FFN Question

Hi S.,
I have went through this twice with both my children. It was a very frustrating and draining experience, however, I wouldn't trade my children for the world. I was put on bed rest for ten weeks with each one, and I almost lost my second child. Take heed to what they say...it is very serious! My doctor put me on indecend with the first one, to stop the contractions. The other one was a pill I had to take everyday...I hated it. I know it is hard sometimes, depending on your level of responsibilities, but try to take it easy and pray. It makes a huge difference!

All the Best!

S., I would get off your feet and start lying on your left side as much as possible. This happened to me however I did get to 3cm dilated by day 5 of being on something else after the terbutlie, it was a pill I took every day for 5 days. I was on strict bedres of 22 out of 24 hours a day. you can end up in the hospital for the rest of your pregancy and they tilt you upside down to keep the baby or babies in and then put you on iv magnesium which is a great drug to say yoru child but terrible side effects for mom. Rest with your feet up and do not do a thing, get some help at home to keep this baby growing insdie you. Lots of wishes and love!
J.

*Hugs* to you. I had a similar situation with my first child almost 6 years ago. I was 28 weeks and I fell on my side when I was crossing the street. I went in to be checked out just in case (it wasn't anything serious) and was having contractions. I was kept in the hospital a few days, given magnesium sulfate via iv and steriods for the baby's lungs and sent home on terbutaline and on bed rest. A week later I lost my plug and was in the hospital again for about a week, when they did a ultrasound to check on baby's development and got more steroids etc. Went home again on strict bedrest. I was dialated and effaced...I don't remember the numbers though. I was scared to death that I was going to have my baby early and he was going to be in NICU or have health problems.

And guess what!!!! I went full term. I was induced at 37 1/2 weeks because I was group B strep positive and I needed the antibiotics, they knew I would go fast and I lived kinda far from the hospital and they wanted to make sure I got them and didn't just have the baby in the car. My labor was very fast. 3 1/2 hours. Very intense (and I know cause I didn't have drugs). They broke my water and gave me just a touch of pitocin and I went really really fast. I think some people's bodies just get ready a little faster/more gradual than others and so they start earlier. I didn't know I was having contractions...I never felt them until I was "in labor" but I did have alot of Braxton Hicks and pretty much always felt very "tight" so it was probably hard for me to tell. I know it's hard not to worry, but I just wanted to give you a "good" story to try to help you not worry so much. My baby is now a healthy 5 year old. My second baby I did not have the same complications, everything was smooth sailing till I found out he was breech and wouldn't turn so he ended up a C section.

No one can say what will happen, but try not to worry too much. What is going to happen is going to happen whether you worry or not. This time in between is hard without knowing what is going to happen. Stay strong for your little one and try to keep a positive outlook. Good luck!

S.,

I too started pre term labor at 20 weeks with my 2nd baby. So my doc put me on terbutaline. At first I had to take it every 4 hours. But as time went on I did not need to take it as often. I took it easy, as easy as I could with a 2 year old running around. And I did end up going full term and gave birth to a 8 lb 8 oz baby boy.

I know it's scary what your going through. Just continue to take care of your self. If you can keep that baby in there for another 8 weeks you and the baby will be fine.

Wish you the best of luck. And enjoy that baby when he/she arrives.

C.

I was 29 weeks and started labor with my 2nd pregnancy. I had to be on modified bed rest and I REALLY took it easy. I also went to holistic treatments (chiropractic and homeopathy) to slow things down. It worked. I also have to agree with Melissa that you must drink ALOT to keep that baby comfortable inside. I mean nonstop drinking and peeing. I wore a pad 24/7 to make sure I didn't leak cause I know its annoying not getting to the bathroom on time! :) Do whatever you gotta do for that baby to make it. Good news is its viable and probably could be ok even if you had it now. Just want to avoid it at all costs. Good luck...and TAKE IT EASY. Keep your legs up, no sex, drink a ton, no heavy carrying of ANY kind, no stairs, no spicy food, stay as calm as possible. Stress can induce things along too so seriously, try to be as relaxed as possible. Oh, and fumes induces it too. Try to stay away from any gases or pollution. Be well.

I too was put on Terbutaline at 28 weeks with my last pregnancy. The key is to take it as easy as possible. The more active you are, the more contractions you will have, and eventually those contractions will get actual labor started.
My second pregnancy, I began having early contractions (29 weeks) I was not given any medication, but was again put on moderate bedrest.
I went full term with both of the pregnancies, and had healthy 8 1/2 pound+ babies! Just take it easy, relax and stay as stress free as possible! I'm sure everything will be fine.
Good luck

I don't know what the Dr will do next, but you should do as little as possible so you can keep the baby in as long as possible ! I would cut out anything unnecessary, the only things you should be doing is resting with your feet up !

