PLEASE help! 31 weeks, preterm labor, on Prometrium

[bjbbeauchamp]

So I have posted on several other forums and I have gotten no response;( I am 31 weeks tomorrow and on Monday I went to my doc b/c I was having a pain in my stomach. They thought it might be a kidney stone. I knew I have been having contractions, but just ignored them, b/c I can't afford to go to the hospital each and every time like I did with my second pregnancy which preterm labor started at 24 weeks. This time around I have done so much better and have just now started to dilate. I am 2cm and my cervix is super short. They put me on bedrest and on Prometrium. Has anyone else been on this???? It makes me super sleepy and groggy and I have two girls under the age of 4 to tend to here and there when my hubby isn't home. I don't have much help, so it's been hard, but I am doing what I can. I am also in school (online) and can't focus with this making me sort of loopy! Anyone been on something else to help stop contractions?

[Pips]

Hey there ...  just ran across this.  I too am on prometrium for contractions, and have been since about 22 weeks.  I am currently 32 weeks (tomorrow).  They made me tired, dizzy and sometimes nauseas at first, but I figured out the trick ... which is to NOT EVER take with food.  I try to make sure there is at least an hour or two on either side of the medicine when I take it.  If I do take it with food, it automatically causes the symptoms to come back.  

Another thing is I played with the dosage (with DR permission) until it worked best for me.  At first I was taking 100 mg every 12 hours, but found it was wearing off by 10 or 11 hours.  I now take 100 mg every 8 hours and it works beautifully.  I am not on bedrest now (was briefly) but I do have to take it easy.  Any amount of walking or standing for any length of time will cause them to come back.  I am lucky though, cause so far there is no change in my cervix.

One last thing ... there are other meds you can take which will stop your contractions, but prometrium is by far the safest.  It's natural progesterone, not even synthetic.  It's what naturally occurs in the body and according to my doc "calms the uterus".

Good luck ... feel free to contact me with any questions, sounds like we have similar situations and are due around the same time.  I am due Nov. 1

[Jsucilla]

Sounds lke ur stressing like me. It ***** when there's nothing u can do bout it either. I have two kids too, it can b very stressful. I hope everything works itself out for u. I'm still trying to figure out what I'm gonna do . Hang in there!

[bjbbeauchamp]

Well, I dilated to 5cm with my second at 35 weeks and ended up being induced b/c I had severe pre-eclampsia. This time around they have been measuring my cervix since 24 weeks b/c I had to have a LEEP done right after I gave birth to my second daughter. Otherwise they would have never known I was dilating. I went in thinking they would just send me home and tell me it was a pregnancy pain I was experiencing, but instead they did the FFN test and sent me over to the hospital to monitor me. My doctor said she guessed that the test would be negative and that I wouldn't be contracting, but I was, every 3 minutes. Several of my friends are nurses as well as my aunt and all say that the test isn't that accurate. I had it done with my second and she came within 3 weeks of me doing the test although it was negative. I guess each pregnancy is different. I have a ton of stress in my life right now and did with my second pregnancy as well, so I know this is what has caused me to dilate like I am doing. Yeah, when I called them they told me the reason for me being on the meds where to make me sleepy so I would rest, but I just can't. I had so much help last time as I was on bedrest in the hospital so I didn't have a choice, but this time my MIL (who normally helps the most) has stage 4 cancer and is getting radiation everyday so she can't help much as it makes her really exhausted. My dad works full-time as well as my hubby and my mom works too, only having two days off a week and can't afford to stop right now b/c she has to have surgery for her color here very soon. Everyone else is far away and I can't really get any other help as we are limited to our expenses right now due to all my medical bills. My girls go to preschool several days a week but only for a few hours, so after that I am pretty much responsible for them. They are good and only need me to change them or get them a drink, so not too much getting up and down. I guess I will just have to make do and pray she doesn't come soon. If I can at least make it to 36 weeks then I should be fine! Well, thanks and good luck with yours!!!!

[alaysha]

I'm not getting the meds unless things get worse. But if you have been pregnant twice before it isn't that abnormal to have started dilating. I know that if the test came back negative then it means you shouldn't deliver within the next week and most likely not within the next 3. The only thing I can really suggest is maybe ask the doctor for a different kind of med (although I believe they are all muscle relaxers so in some way are going to make you loopy hence why I'm not going to take them unless it is for sure I need them). Also you could try getting some daycare or having someone come over to help you with your other children so that you can relax.