Preventing pre-term labor and knowing signs

Discussion in 'Pregnancy Help' started by Krystine, Apr 10, 2013.

  1. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    I've read the Expecting Twins, Triplets and Quads book several times and know my doctor keeps close tabs on me and his other patients expecting multiples. He specializes in multiple gestation and preventing PTL. Well, one of my friends just delivered at 32+ weeks and by the time she called her practitioner with symptoms it was too late to stop labor. My question (long winded, sorry) is how common is that to not have enough warning to be able to get put on bed rest or be given labor preventing drugs or anything else?

    I am only 20 weeks so obviously I don't want to go into labor any time soon. My OB office measures cervical length via t/v u/s and it's been plenty long thus far and I drink plenty of water and try to rest quite a bit and am eating healthfully. If there anything else I should be looking for or doing? I just so want healthy full-term babies! My daughter was born at 41 weeks so I do have a history of going full term but so did my friend so that isn't terribly reassuring to me right now.
     
  2. miss_bossy18

    miss_bossy18 Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    It sounds like you're doing everything that is within your power to do to ensure healthy babies and mom. Unfortunately, it remains that there are sometimes things that will happen that are completely outside of your control and not your fault. Those are the worries I found it was best to acknowledge and then choose to let go. I found that focusing on the things that I had no control over was a fast road to crazy town. ;) If you're interested, check out the book Birthing From Within by Pam England. It's a bit hippy dippy in places but it really helped me emotionally & mentally prepare for pregnancy and birth.
     
  3. Danibell

    Danibell Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    I have to agree with Rachel, it sounds like both you and your ob are well aware of the signs and are doing everything you can to ensure happy healthy full term babies! The only extra thing I did was eat lots of protein. Its supposed to help those babies grow big, just in case they are born early. Now of course there is no way to prove it helped. But at 36wks2days my twins were 7.2lbs (girl) and 6.4lbs (boy). I made sure to eat protein every meal if I could handle it (I had bad morning sickness for awhile).

    Hang in there. Worrying is just a part of being a mom unfortunately so I can't tell you to worry :) But if you do all you can now you won't have any regrets if they do decide to come early :hug:
     
  4. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you! I am eating a lot of protein, trying to follow the Brewer diet for twin pregnancy. I've also gained a little too much already so I don't know what I'm doing wrong. I started out at a healthy weight and when not PG run about 50 miles/week but now I've gained 35 lbs at 20 weeks. Yikes. I know that's a ton and I want to slow it down without cutting out something nutritious. I guess there is always something to worry about but it is just scary. I most of all want my babies to live but if they can be born late enough without having to be on oxygen like my friend's babies are and even better if they could be discharged from the hospital with me.
     
  5. paperclippy

    paperclippy Well-Known Member

    Krystine, FWIW I'll be 29 weeks tomorrow and I've gained 47lbs (also started at a healthy weight pre-preg). My maternal fetal medicine specialist is extremely happy with my weight gain and says there is no need to try to slow it down.
     
  6. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you paperclippy. I know I'll lose it all but it does kind of scare me. Like, no matter what I eat, I gain weight. And it's not 2 lbs a week, it's more like 3+. I was doing really well with walking every day for about 2 weeks but then it got cold and snowy again so I'm back to being sedentary, more or less. I'd have to really slow down to be at +47 at 29 weeks.
     
  7. summerfun

    summerfun Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    :good: It sounds like you are doing everything you can, good work. A twin pregnancy is hard and it's different than a singleton pregnancy. My singleton, was born at 41 weeks and weighed 9 /12 lbs. My twins were a different story, at 24 weeks I had to have an emergency cerclage with my and they were born 10 days later 3 months early. No one knows why my twins were born so early. You just never know how a twin pregnancy is going to turn out. All you can do is what you are doing now...keep it up. :good:


    I'm not trying to scare you. If your babies are born early, please take comfort in the fact that there are many of us on here that have preemies and they are healthy and happy and are doing wonderfully today. My twins are 7 and you would never know they were born so early. :) They can do amazing things with preemies these days and the babies themselves are fighters. :)

    Stay positive and try not to worry about it though, I know it's hard not to though. :hug:
     
