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Pregnancy

Irritable Uterus

74 replies

user1460834928 · 16/04/2016 20:43

This is my first post so bear with me if I'm rambling a bit!

I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first was born at 28 weeks - we don't know why. I'm being monitored more closely this time around and on Monday (5 days ago) my cervix had shorted from 30mm 10 days before to 25.7mm. I started progesterone pessaries that day. On Thursday I was having pelvic pressure, abdominal cramps and back pain so I went and got checked out at MAU. They did a fetal Fibronectin test which was negative so that's really reassuring and my cervix is closed. But they could feel tightenings in my uterus so they said I've probably got an irritable uterus, they were really vague about what that means and didn't say much more about it except I should rest, not lift anything heavy (including my 2 year old daughter) and go back if the pain gets any worse.

We're now two days on from that and I've been trying to take it easy. I read up about irritable uterus - as much as I could find online which wasn't much - and from what I understand it can give you contractions which are especially brought on by doing too much (hence the restriction on lifting and resting where possible). The contractions don't cause your cervix to shorten or dilate, but they can trigger actual contractions and bring on preterm labour. I now suspect that this is what happened with my daughter as I was getting sensations, not pains as such, but my bump would tighten and hangs shape and the night before I went in to labour I (stupidly) carried a heavy box in from the car and then had bad back pain immediately after.

I guess my question is how does an irritable uterus feel? I'm not really feeling it as contractions but my only experience of labour wasn't typical so I don't really know if I know what I'm looking for - if that makes sense. I'm feeling like I've got period pain, but it's not coming in waves and I'm not getting any sharp pains like you do when you're doubled over in the first day of your period - it's just a constant dull ache in my abdomen and back. If I've been on my feet for a while or had to pick up my daughter (I know, I'm working on it!) I can feel a strain and then afterwards I get that tightening in my stomach which is accompanied by period pain (again, not extreme pain). Is that a IU contraction?

Thanks to anyone who's got any experience of this, I know I sound pretty clueless, I just don't trust my body any more because it doesn't do what it's supposed to!

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lilygirl81 · 18/04/2016 17:14

It had shortened to 2.5cm, but seemed OK when they checked it a week after the stitch. Couldn't get a clear view of it at my last check and didn't want to do an internal, so will find out next week if things are still ok.

Don't feel I can take days off, I've been off so much already, and took Friday off as felt I needed it. Was off today as DH and I had a night in a hotel last night as a treat. I guess I will just see, if work makes it worse I'll not really have a choice, feel like I'm constantly fighting to keep this little one inside.

Bed rest is such a nightmare, and can't imagine how hard it would be with another little one to look after. I feel guilty because DH has to do so much for me, but at least it's just me.

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user1460834928 · 18/04/2016 19:51

It's so difficult when you've got other things going on - like work and childcare. I thought that having today at home on my own would allow me to get some rest and make me feel better but instead I've ended up feelings more guilty because I couldn't look after my daughter and it's made me feel I can do less because it's just highlighted how painful it is when I'm doing anything other than sitting or laying down. Tomorrow we've got to take my daughter for an appointment at a hospital in London and I thought it would be fine because my husband's coming too so he can push the buggy and carry her or lift her if need be but now I'm even dreading the wall from the station to the hospital. Whenever I'm walking I get period pains and it feels like the baby could just fall out. I'm really scared that we're going to go through NICU again because with the way I feel at the moment I can't see this baby staying put for another 13+ weeks.

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lilygirl81 · 18/04/2016 20:22

Try not to be too hard on yourself. I know what you mean about the walking, I'm almost lucky in that anything more than a very short distance I need a wheelchair, so avoiding that part. Yours sounds much more painful than mine, it's horrible. Just try and take your time.

I'm setting myself a goal of making it another 10 weeks, by which point most of the danger will be over. My sister just had twins at 32 weeks and they are doing brilliantly, should be home by the time they would have been 36, which gives me hope.

