Taking the Long Way: Preterm Labor

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Preterm Labor

And so...

We just spent five hours at the hospital trying to find off preterm labor. They gave me some injections to stop the contractions and all appears to be well for now.

It is entirely too early for this kind of nonsense.

1 comment:

AnnieSeptember 12, 2011 at 9:58 AM
So glad things seem to be under control after that scary hospital visit! Hope you have some friends/family around to help with Katie so you can take it easy right now.
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About Me

My husband and I married in 2001 after dating since 1998. After going through the very very long process of graduate school (Masters for him and PhD for me) and finding jobs, we finally were able to focus on family. What came so easily to others proved to be a bit more challenging for us. After trying for a few years with no success, we finally welcomed our daughter, Katie, in 2008. It was a difficult pregnancy and she came early, but overall it seemed to be a "normal" experience. Then came the last years. We desperately wanted to add to our family and had the following problems:

Prior to October of 2009 - Numerous Miscarriages and "Chemical Pregnancies" - approximate number: 5

October 2009 - Chemical Pregnancy. Miscarriage #1.

May 2010 - Miscarriage #2. Needed D &C

December 2010 - Ectopic. 2 doses of Methotrexate to dissolve pregnancy. Hospitalized for complications. Miscarriage #3.

After switching doctors and undergoing a thorough battery of tests, we think we have identified the problem, an MTHFR mutation, so I am currently on daily injections of Lovenox as well as 2x daily progesterone.

March 2011 - Positive pregnancy test

4 wks: HCG rising and doubling. Begin Lovenox.

6 wks: Heartbeat visible by ultrasound. Added progesterone 2x daily.

8 wks: Heartbeat and fetal growth visible by ultrasound

10 wks: Heartbeat, fetal growth, and fetal movement visible by ultrasound.

12 wks: Heartbeat, fetal growth, and fetal movement visible by ultrasound. Placenta visible but in placenta previa position. No more progesterone. Declared "normal" pregnancy for second trimester.

14 wks: Heartbeat heard by doppler for first time (after much searching by doctor :). Growing and doing well.

16 wks: Can feel fetal movement several times a day.

18 wks: Heartbeat good: 145-150. Obvious fetal movement daily. Opted not to do quad screening. Started daily Keflex to avoid any more kidney infections.

19 wks: Sonogram: It's a girl! Weighing in at 10oz. Heart, brain, and spine all look good. Uncooperative baby means we couldn't see smaller things; another sonogram in four weeks.

21 wks: Baby kicks can now be felt on the outside of my belly :)

23 wks: Sonogram #6 - everything looks exactly as it should. Lots of movement from the baby and good heartbeat. Measurements are right on track.

28 wks: Preterm labor issue #1. Spent hours in Labor and Delivery and was given shot to stop contractions. Sent home.

30 wks: Preterm labor issue #2. Four days in the hospital. Given magnesium sulfate to stop contractions, corticosteroids for lung development, and antibiotics in case of delivery. Monitoring all weekend indicated strong fetal heartbeat until Monday. Biophysical profile showed baby was still good. Released and put on strict bed rest with instructions to take Procardia every six hours to stop preterm labor. Found out JB is measuring 16in and is 3lbs 3oz.

31 wks: Preterm labor issue #3. Contractions continue. Leaking fluid regularly. Exam shows that cervix is still tight and closed and fluid tests come back negative. Ultrasound shows fluid levels on the low side of normal. Hospital overnight stay due to another possible PROM, which was inconclusive. Fluid level increased slightly. Released from the hospital and another ultrasound the next day reveals "stable" fluid level.

33wks: Preterm labor issue #4. Contractions continue and become much more intense. Jellybean shows very high heart rates on monitors at doctor's office and on sonogram. Fluid level has dropped again to very low normal. Back to L&D for more monitoring, testing, and waiting. Released as "stable," but dilation has started.

34wks: Active contractions every five minutes several days a week.

36wks: Active contractions every five minutes daily.

37wks: Active contractions every 2-3 minutes daily. Dilate to 3cm. Hope is delivered by C-section on November 17, 2011 at 1:23pm.