Irritable Uterus

[user1460834928]

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!

[MGC1986]

The cerclage is obviously doing what it's supposed to! They've never checked my cervix through an abdominal ultrasound, I guess there's more of a risk with an internal one for you given the stitch. Are you home now?

[lilygirl81]

I'm waiting on my prescription, then I need to nip in to my office for a short time before going home to rest.

How are you today?

[MGC1986]

I'm okay. I already had leave booked for today and my daughter goes to nursery on a Wednesday so after I got her ready I went back to bed and slept until 11! Feel much better for it.

Take it easy and rest as much as you can.x

[MGC1986]

Hi All,

This is TMI but I don't know if I should be concerned so if you can help it'd be much appreciated. I've been using the progesterone pessaries for over a week now, putting one it each night, and the past two nights it's felt very swollen inside my vagina, I've actually found it difficult to push the pessary to the top and the back where it needs to go. It was fine for the first week. Could it be a side effect of the pessary itself? Or is this something to be concerned about? Has anyone else experienced this?

[MGC1986]

How's everyone doing?

[MintyBojingles]

A lot better on the whole, had an episode yesterday but have family down so was able to rest.

I went to the GP a couple days ago about something unrelated, and she gave me something different for constipation- said the thing I had been prescribed wasn't ideal in pregnancy as it bulks up, and was triggering IBS, which was triggering irritable uterus I think. I feel so much better now! Much less cramping.

How are you doing? TMI I'm sure, but I miss sex! Been told nothing allowed because of low placenta and IU

[lilygirl81]

I'm doing ok, think I have the same thing with the pessaries, feeling a bit swollen inside when I try to get it in.
I'm signed off work for 4 weeks to try and get passed this, which will get me to 30 weeks.
Had to make a decision about travelling 5 hours to go see a dying relative, decided I'll split the journey over 2 days so hopefully I'll be ok, I just can't bear the idea of not seeing them one last time.

[MGC1986]

I'm so sorry to hear that Lily. I can understand why you want to make the journey, just take it easy and I'm sure you'll be fine. That's an awful thing to be going through. It's good that you've been signed off work so hopefully you can reduce the strain on your body for that time and the baby can grow bigger and stronger. Have you been told any specifics such as rest in bed, no sex etc?

That sounds positive Minty - not the episode yesterday but the change in medication. What happened yesterday? Same thing with cramping and tightening? I sympathise about no sex - I haven't been told not to at this stage but we were unsure if we should because of my shortening cervix and IU. We settled for non penetrative although I'm not even sure if that's okay because can't orgasm trigger contractions?

I've continued to have cramps this past week, I still haven't felt actual tightening on my stomach but I couldn't feel it when the doctor and midwife could either. It's been unavoidable that I've had to pick my daughter up on occasion, there's not really much I can do about that. I've now got a horrible cold which doesn't help because my whole body feels really achy so I'm feeling all sorry for myself. I've got an appointment on Monday to check cervical length so we'll see what happens then.

[MintyBojingles]

What happened- I threw up (morning sickness) and that triggered contractions for the next couple of hours :(

I can definitely feel bump going hard. So glad I'll be 24 weeks this week, way too early for anything still, but at least it feels love like a big milestone to get past!

[MGC1986]

Are you feeling better now Minty?

I did too much today - walked 20 minutes each way to the shops - and now I feel rubbish. There's so much pressure in my groin I feel like the baby could just fall out and the contractions have been really painful. It's eased off a bit now but I still don't know if I should go and get checked out. I don't want to over react but I don't want to under react either.

I hate this, every day is a different worry.

[MGC1986]

Just got back from the hospital. The contractions were becoming more regular and I was getting more worried. They did another fFN which was negative. They also did a cervical length scan but with the equipment they have they said it wasn't the most accurate - based on that its shortened slightly and if pressure is applied to the abdomen then it's opening on the inside. I've been told to rest and go to my appointment tomorrow for the more accurate scan.

[lilygirl81]

mgc I'm sorry you are going through this, hopefully bed rest will help stop things. Did they say how long the cervix was? The negative ffn is a good sign, I was told it was 99% accurate for the next 7-10 days.

I did get to see my uncle, definitely not going to be long now, so glad I went. I also got to cuddle my new niece and nephew for the first time as they were prem and only just home.

I was told I could have sex, but orgasms make my bump go rock hard, so I've self imposed an complete ban for the next few weeks.

Minty how are you doing?

[MGC1986]

I'm glad you got to see your uncle, I'm sorry you're also going through this. It must have been nice to hold the new additions though and see them doing well. How many weeks were they born at?

The doctor said the cervix looked to be around 23.5-24mm but he did say that the machine they used isn't intended for that purpose so it wasn't accurate - they didn't even have any condoms in the unit so they had to use a latex glove instead!