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MGC1986 · 18/04/2016 20:33

That's really good that they're doing so well, especially for twins because they're typically smaller so have that to contend with too. My daughter came home on the day I would have been 37 weeks, so full term. It was also the day I was meant to start my maternity leave!

It wasn't really too painful until the past few days. I don't know if it's getting more painful or if it's my perception of it that's changed now that I know to change what I'm doing when it hurts. I had a bit of bleeding this morning, and I know it's really stupid but I don't want to get it checked out because I'm worried they'll admit me and I don't want to be away from my daughter. It's the same with the pain - I don't want to tell anyone how it hurts every time I stand because I don't want them to put me on bedrest. I know that's stupid.

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MGC1986 · 18/04/2016 20:35

Oh sorry, I should have said that I've just updated my user name but didn't realise it wouldn't update it on my previous posts so I'm the OP in case that wasn't clear!

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lilygirl81 · 18/04/2016 20:49

That's not stupid at all, I completely understand. I told DH I didn't want to speak to the hospital in case they kept me in.

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 07:22

Lily & Minty - how are you both doing today?

Anna - I completely missed your message before, sorry about that! How are you doing? Are you being closely monitored this pregnancy?

Are you still having pain Kstar? Or has it eased off now?

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Annabrooke90 · 19/04/2016 07:33

Hi OP,

Nothing as yet, I am high risk anyway due to a previous APH and PPH and because I've had more than four children. But usually I have a consultant appointment at 12 weeks to set up a plan of action type of thing, but as I was rushed in for my 12 week scan within three days they had no consultant appointments. They said id recieve a separate one in the post (never did) so I rang them at the start of this month to find out and it had been forgotten so they couldn't get me in until the 26th which is next week. I'm going to mention everything to her and hope they start keeping an eye on things because in my gut I feel like I'll be earlier this time.

Hope you are ok today.

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 09:17

I decided to go and get checked over as the tightenings are more frequent today. Just in the ward at the moment. They are sending me for another cervical scan and testing for any UTI that might be causing it. Interestingly, the midwife assumed I would not be working given my history, so can see rest getting ordered for a bit.

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 09:22

I hope you get on okay Lily. When did you last get checked? People keep asking me if I'm still working and I am but I'm only part time anyway and I haven't been told I can't work but like you I've not specifically asked so maybe they assume I either don't work or I'm not working at the moment. You end up seeing so many people that sometimes I think they assume you know or have already been told something by someone else.

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 09:28

Cervical length was last measured about 3 weeks ago when it looked pretty good, they couldn't get a measurement at my scan last week.
I'm the sole earner so I really need to keep working, though might have to accept I need to cut my hours if things don't settle down.
How are you feeling today?

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 09:55

I would have thought that if you're medically unfit to work then you would just go off sick rather than it triggering your maternity leave. Unless of course you're self employed. What sort of work do you do? Do you have the option of working from home?

I'm okay, although I'm looking after my daughter this morning (my husband's upstairs working from home so he's here if I need him) but I've had to pick my daughter up a handful of times already. She didn't sleep well so she's in a difficult mood and she keeps climbing on things, if I don't pick her up she could fall and hurt herself so I don't have much choice.

Do you know how long you'll have to wait? Are there lots of people there?

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 10:00

I think that I'm close to triggering a drop to 75% pay as I was off for 12 weeks with Hyperemisis and then another couple of weeks after my stitch. I do accountancy, so may be able to do some from home, but a lot of it does need to be done in the office.

I do t think there is anything you can do when your daughter needs you. I bet you are still lifting her much less than you normally would, and any reduction will be a benefit.

I've been put through as an emergency scan, so hopefully it won't be too long, and just had an FFH (I think) test to see if I'm threatening labour. The doctor said there was lots they can try to stop the cramps or labour, so feeling hopeful, but she did say I'd be in most of the day.

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 10:05

Even a day or two a week working from home could help as you wouldn't have travelling time and you're in complete control of your environment.

