What happens when you go into labor before a scheduled repea
Name: kay101 | Date: Apr 4th, 2008 7:45 PM
I had a csection with my daughter and plan on having a repeat, but I'm being treated for preterm labor. I'll be taken off my medecine for it at 35 or 36 weeks and I know my contractions will start coming back to back shortly after. I know if I went in to labor and delivery it would LOOK like I was in labor, but so far my contractions aren't doing a whole lot to my cervix. What would they do with me? Do you have to be a certain number of centimeters dialated for them to do the c-section? I dont think I'll make it to my scheduled date. Anybody had experience having a repeat done but going into labor on their own before it was scheduled? ↓
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Name: Krissy25 | Date: Apr 6th, 2008 10:46 PM
Hey Kay, there is a labor and delevery nurse answering questions on the labor board, you might want to ask there, she might have some experience with that situation. ↑
Kay, I had 4 c-sections and went into labor before the scheduled c with each baby which was fine with me. I did not want my c-sections but had no choice due to my itty-bitty pelvis. With my last baby I too was on daily meds for pre-term labor. I was hospitalized on IV meds for a week at 28 weeks, then the home meds. I made it to 32 weeks when the meds quit working. I took all the scheduled meds, and labored all day with him, the meds didn't work so I went to L& D. This was at midnight. They typed and crossed my blood since you must have your blood type on hand for c-sections. While they were waiting to find my type (rare) they monitored me and baby and told me that if the contractions stopped at any time they would not do the section since baby was so early. Well, the contractions didn't stop and my preemie was born at 4 am. If you are close to term and your contractions are real labor they will probably just prepare you for surgery. There is no screaming urgency if you and baby are doing fine. I labored hard 5 different times with my 4th baby and even with a paper thin scar didn't come close to rupturing. With some women who go into labor they are given the choice to see if they can deliver vaginally if they only had one prior c-section and the previous reason doesn't exist. I know someone who did that and she said it was the best decision she ever made. Also, there are many women who were on preterm meds who were taken off and then....nothing...they actually went over their due dates, whatever was irritating the uterus was gone...go figure? Good luck! ↑
Name: djh | Date: Apr 8th, 2008 3:31 AM
I want to add, I was seen by my OB that morning before I went into labor and there was no evidence I was going to go into full on labor later that day! I was in contact with L&D when it appeared my tocolytics weren't working and they attempted to adjust my dosage up with timed intervals since baby was early. I just wanted to make sure no one thought I was irresponsibly hanging out at home risking rupture or my baby's health!!! At the time I had a child who turned 4 that same day, a child who had turned 3 the week before, and a 16 month old at home, no car since my husband had ours and was working out of phone contact, and other family members were en route home from Reno. Talk about timing! ↑
Name: kay101 | Date: Apr 8th, 2008 8:38 PM
Oh what fun! Sometimes the people at my husbands job don't answer the phone so I'm always worried I won't be able to get a hold of him. How did you tell the difference from REAL labor and from the regular contractions you were having? I'm on procardia 4 times a day, and spent a few days in the hospital on magnesium sulfate. When my contactions 'act up' as I call it, I get no warning. They just start coming immediately 3 minutes apart and get pretty intense, yet I'm not really dialating as far as I know. I don't know if they're actual labor contractions and I just haven't given them the chance to do anything since I always have them stopped. I was told if I was 35 weeks that they would just let me go into labor. An additional reason I'm having the repeat is because my baby has a knot in his umbilical cord which can be dangerous if it gets pulled while decending through the birth canal. I'm just afraid when I go off my medecine I'll be at labor and delivery every single day because my contractions come so close together. ↑
Name: djh | Date: Apr 9th, 2008 11:31 AM
Hmmm...how did I tell it was real labor? Well, I didnt' get huge BH's, as is my style I just went into hard labor with contractions about 8min-->5min-->3-->1min apart right away. My belly always tightened from the back around to the front and the whole tummy turned into an oblong rock hard, small watermelon shape. The real way I knew from a rule out standpoint was I would do all the usual things, change position, take a warm bath, eat, drink, switch sides, stop whatever it was I was doing, or most importantly, determine if I was stressing out about the kids, money, life, etc. Mainly though, it was the very odd shape my tummy would get. If your baby has what they call a "true knot" in his cord it is very important that you discuss with your doctor what he/she wants you to do if you feel contractions of any kind. Kay, it is really difficult to have dealt with pre-term labor and all those awful meds, some of know! I suggest you get two plans (plan A and a backup) together for those days when the contractions may send you running to L&D. With a cord knot it really is better to be safe than sorry. In my case all the hard, perfect contractions in the world did NOT cause cervical change because my babies' heads were still out of the UPPER pelvis due to my anatomy. If the head isn't applied to the cervix, the cervix has nothing to pull itself over so it doesn't necessarily change. So I say go to L&D with contractions that don't stop if your doc doesn't give you a definitive plan for after the meds. Good luck! ↑
Name: kay101 | Date: Apr 9th, 2008 11:06 PM
Yep, it's a knot. The tech spotted it on my ultrasound, which is why I have so many, and I was already doing NST's before the contractions. I've probably been in labor and delivery close to once a week. When I have my contractions my stomach balls up really tight and because the majority of his body is on the right it gets really lopsided. I only actually get up to go to the bathroom and grab something to eat so I'm not doing anything to irritate them. I'm just afraid I'm gonna have all those 'perfect' contractions and be stuck with them not doing anything, then not know when they actually DO do something. ↑
