contractions at 28 weeks
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Category: Pregnant
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Topic: contractions at 28 weeks
Posted By: SarahG
Subject: contractions at 28 weeks
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 3:40pm
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Hi,
Wondering if anyone else is having this problem. I'm 28 weeks with my 3rd baby and I've started having contractions. They're not braxton hicks (confirmed by midwife) and there's no infection setting them off. They're coming sometimes every 2-5 minutes and sometimes 1/2 an hour between them. I'm getting worken up at night due to pain, cos they're not painless, I have to breathe through them and I'm not able to talk when they're coming on. They also last anywhere between 30-90 seconds. I've been told by the midwife that they may stick around until I deliver! That's another 10 weeks until my scheduled Caesarean. 
Anyone else suffering like this, or have any ideas on how to cope? It feels like early labour and I've been in it for 3 days and feel exhausted already. God only knows how I'll feel after another 10 weeks. BTW, the baby is fine, no foetal distress and lots of movements. Anyone with any great ideas? 
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Replies:
Posted By: babybrain
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 5:23pm
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Hi ya,
Are you sure you wouldnt like to ask someone else for a second opinion? We are often intuitive enough to know when somehting isnt "right" with our bodies. I havent heard of proper contractions being normal that early .... real contractions will be dilating your cervix.. not good if you have 10weeks to go! I would either get her to check you again.. or call someone else for another opinion? xxx keep us posted! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: rachaels
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 6:22pm
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No advice but agree with Marika - I would be getting a second opinion here.
Please do keep us up to date! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 6:24pm
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Hey I had 'contractions' and that's what they showed up as on the CTG monitor but it was a false labour and in the end the MW and OB just said they must be BH even though they were mimicking real contractions.
That was at 32 weeks and scary enough! Are you all closed up down there, do you know? I could suggest just resting propped up with pillows... But with 2 kiddies could be hard... ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 7:21pm
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Hi,
I forgot to say that I had an internal exam done and the midwife said that I'm one cm dilated, but that could be accounted for the fact that I've had 2 kids before, although only one was a vaginal delivery. The midwife spoke to the OB who said that if it wasn't affecting my cervix then it's not labour, which I get so I was sent home. I spoke to 2 midwives who both said the same thing, it can happen, as long as it doesn't affect the cervix it's not labour. Trouble is: how will I know if it's altering my cervix? I've also heard that over manipulation of the cervix can bring on labour so I'm stuck as they won't know if it's labour without palpating the cervix but then by doing this it can bring on labour! 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 7:30pm
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When I went into labour (I knew because my waters had broken BUT) I could feel some slight pain/pressure down there iygwim, along with the contractions. I was 6cm upon arrival.
Probably not much help but maybe you noticed this with your other pregnancies? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 7:30pm
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I thinks its how they do the internal, remember they used to be standard at antenatal visits back when we were babes....
I does seem weird, but I guess its a wait and see... I would think they would want to recheck your cervix to make sure you are not dilating more??? -------------   
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 7:45pm
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Yeah, I've had some pain in my cervix and I've had most of it removed for CIN 3 but it grew back so I know where it is and what it feels like. In fact I woke up this morning and felt that I was more open, like I did during labour with the last 2 bubs. So I called the midwife but got the rather lame line of wait and see and well your cervix hasn't changed, although 1cm dilated is change to me cos as far as I was concerned, my cervix was closed up after last bubs and I've had smears since and no one mentioned an obviously open cervix.
There's very little option of a second opinion here as due to past high-risk pregnancies, I'm under the hospital midwives and I've already spoken to mine and her back-up and the OB on call. I'll bring it up at my next OB appointment next week and go in again if the contractions worsen. I just am a little concerned about medics thinking I'm a pregnant hysterical hypochondriac. I got that last pregnancy due to many complications and I hate that disbelieving quality that medics have when you have any more than one thing go wrong at a time, they seem to think you enjoy your life turning upside down, staying in interminably boring hospitals, bring poked and prodded and cannulated badly and being away from my kids. Yes it's so much fun. Sorry rant over. |
Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 29 June 2010 at 8:15pm
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Hugs hun!
Hope they ease off for you and you dont have to worry about them anymore!!!! -------------
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 30 June 2010 at 9:45am
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Thanks Melnel.
