Reassure me about preterm labour fear

[whyyy321]

Hello,

My first DC came at 36weeks and I'm currently 29 weeks with my second. No known reasok for DC to have come at 36 weeks, spontaneous labour but breech so was csection.

I've been nervous about preterm labour throughout but I had back ache on Friday (checked out, all fine, including cervical length scan) which got my anxiety right up to 100. Just now I've had the runs, which is unusual for me but am aware can be a normal part of pregnancy. However, my anxiety has gone full throttle again expecting preterm labour any second and I've heard it can also be a sign of that.

Any one able to offer some reassurance and talk me down off this ledge? Dh is good but generally has no idea about female bodies so isn't getting how hard it is to feel to tuned in to "warning signs".

Sat here trying to not cry as it feels like my worst fears are coming true.

Yep.
DS1 36.3
DS2 27.1
DD 41.3 (blasted out with maternal semtex). Quick labour once it started, 8lb 13oz, apparently score of 9, no stitches. Was amazing and very cathartic.

Did you know why first two were early? Your second came earlier eek!

Did have RSV and anti-d jabs on Thurs... Could it be that caused through diarrhoea?

I had my first 2 children at 38 weeks, with my third I had threatened preterm labour from 27 weeks but she wasn't actually born until 31+3. Back pain and diarrhoea are both much more likely to be for reasons other than preterm labour.

But just wanted to reassure you that even if it was preterm labour, my baby had no problems at all when born and just needed to learn to feed. She went home really early at exactly 35 weeks, she's now 4 and has never had any health or development problems. Also even if you start getting contractions, there is medication which can stop them - I was bleeding so wasn't allowed it.

Thank you, that's quite reassuring. I'm really struggling with this pregnancy and I'm so upset about it after feeling very confident for the first 2 trimesters. I had ppd with my first and am just dreading this meaning I'll get it again.

When I rang triage about the back ache I didn't expect them to be bothered to see me, but they took it so seriously that it's scared me.

Just an update in the hopes of some more reassurance I guess. Been fine since my last post and have managed the anxiety quite well, but today had some light brown discharge so rang triage who brought me in. Looks like a cervical ectropian? Something along those lines. They will test a swab for infection but her best guess is that as she could see it on exam, and cervix is still long and closed.

I'm still in triage but going home soon and just spiralling as this was what happened with my first- brown discharge, speculum, closed cervix and then baby within 12 hours. To top it off there is now some red blood from the exam which is freaking me out further.

I'm 33w as of yesterday and I just keep crying because I so don't want a repeat experience and I feel so overwhelmed.

Anyone got any good advice?

I hope some of this may be helpful.

• A bit of red spotting after a cervical exam- this is super common especially in pregnancy as we have increased blood volume and that whole area is just full of capillaries keeping the cervix well supplied with fresh blood. I would not worry about it.
• brown discharge is also normal and common in pregnancy so long as it doesn’t smell bad. https://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/brown-discharge/

I am sorry to read you had a traumatic first birth and the suffered from ppd. Have you contacted the mental health services at all? It is super normal that you are feeling anxiety during your second pregnancy because it is only natural and rational to fear something that can happen and did happen to you may happen again. You need mental health support during this time because while it is natural instinct for this pregnancy to awaken all the memories of the last one, the odds are vastly in your favour because no two pregnancies or births are alike.

Finally, the 40week standard term for gestation is an average based on white, European women. Genetics, age and race play a role in how long it takes to grow a baby. If your female relatives tend to have babies early or late, chances are you will too. If you are Black or Asian, then on average, it doesn’t take the full 40 weeks to grow a fully mature baby ready to be born. Finally, the calculation of the 40 weeks for the “due date” has an error margin of at least a week. So the due date is more of the middle of a 3 week window than a solid prediction.

Can't offer reassurance on pre term labour as although I was at risk of it both times, I carried to term. I have cervical ectropian though, and was shown it on the camera, the cells are extremely red and the littlest things can aggravate them, particularly an internal examination which can in turn cause bleeding. Hope you get some reassurance soon, great that you're now 33 weeks and that the hospital have been bringing you in to check when you've had concerns. With my first I had a slow leak on my hind waters at 24 weeks, and a shortening cervix, so completely understand your anxiety in this pregnancy.

Thank you both for your kind messages! It's always reassuring to hear of others who had risk factors but still managed to make it to term. How interesting (but unsurprising...) that the 40 week full term thing is just based on one population. I'm white European and no one else in my family has has a preterm baby (he was 36w4, so close! I often think if he'd come 3 days later I'd not have half these thoughts which shows how silly it is as that'd still be "early").

I know I shouldn't worry so much - it's not like I can control what will happen! I just think I've attributed pnd with my first in part to him being early and us staying in and being fully unprepared, when really the pnd might have come anyway. I have an elective booked at 39 weeks and it just sounds so lovely and calm, and predictable! I think I just upset thinking it'll be a whirlwind 2am panic again (I had a cat 1 emergency section).

I am seeing a psychologist about this, which has helped with the trauma side. I think it's more just that I don't really have many women in my family to talk to about these things and sometimes I really miss that.