Preterm labour

[jadey1991]

I've been down maternity since 11pm. They have said my cervix is short and I will have baby anytime now. I've been contracting since 4pm. This is my first preterm birth.

Please help with some advice.

How preterm are you? 2 of my 3 were prem one at 33 weeks one at 35 weeks

Offering you a handhold OP. My first was born at 31 weeks and I was born at 25 weeks. It can be very scary but you are in the right place

I am currently 33+6 days.
I'm absolutely petrified.

How did you both cope?

I was a premature baby born at 7 months myself.

Sorry was mean to say 32+6

@jadey1991 it was hard but as I was quite unwell myself (eclampsia) I don't remember much about his early days, I just trusted the nurses and doctors to make the correct decisions for him. It might be worth asking if your hospital does a "rooming in scheme" or whether they have a Ronald McDonald house where you can stay close by so you can administer all babies personal care such as feeds, nappy changes and washing etc. I did this and it helped immensely with feeling like a mum in an otherwise stressful situation where I couldn't hold or cuddle him like a full term baby.

At almost 32 weeks baby is likely to do very well and not spend too long in hospital, we were unfortunate in that we had to stay till term due to some feeding issues but nothing major. He's 15 now and about to sit his GCSEs next summer and being premature hasn't held him back in the slightest.

My 33 weeker spent 2 weeks in neonatal, I had steroids in labour to strengthen there lungs. They didn't have suck reflex yet so was tube fed for a few days but no lasting issues now a tall healthy 10 year old and you would never guess they were prem. my 35 weeker spent a week on the normal ward no neonatal needed and no treatment needed and apart from a not so great immune system catching every cold etc going is also a healthy 7 year old who you wouldn't guess was prem. Just take every day as it goes and remember in that first year there age will always be adjusted so don't compare to babies the same age as they will go a little slow but they do catch up.

I'm so sorry op - don't have any experience of this but I just want to say I hope you're OK. I'm at a similar gestation.

My friend's wife went into labour at 28 weeks but they managed to slow it down somehow so they kept the baby in for another week and a half... obviously very awful and miserable for the mum but it helped the baby get a bit stronger. The baby is getting bigger all the time, about two months old now and about the size of a small newborn

Yeah I'm trying to stay positive its really hard. Especially when they are talking to me about my cervix being small.and keeping me in because I'll dilate quick..

I'm glad your boy is doing well. I have a daughter that ls 15. Bless

When did u go into labour? I've had 1 shot of d steroids on my number which killed and I'm.due another one in an hour. I've also taken tablets that's suppose to almost the uterus down bit that isn't working.

Thanks for your message means alot. 🙏🏼 congrats to your friends wife. How lively glad baby is doing well

With my 33 weeker my water broke and at 7am on the morning I went in for monitoring was told I would be fine and go to due date but went into full blown labour later that night got emergnacy steroids and give birth early hours of the next morning with my 35 weeker waters broke at lunch time and I give birth at 8pm that same night

Hi @jadey1991 how are you getting on?

My waters broke at 32wks with my first and he was born at 34wks. He did spend 6 days in neonatal which I was not prepared for as doctor had assured me he would be fine.

I hope everything goes well for you. 💛

Hey, I'm in so much pain. They gave me my 2 steroid injections and I keep having some tablets that are suppose to calm the uterus down from contracting, however they work for 2 hours then I have constant contractions. They wont give me gas and air coz that makes me dilate faster and of course I'm not having a vaginal birth I'm having a c section.

I'm currently still in hospital as they don't want to send me home. My waters haven't broke yet but I jave a feeling they will as I do feel a sensation down below(like a buldge) ..

I'm sorry your baby had to spend some time in neonatal. Is everything OK woth baby?

And I appreciate ur kind message 💓

Oh wow. Was any of your baby's weighing small? And did they spend time on neonatal?
Currently my baby is weighing 5lbs so I'm wondering what the out come would be

Have they given you anything for the pain? Are they trying to keep baby in as long as possible before doing the c-section?

