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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Per term labour

3 replies

Flumpy2012 · 10/09/2012 09:41

Hello,

I'm 25+3 and have had pre term labour 3 times now. I've had drugs to stop it and steroids to help babies lungs.

I'm on my own and petrified of DD being early and how I'll cope. Does anyone have any similar experiences or any advice?

Thanks

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
AdiVic · 10/09/2012 10:21

Hello - I had pre term labour at 24 weeks, I too had the steroid injections (in legs, v painful) and drugs. A year before I was pregnant I had surgery on my cervix and was told that I would not carry to term, so I was very worried. After an examination at my 24 week scare, the consultant told me again that it would be very unlikely I would go full term as my cervix was already 'ready - soft and short'. He invited me to meet the baby intensive care team, and offered me a trip round the unit to see other pre term babies so I wouldn't be suprised by their size etc. I declined all of that as I have worked in hospitals so have seen the units and also didn't want to focus on such things. But the formality of it all scared me. I just thought I'd deal with it IF and WHEN it arose.

After that, DS had to be induced at 38 weeks and he did not want to come! Took 2 days to get me into labour. I think he would have stayed in there until 42 weeks like his older sister. I was quite scared the whole way through my pregnancy. My husband worked away alot, and only booked time off for the induction date, so was away right up till then. I was convinced DS would arrive early and quickly with me stuck at home in the middle of nowhere.

Are you totally on your own? Is there a family member/friend you can express your fears to? I don't' have any great advice, and it only happened to me once, but maybe your body will settle down. After it happened to me I bought a hypnobirthing book for the relaxation exercises and found it really really helped. When I had further tightening, I would have a large glass of water (apparently this helps) and listened to the relaxation CD and always felt much better. Could it be that you are also scared of the birth? Hypnobirthing helped me in that regard to. I got a book of ebay - cheaper than the book sites. If you are scared of the actual birth, I would say don't' be. Both my births were easy as I wasn't scared of that bit. These horror stories are often exaggerated.

Try to relax, and look after yourself. You are heading towards the time when if your baby was born things would be ok, so count down the days and focus on the positives - hard, I know. Good luck and fingers crossed for you (sorry for the ramble!)

Flumpy2012 · 10/09/2012 13:51

Hello

Thanks for your response. I have had pre term labour before and lost the baby at 20 weeks. They still don't know whether something was wrong with the pregnancy or whether my cervix was incompetent.

The contractions are so strong and this weekend was the third time I've had it during this pregnancy, I am desperate for her not to be premature but I'm so drained from all the hours of pain and reluctant to have too many drugs for fear of their affect so try to stick to gas and air which is barely touching the pain.

I'm not too anxious about the birth but I'm terrified that this will keep happening or that she will have long term health problems and dealing with that alone will be so hard.
I've got family but 120 miles away so only really there for a chat on the phone and most of my friends have families of their own so only so much capacity to help.

I'm having cbt and seeing my midwife and gp regularly but I guess I want answers as to why this keeps happening and how I can stop it!

Neither of us are ready yet!! xx

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Flumpy2012 · 11/09/2012 12:30

Any more advice or support out there on this?

It happened again last night :-( I'm desperate and totally physically and emotionally exhausted from it all

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