What Should I do? What is going on with this pregnancy?

[PrettyKitty1]

I have asked this before but will ask again because it happened and I’m getting apprehensive. I’m 22 weeks pregnant.  Last Saturday I could not sleep. Spent the entire night having painful contractions. That same morning I felt what I suppose would be cervical tightening and relaxing. It was not painful. The pain came afterwards.  The next day the pain went away. I haven’t felt pain. I have been feeling this since I was 12 weeks pregnant. Called my doctor and she asked me if I was having bloody discharge, or just heavy discharge at all, diarrhea or any other symptom and I said no. This time around I’m still not having any discharge. The only thing I feel is just pain in my abdomen and lower back. I read that these were contractions.  I read Braxton Hicks are not painful, and that I may be having pre-term contractions.  My next visit is on 4/30. Should I call my doc? Should I just go to the ER when/if this happens again? Could it be dehydration? Ugh…I don’t do a very good job at drinking water. I do drink water but maybe it isn’t enough, especially when I’m busy at work and time flies! I know, this isn’t good.

I have to say, my baby has been moving regularly, kicking when he hears loud noises, and just overall acting the same way he’s been acting all along. I’m scared to go to the bathroom. I keep thinking I’ll give birth in the toilet. That’s how scared I am because I don’t know why this is happening.

Are you guys sure this is normal? Please help. I’m worried.

[PrettyKitty1]

Yes maybe I'm overly concerned and am reading into his words a little too much. I just need to take it easy. Since this is my first pregnancy and I LOVE my baby so, so much, I just can't bear the thought of anything going wrong with him, or anything going wrong with me that would harm him. I wish I could protect him for as long as he lives..........Hmm I think you are getting the picture of what kind of mother I'll be lol......

My doctors are great. I'm glad I picked them. They are all so gracious and understanding! He told me to take my time telling him everything I was feeling, every detail mattered to him; that he had time for me and that he would listen carefully. I thought that was so cool :)

[annalc]

It is normal to be worried. I think that sometimes though, we can read into what our docs say a little too much. Just know that if you are following the docs orders, then you should be fine. Take it seriously, but don't stress because that can make it worse.

I'm sooo glad you are getting some answers. Sometimes if they aren't giving you what you want, then you have to really express your concerns and push a little. It frustrates me so much when I hear about peoples' doctors not accomodating them to make sure that they are comfortable. My doc will do just about anything to make sure that I am at ease. You make sure that you get what you want!

[PrettyKitty1]

I’m back!

Thanks guys. Well I guess we’ll find out if I have an irritable uterus or not this Thursday. So I called in today, and told them what was happening. They wanted to see me ASAP. So I went in today. My cervix is closed; my baby’s HB is 145 so that’s good. My blood pressure is normal and I haven’t gained any weight since my last visit a week and a half ago. Good!

So, here is what the doctor tells me. He tells me I’m having preterm contractions and that there was very little they could do except monitor it constantly. He did express a bit of concern and does not want me to work out or stress. Gave me a form to show my boss tomorrow as he wants me to take some time off work, put my feet up high, and just rest until my contractions stop bothering me. He scheduled me for an ultrasound this Thursday to check in further. I guess the good thing about it is I’ll get to see my bebe one more time. He wants to know if there is something wrong with my cervix and/or uterus. He also said we have to work on trying to avoid dilation as much as possible. We don’t want Noah to be born prematurely. This comment led me to think that preterm contractions can eventually lead to preterm labor.  Am I right to be worried? I’m worried. I’m sort of freaking out right now.

What are your thoughts on this?

[LosingMyMindInGA]

Something else, if you already have an irritibale uterus, be it from dehydration or whatever, certain activity can make it worse.  For me just being up and around and doing laundry gives me a back ache and very uncomfortable BH.

[JadedSweetheart]

I have had some bad cramping throughout my pregnancy and knowing that other people have bad cramping and still have a healthy pregnancy helps me stress less!

One thing that has helped me a lot is limiting the caffiene I drink.  I could typically have 2 cups of coffee and 2 sodas a day when not pregnant and while pregnant I wasn't watching it until I read somewhere that caffiene can cause cramping and contractions.

Since that I have one cup of coffee and maybe a soda in the afternoon (to help with the caffine headache and the cramping has been much better.  I also drink a lot of water every day.  I hope you feel better!

[April2]

They said my daughter had an irritable uterus, too, the last couple of times I took here in because she was having some painful BH contractions. They said she needs to drink, drink, drink! She does drink water but I guess you havae to drink a lot more when you're pregnant. We live in a high, arid altitude too so she should drink even more. I've been told Colorado has a high rate of preterm deliveries so I hope not in her case!

Let us know how you're doing! You and little Noah are in my prayers! God bless!

[LosingMyMindInGA]

an irritable uterus can be caused by a lot of things...dehydration, multiple pregnancies, ligament tears, etc.  I'm on pregnancy #8 so I have a VERY cranky uterus.  I'm susceptible to ligament tears just from rolling over in bed.  With the last few pregnancies I have experienced BH contractions starting early on.  This time around 16 weeks.  MY BH can be painful like menstrual cramps.  Matter of fact I was having some really uncomfortable ones yesterday and last night as well.  It may not be anything to worry about but as Spade22 said it's ALWAYS better to call and be on the safe side.  You ob is getting paid to treat you and be there for you.  