I'm more concerned about the possible funnelling, I haven't been put on bed rest, just been told to rest and we'd already booked my daughter in to nursery on Mondays so I will stay in bed today until my appointment later and then see what they say. I don't want to be put on full bed rest but if the cervix is funnelling with pressure then I worry that will get worse as the baby gets bigger.

The fFN was 23 ng/ML which is still negative but it was 0 when they tested last Thursday. I know it's probably nothing to worry about in that respect but I'm reading in to everything. It's horrible being so oblivious to what your own body's doing.

Hope you're okay Minty?x

[MGC1986]

Well I'm really pissed off. The cervical length looked to be about the same - 25mm - which is fantastic news. BUT the woman we saw was so rude  and dismissive and I've come out feeling more confused and scared than I did before. I explained about what happened last night and when I said the fFN test was negative she interrupted me and said "that's not a reliable test, we don't go by that". I then explained about what they had seen on the ultrasound and she cut me off and said "well we'll check it and see" as if she was setting out to disprove what they saw last night. She measured the cervix and I could see, even on the screen which was upside down from my view, that the cervix was funnelled on the inside. The baby moved against it and you could see it open more. She dismissed all of that, and at one point she even froze the screen when the baby had pushed it and measured even beyond where it separated. Now obviously she's trained and I'm not but she was dismissing something that was right in front of her face. She didn't apply any pressure to see if that made it open despite what I said about what happened last night. My husband asked her about this and she cut him off and said "we don't do that" and glared at him, he tried to explain more fully and she cut him off and said the same thing again. She was so rude! She has also said I don't need to rest, I can pick up my daughter - everything that I was told to avoid doing before is apparently fine to do! I even said that as soon as I stand up I get contractions and she asked about the frequency - I told her today it was every 3 minutes for about 45 minutes, she said she'll test my urine but said nothing else about the contractions. She even said that if it's going to happen it will and there's nothing they can do! She wanted to discharge me from the clinic because my cervix is stable which I was not happy about given I'm 25+5 and my daughter was born at 28+1. We're getting to the time that I'm more anxious and feel I need more monitoring to reassure me, not less. Just because the cervix is stable now it doesn't mean it will remain that way, it was stable at 30mm from 15 weeks to 22 weeks and then it dropped 5mm in 10 days. What's to say that won't happen again?! Anyway she then changed her mind and said she'll see me next week! And then she changed her mind again and said she'll see me in 3 weeks. I've asked how I will know if the contractions are real and she said to get checked out whenever I'm concerned - at that rate it would be every day!! She told me if there's no bleeding or leaking fluid then it's fine - I had neither of those when I was in labour with my daughter so I don't see that as a reliable indicator. The way I felt last night was exactly how I felt when I first woke up having contractions with my daughter's labour and four hours later I was in theatre! I don't feel as though I can always "wait and see" because if I do, it could be the real thing and then valuable time will have been lost, but I could also make no end of unnecessary trips to the hospital.



Sorry, this turned into a MASSIVE rant. I'm sooo pissed off!

[MGC1986]

How is everyone doing? I'm still having contractions but don't know what to think now.

[BiffleRoo]

I've had IU with all 4 pgs. I get proper contractions that get stronger, longer and closer together. They register as big contractions on a trace but my cervix does not dilate or efface. With DCs 1-3 it started around 33/34 weeks but this time I was 29 weeks.

[lilygirl81]

MGC have they talked to you about giving you steroids? Fingers crossed the cervix stops shortening, but might be worth pushing for more action on the doctors part. I'd definitely just keep showing up, might help them realised what a huge concern this is for you. Don't hesitate about getting checked, you know what you went through last time , you should get the care you need to stop it happening again.

My scan yesterday showed the cervix has lengthened again, so they think that danger is over, but said if the tightenings get worse I can go in and be admitted for bed rest until they get them more under control. She said there was something they could give to help, but as it also helps to lower blood pressure, and mine is very low anyway, they don't want to try that just now.

My sister's twins were 32 weeks when they were born, so 36 equivalent now

[lilygirl81]

MGC have they talked to you about giving you steroids? Fingers crossed the cervix stops shortening, but might be worth pushing for more action on the doctors part. I'd definitely just keep showing up, might help them realised what a huge concern this is for you. Don't hesitate about getting checked, you know what you went through last time , you should get the care you need to stop it happening again.

My scan yesterday showed the cervix has lengthened again, so they think that danger is over, but said if the tightenings get worse I can go in and be admitted for bed rest until they get them more under control. She said there was something they could give to help, but as it also helps to lower blood pressure, and mine is very low anyway, they don't want to try that just now.

My sister's twins were 32 weeks when they were born, so 36 equivalent now.

Biffle how many weeks are you now?

