Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

hopeful for stories from anyone who went through this

Hello, I'm new here. My doctor and the high risk doctors I've been seeing are estimating that I will be giving birth more than likely by or around week 32 of my pregnancy.

I'm due August 23rd (29 weeks + 3 days), and I've been hospitalized due to my pregnancy. I've been in the hospital the past 20 days, and originally came in to be seen at labor and delivery due to cramping, contractions, and some spotting. They did an FFN test (Fetal Fibronectin) and the test came out positive. A negative reading would state that I had a 97% chance of going into labor within the next two weeks, but a positive test is not nearly as conclusive or "predictive" because it more or less just lets the doctors know you're leaking that "glue-like" stuff that is holding the placenta in place and deteriorates/leaks out as you near delivery but the positive reading does not necessarily predict or state you will go into labor in the next two weeks.

Well they kept me here for a few hours due to contractions that were consistent and getting stronger. I ended up going into preterm labor, and became dilated 1 centimeter that night. They kept me here over night. The morning afterward, they did an ultrasound, and said my baby is healthy and right on track for growth and development, HUGE sigh of relief. BUT, they did a cervical length exam and told me that my cervix was 6-7 millimeters (0.6-0.7 centimeters) long, and 90% effaced. This was very concerning to all the doctors here, and I was immediately placed as a high risk pregnancy, put on strict bedrest, and have been in the hospital since. They ended up reevaluating me, stating that it was good that the first two days here they got those steroid shots into my system for the baby's lungs in case I went into labor and it could not be stopped, and that the tycolytics they put me on to stop/calm contractions were working, and I became more stable with my pregnancy. In my reevaluation they checked my cervix, and noted no change, but being dilated, and having an almost extremely short and almost rare cervical length especially being only 20 years old, my first pregnancy, no prior health issues/surgeries, they were baffled, but knew it was best to keep me here. The consensus was to keep me here AT MINIMUM another 4 weeks...I've been here just a few days over two weeks now, and strict bed rest, aside from bathroom and shower privileges is the most boring and difficult thing I've ever experienced, although it's for the most important reason in my life. I've already been to visit the NICU where they believe in their hearts with my situation and all these indicators that I am definitely going to go preterm, it's just a matter of how preterm I deliver. But the NICU is very upsetting.

Being told your newborn child will need machines to help with their lungs, and that they will need a feeding tube ran down their throat until they may become capable of actually feeding through breast feeding or bottle, along with an IV is probably the hardest thing I've ever heard. It makes you upset, and makes you feel like there was more you should have been capable of doing to have prevented this so that your baby can be born healthy, and not need the extra help. This is the scariest thing I've ever been through, and being confined to a room in a hospital (first ever hospital stay in my life) and especially confined to a bed for so long, it gives you way too much time to research and think about everything going on and the things that could happen. Also disheartening factor, being here in labor and delivery, just the other morning I heard a woman scream out in anguish, thinking to myself she was probably giving birth I thought nothing of it, but my nurse ended up telling me that the poor woman was 36 weeks pregnant and just found out her baby is dead inside her. My heart and prayers are with her, and it only makes things far scarier for my situation. Has anyone else been through something similar to what I'm going through? Or are you currently going through something similar? I'd just like insight on someone else's situation, maybe to put my mind a little more at ease as I'm hopeful for a miracle right now.

