18 weeks and feel like I'm contracting - worried

[CheeseandGherkins]

This is my 4th baby, feel like contractions since about 5pmish, seem to be getting closer together. Less than 10 mins now, but I'm hoping it's nothing... I called labour ward about 45 mins ago and they said to have a bath and give it an hour then go in if no better. I did that and, if anything, it's worse.

I'm really worried I want it to stop. I've had a prem birth with dd (36 weeks), problems with ds1 and waters broke at 22 weeks with ds2 so I didn't expect this one to be easy but I hoped. Also had 6 miscarriages.

Any ideas what it could be other than prem labour or what they'll do when I get there? Don't think I've been this early going in for contractions before.

[ArseHolio]

I think you need to go to the labour ward asap.

If it is labour starting and you go in they would try to stop it, it can be done with drugs etc.

It might be a uti or somthing ?

Get thee to the hospital x

[rubyslippers]

Call the mw back and go to the ward even if it is for monitoring

Could be Braxton hicks but with your history i would go in

Hope all is ok

[buttonmoon78]

I have no idea what they'll do, I'm sorry. I just wanted you to know that I really feel for you. Try not to worry (ha). If you have to go in, you'll be in the best possible hands.

[going]

At about 20 weeks with my 3rd baby (5th pregnancy) I had contactions, they felt quite strong and were visable too. I went to the labour ward and thankfully by the time I got there they had stopped. I kept feelig them from time to time during my pregnancy but not in a regular pattern like at 20 weeks until I went into labour at 38 weeks.

Good luck!

[CheeseandGherkins]

Thanks, still hoping they stop too. Resigned to going in now I think, just hoping nothing's wrong. I have such terrible luck

[BabyValentine]

Oh, cheese, I've no real advice, but I do hope things go okay for you at the hospital. I should imagine they'll give you some medication to try and prevent premature labour, and then I suspect you could be on bed-rest for the remainder of your pregnancy.

Make sure you're not dehyrated (I read somewhere that this can cause contractions). I'll have everything crossed for you.

[QueeferSutherland]

Hi, Cheese.
Have you called your midwife?

There are steroids to help stop labour.
Please tell whoever you speak to about your previous early labours.
Some labour wards won't admit a lady until she's 24 weeks though.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Thanks again, my mum should be here shortly to watch the children and I'll be off. I did speak to a midwife on labour and explained history too. Hopefully I'll be back tonight!

[ArseHolio]

fingers crossed it all goes well cheese

[onadietcokeboycott]

Good luck Cheese. Think you are definately doing the right thing by going in.

[pixiestix]

Good luck Cheese. I hope they manage to reassure you at the hospital.

[goodlifemummy]

Saw this and wanted to wish you luck x

[RoseNoir]

^ As goodlifemummy said, sending you positive thoughts and hope all goes well xx

[nicm]

just wanted to wish you luck and hope you and your baby are ok! i am 18 weeks and cannot imagine what you feel like. x

[QueeferSutherland]

Best of luck, Cheese.
Let us know how it goes?

[SirBoobAlot]

Thinking of you Cheese. I had a water infection at 20 weeks-ish and it caused contractions. I hope its the same thing for you. x

[CheeseandGherkins]

Thank you all, just got back home now. They were really quiet and saw me straight away. Everything seems OK at the moment, had a speculum and my cervix is closed and long, which is good. No urine infection but she took a swab, I had glucose in my urine though so I may have gestational diabetes, she said to mention it at my midwife appt in 2 weeks time. If I get any worse or start bleeding or waters break then I have to get back in touch with the hospital.

She said there's a small chance that it could be the start of prem labour but that there's nothing they can do at this stage if it was Going to take it easy and hope for the best.

Still getting some pains but less so now so I'm hoping it all stops overnight. Thanks again.

[SirBoobAlot]

Cheese - not sure whether that's good news or not, but could be worse, I guess. Take it easy. Thinking of you, hope everything is entirely normal by the morning.

I think thrush can cause contractions, by the way, a friend of mine has just said.

[going]

Your cervix being closed and long does sound positive.

WHen I asked why I was getting contraction with preg number5 so early and had never even had a braxton hicks with my other pregnancies I was told told that was uterus was irritable after so many pregnancies and it wasn't unusal.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Thanks again. I feel a lot better this morning thankfully. Pretty sure I don't have thrush, had a lot of stress though, which has been unavoidable and will be continuing so I'm just going to try my best.

I had lots of braxton hicks with previous ones, just not this regular so early. Things seems to have died down now so fingers crossed it doesn't start up again. Taking things easy today, as much as possible at least!

[midori1999]

Did your waters break due to infection when they went at 22 weeks? Is it possible you have an infection now? (I know they have swabbed)

Having experienced PROM myself, I think in your situation I'd be extremely keen to get the swab results back and maybe ask if they'd start me on some sort of antibiotics in the mean time. I would also query with someone else what would happen if you went into labour now, I found what one doctor told me was never the same as another. I had been told that there was absolutely no chance of help for my babies if born before 24 weeks, even if at 23+6 1/2 days by several doctors. In the end there was help at 23+5 though and I suspect it is down to how much I argued for it, so do argue if you think that's the right thing to do. (incidentally I was told they wouldn't stop labour if I went into it early only due to infection and the potential risks that held for me, I was never told they couldn't stop it if they wanted to)

I hope everything goes well for you, this must be very hard.

[BabyValentine]

Good news so far, Cheese. Rest up.

[CheeseandGherkins]

Sorry you've been through it too midori, it was awful at the time. It wasn't infection last time but they did give me antibiotcs and steroid injections and 24 weeks I believe. The dr last night said there was nothing they could do if anything was happening because I'm too early but I would definitely argue if it turned out to be early labour etc.

I've been having tightenings today but without the ache and pain of yesterday so that it good I hope. I'm assuming the swab results will take a few days too.