  8. miss_bossy18

    miss_bossy18 Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    Alright sweetie, listen up. ;) You aren't doing anything wrong!! Your weight gain is fine (I'm assuming your doctor has not expressed concern). You are growing TWO babies, TWO (or 1 Large) placentas, you have doubled your blood volume, and greatly increased the size of your uterus, the strongest muscle in your body. So long as the majority of your diet consists of healthy foods and you aren't filling up on sugary, nutritionally empty foods your weight is where it needs to be for you and your babies. And it will come off after the babies are born in time. So, yes there are always things to worry about which is why I would encourage you to focus more on how to let those fears and worries go rather than hyper-focusing on them. It sounds like you're doing an amazing job. Now, take a deep breath and find some things about this time in your life that are positives to you and just enjoy them for a moment - it'll be done before you know it. :hug:
     
  9. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thanks ladies. I am eating a generally very healthy diet. I admit we had gender cakes 2 weeks ago and I had too much cake and ice cream for a few days but in general I don't bake desserts and I cook from scratch good meals. I am a worrier and I just want these little boys to be OK. I've already lost 3 babies in the first trimester and don't want to imagine losing one or both of these.
    I live very close to a large hospital with a level 3 NICU and that's where we plan to deliver. We've toured them and their NICU and it's very highly rated. I will look at that birthing book. I had a good natural birth with my daughter but even at 41 weeks she was just over 6 lbs so that part kind of scares me too but my doctor doesn't think that means these babies will be extra tiny.

    I don't think my doctor would have said anything about my weight but I remarked that I had already gained as much I had did total with my daughter. And he just said well, maybe you're gaining a little fast, try not to eat too many carbs that don't help the babies.
     
  10. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Well, I've made it to 28 weeks now. I hope they stay in another 9+ weeks but either way I feel relieved to hit the 28 wk mark.
     
  11. summerfun

    summerfun Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    28 weeks is a great milestone. :Clap:
     
  12. weegus

    weegus Well-Known Member

    28 weeks is awesome! How are you feeling? Are you experiencing any preterm labor symptoms?
     
  13. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    No, nothing for PTL symptoms. I am tired and have trouble sleeping, plenty of heart burn and fun stuff like that but I think it's all normal. I see my doctor tomorrow and 2 weeks ago everything looked great on my u/s with both babies measuring a bit ahead. I'm just thankful for every day I keep these babies in and hoping to make it to 37 but will just take every day I can get.
     
  14. rrodman

    rrodman Well-Known Member

    Congrats on making it to 28 weeks. I hope you are feeling better. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. I didn't read any of those books about twin diets, ate fine but not particularly virtuously, didn't see a specialist beyond my OBGYN. At 37.5 weeks, they were 7.13 and 6.2. They were and have always been really healthy. I truly believe so much is out of our control. I didn't make it o 37.5 weeks because I did everything right, and others' babies weren't born early because they did something wrong. Try to enjoy the next few months and put those worries aside as much as you can. I always remember my OB telling me that once I hit 30 weeks, there is a 95% chance that the babies would be completely fine--some grow/feed time in the NICU but no long term issues. You are almost there!
     
  15. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thanks Rachael. I had a good appointment today and my OB thinks everything is on track. My cervix is still quite thick so he said if I had incompetent cervix it would have shown up by now. I am feeling more encouraged and either way like you said 30 weeks is a lot safer then 28 or earlier.
     
  16. chicagomama

    chicagomama Well-Known Member

    Glad I came across this post! I hear you on your concern Krystine! I am 31 weeks now and yesterday had what I now assume to be Brax Hicks contractions all day and into the night. It was a little freaky. Fortunately they have stopped, but even though at 31 weeks I have crossed that week 30 milestone, the longer they gestate the better!
     
  17. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Jessica - how are you doing? I'm 29-1 now not having many braxton hicks but still worry. I think everything is going fine right now. I'm doing kick counts and sometimes have a hard time figuring out which baby is kicking but they're both active. I can't believe in 2 mos or less I'll be holding my babies. I've waited 2 yrs between miscarriages and infertility to have my own baby to hold again and it all still seems a bit surreal that I actually have my own babies inside of me that I'll get to hold.
     
