iest.

 

[Kittycat155]

Is it your country or that clinic when you say you do not see a dr "here"? Since your higher risk I assume there is no way to get a Doctor vs a nurse? If I missed it I am sorryu but is this your first? Have you had a miscarriage in past? I know my cervix never closed up like it had been before MC and read that was not unusual but surprised your internal is open. Did they say to avoid sex?

 

[Jaycrew]

Is it your country or that clinic when you say you do not see a dr "here"? Since your higher risk I assume there is no way to get a Doctor vs a nurse? If I missed it I am sorryu but is this your first? Have you had a miscarriage in past? I know my cervix never closed up like it had been before MC and read that was not unusual but surprised your internal is open. Did they say to avoid sex?

I'm in the US and believe me I'm surprised. Every l&d I have gone to in the state of Ga- it's always a nurse. So I never saw the on call dr tonight. My cervix has always has a little flare to it. When I was ttc It always felt exactly like a slit. I could never get my finger in it, but it was flared like not tight. Also last week I was a fingertip dilated so by it opening more- something is going on and I'm left feeling like I'm going crazy. I have children- so I always knew that I wouldn't be completely closed. Like I said its always be open like a slit with a flare if that makes sense. But i don't know - when I was in NY having these issues with previous pregnancy- my dr was overly cautious about my care. He told me i don't care if u think its nothing - I want to know about it. He was better safe than sorry kind if guy. I think the healthcare is different down here or just bad luck? It's just odd to me. They didn't tell me to avoid sex - just to call my dr. The nurse wasn't confident though which I could tell that she may have just started- u can kind of tell the new ones she seemed nervous.

 

[Hoping4Four]

The comment about being concerned if you were 5cm is ridiculous! If you WERE 5cm there'd be nothing they could do, that's well into established labour! Since you're having contractions and your cervix isn't fully closed I'm surprised they didn't give you some medication to calm things down. I'm sorry they won't do anything

As I said before though, 1cm can be normal. The contractions you were having don't seem normal to me but maybe you just have an irritable uterus? I'm sorry you're going through this. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts.

 

[Jaycrew]

Hoping - I think so too- its beyond ridiculous. 5 cm???? When i began asking questions- and told her i used to work for an ob/gyn, she was like oh so are you a nurse? no I'm not i just educate my self and this is my 8th baby. I think at this point i could give birth alone. I look like sh** this morning too. Ugh no sleep my eyes look like they are sunken in, I didn't sleep that well. I agree though, I think that I have an irritable uterus. anything that I do, even when the baby moves seems to trigger the contractions, if I feel my stress level rise they start, if I start cleaning they start. My stomach feels "beat up this morning" like after you do some ab's. or work out period, your muscles feel weak, this is how my belly feels, but thankfully the contractions slowed down a lot. I went ahead and called the on call nurse so I'm just waiting to see what they advise.

 

[Kittycat155]

That is very shitty Anyway you can call that Dr in NY and get him to give you a refferal in your current area? Maybe he knows someone. I know what you mean about the cervix. Mine was closed then after MC always a tad open and this pregnancy it is fingertip but not sure if the internal is too.

 

[Jaycrew]

Kitty I actually was thinking to do that - see if he knows anyone here? Or asking a friend of mine about her Dr. She loves him. Spoke to the nurse from my dr's office- same thing. They said until I get to 24 weeks (1wk away) that's when they'd start the drugs to minimize the contractions. For now she wants me to stay off my feet n keep hydrated. She also said that's its very probable my dr will place me on bed rest. I can't afford that option but- I'm going to see about working from home for a moment. Prayfully that helps a lot. She thinks that I'm over excreting myself with the kids n work etc.

 

[Kittycat155]

Worth a try worst case they say no. Keep calling as you may get someone who will say yes.

Can you get disability or emergency cash assistance maybe from social services due to medically being not able to work? Food stamps(or increase if you get them) That is a real tough spot to be in.

 

[Jaycrew]

Well I'm sure I could if need be. But I don't want if I don't have to. Prayfully they will do it- allow me to work from home. I would feel a lot better knowing that I can do something atleast. I was on bed rest before n it wss a pain. I have disability but it only covers 60% of my pay .

 

[Jaycrew]

Just an update - a glob of my plug seems to have come out but thank God not blood tinged- Also contracting 2-3 mins- dr office finally calling the perinatologist to see if he thinks that progesterone will help at this point to minimize the contracting. Just waiting for a call.

 

[Yo_Yo]

glad no blood is in it. I had something similar a week or so back it had streaks if blood in, and the hospital told me it's common in this stage to lose some plug as it can regenerate. Not sure how true all that is, but hope it gives you some hope.

Fingers crossed your contractions go honey.