anyone have experience of preterm labour? please help.

[yummicheddars]

Ok..so I'm a worryer as it is. Ok I'm 25+6, and a few days ago I felt strangely wet, not drenched just wet. I didn't think much to it, but have had a few more slight wet patches since, a bit more today again 5mins after I went to the toilet. I am now concerned, been feeling a bit off past few days, today I've felt very emotional, restless, anyway about 2 hours ago I started with a dull ache in lower of back and abdomen every now and again, it wasn't constant, I've had a bath, see if it eased it, it hasn't, also had like a mucussy blob (sorry tmi) maybe show? Anyway I've been getting period like cramps more regular and more painful now, could it be preterm labour?? I already have a DS who was 11 days overdue and induced.

I think you should get in touch with the on call midwife. It may be nothing but they won't mind checking you over, and if you are in labour they can arrange for you to be assessed at a hospital with a NICU that accepts 25 weekers.

Good luck x

I'm getting a bit scared, can't be much chance of labour can it?

I don't know...do you have the number for your on call midwife? They'd be able to talk you through it. If you are in labour you need to be seen ASAP, you may need drugs to slow it down and steroid injections to mature the baby's lungs, the sooner they are given the better for the baby.

I don't mean to scare you but you need to be assessed.

Yummi, that sounds like tis very scary for you. My advice would be to go and get checked out, just to be sure. If its nothing, you'll be out for a couple of hours. IF it is pre-term labour (I'm not saying it is, I'm not a dr) then you baby will have the best chance, having been looked after frim as soon as poss. But please go and get checked, if just for your own reassurance

yummi you must go and get assessed. They honestly won't mind if it's nothing. They would hate for it to be serious and you not go for fear if making a fuss.

Hello yummicheddars my son was born early so I know a little about pre term labour. Don't panic, but I do think you need to be checked over just in case, and for your own peace of mind. Please let us know how it goes.

Ok, don't panic.
Call the unit, they will almost certainly want you to go in. I had waters 'vanish' a couple of times, and was given steroids to develop my Dts lungs - it is very important you receive these ASAP - my hospital administer them after 24 weeks if there's a risk of early labour.
Go in early enough and they may be able to delay things even if labour has started. Leave it too late and you might have to deliver. Don't panic though, my waters topped themselves back up until spectacularly going at 30 weeks!
If nothing else, going in for observation will familiarise you with the maternity wards. If appropriate ask to visit NICU too - if you deliver early it will be reassuring to have already seen the scbu wards so not too much of a shock.
Good luck!

I'm sure by now you have done as everyone has already suggested, and are on your way to get checked. So I have nothing else to add, except best wishes.

Good luck.

I am waiting for my partner to get in from work, he wasn't meant to finish till 10 but think he's on his way, then going to drop my DS at my mums. And will go get checked. Really don't want to be making a fuss though.

They won't mind one little bit. I promise. Please don't worry about making a fuss.

Yummi, personally I wouldn't wait. I don't mean to panic you but I went from 'bit damp' to fully dilated in 5 hours. Preterm labour can be bloody quick if it happens.
Unless you have major childcare issues or similar just phone and go in right away. They well want to put you on a bed and observe to see if fluids are pooling (what happened when i had a panic i was loosing waters - I wasn't, then!) so your dp can come and sit with you later.
Go girl, seriously.

Sorry read that as your partner was working till 10. If he's on his way great.

Sorry typo, they MAY want to observe you!

Your not making a fuss at all, It's a worrying time, hope everything goes well for you at the hospital, Good Luck.

Thinking of you OP, hope all us well.

Doctor couldn't see any water, and as for the pain I wasnt monitered on them machines for contractions just told their bad braxton hicks.

Thank goodness, I was thinking about you. I bet you feel better knowing there's nothing wrong. Run yourself a nice bath and relax.

Good! So glad you got checked out. Are they going to follow up at all? Hope it's just a case of doing your pelvic floor exercises from hereon !

Well, I had a bath before I went to try ease pains, it didn't and I'm still having them now, but at least I no my cervix is closed.no no follow up, although the doctor did say the baby feels very small for his age, great. Why do they have to put worrying thoughts into our heads.

I wouldn't worry about the size comment right now. One of my friends gave birth to a 10lber and they had NO idea she was coming so big. They measured my Dts the same size, and they weren't... Size seems to be one thing they really struggle to estimate in utero. Relax, look after yourself, keep an eye on any damp patches (!). Do you have another scan scheduled? Sonographers seem to vary also.

No not got another scan booked, but it has been queried due to my bmi of 18-18 pre-pregnancy. But nothing else has been done about it so will mention it to midwife tomorrow