How many weeks are you now? Fingers crossed for the Fibronectin test - I got my results in about 20 minutes but I suppose it depends if they can do it on the unit or if they have to put it through to the lab.

Let us know how you get on.x

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 10:08

They did say the test wouldn't take long. I just feel that in this pregnancy, everything with a 1% chance or less is happening, it's hard to stay positive about it all. I'm 25+4, desperately want to get to 28 weeks as that seems to be such a big turning point.

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 10:16

Midwife just popped in to say that my result was a 3 which is practically negative, though I have no idea what the scale is

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 10:20

To be honest 28 to 32 weeks is still a big risk. My daughter was born at 28+1, had to be resuscitated at birth, was put on a ventilator and had an infection at 2 weeks old which she almost didn't survive. She was in for 2 months total and she still has chronic lung disease. The chance of survival at 28 weeks is good (I think 95%) but those two months, and even beyond that, were the most difficult of my life. I wouldn't wish that on any body.

My hope isn't so much to reach a certain gestation but it's to have certain things happen - to see my baby at birth, to be able to hold the baby at least the day it's born, to not have my baby taken to a different hospital from me. In an ideal world I'd like to never have my baby go to NICU or SCBU but failing that I just hope for the above.

Fingers crossed that none of us will have to experience anything like this and these conversations will seem like silly worries in a few months time. Here's hoping!!

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 10:21

I didn't even know there was a scale for the fFN! I thought it was just a positive or negative! The print out from mine was put in my notes, I'll have a look in a minute.

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 10:26

Apparently anything less that 50 ng/ml is considered a negative result. Thanks Google!

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 10:38

Thanks, that makes me feel much better.

I'm sorry you had such a rough time with your daughter, I really hope you get to avoid SCBU this time.

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 14:43

Hopefully none of us will.

Are you still at the hospital?

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 15:13

Yes, still here, waiting on the doctor reviewing my scan, but didn't sound like good news, cervix shortened again with funnelling.

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lilygirl81 · 19/04/2016 17:43

What a day! The consultant decided she didn't trust the scan done earlier, so did an internal herself which showed the cervix looking absolutely fine and a decent length! She said that I might just have to get used to my body feeling like this, and decide how I want to moderate my activities, which is good but not hugely helpful. I'm to stay overnight to make sure things don't get worse, and I'm being started on progesterone pessaries to see if they help.

How did you manage today?

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MGC1986 · 19/04/2016 21:21

I've only just seen both of your messages - you must have been so worried when they did the first scan and so relieved when the consultant saw and examined you! How can the scan be so far off? Do you know what length it was showing? I've heard that it can vary depending on the sonographer and how much pressure they apply but to get it so far wrong is concerning. How are you feeling now? Have the pains stopped as you've been resting today? Or have they continued regardless?

I've only been home a little while - had a follow up appointment for my daughter that was meant to take and hour and a half but took 3 hours! She was exhausted by the time we got home, hopefully it will mean she sleeps well tonight! I've done far more than I should have done today but it was unavoidable. I feel okay now but when I was walking back to the station I was having shooting pains in my groin with every step I took. I really wish I didn't have to wait until Monday for my next appointment as I'm concerned that all of these pains and sensations are either because of or causing the cervix to shorten. Hopefully I'll be proven wrong.

I started the pessaries last Monday, haven't had any side effects from them but my only advice would be to buy some pads or liners as some of the carrier will come back out. I have such a limited amount of underwear that fits me comfortably now that I don't want any of it to get ruined!

Hope you can get some rest and it's not too busy or distributive on the ward you're on. Out of interest, did they monitor you for contractions? I was told 24 weeks was too early when I went last Friday but I don't know when they can monitor from.

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lilygirl81 · 20/04/2016 08:27

Apparently it's because the first scan was done abdominally, with a full bladder which can distort the cervix. The first scan measured 1.4cm, the second, internal
scan showed 5cm!!!

Still got the tightenings, though they are much less when I don't move.

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