Need some advice....Having tons of contractions......

[sarubers]

Okay, so most of you know that I am 25w3d today. I have random contractions/BH throughout the day all the time. But on Monday, I was having a lot. I didnt go to work on Tue. because of it and went to the dr. to be monitored. They hooked me up to the machine and I was having contractions every 8 minutes. They didnt hurt, but I noticed them and they make me short of breath like it cuts off my circulation. So they checked my cervix and it was a little open on the outside and closed on the inside. It was about 2.4 cm thick. So all looked good. These contractions dont seem to be doing anything to my cervix but they are ALWAYS there. They sent me to the hospital and monitored me there for a while and checked my cervix again. Finally I asked if I could go home since they didnt seem too worried and were not going to stop them. They said to call if I get more than 4 an hour which is what I was having there. So they said if the are more intense or if they become painful. Still no pain from them, just extreme tightness.... But i get a contraction everytime I stand up. EVERYTIME. Should that concern me? Im worried that preterm labor is going to start and that they wont be able to stop it.

[sarubers]

I had a lot of problems with my last child and was on bed rest from about 6 months on. They managed to stop my labor with that one, but it was many times and many different medicines. I am not the type of person to ask for bed rest because I want to be lazy. But I am constantly worried and stressed out about going into labor what with these contractions and all...... What should I do? I have a follow up on Fri.

[4my3boys]

I went into PTL at about 27wks, and they put me on Trebutalin(sp), I was supposed to be able to stop it at 34 wks which is what i am now.  Well that is not going to happen, I stopped and got them right back.  Maybe you should ask about the meds, they have really helped

[filbert143]

I'm in the same boat as you - but I'm currently at 34 weeks, 6 days.  I've been having contractions since about 24 weeks, but like you they haven't done much.  I get them everytime I change positions or if the baby is moving a lot.  Mine also range from 6-12 minutes apart, but they don't increase in intensity.  That's what my doctor told me to look out for.  He said once they start becoming more regular, with increasing intensity/pain, then I should call.  I'm also at 24mm but opposite of you, only my internal cervix is beginning to dilate.  Take it easy when you can - you know your body better than anyone else.  If you start to feel overly tired or sore, lay down and put your feet up.  Hang in there and good luck!

[sarubers]

Thanks for your comments.

4my3boys:
I had tributalin many times with my first pregnancy. I hate that stuff! They wont give me anything until it actually does something to my cervix. Not to mention that it didnt work. I have also had an IV of magnesium sulfate for four days before to stop labor. So these medicines dont really work that well on me to stop labor. That is why I am so stressed. Once these contractions actually do something to my cervix, they are going to have a REALLY hard time stopping it. I want to cry every time I have a contraction while Im at work because I know that being here is causing so many of them. And because I work with ALL men who dont understand. I just want to lay down and stay down so I dont get these contractions.

filbert143:
What did they do for you at 24 weeks when you would have the contractions? I know my body and I know how horrible my pregnancy was with my son. That is why Im so stressed out and worried. Which I know is not helping things at all. But I can help it. Did they do that test on your cervix? To see if you were going to deliver early. It is either a posative or a negative.

[marra]

trust your intincts you have done this before and know your body and what happens so if you feel you want to rest then  rest . they treat you as if you are neurotic but you know your body and what could happen.my mate had her baby at 26 weeks because they wuold not listen to her ! please look after yourself x x

[filbert143]

I got weekly injections of progesterone, beginning at 16 weeks, to help minimize my risk for a preterm labor.  My first was born at 35 weeks.  Starting around 22 weeks (can't remember exactly when) they started doing transvaginal ultrasounds to check my cervical length.  If they started to see progress here (which happens much sooner that dilating) they would determine the next course of action.  Thankfully I just had normal progress, so it didn't come to that.  My last shot was this week, so we'll see if anything happens once that is out of my system...at this point, I'm ready!!

[Hulahut]

Hi there!  I'm sorry you are going through this. I've been having BHs on and off since week 21, went to L&D twice to get hooked up to the monitors, and of course, never had one contraction while I was there.  Mine have really slowed down a lot with water and calming my stress (my work can be so stressful).  I get them when I have to go to the bathroom really badly (both) or when I get up in the morning usually due to position.  I wish I could offer something more than take it slowly and drink tons of water.  If you've already been monitored, and they're telling you all is ok, then take their word for it, but slow down.  Has your doctor seen you or just the techs/nurses in L&D?  

[brentlie]

I think I have been having BH since about 19-20 weeks, I am 31 weeks now.  I told my dr. and he did a vaginal check on me and said no dialation, but the baby was very low.  I am just not sure they are BH or if the baby is balling up and making my belly tight and taking my breath away.  How can I tell the diffrence.  sometimes I will have 4 in an hours time and some times none in 1 hour.

[sarubers]

Hulahut:
Hi. The doctors didnt say it was all okay, but they didnt say that it wasnt. They said that only 9 out of 10 people who have contractions early on, actually go into  labor. The problem is that they dont know which is the one to go into labor. So we all have to be treated the same. I do know that nothing has changed since then. I am just having them more often than I did when I went in. I saw a doctor at the office and two different doctors at the hospital. I do drink tons of water and I am trying to stay calm, but it is hard. I have a five year old who is in sports and I work full time.I just cant get rid of this stress.

[Hulahut]

Hi there - I hope I didn't sound crass with my water and stress advice.  I know what it feels like to be freaking out, which is why I ended up in L&D twice last month.  In any event, I'm sorry - I thought they were saying everything is seeming fine.  Do you like your doc?  Do you have a good enough relationship to call up, leave a msg for them to call you back, so you can discuss this at length with him/her?  I have a great doc, and this is something that I would call about - though she'd give me **** for being an alarmist (which I am), she'd listen and give me as much time as I needed on the phone.  I'm so sorry- this must be so hard.  I know how awful it was to have BH when I did early on-each time I'd want them to go away right away.  I wish I knew what else to say.  I'm thinking of you.

[clee980]

I have a friend whose baby was diagnosed with hydrops. At 22 weeks and three days, she went to the hospital after having a weird discharge. They sent her home, saying it was a yeast infection. Three hours later, she came back, and the contractions were six minutes apart. They then sent her home with Vicodin and ambien. She was back the next day, and delivered. The baby lived for 24 minutes and she begged them to resuscitate, as her amniocentesis didn't show anything and it wasn't caused by a genetic thing, or a chromosomal issue. She never got a second opinion. Anyway, they wouldn't resuscitate the baby, eventhough it's heart was fine, and now they are waiting on the autopsy. Has anyone ever heard of such treatment beforehand?Vicodin and ambien?!!!!!!They could've held off the contractions, ya know.......Any comments?

[peekawho]

A 22week fetus with hydrops is not salvageable under any circumstance.  Even under ideal circumstances, it is beyond rare for a 22+weeker to be resucitated.  It is not even attempted unless there is considerable doubt about the dates, and there is suggestion that the fetus was at least 2-3 weeks furthur along.

Unless we have access to her complete medical records, there is no way of knowing why her contractions were not stopped in the first place.