For the time being, they seem to have abated, but I feel as though I going around with my breath held waiting for another. But I don't remember waking last night cos of them and I haven't had one this morning so maybe they've gone. I can expect them to come back at any time tho. Here's hoping... S |
Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 30 June 2010 at 10:00am
I'm naughty and if I was being fobbed off like that I wanted to be checked I would tell a little lie to make it happen  like the pains have been awful or seeing a little bit of blood or something.
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 30 June 2010 at 3:45pm
I've been tempted, but if found out or discredited somehow, then your whole credibility goes down the drain. At the moment, they've eased so I'm not as concerned as before. If they come back, I may embellish a little
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Posted By: amme_eilyk
Date Posted: 30 June 2010 at 6:42pm
| I would consider if they come back just going in to A and E and saying that you are x weeks pregnant and having contractions. That should be enough for them to check you out and they will check your cervix at the same time. |
Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 01 July 2010 at 3:18pm
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Thanks. I actually got my hubby to check my cervix last night. Sounds a bit strange and we both felt awkward about it but he described it and it sounds like it is pretty closed and not effaced. Which is good. I've had a whole 24 hours without contractions now so with any luck it will continue until I'm at least 34 weeks.
Keep your fingers crossed for me please.
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Posted By: maya22
Date Posted: 01 July 2010 at 3:45pm
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Your cervix is easily checked with ultrasound. In fact it is good to get one done now so it can be a 'baseline' measurment so any changes can be monitored
I had one on Tues, basically like the std ultrasound but they hold it in front of your vagina, and take measurements of the cervix depth and any funneling or shortening. A five min check, and it means that at least you have some info to work with. I can't for the life of me understand why you would not have had this checked already. ------------- DS1 July 2007 DS2 Nov 2010 http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 02 July 2010 at 11:17am
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I just had a 28 week scan before all of this kicked off and I remember him checking the length of my cervix so I'll have to get my hands on the ultrasound report and have them check it to see if the cervix had altered since the scan.
Good thinking Maya22 
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 02 July 2010 at 3:21pm
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Don't know if this will help at all, but I had what (with hindsight) I would now call mild contractions from about 26 weeks right through till the end - 41+ weeks! I think it was irritable uterus, although that was never officially diagnosed.
Mine were certainly not as often as yours, but they were as painful as 'real' contractions and lasted 60-90 seconds. When I told my MW, she just said that it obviously wasn't labour, as the baby would have arrived by now! 
Hope yours settle down for you - I used to be at work doubled over and immobile with the pain... -------------  
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 02 July 2010 at 3:43pm
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Yep, they said it could be an irritable uterus as well. It will certainly make me irritable too if it carries on till I give birth.
I've had a couple more today after a day off, so it looks as though it'll be something I'll have to put up with until the end. Yay for me. |
Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 5:27pm
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Well, after having about a week off from contractions and just having regular braxton hicks, they've come back. Why is it always at the weekends???
Last night I woke up every 10 minutes almost on the dot with contractions and period like pain in my back and then sweeping round to my lower abdomen. This went on for about 2 hours and then stopped for 3 hours and then came back for an hour or so. It had gone during the day but I've had the same painful contractions all day and just now they've started to get back to the pp type ones. I've also got what feels like a bruised cervix. Bubs has always been sitting very low but he doesn't feel like he's descended onto my cervix yet. He's busy moving just the same as normal so I know he's fine. If it continues over night I'll call the LMC or the unit at the hospital but I'm sure I'll get fobbed off again as false labour or an irritated uterus etc. Any advice girls? -------------   
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Posted By: rachaels
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 6:33pm
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Gosh Sarah you are having a time of it aren't you!
No advice hun except keep in touch with your LMC and let us know how you get on. Stay in there Isaac! It's not time yet! 
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:02pm
I keep telling him that it's warm and nice inside and cold out here, so to stay put. I think he's determined to make an early appearance like his youngest sister. I have these fears upon waking like my waters are about to break but then I just need a pee 
I'll keep you all posted on how it all goes. -------------
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Posted By: Juzzo
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 10:53pm
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Gosh SarahG, that does sound a little bit scary for you. My son was born at 24 weeks. One thing I would say is that everytime they checked my cervix, it would irritate it more so eventually I told them all to get lost and I was shutting up shop.
Try and take it easy as much as possible, I know it's incredibly tough with 2 other kiddies at home! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: babyg
Date Posted: 18 July 2010 at 11:30pm
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You're doing well Sarah, already beyond 30wks!