  18. chicagomama

    chicagomama Well-Known Member

    I am hanging in there Almost 33 weeks (on sunday) trying to just take it a day--and week at a time...hoping to make it to 34 weeks right now, so taking it easy!
     
  19. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    I'm having a hard time differentiating between contractions and baby movement (like if baby's butt is just sticking up). I am worried because I have had some sort of cramping today but I don't know if it's digestive or PTL. And having more hardening of my uterus, which I think part is contractions and part is babies sticking out. Now I'm all worried, but I'm such a worrier I don't know if it's a sign that something isn't right or if it's just my nature. I can't tell when it's a contraction and when it's baby pushing against me so I can't say how many contractions I'm having. I am drinking lots of water and going to the bathroom often. I don't really know what to do.
     
  20. cheezewhiz24

    cheezewhiz24 Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    If you are worried, go in, get checked out and get peace of mind. All of us can chime in and say its probably nothing but until you know for sure you'll worry. :hug:
     
  21. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    I talked to my NP and she had my take vistirol and wait 2 hrs and everything settled down so I just have to talk to her this morning to check in.
     
  22. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    I was admitted to the hospital and stayed for 2 nights because contractions picked back up Monday. I am home now on vistirol and weekly progesterone shots. I have been given steroid shots, too. Now I'm on bedrest. My Ffn test was negative and I go this morning to see my OB and if that goes well I go back on Tues. The babies look great on their NSTs but my cervix was dilating and softening, although only to 1cm. My contractions are still coming and fairly long and strong but also very irregular. Hoping to keep them in till full term still or at least as many more days and weeks as possible.
     
  23. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Day 8 of bedrest. 31 weeks tomorrow. I see my OB tomorrow, hoping I'm not further dilated.
     
  24. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Day 20 of bed rest, almost to 33 weeks now. Irritable uterus and just tighten up as soon as I sit or stand. At my appt this week I hadn't further dilated and babies were measuring well.
     
  25. MyOwnMeadow

    MyOwnMeadow Well-Known Member

    Thinking of you! :youcandoit:
     
  26. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you! My ultimate goal is 38 weeks but right now 34 and if we get to 34 my goal is 36.
     
  27. MyOwnMeadow

    MyOwnMeadow Well-Known Member

    I feel similar. Right now, I'm pushing for 34 weeks. Then I'll re-write a new goal once I get there. I'm on home bedrest (not strict though), and I'm frustrated and over it. There is so much going on this month with my three kids that I want to be there for them and instead I'm giving up control and watching my husband do my JOB!! Fortunately, he's great, but I feel like I'm missing out. Like you, every time I sit or stand I have pressure and contrax. I get dizzy and nauseous. I hate feeling dependent.
     
  28. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    I'm sorry you're also having restrictions. I really don't want to deliver at 34 weeks because it's still early although my OB said the prognosis is quite good at that age. I am having a hard time fathoming meeting my babies in the next few weeks even though I will be meeting them within 5 weeks. It seems so soon and so far away and really quite surreal.
     
  29. MyOwnMeadow

    MyOwnMeadow Well-Known Member

    I'll be rooting for you!!
     
  30. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you! And I'll be for you, too! I hope we both make it to full term but I'm really thankful to make it to 33 weeks.
     
  31. summerfun

    summerfun Well-Known Member TS Moderator

    :hug: Hang in there! You are doing a great job!
     
  32. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you! I'm doing my imaginary happy dance while lying on my left side for hitting 33 weeks today.
     
  33. FGMH

    FGMH Well-Known Member

    33 weeks is great. Keeping my fingers crossed you make it another few weeks!

    Bedrest is hard - you are doing a great job!

    To give you some encouragement: I know I was very lucky but I was on bedrest for PTL from 20 weeks on and delivered full term babies.
     
  34. chicagomama

    chicagomama Well-Known Member

    Good luck! You are at a great point and it will only continue to get better!
     
  35. Krystine

    Krystine Well-Known Member

    Thank you. 5 more days till 34 weeks. I hope we make it.
     
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