pleaae reassure me- admitted with contractions at 28 weeks

[ImpYCelyn]

I posted several times before Christmas about the terrible headaches I've been having this pregnancy.

Today I had an MRI to rule out anything nasty and I started having contractions in the MRI. Went up to FAU after and they monitored me for 3.5hrs and have now admitted me. The midwife said that although it's calmed down now they were convinced I was in labour so want me close just in case and for more obs. They're talking about giving me steroids.

I'm in total panic mode, even though contractions ate now only about 1 every 10th mins. Cervix was fine when they looked earlier.

Has anyone has this happen? Should I prepare for the worst or is it most likely nothing?

It's dc2. DS was bang on time.

Sorry about the terrible spelling and punctuation - I'm on my phone and it was too small to see the mistakes!

bump

I had early contractions with dd at 29 wks and she was born at 35 wks. I had them all that time some were sore and some not. I had cholestasis with both my dcs at 25 wks and they were both prem ds at 32 wks and although its scary and horrible you can get through it. You need plenty support and hand holding though. Big unmumsnetty hugs. You can do this

hi, a few weeks back (when i was 31 weeks) i went in to maternity triage with contractions every 5 minutes. i was monitored, given the fetal fibernectin test (which was positive) and given steriods there and then, my cervix wass checked and wass found to be soft and on its way to being low and i admitted to the antinatal ward. i was told to expect delivery before 35 weeks. my contractions calmed down and the next day i was sent home and told to come in if contractions got stronger, closer together, my waters went or there was any blood.

I'm now 37+5 weeks and still having irregular contractions, but baby is not here yet!!

here is my thread i started when i was in hospital, a few positive early birth stories on there.

stay positive, it could be all ok

Btw if baby is early scbu is a fantastic help and you can ask for councelling if it gets too much. Talk to your midwives about your concerns too I'm sure they will be happy to answer any questions about your fears etc

hi
im 28+6 and my placenta is not functioning as it should be and my baby is small they are scsnning me tomorrow if no improvment then its steroids and a early c section im very scared but I have heard some very positive early birth stories from 28 weeks onwards some as early as 25 weeks.
good luck.xxxxx

Thank you so much for sharing your stories.

Emsgale - good luck today, I really really hope you have a positive scan, but good luck whatever happens. I'm sending you lots of positive vibes and hugs xxx

addictediam - so glad to hear your baby is still staying put. I'm going to read your thread today.

GingerSnaps - An extra 6 weeks would be marvellous, it must make a huge difference. I'm so glad things finished well for you.

I'm a bit up in the air about it all and I'm not sure if it was serious or not.

The midwives in FAU were really, really worried. DH overheard one say to another that she was convinced I was in labour. I reached a point where I was contracting 5 times in 10 mins, and although it tailed off they weren't convinced that meant it was over. They were also worried about the baby's heart rate. They wanted me to have steroids and told me they'd alerted neonatal.

But I got seen by a Dr in FAU who asked if I was having a contraction while she was there, I wasn't. She went off to do some notes and when I saw her again asked if I'd had them in the meantime. I said yes and then she asked again if I was having one right now. When I said no she said "well I think you're probably fine and you can go home". I got the impression that she just didn't believe me, and DH thought that too.

The MWs were really unhappy about it. Asked me to agree to go back on the monitor just for a while. Which was still showing contractions and an up and down heart beat for the baby. In the end two MWs pretty much begged me to stay overnight, they were adamant that I shouldn't go home.

So I agreed and they out me on the ward. Two hours later a different Dr came, asked me the same questions as the first one, and then discharged me at 9.30. I honestly felt like the Dr's assumption is "if she's not having a contraction as I'm standing here, she's not really having them". Because when I first arrived and told her they were every 10 mins her reaction was "still regularly every 10 mins, hmm, we probably need to monitor you again" - and then she changed her mind.

So I went home, but I don't know whether to be worried because the MWs were, or think it was nothing because the Drs implied that. I feel like I'm caught in the middle of some kind of war between the MWs and the Drs, where the Drs think the MWs are overcautious and the MWs think the Drs aren't cautious enough.

I woke up this morning feeling really crampy and like I had a stitch all over my belly. DC2 is wiggling away in there. I thought the contractions had stopped, but I'm still having them occasionally.

The Dr said to go back if I have 3in10, pain, bleeding or my waters break.

So I guess that's it, just carry on and wait and see. I just can't stop worrying about it.

Could that be causing it though? Am I having contractions because they've told me to look out for them? I'm worried I'm doing it to myself.

Hi Im watching this as Ive had a premmie-my 2nd--just wanted to say good luck.
If you haven`t done so and get the chance ask if you can look round SCBU,I had done this and it made the whole experience much less scary.

HI

i had a PROM at 29 weeks and gave birth at 35+2

hope your ok
:)

Have they not given you antthing to stop the contractions? I was admitted at 27 weeks because of short cervix but no contractuons, but I was still given them (they're called tocolytics) as well as steroid injections to mature lungs. (I was then put on bed rest and have just been "released" at 35 weeks)

The drs attitude sounds very patronising!

Best of luck with everything, try to rest as much as you can!

Thanks Iwasagnome, I'm hoping it won't come to it, but I'll keep that in mind, I think it would help.

riamay - thanks, I'm really hoping it'll just keep ticking over.