I had my first child early at 33wks without reason and was then diagnosed with an irritable uterus in the third tri of my second pregnancy. I had regular contractions from about 30wks with my son and really thought he was going to come early too but he made his appearance naturally at almost 38wks. I was placed on a CTG a couple of times during my last tri with him and the MWs were shocked that I could be having such forceful, regular contractions without giving birth! I know it is hard coping with the contractions and early labour symptoms through the last part of your pregnancy but I swear it makes labour so much easier (partly cos you're used to the discomfort and partly cos you're glad to be getting rid of the ongoing pains)
Keep resting when you can ... and you're right, a full bladder is not a friend to an irritable uterus so keep the fluids up and don't delay those loo stops  Best of luck to you.------------- Ev, Mum to: Carys Ruby - 4 October 2007 Spencer James - 2 July 2010 |
Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 19 July 2010 at 10:42am
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Thanks guys,
I've just talked to my sis-in-law who gave birth over the weekend with a horror story so I don't feel too bad comparatively speaking. I don't know whether to call the mw cos the pp contractions have stopped and I'm now back to the non-bh ones without period pain. I've just been to a good website http://www.irritable-uterus.com/default.asp and it told me a lot about IU. Basically I may or may not have an increase risk of a pre-term baby because of it so not much help there. I also had my youngest at 37 weeks but my waters broke at 36 weeks so technically was she pre-term??? The docs don't seem to think this is significant but I do. I just have this uncontrollable feeling that he will come early and not wait for the c-section due date of Sept 10. I kinda feel like I'm hitting my head against a brick wall with mws and docs. -------------
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Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 19 July 2010 at 12:45pm
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Lol, no not much help that website is it! did the Drs give you any information about irritable uterus or just tell you that you might have it. Maybe you could go for a visit and ask for information as surely they would be obliged to give you some if you ask for it.
Sept 10 is a great day tho (that's my birthday!) so he is obviously gonna hold out for such a cool date lol. ------------- 
 Oct 11
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Posted By: RicKer
Date Posted: 19 July 2010 at 3:18pm
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I had the same thing at 28weeks and went to the ED. Its the best place to be when you are worried - even just to be checked over. There is a lady the the Jan 10 thread who had irritable uterus with both her babies from early on so she might be able to shed some light on it for you with having gone through the situation herself. Ill get her to pop in
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Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 19 July 2010 at 6:43pm
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Thanks girls,
I had a really long chat with my mw today. Basically Jessica was pre-term but not by their standards to make any kind of impact on subsequent pregnancies. So that's discounted. My contractions are abnormal but she doesn't think it's affecting my cervix, but I can come in and have an internal to assess this. I declined based on the last internal proving nothing. I have to put up with very regular contractions until they either stop or I go into labour. In Aussie, UK, USA, Canada and Europe, irritable uterus is a recognized condition and they medicate it to stop the contractions but in good old NZ, they don't! Although I did read on an Aussie forum that ventolin is sometimes given and is useful to abate contractions. I'm asthmatic anyway so I'm going to start taking it regularly and see if it makes a difference. I can't see why when we can do things about my other conditions of gestational diabetes and SPD why IU is such a problem
It would be nice to chat to other NZ women going thru the same thing. -------------
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 19 July 2010 at 8:47pm
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Hey Sarah
my DS was born in Singapore at 32 weeks after my waters broke at 31w and yep I was given oral ventolin to prevent contractions (in the end DS was too determined to come early but the ventolin did stop contractions long enough for me to be allowed home at one point). This pg I will be starting on ventolin again at 28w as a precaution and also partial bed rest. Is it possible for you to try and get hold of official info/data re treatment of IU in other countries and tell your OB you think it's worth a try?? ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 20 July 2010 at 12:06am
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Wow, that is dumbo! Esp if there is something that can be done to help coz I assume there is a chance of baby coming early with IU? I wonder how ventolin helps, doesn't that sound so random!
Keep us posted on how it helps. -------------
Oct 11
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 20 July 2010 at 1:21am
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TaliP the way my ob explained it was that it relaxes your uterus ie stops it contracting/constricting similar to the way it works on your bronchial tube if you're asthmatic. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: SarahG
Date Posted: 20 July 2010 at 3:42pm
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Yep, I've been on ventolin for about a day now (four doses a day - 8 puffs) and I've only had about 4 or 5 contractions.
It seems to be working so like Juzzo I'm shutting up shop until bubs comes. At least until I'm 35 weeks and then maybe I'll have a hot curry, a long walk and a bit of rumpy pumpy. At least then, he'll be a safe time to come out into the world. -------------
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