Getting nervous now, preterm labour

[sparklygothkat]

Am 24+ weeks and am getting quite nervous now. I have had 3 preterm deliveries, DS, 35 weeks, DD1 31 weeks and dd2 33 weeks. I am so nervous now, that I will just go into labour and deliver this little one at any time..

Forgive my wobbles please!!!

[oops]

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[sparklygothkat]

Thanks, I haven't even got everything yet, and haven't packed my bag (secretly hoping I can do it at 35 weeks, but understand I might end up just chucking it all in in a rush)

[oops]

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[sparklygothkat]

just aspirin (the consulant thinks my placenta clots too soon and causes my body to say 'enough')

[SlightlyMadSpider]

SGK....just pack a few essentials....don't know where you we at with the others but being in hosp after giving birth without a single sanitary towel of any description is no fun....


...seriously hoping this one will stay in another 4 months and give you hell at 41+ when you want it out and feel 6 weeks overdue based on past experience.

[sparklygothkat]

I was lucky that we used to live near the hospital before, and DH was able to get everything to me. But I haven't even brought any sanitary towels. I do have breast pads though!!
So I should pack my bag soon then.. sob!! Must go and get some slippers and a nighty.

[SlightlyMadSpider]

If it was me (and it was 18m ago) I would have a very simple overnight bag + sanitary towels just in case. You never know sods law might even work in your favour .

Even when DP did bring them to me he brought 'normal flow - saturated in 30mins postnatally' wimpy ones. I had to wait nearly 18hr for MIL to come and take him shopping for the hardcore ones

[sparklygothkat]

Thing with me, is I am going along happily, no hint of labour starting, then bam! it starts...

[sparklygothkat]

I need breast feeding bras too. Poor baby will be dressed in vests too, if I don't get my act together. I have a few preterm vests and one babygro.. don't want to buy preterm babygros yet, I don't want to tempt fate!

[SlightlyMadSpider]

My prem labour was actually so 'weak' and feeble that even the MWs were denying the fact that I could possibly be in labour. They sugested that I might have a UTI ...or babies were kicking .

They decided to get me examined at "9-10cm with bulging membranes very low in vagina"

[SlightlyMadSpider]

The thing I always looked at was that baby wouldn't need anything at all for 24hrs at this stage - but you will - and it is all stuff which you will hopefully use in 16wks anyway. Agree prem clothes unnecessary as you obviously won't need those in 16 wks

[sparklygothkat]

lol when I was in labour with dd2, the midwife insisted that my contractions were not strong enough to open my cervix (less than 30% on the monitor) when someone finally examined me, her jaw dropped and she mumbled 'errr.. better get SCBU down and your DH in' I was 8cm dilated!!

[oops]

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[sparklygothkat]

poor dd1 didn't have anything when she was born after a 2 hour sudden labour at 31 weeks, SCBU clothed her for me for a few days, till people brought me babygros for her in 3-5lb size..

[TheHerdNerd]

Can somebody tell me, while we're on the topic: a baby is considered "term" at 37 weeks. So if it's born at 35, is it 2 weeks prem or 5 weeks prem?

[sparklygothkat]

5 weeks prem. Ds was classed as 5 weeks prem. Dd1 9 weeks prem. and dd2 7 weeks prem.

[TheHerdNerd]

Well, I hope the new little bean just stays put for you, SGK.

[sparklygothkat]

me too... I just want to get to the stage where I get fed up with it!! lol

[ale233]

Hope everything goes ok with the rest of your pregnancy. I had my little girl at 34 weeks and am now expecting again ( 28 weeks ) There didnt seem to be any reason for my early delivery and there seems to be a difference of opinion on whether I am more likely to be early again, have you any advice as you have had 3 early babies?

[sparklygothkat]

I was told when pregannt with dd2 that I still had a 70% chance of carrying to term. I understnad that if you have had 1 preterm birth, then the chance is higher, but it depends on why you delivered early, I think.

[ale233]

Thanks, hopefully I'll go full term this time. Good luck with yours.

[SlightlyMadSpider]

Ale at my hosp you get screened if you have had one before 32wks.

That doesn't necessarily say that you are at lower risk of a further prem is lower because you had one at 34wks though - it is just that the neonatal implications and burden on the NHS are generally significantly reduced post 32 weeks - so they feel it is less important to screen.

Oh and ditto your sparklygothkat on Sun 22-Jul-07 23:24:31 post Sparkly. My TOCO was rising from 12ish to 18ish with contractions. They told me if I was in labour it would be 70+ during contractions. Stupidly I believed them.

[ale233]

Hi, wish i'd never put the post on now!, 4 hours after writing I was down at the hospital with tummy pains coming every 15 minutes or so ( but not in a regular pattern ). They have monitored me and said that the cervix is still in tact but kept me in untill last night and have given me 2 doses of steroids for the babys lungs. I have to go back this morning for a scan to see if that shows anything, I also have a low placenta this time so they will also check to see if that has moved . Still getting some discomfort ( hence posting on here at 4.30am!!! ) but hopefully its a false alarm as nothing else has happened yet. They said I might have to stay in again depending on scan results but we only live 5 minutes from the hospital so hopefully i'll get to come home and just go down if anyhting else happens.