32 weeks - preterm labour experiences?

[SayCoolNowSayWhip]

Hi, have posted this in Premature Birth as well.

I'm 32 weeks exactly, and been having very strong BH since about 24/25 weeks. In the last week I've had stronger contractions that feel like the real thing (already have DD - 2yrs so I remember what they feel like!) but not regularly enough to get my midwife concerned. I also lost my plug on Monday. I'm having lower back pain on and off, and intense pressure on my pelvis - sometimes it feels like his head is pushing out!

Am I just being a bit paranoid? I don't want to waste time if I am, but just wondering if anyone else has gone into labour at about this time with similar symptoms?

Thanks.

Not paranoid, you need to contact your/a midwife/ labour ward right away. I had a 32 weeker and had sciatic back pain and a "terrible stomach bug" that i thought couldn't be labour as it wasn't the mortal agony that it had been with DC1. I was wrong.

On the positive side, Ds was 5lb 5oz T 32 weeks and apart from needing tubefed for 3 weeks there was/is nowt wrong with him. But yes, you need to get hecked out now

*checked. Good luck and try not to panic, 32 weeks is a good point to get past in a preterm pregnancy.

I have been like that with all of my pregnancies. In my experience, they are only interested if you are having regular contractions that are getting stronger/more painful. I found that very frustrating as I knew something was up before I was at that stage. When I got to that stage everyone was in a panic about it on labour ward and it escalated pretty quickly which is typical of pre-term labour. So, have you got a bag packed (with stuff for you) and childcare lined up for your DD? It's worth ringing up the labour ward although you may have to over exaggerate your symptoms so that they bother checking you (they'll do a speculum exam to check if there is anything happening to your cervix). They won't do anything if your cervix is OK but it's better to get checked than turn up later on when it is harder to stop a labour.

If there is a risk of delivering this early you ought to be given steroid injections to speed up the baby's lung development, means he has a greater chance of being able to breathe independently rather than needing ventilation. You should go and get yourself checked out ASAP, I went from 0 to 4cm dilated in about 15 minutes at 32 weeks, pre term labours tend to move much faster than full term and you won't want to be delivering a 32 weeker at home as he'll need a bit of support and monitoring in scbu immediately after he's born. Fingers crossed all is ok though and he holds on for a few more weeks.

Thanks all for your advice. I just really don't want to be making a fuss over nothing. I also don't want to overthink it and almost GIVE myself symptoms iyswim. But there's just this niggling feeling that something isn't quite right - but I don't know if that's just me being paranoid and TELLING myself that.

Arrgh! Baby brain and lack of sleep does NOT help!

But thanks again for all your help. I think I'll see how it goes tonight, and if things don't settle / get at all worse, I'll ring the labour ward. And I will pack the hospital bag just in case!

i would go get checked out - they see it all the time, i went in at 32 weeks thinking i had BH - if it wasnt for a student dr who wasnt sure of herself my ds wouldnt be alive (he a very lively nearly 2 year old now)

lots of luck

How was your night saycool?

It was an ok night thanks - thought things had settled but today still got really bad back ache and now a splitting headache. Also need to pee every 30 mins!

So just as an update - am in the labour ward at the hospital now. Was having strong contractions and back pain. They did a test with a speculum that came back positive for possible labour - anyone had any experience with that?
They're keeping me in overnight and giving me 2 lots of steroids and some Niapolene (sp??) to stop the contractions.
Am a bit scared now'

Try not to worry. I had exactly the same experience (niggled for ages, knew something was wrong, had strong contractions at 32 weeks then treated with steroids and nifedipine). Take heart, the nifedipine is thought to be loads more effective than drugs used in the past that only bought you 48 hours max if you were lucky. When I was checked, I had an anterior, soft cervix that was almost fully effaced and dilating. I gave birth at 37 weeks exactly. And even if baby comes before then, you are in the right place having the right medication

Argh! Posted too soon... 32 weeks isn't that bad. Survival rates are about as high as they get and risks are low if baby is born somewhere safe and equipped. Labour can be very quick and premmies don't 'like' being born but it's not that bad (loads less painful than a full term birth if DD1 is anything to go by).

SayCool you are both in the best place hopefully the contractions can be slowed down/stopped and LO can cook for a bit longer after the steroids, but in any case, 32 weeks is good going.