Thanks for anyone who might have any input into my story, I greatly appreciate it, I'll probably be updating quite a bit, seeing as I'll be here at least the next month.
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
My waters broke at 25 weeks and I had to have 2 sets of steriods and at 26 weeks I started bleeding I have to stay in hospital till I stoped bleeding (I which it never stopped) at 28weeks I went into labour (doctor said I wasn't in labour its my body practising)(I knew it wasn't as I've had a child before) anyway 10mins after doctor seen me I was pressing the buzzer for a nurse because I could feel babys head coming, nurse checked me and the rushed me off to delivery room and as soon as I swapped beds my baba was out, she was born on the 20th April and went to see my baba today and consultant said she can come home next week! The nicu is absolutely fantastic, if it wasn't for the nurses I would of been a mess, all babies are in safest hands ever and u no there being looked after and making them better,I'm 18 years got a 1year old son born 39weeks 7lbs 12oz and how I have a baba girl and she was born 28weeks 5days and 2lbs 4oz she got weighed today and she is now 4lbs 12oz, Im so nervous to bring her home but I know the consultants wouldn't let her home if she wasn't well enough(but you've always got to remember their in safe hands and also that the nurses deal with prem babies every single day  ) hope everything goes well but if you do go into labour and have a prem baba everything will be absolutely fine.. Good luck.x  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
its so crazy! It sounds like we're both having the same issues with our little guys. How far along are you again? That's really great that you're not having any complications currently, makes me optimistic as well!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Well i hope for your sake yiu dont need anymore magnesium! Hopefully babe can wait a few more weeks without causing too much trouble:) ive been doing pretty good. My cervix is still shorteninng and my contractions are still there but nothing thats been to cobsistent so um hoping it stays at bay. Been having a ton of pressure which makes it really uncomfortable soimhoping tjat will eaae up soon. So far ive done pretty good so hoping my lil guy will behave himself until the.end of this pregnancy!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
thank you so much! It's very very encouraging to hear, thanks for remembering and telling me :) I'm anxious and hoping this will all go over well. They plan to put me back on magnesium if I have horrible labor like contractions before the next two weeks is up, other than that they plan to do no more intervention to postpone it further they are just going to let it take place naturally like it wants to. so frightening! I hope your doing well! Keeping you in my thoughts!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Just a lil story of encouragement. While i was in and out of the hospital with my first pregnancy i got to know a mom there who had given birth at 23 weeks (approx) her baby only weighed one pound when he was born. He was in the hospital for 5months. I got to meet her lil boy the day we took our son home because she.was finally allowed to leave.with her son that same day. He was 5 pounds and a healtjy little boy:) Her story gave me so much enciuragement throughout my.pregnancy. I completely forgot abouy it and wanted to share this encouraging story with you as well. I hope it gives you as much hope as it did.for me :)
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Aww im really sorry to hear things arent going well. I know its awful to have to b given the magnesium sulphate but in the long run if it keeps your babe in a bit longer thats the bet thing. Every 24 hrs they can stay in longer they have a better chance at being.healthy. Stay strong  and remember this will all b over soon. You will look back at your pregnancy in a totally difderwnt ligjt and you will love that lil miracle who is just so anxious to meet their amazing mommy. Try and stay positive im thinking aboout you and sending all my best wisshes your way. And just remember that even tho its very early technology nowadays has allowed hospitals to have a great nicu unit to deliver premature babies and everything will be just fine with.your baby if they are born early.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
ah, well they ended up having to put me on iv magnesium to slow or try to stop preterm labor, things have only gotten worse. I made it to 30 weeks but they still believe I will deliver around 32 if not maybe sooner. If I go back into labor before 32 weeks they wanna put me on magnesium again, that drug is the worst thing I've ever experienced. They did two iv's a catheter, I was not allowed to really move and certainly not leave bed for 20 hours. Couldn't sleep especially with once an hour checks to see how I was doing. When they took me off I couldn't even walk on my own and before I got off it I threw up so much. :( I'm hoping I won't need that stuff again. I'm glad it is good for his brain and neurological aspect, but my that stuff is harsh and toxic. How have you been doing?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Your very welcome genamarie. I hope the docs are wrong with you and you deliver a healthy baby:) its always hard when they dont give you any hope but there is hope. I wish you thebest of luck and i will update you as i go. Pkeaae update me with your progress as wrll. Its always nice to have someone else going through the same thing as yiu to talk with.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks so much Sharichajewski! You're story is very outstanding and I'm so glad to hear that its possible to make it so long! They act like I have no hope here, its upsetting! I wish you luck with your little one and that you have just as much success this pregnancy as with your last! Feel free to message me with updates :) and I know! I see all these moms hoping to self induce naturally at 37 weeks or more and I'm sitting here wishing I had the ability to go or at least know I could hold out that long!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went through something very similar with my first pregnancy and now again with my second. With my first i ended up in hospital with cramping which i had throughout the whole pregnancy but i started bleeding. They did an ultrasound and realized my cervix was the length it should be when you are 9 months pregnant ( i was only 28 weeks) i ended up getting the shots and had the ftn test as well. Unfortunately where i live they cant deliver babies before 34 weeks so i was mins away from being sent on a helicopter to a hosputal 4 hrs away. They didnt have a bed for me which i was kinda relieved but ended up in hospital also on very strict bedrest. I ended up keeping him in until 37 weeks which amazed everyone. I was 4cm dialted since 32 weeks. There is hope to keep babe in longer. I reported everything that seemed off to me even if it seemed silly. I know its very scary and hard to relax but try to not stress yiurself out. I am currently going thru a similar situation in this pregnancy much earlier then i did in my first. Were prob the only moms who pray our babies go over due!
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Premature Babies Community

Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
Approaching your due date? Look for these signs of labor.
Fearing autism, many parents aren't vaccinating their kids. Can doctors reverse this dangerous trend?
Learn which over-the-counter medicines are safe for you and your baby
Your guide to safely exercising throughout your 40 weeks.
What to expect in your growing baby
Learn which foods aren't safe to eat when you're eating for two.