They didn't give me anything to stop the contractions, they decided they were stopping on their own, despite still being one every 10 mins. No steroids either, which I know the MWs really wanted me to have.

I phoned the FAU yesterday to get clearer advice on when I should worry and go back and they said "if you're having regular contractions, say one every 10 mins" which is what the bloody Dr discharged me having!

Yes, the drs did come across as pretty patronising.

They were also obsessed with pain "you'd be in more pain if you were in early labour". I even told them that I got to 9cms with DS before I was really in pain, and even then didn't have any painkillers (admittedly because the MWs only got there 20 mins before DS did, I wouldn't have said no to G&A). Up til then it was just uncomfortable, like I told them it was on Thurs, but they just went on and on "when you feel like you need painkillers for it, we'll know it's serious" - GAH!!

Anyway.

I'm barely having any contractions now, thank goodness, but I felt really crampy all night, in my abdomen and my lower back, uncomfortable enough that I couldn't sleep very well. And I still have cramps and stitch-type pain this morning. DC2 still moving lots though.

I don't really know what to do and whether it's serious. They told me to come back for regular, painful contractions, bleeding or waters going, so not cramps etc. I think if I phoned them they'll tell me to go in just to be sure, but I don't fancy sitting there for hours just to be told it's nothing and implied I'm being oversensitive iykwim.

Had a horrible dream last night, repeatedly, where I was bleeding though :(

I'm sure it's most likely nothing, but I can't stop thinking things might go wrong now.

How are you now?

Back in hospital. They've decided to do more observation to see if it seems to be building into something serious, or if it's just going to be an on and off annoyance for the rest of the pregnancy.

They gave me pain killers for the cramps and something else because I had a migraine on the way.

I feel ok now, but I miss DS and I feel really guilty about the number of times I've had to leave him with my parents the last couple of months.

I'm really hoping nothing happens. They said they can delay labour long enough for steroids to work, but that's it :(

I'm so stressed and over emotional, I keep crying.

Poor you

look after yourself ,that`s the most important,try to pretend you are in a hotel?!!!

Whereabouts are you roughly?

I'm so sorry you're back in hospital

I understand how you feel about your ds, but I'm sure he'll enjoy spending some time with thd grzndparents?

This is thr best you can do fir your unborn child, I too felt incredibly torn when in hospital and then at home on bedrest. Unfortunately when you havd more thzn ond child you cant be there with all if them all thd time. This is where extended family is priceless imo.

I hope they are taking good care if you now.

Best of luck

I had my dd at 32+5 and she was in SCBU for nine days - they really are excellent, if your little one does decide to come early.

I would say if a m/w offers/advises steroids, take them. It won't do any harm and may help to reassure you.

Try not to worry (I realise this is much easier to say than do), things will work out one way or another. Good luck!

I agree with lostlenore; if they offer steroids take them! They come in two shots and even one will really really help with lung development just in case. They will not "encourage" labour, so don't worry on that account.
I had my DD at 27+6 which was scary but thankfully mainly complication free.
When they say they can't stop labour except for steroids to work; they mean very established labour. They can try and hold off/slow down contractions which depending on how strong they are can weaken them enough to cease and halt the whole shebang.
It's tough "not knowing" but rubbbish as hospitals are, you are in the right place for monitering and should anything further happen, have an excellent team on your doorstep. I hope it doesn't come to it for you, but good luck either way!

How`s things today?

Just want to say a big thank you to everyone who has posted. You've all made me feel much more confident about everything.

I was discharged from hospital yesterday afternoon, all seems to be fine now. But I'm a bit about the hospital in general. Every time a new MW or doctor came to see me on the ward they seemed to have details wrong and had not read my notes. To the point that by Sunday afternoon one doctor asked what had gone wrong in my first pregnancy as he had written down that it was my second but I had no children; 20 mins later a different doctor wanted to confirm that it was my third pregnancy, and when I said second replied "oh, was it twins last time then". And they were convinced I was in there due to headaches. When I mentioned contractions and cramps they all look stunned and asked when they'd started and had I mentioned them to anyone - aaargh!

When I finally got one MW to read through my notes properly and accept that I was there for contractions she was astonished I hadn't been given steroids. And I never was. They just wouldn't freaking listen and went on and on about my MRI results (which were all normal, yay!)

In fact, they discharged me with information about headaches. Not a word about contractions etc. So I've had to formulate me own advice, largely based on what they told the woman opposite me who was also having contractions (although at 35 weeks).

Was thrilled to be at home last night, and be with DS again. I was hoping to catch up on sleep, as I got hardly any on the ward, but unfortunately DS started screaming at 1am, threw up and screamed til 6.30. A trip to the GP confirmed his 4th ear infection since the beginning of December :( Hopefully antibiotics and calpol will mean I finally get some sleep tonight though.

Thank you all so much again, especially for sharing your experiences and advice. I've made a note of it all, but I'm really hoping I won't have to use any of it :)

May I suggest ImpYCelyn that you consider complaining?

Mainly on the point that so many HCPs were basing their discussions with you on things that were incorrect and that they clearly hadn't read your notes. Yes, they're busy, we all appreciate that, but not reading your notes or being properly informed about what you're actually there for, or your history could lead to serious mistakes being made.

I am glad you are home :)