Pregnancy after a preterm baby (33weeks)

[Pam2201]

Hi beautiful mothers out there,

We just found out we are pregnant again (approximately 7 weeks now). Our son is 22 months at the moment and he was born at 33 weeks and no one knows why he came early. Everything went well with the previous pregnancy, I had no infection and the waters just broke at 33 weeks and he decided to come early. He was healthy weighing 2.4kg and he didn't need any help, breathing support, heated mattress... All was good. We stayed in the hospital a few days to establish breastfeeding and that was a bit challenging because he was 7 weeks early. To mention that we had a normal delivery.

I would like to ask the mothers who did have a preterm baby and got pregnant again,what was your experience like? I know all women are different but it would really help me understand a bit more and put my mind at ease cause I'm feeling a bit more tense this time around. ❤️🙏🏼

Hi I had my first DS at 28+1, no contractions no prom only spotting when used the loo went I got to hospital (started spotting on flight to Italy) was 5cm dilated sac protruding had time 5 hrs later. After a lot of research I felt I had incompetent cervix so this time got see in the pre term clinic at 10+5 weeks made then scan my cervix ( they don't normally do it before 16 weeks) glad I did as cervix was short for gestation, so started on progesterone and had a stitch at 13+5 and seen every two weeks now 20+2 so keeping everything crossed as DS ending up with a lot of health issue from a brain bleed while In the nicu
So what I would suggest when u speak to ur midwife at booking app they should be referring you ASAP to a pre term clinic so you can be under a consultant and they can keep a close eye on you and make a plan of action x

Thank you for your reply @88bowie. I'm really sorry to hear about your son and somehow we find the strength to keep going on ❤️ I guess this is every mother's fear and that's why I'm feeling like this. Our consultant did mention cerclage to us and most probably will get my cervix tested as soon as I pass the 10 week mark. How was the experience of having the stitch done? Most probably your pregnancy experience will be different this time around. 🤰

The stitch was fine in the end I really wasn't looking forward to it as I'm a theatre nurse so know to much 🤦‍♀️, I got the consultant to do spinal and she took about three mins, and it wasn't sore at all, think I was in theatre for about an hour had a bit of bleeding but they put a pack In which was removed a few hours later, had to stay in over night and went home the next day bit tender for a week or so and then on light duty's after, complete pelvic rest, no baths no heavy lifting, no exercise (which is fine by me lol) only issue I have is tryin not to lift my son, DH is great and doin nearly all of it so limiting what I have to do x

And hoping so but think anyone that has a premmie or loss will b on knife edge the whole pregnancy just got to keep them cooking x

Thank you for all the useful information and I'm happy to know that the procedure went well. It must be very hard not to do physical effort indeed but as you said, we need to keep them cooking 😂 x
Hopefully I won't need the cerclage, fingers crossed 🤞will find out in a few weeks. X

Fingers crossed for u x I'm here if u have any questions x

I stopped after my preemie but I know many people from NICU who went on to have more. The stats show that you are likely to go longer for the second pregnancy, but it’s not guaranteed. They will be keeping a closer eye on you though, and you know the warning signs so I’m sure your baby will be fine even if they do come early.

The people I know personally were
27wks then full term (also unknown reason)
30 weeks then 37 weeks
23weeks then 19weeks(twin) then medication and full term.

I did look up some papers, will try to dig them out....

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3500643/#!po=0.268817

Table 1 says that in their study, 15% of mothers had a second preemie. So 85% went full term. Hope this gives you some reassurance.

First born at 28+4. Emergency section followed by 8 week NICU stay.
Second born on due date following an induction.
Unknown reason for my prem birth as well although ‘an infection’ was bandied about but nothing confined.
I was under consultant care for the second with regular TV scans to ensure there were no issues with my cervix. Baby was measuring big towards the end hence the induction.
You’ll be nervous until they arrive safely! Good luck

Watching this closely too. First was at 31+6. Now 5 weeks with number two and a bit nervous. Best friend had first at 37 weeks, second at 35 weeks, and third (less than a year after second preemie, a big no no) at 40+1. So that gives me hope.

DD waters broke at 32 wks. Didn't go in to labour. Was induced after seven days.

DS waters broke at 40 wks. Didn't go into labour. Was induced after two days.

@peakotter Thank you for the link. That does give me hope indeed. 🙏🏼 I guess we never know what will happen. Some women go on to have a normal pregnancy and birth followed by preterm babies as you said.... So it's no difference I guess but we obviously do worry. X

My first was 30 weeks, healthy but tiny, they couldn't find any reason for it.

Second they monitored but were not to concerned. Had him at 34 weeks which felt full term to me again they found no reason for it and he was fine.

Third I was monitored weekly with cervical scans every two weeks and told not to do any exercise. It was more stressful because of all of the monitoring to be honest. My cervix was short. He came at 36 weeks so full term as far as I'm concerned. Straight home that day which was new to me!

