26 weeks and in hospital

[BobbinsBoo1]

Sorry if this has been asked many times before but did you know your baby was coming early?

I've been in hospital since yesterday, I had streaks of blood when I wiped for most of the day 2 days ago. Bleeding settled but started having bad back ache and then pains around my bump. They were quite bad yesterday but eased this morning but as soon as the paracetamol wears off they ramp back up.

I didn't really think about baby coming early and though maybe I had an infection or something. When I saw the doctor this morning he talked about transfering me to a different hospital with higher level care for baby and about the prognosis for a baby at 26 weeks.

Wouldn't I know at this point if baby was coming and the pains be getting worse?
Carried my other two babies to term so this is new to me. Just sat here confused and wondering if anyone was in the same situation as me and baby came early and how labour felt and progressed at only 26 weeks?

If they don't know you're in labour, have they not discussed meds to slow things down? Have you had a foetal fibronectin test?

Mine arrived at 26w. I had a lot of pain (now I realise they were contractions) on the Thurs and overnight, but not really ramping up, just waves across the bump and lower back. By the Fri morning I was holding my breath when they hit and kneeling on the floor on all fours reading to the end of the 'Everything you need to know' book (hadn't got that far!) to see if there was anything else it could be.

My midwife called me at about 9 on the Fri to cancel our appointment that afternoon. One of the contractions hit whilst I was on the phone to her. She said, go to the hospital, no arguments, just get down there.

I did and I was 7cm dilated, so they couldn't stop it. Everything then slowed right down, probably through shock. Kicked back in about noon with far stronger backache, and they arrived early evening.

Good luck. 26w is not a walk in the park I'm afraid.

I went into labour at 27 weeks. I'd had bleeding since 21 weeks due to blood clot on placenta so had been warned I'd struggle to get to 28 weeks. In all honesty, even though I'd been warned I had no idea when I went into labour. At 9pm on a Friday night I started with what I thought were Braxton Hicks - uncomfortable but not painful. When they were quite regular at 6am Sat I phoned the ward and told to come in and get checked out. I was that convinced I'd be in and out I phoned husband on nights and told him to stay in work, and didn't take my hospital bag which was ready by the door.

I didn't believe them when they said I was 4cm dilated. Everything slowed down then until around 7.30pm when I went from 4 to fully dilated in 20 mins. Waters broke while giving birth. I only felt pain in last 20 mins. I think prem birth can be very different to full term.

My ds is now 4 years and after a tough start is a bright healthy little thing.

Good luck.