[PrettyKitty1]

What causes a woman to have an irritable uterus? Is it lack of water?

Thank you guys. I will definitely drink more water, see if that helps. But I will be calling my doctor today for sure. They open at 9:00 am so I've got about an hour to call. I'll let ya'll know how that went :-(

[feather2e]

I experience what you are having on a regular basis. You may have an "irritable uterus". The dehydration is definitely a big thing .Fill up a 1/2 gallon (64oz) container with water and make sure you finish it every day . You should call the doctor and go in and at least have them do a check to make sure these contractions are not affecting the cervix. With me the contractions dont affect me till the baby gets heavier 28 weeks+, but my cervix started to open at 30 weeks and I was in pretem labor. They managed to stop it and I was on bed rest till the end.  

[Cyn_x0]

Hey girly- Well at my last sonogram the tech told me I was having a contraction. I didn't feel anything but she said that comes from not drinking enough water and to drink at least 8 glasses per day.

I drink alot of water already but for the past few weeks I was slacking but after hearing what she told me I make it a point to drink water- It's usually at work when I dont realise I am not drinking as much so what i started doing was filling 1 cup up and giving myself 1 hour to drink it and I do this every 1-2 hours so i know at work I get anywhere from 4-7 cups in.

Good Luck hon :)

[April2]

Hey PK,  I'm sorry you're going through this. You probably should go get checked out. It will ease your mind, I'm sure, and they don't mind. I was told after 20 weeks to go to the labor and delivery not the emergency room but I don't know if it's because of our insurance or if that's the way they just do it. But go ahead and get checked.
You bring up a good point, when my daughter was getting cramps and contractions I took her to L & B and they said she was a little dehydrated and to increase her water. They said dehydration can cause contractions.
If you have trouble drinking plain water, try drinking it with a squirt of lemon or lime juice to add a little flavor.
Try not to worry. If you're feeling him move around then it sounds like he's doing fine in there! Take care and let us know how things are going with you, ok? *Hugs*

[spade22]

Good idea to call.  Your doctor is your employee so dont and works for you so call her when you need to - thats what she is paid for.

How much water are you drinking everyday?  Dehydration can definitely cause contractions.  You should be drinking about 70-80 oz of water a day.  

[PrettyKitty1]

Heather,

Good you mention the UTI hon. I got checked for that about a week and a half ago and came back negative. So that leaves out UTI. I probably have what you are having. I'll probably make a phone call tomorrow and will give you updates. I'd just hate for my doc to tell me, yet again, that if I don't have bloody or heavy discharge then she can't really do anything for me. It makes me feel like I'm wasting her time. But I will call. It's my son we are talking about......

[HeatherLF16]

I have the same thing with him pressing on the bladder and never getting relief.  Another thing my doc told me was when you get a UTI when you are pregnant it may not feel like a typical UTI when you are not.  You are also more prone during pregnancy to get them.  They tested me for one I was negative.  Even though they are not hard to treat, they can be harmful if left untreated during pregnancy because they cause contractions.  So, make sure you get checked for one of those too.  But, it sounds like we are going through the exact same thing, and the more weight our boys gain the more we are going to feel it probably. Keep me updated and I will do the same xoxo

[PrettyKitty1]

Heather,

Yes, yes, that's what it feels like: PERIOD CRAMPS! And it just hurts all around my lower back and abdominal area.  It doesn't hurt tonight but I will get myself checked next time this happens. :(

I do feel my boy pressing against my bladder so he could be low. I can't hold my urine and it always comes out little by little. So I'm pretty sure my boy is pressing on my bladder. He moves a lot. So it could be something he does like maybe he positions himself in a way that causes me to feel pain. I will go to the hospital if this happens again. I'm just so scared of what they might say.......

[HeatherLF16]

Please call tomorrow and go to ER if it gets worse tonight.  We are at the phase in our pregnancy where it could be nothing or it could be beginnings of preterm labor.  Doctors want you to call so that they can rule out anything harmful and catch something harmful in time if it could hurt you or the baby.  Like I mentioned in my journal I have braxton hicks all the time, but my pain I have been having was not associated with them.  It was more achy like period cramps constant.  Maybe your boy's head is very low too like me? Better to get to the bottom of it !!

[PrettyKitty1]

K,

aahhhh it's so comforting to know I'm not the only one. To know that you had that and still gave birth to healthy babies is a relief! I know, it would not hurt to just go to the hospital. It's just that I'm scared that they will tell me something is wrong. I wonder why this happens. It is not just discomfort. It is PAIN....strong, painful contractions but they go away and won't come back for weeks.

I'll start to drink more water.....

[k10road]

PK - it's probably nothing at all to worry about, but I say, go with your gut...call the dr. if you are that scared!  The fear and stress from this is no good for you or for your lil man.  I had a lot of cramping on and off throughout my healthy pregnancies, and it was nothing bad as they both went past full term!  But, it will never ever hurt to just have yourself checked.