Should I start Nifedipine?

[tonya3]

  I am pregnant with my 3rd child at 38 years old.   With this pregnancy I started having braxton hicks contractions at 6 weeks.  I am 17 weeks pregnant and they are so bad that they keep me awake all night.  I have atleast 6 every hour all night.  No pain, just bad tightening.  My doctor check my cervics to day ago and its 3.5cm, but because I am having so many he put me on Nifedipine xr 30mg but i have not started them.  I feel pulled in all directions on what to do.  I work in a pharmacy in a hospital and I am so scared of harming my baby.
  I hope someone can help ease my mind.  Maybe I wlll be ok the whole 9 month without taking this med but I feel like I am going to have my little boy early if I dont take this drug.  Help please.

[tonya3]

The doctor finally just gave me nifedipine 10mg to take when needed.  I feel better.  Thanks everyone for your replies.

[Melka76]

It really is amazing how much better you feel after a nights sleep with contraction meds.  I ususally feel like I did 1000 sit ups while I sleep - the meds make everything calm down.  Dr's usually feel the positives out weigh the negatives when prescribing meds while pregnant.... In PA babies are not viable until 23/24 weeks.... the best thing is to keep the little one in there baking for longer ... take it easy!

[spade22]

Well thank goodness you arent dilated to 3.5 cm!

My answer remains the same though ;-)   Adgal brings up some great points about talking to a pharmacist if you are concerned or seeking a 2nd opinion.  Sound like it worked for you last night though.

[tonya3]

  Also I messed up on what I was typing.  My cervic length is 3.5 cm.  I am not dilated.  I have continuous contraction all night with no break hardly in between each one.  It happened again last night and I took a nifedipine and they stopped.  He prescribed me 30 mg taken daily in the evening.  Wow doesnt it make me feel weird!

[adgal]

I don't claim to know anything about this drug, but I agree strongly with Spade.  Your Dr. is the absolute best person to determine whether you need this medication to stop pre term labour.  If you are uncomfortable with his/her suggestion, then please get a second opinion from another OB, but ensure you do it right away. Another great resource when it comes to the potential side effects of any drug is your pharmacist.  Pre term labour is not something you want if it can be avoided.  Good luck to you.

[spade22]

Your doctors knows your full medical history and prescribed you this medication because it is in the best interest of you and your baby (benefits outweigh any risks).  No one here can recommend that you start nifedipine but your doctor can, and did and your doctor is the best person to make this decision - not you, I, or any poster on a community board.

Nifedipine is a Class C medication so it hasnt been associated with causing harm to the fetus and is used to prevent preterm labor.  If you are dilated to 3.5 cm at only 17 weeks and having contractions then its important that measures are taken to prevent preterm labor which would have devastating consequences at this gestation.

Are you on bedrest?