L&D trip for me....

Hey everyone,

Well, Saturday night I couldn't sleep a wink (not too unusual) but usually it is because of back pain, heartburn, etc. This time it was those things combined with BH's that wouldn't stop. A few were a bit uncomfortable, but nothing painful. At around 5 am (after no sleep) I took a long warm shower and collapsed about 6am to sleep for a few hours. On Sunday, BH's continued, but weren't too distressful, but because they kept coming we decided better to be extra cautious.

I was so worried the nurses would dismiss me as a "ninny", but in reality they were very nice, concerned and helpful. I was hooked up and both LO's HBs were great. The monitoring was showing clear contractions every 8-10 minutes, so they gave me a bag of IV and some Procardia. They also checked my cervix (not length) and I was dilated a fingertip with 30% effaced. Ugh. Not what I wanted to hear, but the nurse said with twins it isn't uncommon to dilate some this early and still hang in there for weeks. (Anyone know if this is accurate?)

Did the fFN test, and thankfully that was negative (yeah!) so nurse said that gives me 7-10 days clear? This was my first experience with that test.

Stayed for a few hours. Contractions slowed a bit although my uterus was still very "irritable" but because the contractions were not as regular they let me go home. I am on strict bed rest--but only until I can be checked with MFM tomorrow. HOPEFULLY nothing further has progressed.

I feel miserable today. Very nauseous--got sick this morning twice (from the Procardia, maybe?) and still contracting today, but indeed, less regular. I have so much to do...laying in bed doesn't fit into my plans at all.:(

And today is poor DH's birthday. I feel so badly I can't make his homemade carrot/coconut cake and can't go out to dinner either. He says he understands, but still...I feel horrible.

Good for you for taking precautions and going in. I had signs of preterm labor (shortened cervix and slight contractions) at 26 weeks and had to spend three days in the hospital hooked up to magnesium sulfate. Yuck! After three days, they sent me home on bedrest and procardia and I definitely know how you feel! :( I didn't know if I would be able to do it and called my dr. to see if there was any other alternative because it made me feel so awful. It took about a week to adjust to the medicine so stick with it! I couldn't eat much so I drank Ensures which seemed to get me through.
As far as your DH's birthday, I totally get that too but remember you're doing something so huge and he will appreciate you doing what is best for the babies. He will have more birthdays! :) Hope that your MFM will be able to give you some reassurance! Take it easy and try not to be so hard on yourself! :)

I posted on the November board already but it's worth saying again that I'm so sorry for the scares and frustrations, Marnie!

Yes, you can stay dilated for quite some time. I had a shortened cervix at 28wks, and then at 31wks I was 100% effaced and 4cm,with strict hospital bedrest and a cooperative uterus, I kept my boys in until 36wks.

I think I took procardia, but I cannot honestly remember. As Kortnee said, the mag sulfate is the worst, but it did help, since I did that at 31wks also.

I did the ffn tests, and yes, if it is negative, 7-10days clear, I had a two negative tests and then a positive at 31wks, but still kept those boys in.. so it is not definitive.

And I did all that over my dh's bday as well... and thanksgiving and christmas as well. Not the most memorable holidays, but so much better than babies in the nicu long term.

So sorry you are stuck on bed rest. I got really lucky and didn't have to go on bed rest. Hopefully the contrations stop so you can go off.

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Originally Posted by rachelrazzle

Yes, you can stay dilated for quite some time. I had a shortened cervix at 28wks, and then at 31wks I was 100% effaced and 4cm,with strict hospital bedrest and a cooperative uterus, I kept my boys in until 36wks.

I think I took procardia, but I cannot honestly remember. As Kortnee said, the mag sulfate is the worst, but it did help, since I did that at 31wks also.

I did the ffn tests, and yes, if it is negative, 7-10days clear, I had a two negative tests and then a positive at 31wks, but still kept those boys in.. so it is not definitive.

And I did all that over my dh's bday as well... and thanksgiving and christmas as well. Not the most memorable holidays, but so much better than babies in the nicu long term.

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Yes, all of this! MY MFM always said the ffn tests were 14 days clear, but 7-10 is just as good. I hope DH went and got his favorite takeout with a fabulous dessert for you to enjoy in bed at home.

You can do this! Have DH go get you some books from the library and some magazines. Rent some movies and just lounge. I think the Pregnant with Twins, Triplets, or Quads book addresses bed rest pretty well. A good hand held video game unit like a Nintendo DSi would be nice too. :D

oh yes.. dh's friends lent us his ds, and it was a lifesaver. I had the laptop too, but the nausea, reflux, and back and rib pain got so bad I could honestly only lay on my side most of the day, and that ds was awesome, played the brain age game a ton. lol

Thanks ladies for your support and advice!

Rachel: You poor dear! 5 weeks of hospital bedrest?! You are incredible.

Melanie: Good suggestions...I already have a bunch of stuff since I was stuck on bedrest early on for many weeks due to hematoma. But it was easier then because I wasn’t so large and nesting instinct hadn’t kicked in yet!

My appts today went pretty well! My cervix--although open a fingertip, is still long at 3 cm. My peri said that is the more important indicator (?) so he feels confident I won’t deliver before 35 weeks. My OB was a bit more cautious and concerned due to the sheer amount and intensity of my contractions (keeping me up at night + last night we timed for 3 hours and there were more than 6 an hour. So he is putting me on Procardia 3 X a day. He also gave me Zofran to deal with the nausea. (Hopefully that will help--Kortnee). He said I don’t have to be on strict bed rest right now--but need to take it easy and not overdo. I go back in a week for another cervical check.

Both babies looked good on u/s. Baby Girl is 2 lbs 14 oz and Baby Boy is 3 lbs 3 oz. 30 weeks tomorrow! Yeah!