Pregnancy after premature birth

[MamatobeFeb20]

Hi guys,
My waters went early with my DD and she ended up arriving at 34 weeks. Fortunately, she was born healthy and well and we only needed a couple of weeks in SCBU. There was no cause found to the early arrival and I guess that just makes it a little more nerve-wracking this time around.
I'm very early days into my second pregnancy (5+4weeks) and alongside the normal pre-12 week worries, I'm terrified it'll happen again, or even earlier this time round. Anyone else in a similar boat?

My first arrived at 35 weeks my second at 34 I know how nervous you will be feeling right now but try and trust the midwives /Drs to look after you both.

I'm on my third pregnancy after two premature babies, i'd be lying if I said I wasn't really anxious but I did feel much better after i'd seen the midwife and the consultant. Hopefully once your appointments get under way you'll feel more relaxed about it.

Thanks @Mrsjayy - did they ever find a reason as to why they came early? Did anyone ever tell you if you were more likely to have a prem birth because you'd already had one?

How far along are you @junipernarni? Are they monitoring you closer this time round because of the two previous prem babies? Hope you're keeping well!

Sorry yes i should have said it was Kidney infections that set contractions off

I'm 24 weeks now, getting really good monitoring, I have scans every two weeks. Just slowly chipping away at the weeks trying to get as close to term as possible.

Ive had 2 prem babies one at 28wks another at 33wks but also had 3 full term,im pregnant now and the hospital is being amazing i get alot of extra scans and tests. Every pregnancy is different,i am worried i will go early again but chat to your midwife about it, they are there to help x

Hi I had a very similar experience with my first, baby was born at 34 weeks, reasonably healthy and only spent 10 days in scbu with no reason given at the time for the early labour.

I waited 7 years before having another as I was so scared it would happen again. I had my second last year and panicked at every twinge thinking it was happening again but I ended up having to be induced at 42 weeks this time.
I had lots of appointments with the midwife and consultant and extra scans from 26 weeks as they wanted to keep an eye on things. They did say there was a slightly higher chance it would happen again but there's just no way of knowing.

They did test me for group b strep this time which was positive so they think this may have caused the early Labour so ask to be tested as they still don't routinely test for it in this country but there isn't actually anything they can do about that until your in Labour anyway.

This time around I finished work at 28 weeks just so I could take it easy but my job does Involve quite a lot of lifting so maybe if I had an office job I would have worked later but definitely try and take it easy towards the end.

As I say it's so nerve wracking having had an early birth but it doesn't mean it will happen again, if I hadn't been Induced I honestly don't know when I would have went into labor as I was getting nothing to suggest it would have been soon.
Just try to relax as much as possible though I know it's hard.

Wow @Faith468 - thanks for sharing your story! It's reassuring to know that another pregnancy doesn't necessarily lead to another prem delivery. They swabbed me for strep B during my first delivery and it came back negative - I really thought that would've been the cause of it in my case but no. I do have a stressful job and am on my feet a lot so I don't know if that could've contributed to it so defo going to take it easier this time around. Thanks so much for your advice.

As above, thanks @Angelinthenightx for reassuring me that i can potentially go on to carry full term ❤️

@junipernarni - congrats for reaching 24weeks! I will most definitely be the same at your stage (hopefully) in terms of small weekly milestones! Fingers crossed baby behaves him/herself and stays in there for the duration 😍😍

I can't believe kidney stones can lead to this @Mrsjayy - it just shows you, right?!

My mum has always had premature babies. I was born at 34 weeks and my siblings 36 weeks. Wasn't until her last pregnancy they actually told her she had intrahepatic cholestasis, hence the early deliveries.