Could someone reassure me please?

[NosyRosie]

I friend of mine has been in hospital since Tuesday when she started having contractions. She's only 31 weeks and is 1/2cm dilated. Last night she had a show.

My pregnancy was so straightforward I have no idea what this could mean for her.

Could I have some reassurance that labour can be held off, or if not, that the baby will be ok?

Thank you.

(Sorry if this is in the wrong section)

She and baby will be being well looked after in hospital, they will be trying to keep the baby in a bit longer which they can do as long as the baby seems happy via monitoring it with scans and heartrate monitor, and as long as the waters haven't broken.

If the baby does need to be born, after 26 weeks babies have a very good chance of survival, it may need to stay in the hospital for some support for a few weeks.

The NHS is very very good at looking after babies and mums in labour or with problems in pregnancy - can be a bit shoddy sometimes but you can rely on them when it really matters

:)

I have been following a thread on here about a lady called southsea and she was visiting the states at 28 weeks when her waters broke. She is still there now, but managed to hold onto baby until 34 weeks with bed rest in hospital then they induced her as after 34 weeks with no water it can be a little dangerous to baby. So 34 weeks and baby Thomas was born! A very healthy 4 lb baby and was only on oxygen for a couple of days and now he's out, just! Still only 35 weeks old he's fighting fit and there just waiting for passports etc to come home!
Your friend will be just fine and is in good hands! There are so many things they can do to stop the labour and you can have a show very early in pregnancy, as long as you have your waters which in itself isn't the end of the world! Your friend may have a perm baby but may also still go full term, only time will tell
X x x x

She will be given steroids to mature the baby's lungs and drugs to stop the contractions (nifedipine and sometimes diamorphine). The will also check for a UTI as that can start contractions sometimes. If the nifedipine works and she is not dilating or her membranes are still intact they will send her home to await events! Hope that helps.

I have a friend who threatened to give birth at 26 weeks or so. She was rushed to hospital, and basically stayed there lying in bed for almost the whole of the remainder of the nine months - in the end her baby was born safe and sound more or less at full term. From what I heard, the first few weeks were a hellish combination of being terrified of losing the baby and being bored stupid, but with every day that passed the baby got stronger and they did manage to prevent him from being born early in the end. Not sure of the medical details, but I know it was a happy ending :) And her DC2 is due any day now :-)

Thank you all. She seems to be ok at the moment. She was on steroids and nothing further has happened. She's hoping to be allowed home tomorrow.

I live 4 hours away from her so it's horrible knowing I can't go and visit. I feel very protective - she's only 18 and I used to nanny her