[BiffleRoo]

lily I'm 34 on Friday.

[BiffleRoo]

lily I'm 34 on Friday.

[MintyBojingles]

MGC - that sounds terrible, there's no chance you can be seen by someone else is there? It's hard when a hcp doesn't take you seriously- I had it in my last pregnancy, midwife did t believe me that my waters had broken and sent me home, DD was born a couple hours later (2 weeks overdue so no big issue in the end).

I'd say trust your instincts- if you are worried go get checked. Have you seen a consultant? There are things that can be done if you do go into labor early - like steroids to mature baby's lungs etc, though I don't know much about that, might be worth asking on the premature board for experiences? I know there was a lady on here recently whose waters broke at 23 weeks and her local hospital refused to do anything, but she insisted on transfer to Brighton and got excellent care, think she delivered at 25 weeks and baby was doing well at that point. Might be worth asking which hospitals in your area are able to cope with very early babies as not all can?

Otherwise just keep getting checked if you're worried, pita I know, but better to keep going back and everything be ok, than the other way round. How are you feeling today?

I'm doing fine, been looking after very poorly DD who only wants to snuggle and watch CBeebies, so it's meant I've had a lot more rest (and cuddles!) than usual!

[Blossominspring]

So sorry to hear that you've been having a worrying time. I can offer my experience of irritable uterus and bed rest if that's any reassurance. I had what doctors thought was irritable uterus when I was pregnant with my DS a few years ago. Lots of uncomfortable tightenings starting from about twenty one weeks. They were often worse at night or when I'd been active. I then had what they thought was the start of a threatened prem labour at 25 weeks with a shortening cervix (down 1.7cm, too late for a stitch) and a positive ffn test. After a scary week in hospital and lots of consultant appointments I was given steroids and then put on strict bedrest for the remainder of my pregnancy. Bedrest was very hard and stressful but so worth it as I delivered my little boy safely at 37 weeks. I know taking it easy can be so challenging, especially if you've got other DC, but it really made a difference for me and I had to just let other people take over things. Trust your own instincts and if you feel things are changing then go back in to triage straight away. I was worried about being a pest but my concern for my baby overrode that and it actually made them take me seriously and got me the help I needed.

I know it's hard but try not to google too much (I drove myself bonkers!) and maybe just look at sites like Bliss, Mumsnet and Keep Em Cooking if you want more information.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts and hugs.

[MGC1986]

Thanks for all of the responses and support.

They did discuss steroids at the appointment on Monday but they're apparently only effective if they're given in the 48 hours prior to delivery so it's not something you can really start in advance.

I spoke to the midwife on the phone and she said I should take the advice off of the hospital who said to rest and take it easy. She also said I could be seen by the midwife sooner than my next scheduled appointment (which is 12 May) but there actually aren't any appointments available sooner than that. I'm due to see my consultant again next Friday (6th) so I'm going to discuss my concerns then. The problem is though that they've always kind of passed the buck before - they referred me to the preterm clinic and when I was having cramps and back pain they sent me to MAU rather than doing anything themselves, despite MAU later telling me that they could have done. The midwife hasn't been especially helpful either - basically just checked my BP and listened with the Doppler. Up to this week the preterm clinic had been very good, I think it was just that one person who shouldn't be allowed to deal with patients! I just keep playing over in my head that I could see the cervix funnelling and it's like she was completely blind to it. They saw it on the scan on Sunday too so it's not like I've made it up.

I've specifically been referred to a higher level hospital in London because they're better equipped to deal with prematurity - they have a centre for Fetal Medicine as well as a huge NICU, whereas my local hospital where my daughter was born only has a SCBU which is why she had to be transferred after delivery. As good as they are, I almost get the impression that they don't see me as a priority now that I'm 26 weeks so they want to wash their hands of me.

In terms of how I'm feeling, I'm still getting period pains and tightenings. I also had some "different" discharge last night. I'm probably reading into everything but I just don't trust my body now. I will go back to MAU if I'm concerned and I'll be certain to tell them about how contradictory the information I've been given has been.

Biffle how many weeks were your babies born at? Have they given you any stronger pain killers for the contractions?

Lily that's reassuring that your cervix has lengthened. Have they done another fFN test?

Minty I hope your DD is okay and you've not been driven too insane by CBeebies!

Bloomin thank you for sharing your experience. I'd i had to go on bedrest I know I'd get through it, albeit miserably! I just don't know what to do for the best now.

[BabyMonkeyMummy]

How are you all doing? I got my test results back today and it looks as though I have a UTI so it could be that that's causing the irritable uterus. I'm going to the GP first thing tomorrow. It's scary though because it's suspected that I had an infection which is what put me in to labour with my daughter. Fingers crossed the GP will give me antibiotics and they'll start working quickly.