Irritable Uterus or Preterm Labour? Only 25 weeks...

[Beeath]

I've had a bit of a rollercoaster week. Last Sunday i was admitted to hospital after a positive FFN test when the tightenings i've been feeling for a good few weeks spent a few days at 10 mins apart during the evenings. I've been discharged but told to ring in with any change and take it very easy, i'm still getting the tightenings, but not often as close together. When i'm walking around my bump is almost constantly hard though.
Has anyone else had to deal with this so early on, and how did things turn out? Anyone in the same (panicing) shoes? I just want the baby to keep cooking for another 3 months.

I should add that my cervical length measured 3.4cm when the finally did a scan...

[Strawberries76]

Taking it easy sounds good- I had similar at 27 weeks, was having tightenings every 3 mins for a day and eventually went to get checked. It wasn't really painful- the swab was actually negative for me but I know of a friend who is now 36 weeks and her swab was positive a few weeks ago. For both of us they said it was irritable uterus. I didn't know much about it before but found I need to try to avoid too much stress(!) and take it a bit easy (although I'm still working at moment) and for me, avoid being constipated or too bloated (sorry if tmi). I still get tightenings a lot but not as regular and baby moving lots...all the best with it.

[Beeath]

Thank you. Though the test was postive they dropped the first one, so doing it again could have caused a false positive i think - though they wont admit it! Had to have the steroids etc, though the tightenings didnt stop.
Good to hear you're still working and pregnant.
My baby is a wriggler, and i sometimes wonder if that could be setting them off - as well as stress, moving, needing the loo etc!

[Jellybean100]

FFN has a very high false positive- it really doesn't mean all that much- there is a very small chance of you going in to labour with a positive. It is used mainly so that they can give you steroids etc and prepare for delivery just in case. Did they test your urine? Sometimes tightenings are caused by urine infections.
Sometimes you get braxto hicks type tightenings all the way through.
Also if they are not painful I would not worry too much.

[Beeath]

Thanks Jellybean, they tested my urine - i thought the same as i feel like i always need to pee, even after i've just been.

I guess its the uncertainty that's so hard...

[Newlywed123]

Tightenings dont always have to be regular. I'd get checked out with your situation. I was just under 23 weeks when I had some pressure and painless tightenings. They told me it was nothing. 3 hours later they finally let me go in to 'put my mind at ease'. I was already 10cm. 2 days later at 23 weeks my son was born asleep. I have a weak cervix though, and the chance of this happening is very slim. But it's always safe to trust your instincts and not to say no as an answer x

[Beeath]

Sorry to hear about you loss Newlywed.
I'm thankful they admitted me and took actions should i be in labour (steroids etc.). But they havent offered any advice regarding what might happen next. They said i'd be seeing a consultant tomorrow but what with christmas and new year the next appointment in on 8th January! Thats a long time to wait!

[Quodlibet]

Newlywed I am so sorry for your loss.

Beeath I can understand how worrying this is for you, though sometimes outcome can be fine. I went into hospital at 23 weeks in my last pregnancy with what they somewhat tentatively diagnosed as 'irritable uterus'. I had regular and very painful tightenings which lasted a few hours.
I was discharged after being checked over, monitored and not showing signs of labour. It happened a couple more times over the course of the pregnancy (always when I needed a poo - I think the pressure of the bowel on my uterus set it off!) but ultimately I had a normal pregnancy and delivered a healthy girl almost bang on 40 weeks.

[Beeath]

Thankyou for your reassurance Quodlibet - did they go away after a few hours or continue? Mine have been almost constant for a week, but vary between 10mins and 40 mins between. My tummy is sore and tired but i wouldnt describe them as painful, more uncomfortable.

[Quodlibet]

Mine was very painful. It lasted an hour or two then died off.