Best of luck to you

Take advantage of resting, and drink lots of water.

I agree with the others about taking bed rest seriously and drinking lots of water (as much as you're probably already tired of peeing all the time). I began to get mild contractions at 34 wks and was 90% effaced and 1/2 cm dilated. One anti-contraction med didn't work, then another I became allergic to after one day so I couldn't take anything. My baby did get the 2 shots for his lungs so he was fine when all of a sudden my water broke just 4 days later ("fine" is a relative word - his lungs were strong, but he needed to be in the NICU for 2 1/2 wks to learn to feed and get over some sleep apnea). So, things can happen quickly - but staying off your feet, trying not to stress about things and drinking lots of water can help (and get those shots for your baby's lungs). Best wishes!

My sister had her son at 30 weeks (he is just perfect at 5 years old now!) and with her daughter she was on bedrest from 25 weeks and had to get a shot every week to keep contractions from coming. She ended up having her daughter at 37 weeks. I am no expert but it sounds like you should be on FULL bed rest. Literally being waited on hand and foot. Take it seriously and everything should turn out just fine. :) My sister said it was very hard to lay in bed for that long, but it is so worth it in the end. Good luck to you!

I started pre-term contractions at 23 weeks. They did the FFN test every 2 weeks and I went into the doctor every week and hooked-up to the monitor to monitor contractions and fetal heartrate. I was not effaced or dialated, but that was how my doctor proceeded. I was also put on modified bedrest, but then put on strict bedrest when I was on the monitor and they were every two minutes and very strong. If they were better the following visit, then they put me back on modified bedrest so, for me, it was a back-and-forth of modified and strict bedrest. I delivered at 36 weeks an 6 days (1 day shy of "full-term"). I called that day because of lack of movement and, long story short, my son was delivered by C-Section...turns out the umbilical cord was wrapped around his body and tied in knots. This was not the reason for the pre-term contractions, so please don't worry about that. He was born September 3rd at 5 lbs 1 oz...he is now 8 weeks old and a healthy 9 lbs 3 oz! Take comfort in those FFN tests because it means you will not go into labor within the next 2 weeks (that's what my doc said). Be vigilant with the bedrest too! I'm sure everything will go smoothly and your little blessing will be born full-term and healthy!!! Good luck!

Hi S.! I haven't been through what you're going through but I just wanted to add one thing. I'm one of those people who likes things to be explained to me so I understand why I'm doing something. In case you were unaware, dehydration can lead to early labor. From my basic (and I mean basic!) understanding, the less liquid you consume, the less amniotic fluid. If that happens then the uterus starts to contract bringing on early labor. Now I may be way off on explaining that but once I found out that not drinking enough water or liquids could lead to early labor, I immediately made sure that I was drinking enough for my weight while I was pregnant! I actually met this girl in a labor prep class who started early labor for that very reason at 26 weeks plus she wasn't slowing down herself at work. Freaked me out. So anyway, I hope this helps even a little bit. Good luck!!

I, too, had pre term labor and was on COMPLETE bed rest for 15 weeks. I was also in the hospital for 6 of those weeks. The shots do tend to decrease in their efficiency. Then I was put on magnesium sulfate IV, which is tough to tolerate. And, they really only want you on it for 48 hours maximum. I would agree with the post that said you should be given steroid shots to help mature the baby's lungs. I was given those in the hospital. Since this is your first and you don't have any other little ones you have to tend to, I would get off your feet and rest all the time as the diation can come quickly, especially if the contractions pick up. Every day you can keep that baby inside of you matters. Good luck and take it easy.

I assume he/she will continue to monitor you closely. If you have not already received the steroid shots, you should be getting that. It is either 2 shots of betamethasone or 4 shots of dexamethasone, and it will help the baby's lungs mature faster. If the terbutaline begins losing effectiveness (which is common) you may be put on a different med like nifedapine, or some docs still use an inpatient IV infusion of magnesium sulfate. Obviously every day your baby stays inside the better. When a friend of mine was on bedrest she taught herself how to knit and made her baby a blanket. booties, and a hat. It helped her pass the time and she had something very special to give her baby in the end. Good luck with the rest of the pregnancy.