any advice on slowing/stopping labour?

[kerioke]

i am 32+2 and for two days have had a very heavy dull aching feeling down below coupled with short and irregular contractions (they are not BH's as are much lower and go around the back too, unlike my usual BH's).

i have very heavy (no colour) discharge which is very watery. this is my third baby so i am sure this is it. i had a three week luteal phase with number 2 so though this would be the same, but things are getting stronger.

i know if i go in they wont be able to use drugs to try and stop labour unless things are a little further on and then there is the risk of them not being able to stop it at all.

anyone have any tips on coping at home and trying to prolong or prevent things for a week or two? i really want to make it to the 35 week mark if possible to give little one his best chance.

did you call the hospital to see what they say?maybe try stay off your feet

you should be checked out, in case your waters are leaking, and monitored to make sure baby is happy.maybe you have a UTI or other infection that is giving you contractions... certainly at 32 weeks, you should go and be checked out, if this is prem labour, you can have steroid injections to help baby;s lungs, if labour does get going.

Curious as to why you don't think they will be able to use drugs in an attempt to 'stop' labour because you are only 32 weeks?

There are drugs which can be used, and have been successfully used in many instances.

A proper assessment by the doctors is what you really need, plus as Lulumama has pointed out, the administration of steroids to optimise baby's lungs in the eventuality that labour proceeds.

i am waiting for on call MW to get back to me...

i didnt mean they couldnt give me drugs at 32 weeks... i thought you had to be in established labour is what i meant.

thanks a lot for your messages, will let you know outcome.

oh also... if things do progress and they use drugs to stop it... the drugs cant harm him can they??

Hope your ok. I doubt they would give you anything that would distress baby. Surely that would just make it worse. Let us know what midwife says!

no, they won;t be harmful.. i;m sure everything will be explained to you should you require any treatment.. be sure to ask lots of questions if you need to.

Kerioke, different hospitals use different drugs in an attempt to 'stop' or delay labour long enough to administer the steroids .

In my last hospital they changed the drug of choice and the new one necessitated all women prescribed the drug to have an ECG prior to commencement.

Everything should be explained to you and your consent obtained before commencement.

Sometimes you are only given the drug for long enough for the steroids to become effective, after that time, they will usually let labour continue.