DS was born at 31+5, 4lb 11.5oz, three weeks after I had the steroids. He briefly had c-pap (assisted ventilation) the first night, but other than that he just needed to gain weight and be able to regulate his temperature. He even had his sucking reflex, generally not thought to develop until 34 weeks. He was in SCBU for 16 days, and if you saw him now (9m, 7m corrected) you wouldn't have any idea he was prem.

Ask the MWs/Drs if you can speak to one of the neonatologists about what may happen if you deliver early, and if you are up to it, ask if you can visit the neonatal unit and familiarise yourself with the environment. If you want to breastfeed, it can be useful to seek out who can help you on the unit - our unit had a feeding specialist who gave support and assistance with expressing, and the nurses all helped me in establishing DS' feeding.

Best of luck, try and stay calm rooting for you and LO

Thanks both

My back is still killing me but the front contractions seem to have calmed down after the nifedipine (can't get that word right!). Had first steroid shot earlier and they're giving me my next shot at 4am (joy!)

Am bored in the hospital ward missing my DD

Unborn DS does not seem affected by the drama - he's kicking and wriggling away! The last midwife who checked his heartbeat couldn't believe how much he was moving - literally rippling across my stomach Alien-style.

Thanks so much again for replying, I really appreciate it. Congrats on your healthy DS, Tea, that's a really reassuring story.

Hahaha DS was like that too. I almost got annoyed with him for being so jolly and active in there while I was stuck on the ward for 3 weeks!

I know how dull and lonely it is on the ward, so keep chatting to us here, and feel free to pm me if you would like to chat 1-to-1 or ask anything

3 weeks! Wow, you poor thing. Is your DS an active baby outside the womb? I have a feeling mine will be a handful!

An active baby is a very good thing if extremely annoying when you want to sleep. I'm 16 weeks pg with DC4 and not too keen to start feeling movement just yet. I've got HG which is enough of a reminder that I'm pg and disrupts my sleep without any help from a fidgety baby!

I know what you mean about getting bored as well. I just wanted to know what was going to happen one way or another. I got bored of hearing other women in labour. I wasn't very understanding about the women who were trying to get into labour and moaning about the pain that they were getting from their prostaglandin pessary

Yup, he is and always has been a wriggler. We call him fidgetbottom

Hope you've not got any snorers in tonight! They did my nut. Room we had a lady in overnight one night who was 1cm dilated, and 24 hrs later was just about 2cm - she just moaned and moaned and moaned. They kicked her out in the end, I felt a bit bad for her, but was glad to see her go!

There is only one other lady on my ward.... And yes, she's a prolific snorer. Joy! So much for any 'rest'.

Whinge whinge.....

Do you know, apparently a glass of wine can help to relax uterine contractions? Wish they'd offered that instead of nefedemine...

Poor you room, hope your HG gets better soon. Have they given you any meds for it? How are you coping with your other three DCs??

Morning! I'm hoping that baby is still nicely cosy and you are sleeping! How have the contractions been over night? Did you end up with anyone being admitted during the night just to keep you awake that little bit longer?

Yes, I've had several different meds for HG and a hospital admission for severe dehydration. I hoped that it would be going by now, but no it's still hanging around. I've just woken up to take my ondansetron before the kids wake up. It is no fun for the other 3 DC because mummy can't do much.

Morning!

Well, between the snoring, and the four o'clock steroid shot, and the 6.30 nifedipine round, I maybe snatched an hour or so..... But luckily no one else has been admitted. I expect Snoring Lady is just as annoyed at me for having 4am med calls as I am at her for snoring.

How old are your other DCs? Does the oldest understand that you're not well? I was very sick with this pg, but not in the league of HG, and I know how rubbish I felt so you must be really going through it. Sending anti-sick vibes!

Unborn DS says hi too.... does the little blighter ever sleep??

I want to say thankyou for talking to me and keeping me sane

Oh and had a few BH tightenings but nothing major. Back was giving me jip but touch wood that's a lot better too. I think my little man is staying put for now, thank goodness.

That's really good hope everything settles down and you get to go home soon!

Just had the doctor round and he said they want to keep me in for 48 hours but that I could discharge myself if I really wanted to.
I really want to go home. I feel fine now and almost like I'm wasting their time!
DH thinks I should stay.
What do you think?