@Pam2201 Hi OP, was looking up threads on previous preterm birth and saw yours, how is your pregnancy going? Have they made any treatment plan for you this time round?
I also had my first at 33 weeks, waters broke at 32 weeks, didn't labour but just as I was starting to get cramping I started passing meconium so had an emergency caesarean. Had my second daughter 18 months later, normal delivery at 35 weeks following regular cervical monitoring (it was normal until 27 weeks than it started thinning) and I was on progesterone injections weekly from 27 weeks. I'm now 26 weeks pregnant with no 3, I'm on cyclogest progesterone pessaries every night so praying they do the job to keep baby in for as long as possible🤞🤞🤞 getting anxious though already as feeling a lot of braxton hicks and pressure this past week which I got a lot on my second too.
Hope all is going well with your pregnancy and you get to go to term x

@travellingmotherhood
Hi, congratulations on your 3rd baby! You are extremely brave and I wish you all the best with your pregnancy! 👏 I'm happy to know that your 2nd delivery was a bit later than your 1st one, that gives me hope..

To answer your question, I will be 16 weeks in 2 days time and I have an appointment booked on Thursday to check the length of my cervix. Hopefully it'll all be good 🙏🏼
I haven't done anything yet as my consultant said the length of the cervix should be checked from 16 weeks onwards. Also, one of the midwifes from the hospital has asked me if I would like to take part in a study and get progesterone and amynofilline (these 2 combined) but I refused as I don't know the long term effects these would have on the baby and reading on the prospect, amynofilline would synthesise in the body as caffeine.

What are cyclogest progesterone? I haven't taken anything yet so I don't know. Do you have any side effects from it?
Did you have any side effects when pregnant the 2nd time?
I will definitely keep you updated with how it goes on Thursday but so far I haven't had any spotting or blood, which I did have in the 1st pregnancy. I don't know if these are related but I remember reading somewhere that women who have spotting or bleeding in the 1st trimester, might go into labour before term. Obviously there are a lot of things on Google so I don't know if that's true or not :))))) x x x
🙏🏼

Thank you, we're thrilled...and perhaps a little mad as my eldest won't even be 4 yet by the time this one arrives but the more the merrier! Congratulations to you too, that's brilliant it's all going so well for you so far, hope the scan on Thursday goes well 🤞
I did have some spotting too at about 30 weeks on my first but I had been in a minor car accident and then at 6 weeks on my second but none after that. It happens in about 1 in 4 pregnancies though so I wouldn't worry. I'm a midwife, which can be great in some ways but awful in others as I know too much and imagine the worst case scenario 🙈
I never had any side effects when on the weekly progesterone injection on my second although I did notice that by the night before the next injection I'd get braxton hicks very regularly and once I got the shot they'd pretty much go away. I went into labour 8 days after my last one finished so I fully believe they were the only reason I got as far as I did as my cervix was quite thin by then! The injection isn't available in Ireland anymore though so cyclogest pessaries are being used instead this time round which are also progesterone. I'd have no hesitation taking the progesterone if you're offered, it's been widely used for decades but I agree with you on avoiding the amynofilline...never heard of that one!

I'm glad I have found this thread. Currently 11wk 2.

I had my son 9 years ago at 28weeks- I went into labour on the Sunday- they gave me drugs to slow contractions but I had him the Tuesday night. He was in Nicu for 10 weeks. Weighed 3lbs 3 which was a good weight!

I have my first telephone call with a consultant on Tuesday next week. I'll be 12wk 2.

What is the protocol for having a previous preemie? Will they get me in for tests? I'm so anxious!

Congratulations @littlepeaegg on your pregnancy! I think the protocol varies form hospital to hospital and country to country but usually they will do an early cervical scan to see if you have a short cervix and also to get a baseline, they will then decide if you require a cervical cerclage if you have a thin cervix or else just monitor the cervix at every appointment and start you on progesterone of some variety as standard or else only if they notice changes in your cervix. While your risk is increased if you've had a preterm birth previously it's not a gaurantee so 🤞🤞 you'll be fine and go to term.

@Travellingmotherhood thank you; that's really helpful! I'm in the south of England.

I have been told to not have sex until we know the outcome; have you also been told this?

I know I have a cervical erosion; I had this in my last pregnancy too. Unsure if that is anything to do with it or not.

I was told nothing after I had my son! Just that it was due to an infection.

@Travellingmotherhood

Thank you for your reassurance regarding progesterone, I knew it was widely used and heard women talking about taking these and didn't think much but when it's about me and my baby, I have to do the research. My consultant said that I might not need them, depending on te length of the cervix. I just need to wait and see. I'll update tomorrow wirh my result. Amazing that you are a midwife, I can totally understand why this is a blessing or not at times :))) x

@littlepeaegg Amazing news that your 1st child was born so early and doing so well... 🙏🏼 🙏🏼 🙏🏼
actually, my husband and I stopped having intimate relationships as soon as I found out we're pregnant. Our Dr said its OK but somehow, we are a little bit reserved, especially my husband. I've also been breastfeeding our first son, he's now 2, and we finally stopped 4 days ago. I was a bit scared about that cause I heard it can stimulate the body and get contractions. But all good and safe for now. Unfortunately, all he can do is wait and see and try not to think too much about it. X

@Travellingmotherhood
Just a quick update, the length of the cervix is 3cm and according to the sonographer, all good. 🙏🏼