Threatened Preterm Labour

[bump.on.brain]

I was just wondering if anyone is going through or has been through anything similar to me? I was admitted last week at 26+1 as I'd been having period cramps which started to turn into tightenings (showed uterine activity on the trace at the hospital) and tested positive on an actim partus test which suggested pre-term labour. They thought DS was on his way so I had to meet the neonatal team, was talked through what would happen, we had a NICU cot on standby etc. It was terrifying.

Thankfully after 48 hours the contractions had eased off slightly and the little man hadn't made an appearance so I was allowed home on bed rest with them not really knowing when he's going to arrive.

I'm 27+4 now and so grateful for every day that he stays where he should be... but as I still get cramps every day I am constantly terrified that he's going to arrive to the point that I won't even prepare baby stuff anymore as I'm too scared it's all going to go wrong. Our new pram got delivered 3 days after I was discharged home and I haven't let DH get it out of the box

I suppose I'm just wondering if anybody has any advice as I have no idea how to cope with this situation!?

I see the Consultant again next Wednesday - am currently signed off work until then but think I'll be too scared to go back regardless. My cramps get worse every time I move around so am lay down most of the day at the moment...

 

[drudai]

I had PTL at 31+0, and every BH contraction or cramp since, I had this horrible anxiety of "no, not again!!"

I am not on strict bed rest but I have been taken off work and asked to not have sex. Tomorrow I am 35 weeks and PTL feels like it was 10 years ago. Nothing I can say will make the weeks go by faster, but all I can say is rest. Drink your water, pee frequently. Mine happened from a mixture of working, in hot conditions (kitchen), and being dehydrated.

Try not to stress, as you're doing all that you can for baby: taking it easy! It may have been a fluke (a scary fluke) like it was for me. Just too many bad things at once. We tend to over work ourselves while pregnant (wanting to be super mom).

My OBgyn at hospital (best we have here) said, take it day by day... let's get you to 32 weeks, and from there 34 weeks. Give yourself small mental goals. Get to 28 weeks, (ah, see you're almost there!) and then 30.

 

[bump.on.brain]

Thank you so much for your lovely reply - and I’m delighted to hear that you are 35 weeks tomorrow, that must be such a relief! Did your cramps ever settle down or have you still been getting them?

I’m still getting cramps every day at the moment which definitely isn’t helping as it means I can’t forget about it/am anxious every day that he might arrive soon. I know deep down that I am doing all I can now by eating, drinking and resting as well as possible... but I hate the lack of control and fact that still might not be enough!

I don’t think it helps that I do think mine was caused by doing too much too, so now I feel guilty and like it’s my fault that we’re in this position. I’m really hoping that when I next see the Dr they just sign me off for the rest of my pregnancy rather than doing 2 weeks at a time as it just makes it harder to manage with work. But I don’t want to go back and risk setting it all off again.

The neonatal team at the hospital said very much the same as your Obgyn - that every week makes a big difference for the baby - so I have done as you suggested and created countdowns to closer weeks on my phone now too... rather than just to due date which I had previously and was 96 days at the time of admission! It does help, but the neonatal team were also brutally honest about survival rates, disabilities etc so even when I get to 28 weeks I’ll struggle to be happy about it. Just praying he stays where he should be!

Thank you again, wishing you all the best

 

[drudai]

I was stressed at 31weeks, so yes, I can imagine 28 would be even scarier. It's not your fault. With my first pregnancy I worked on my feet all day, didn't think anything of it, never had any problems at all!

If I'm walking, I get BH/cramps regularly. I have to keep trips to the store short and sit as frequent as possible. I believe it's an "irritable uterus", just that everything sets me off!

If I stay at home in bed all day, I do pretty good.

 

[bump.on.brain]

Thanks drudai - I have read about irritable uterus online and wondered if that might be what is causing it for me too, as the day that I ended up admitted had been particularly busy and very hot so no doubt I was dehydrated etc.

Lying down so much is painfully boring but I’m grateful for every day that I’m bored as it means I’m still pregnant!