Aa
advice/help
Hello, I'm new here.
I'm due August 23rd (28 weeks + 6 days), and I've been hospitalized due to my pregnancy. I've been in the hospital the past 16 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.
Good luck to all the other expecting mothers out there !
And if you're also due August 23rd, I'd like to hear from you too!
:)
I'm due August 23rd (28 weeks + 6 days), and I've been hospitalized due to my pregnancy. I've been in the hospital the past 16 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.
Good luck to all the other expecting mothers out there !
And if you're also due August 23rd, I'd like to hear from you too!
:)
I'm due August 24th. And good luck to you momma, I'm sure everything will be just fine!
I have a friend that was in the same situation you are in. but she had her twins boys last week. 30 weeks premature but their doing great. very alert of their surroundings. always looking around. :) so tiny n beautiful. dnt stress keep calm. everything will b alright. :)
I've never been in your situation, but I just wanted to say you and your little one are in my prayers. I'm due August 10 and preterm labor is my second biggest fear (the first being a csection) I can't imagine the emotions you are going through.
Have you thought about starting a blog? It could probably help fill some of your time, I like the site Wordpress, it even has a mobile platform in case you don't have a computer.
All the best!
Have you thought about starting a blog? It could probably help fill some of your time, I like the site Wordpress, it even has a mobile platform in case you don't have a computer.
All the best!
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