Stress and prem labour

[anne74]

I wondered if stress can bring on premature labour and if so how to prevent it.

I'm almost 31 weeks and on Tuesday, had to rush from London to York as my dad was extremely unwell. The hospital didn't think he would survive the night but he did, just. But they don't think he will survive more than another 24 hrs or so. I stayed with him all night on Tuesday, slept briefly Wednesday morning then went back to the hospital. I got a proper night's sleep on Wednesday night and was then in the hospital all day yesterday. My family have stayed with my dad while I'm supposed to be getting some sleep tonight. Given that I'm writing this at 2.15am it's not going so well!

I'm trying to make sure I'm eating and drinking plenty. The staff on the ward keep pushing me. Wed evening I thought the baby was particularly quiet so I went to the maternity ward here just for reassurance. They ended up doing my bp and it was very high for me so I was put on the monitor for a while. The midwife could see I was having a few BH and said to go back if I'm in any pain. The BH have got stronger in the last 24 hrs with period pain type cramps. Not painful as such but uncomfortable. The ward nurses are keeping an eye on my BP when I'm there. I don't really want to bother the midwives as they've already seen that there are a few BH going on on the monitor. I just don't want things to get any worse and I don't know if the situation I'm in has the potential to bring something on if I'm not careful.

Has anyone got any advice? I'm expecting to be at the hospital all day today and all over the weekend if he is still alive.

Thanks x

No real advice, but the fact that you are being sensible and getting yourself monitored is good. Keep going back and getting checked if you are worried. In such a stressful upsetting situation, no wonder you are not sleeping and your BP is high.

However, babies have been born just fine to very stressed mothers in many situations. Think 9/11 for example. Many women pregnant women lost partners and still gave birth to healthy babies.

Just keep being sensible and keep going back to the maternity ward. You aren't bothering them. It is their job! It is what they are supposed to be doing. They would be the first to tell you to come back immediately if you felt something was wrong.

I hope your Dad gets better x

I'm so sorry to hear about your dad :( I lost my dad suddenly 12 weeks pregnant with DC2 so I can relate a little.

At 32 weeks with DC2, DC1, then two, had an accident at nursery and cut her lip open. She needed a general anaesthetic to sew it back up. They said she'd only be in surgery 20 minutes or so, but it was 90 minutes before they contacted us - as you can imagine I got rather stressed on top of the stress I had already! Afterwards when she was in recovery and then on the ward, I had a lot more contractions (I'd always had a few, but this was really a lot worse) and they pulled out a bed for me to lie down on and I had some water. They slowed eventually and everything was fine.

I honestly have no idea if those contractions would have developed into anything more, I am thinking not. I think it may just have been the body's way of coping with stress but I am not an expert by any means!

Very much thinking of you, and I hope your contractions go away soon.

Try and stay as calm as possible even if your mind is racing - it's the raised bp that's the risky bit for both of you.

I am so sorry about your dad. It is a very difficult thing to go through and you are a wonderful daughter. Try to stay composed for the sake of the baby. Some people use Valerian root (herbal tincture) to calm down. It helped me deal with death and funeral, but I was not pregnant at that time. I googled it as it seems that it's side effects in pregnancy are not known. In NYC, the pharmacists are great and they'll tell you if you can have moderate quantities of herb to calm down (it is sold over the counter; i bought mine at cvs or duane read in nyc). Offering my prayers for you!

Thanks for your responses. I'm still at the hospital. Dad is hanging on although I don't know how much longer for. He seems worse today. I'm trying to rest when I can but am at the hospital for 11/12 hrs each day.

I havent had any major contractions in the last 24 hrs so hopefully things have settle down. I will try and keep my stress levels down as much as I can but I have a feeling the next 24/48 hrs are going to be tough.

Thanks for your support x