Preterm labor is labor that hits before the 37th week of pregnancy. Many mistake it for false labor or Braxton Hicks contractions. But real preterm labor is very serious. It can be a very scary thing to face. I had my own experience with it. My third pregnancy was plagued with preterm labor. During the second trimester I had decided that I needed to get out andwalk. All I ever heard was how good walking was during pregnancy. So a friend and I went out to walk around our local high school track each evening. I would carry a big jug of water and I’d guzzle as I walked.
One particular day, at 30 weeks along, I was half way around the track when a hard
contraction hit. It was so painful I had to double over, then when I stood up it felt like the baby would slip out between my legs. I had to walk back home, about two blocks. I showered, drank another large cup of water and laid down. I didn’t say anything to my husband, thinking I was okay; and that perhaps it was just because I over-did myself on the track. I woke up from my nap feeling another painful contraction. I quietly timed them for an hour and decided to lie down in the bed to see if they would subside. They did, because I fell asleep and woke up the next morning. However at noon the contractions started back again, but this time I told my husband and went to see my doctor.
I wasn’t dilating, at that time, so my doctor sent me home with a prescription for Brethine and orders for bed rest. A few days later the contractions started up again, this time my doctor doubled my dose of Brethine. By the time I made it to 32 weeks I had no idea what was ahead for me. At 32 weeks labor hit, and this time I knew my body meant business. I was rushed to the hospital where they said I was dilated to one cm. They gave me three Brethine shots as well as an IV drip to boost my fluids. When they checked me again about three hours later, I had advanced to three cm and the contractions came every five minutes. They started an IV of magnesium sulfate, and from what I was told, this was the last ditch effort to stop pre-term labor. I had been given one shot of steroids to help mature my baby’s lungs.
The IV helped and after a 24 hour stay they were going to release me. The contractions began again right before I was to be discharged, and I had another round of the magnesium sulfate and a pronouncement that I may have to stay in the hospital until the baby was born, even if that meant six weeks. Luckily, three days later and many Brethine shots later, I was released to go home and be on “strict” bed rest, only allowed to get up to go to the bathroom.
I managed to carry my baby for another five weeks, though I had many more flying trips to the hospital to stop the labor. It was a rough time for our family, because I had a five year old and a two year old to take care of.