I had the steroid injections too.

My baby was 5lb2oz (he's now 8 and thriving)! He needed some help with breathing those first few days, not oxygen just air and he was tube fed for 10 days.

Everything will be fine it is just a lot those first couple of weeks! You're in very capable hands and the neonatal nurses are amazing! 🩷

No nothing for the pain hun. Yes they want to try keep her in longer but I don't see that happening tbh..

Aww bless.. I'm glad he is doing well. I've never had a preemie baby. My other 3 came at 38 weeks.

Thanks hun 😘

You never know! It might all calm down.
FC for you 🤞🏻 hope you manage to get some rest through the pain. X

Thanks hun 😘

@jadey1991 5lbs is a good weight so don't worry about that. My son was 2lb12oz at 31 weeks so was a tiddler, 4lb 8oz when he came home at term.

The steroids they are giving you should help baby too, and as far as I'm aware they can help delay labour too though I might be wrong.

Keep pushing for pain relief though. Pain and stress isn't good for you or baby.

DD1 was full term but DD2 was born at 35+5, four days after my waters broke early. Stayed in hospital for a few days but luckily was otherwise fine and didn’t need NICU or any intervention. She was a little under 5lb, still not very chunky now but perfectly average. I remember the steroid injections were really painful but they did the job.

Fingers crossed baby stays in a little bit longer.

Aww.. was there a reason you gave birth so early? Bless him.

Yeah I defo think they are slowing my labour down for sure.

I've been pushing to see the doctor but midwife said they won't see me unless my contractions are like 1-3 min apart

Yeah my 3 other children were born at 38 weeks. Hoping baby will stay in a little longer but we will see. Glad tour little girl was fine and didn't need any help. The steroid injections are for sure painful

Steroid injections are given to help strengthen baby’s lungs before being born prem. super important and sorry they are painful 💜 hope your ok OP

Thank you sweetie x

Brilliant to hear you've had the steroid injections. Really makes a difference to how well premmies breathe. At 32+6/40, if you delivered imminently, there are some things that we know baby would need help with, and some that may or may not cause a problem. At that gestation, they will need to go to SCBU.

Temperature: preterm babies are good at getting cold. At delivery they will aim to do delayed cord clamping, then get baby over to a resuscitaire (heated platform for assessing and stabilising). Will need some help to stay warm, which might be an incubator if unwell, or might be a heated cot.

Feeding: won't have the suck and swallow to feed yet, so if well would be looking at nasogastric tube feeding, if unwell then an drip of sugar water to start with. You'll be encouraged to try to express after delivery, and any drops of colostrum will be gratefully received, as they're the best thing for starting the gut working well.

Breathing: some babies at this gestation breathe beautifully, some babies need a bit of help, and occasionally a baby needs a lot of help. The steroids reduce the odds of breathing problems by helping the lungs mature, and going through the early stages of labour make the baby release stress hormones which also help the lungs. However, the lungs will be a bit immature, and a C section can make breathing problems more likely. So the paediatric/neonatal team will be there at delivery, and one of the things they'll be most interested in will be the breathing, because if need be they can help with that, or even start breathing for the baby if that's needed. They can check oxygen levels on a monitor, and once on SCBU they can do a quick blood test that shows how well baby is breathing, if there are any concerns.

Infection: one of the things that can kick off preterm labour is infection, and preterm babies aren't great at fighting infection, so if they're worried they may start IV antibiotics and do blood tests to look for signs of infection.

Long term: at this gestation, the long term outcome is actually generally great. Increased risk of chesty episodes in the first winter is the most common issue. In developmental terms the vast majority do fine.

Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to ask the midwives to get a paediatrician to talk to you about what they'd need to do. I always prefer to talk to the mums in advance if I can, because it's helpful if we get busy with little one and can't immediately get free to update.