Information on Pre-term Labor the Second Time Around

I frequent another board where there is a preemie parenting center. (I don't know if I can post it). Both my girls were preemies, my first 31 weeks 1 pound 5 ounces my second 29 weeks, 1 pound 15 ounces. I, however, did not have PTL! So, I can't help you there. BUT ,there are quite a few women on the board who have successfully carried to term the second time around! You can email me for the board! Good luck!

Hi L.,

I went into pre-term labor a few times with my second son, and he was born at 37 weeks and very healthy. When I had my third son, again I went into pre-term labor at 28 weeks and had to stay in the hospital for 3 weeks because of it. I was sent home on complete bedrest and finally made it to 36 weeks and he too was healthy. Quite a scare to have to go through it again.

I am currently pregnant with my second. after finding out I was pregnant the first thing I did was voice my concern about having pre term labor a second time. I went into labor at 31 weeks, and had my son at 36 weeks. Luckily he was healthy, but it was a horrible experiance and I do not want to go through it again. Anyhow she said that weekly progesterone shots have been known to help people with a history of preterm labor not have preterm labor again. It doesn't have any side affects on the baby, and for mommy its just a pain in the butt (literally :)) It has a fairly good success rate, i can't remember the numbers, but I did alot of research before deciding to go with it. Anyhow, I just had my first shot last week, so hopefully it works for me. But I just wanted to let you know that there is help out there in preventing having to go through it again. Best of luck to you.

Hi L.,

I had an amniotic fluid leak at 34 weeks with my son. I was admitted into Perinatal and went into labor 2 days later. My son was a preemie, in the NICU for 10 days. He is now 4.5 and a big, healthy active boy. After all the tests, there was reason for the preterm delivery either. I had a perfect pregnancy the second time. I have a daughter that will be 2 next week. She was born 10 days before her due date and I had no complications during either pregnancy. Although statistically you chances of pre-term labor are 15% higher the second time around, there is no reason to think this will happen. I just chalked it up to my kids being impatient :) Look up the message boards on the March of Dimes site. They are awesome with support.

I had surgery while pregnant with my first child, and had to be medicated throughout the pregnancy to prevent pre-term labor. Absolutely no problem with baby #2--not even Braxton Hicks contractions. She went two weeks past her due date and even then didn't want to come out! Boy--you just never know.

I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks with my first son. With my second, my doctor had me take it easy (no working out after the first few months) at 25 weeks I was put on bedrest because I went into preterm labor. I spent 12 weeks in bed (2 in the hospital) and had my son at 37 weeks. I have asked my doctor if it would happen a third time and he said that chances are, it would. However, he asked me... in 20 years, will it matter? Being on bedrest is difficult, however, if it prevents your baby from being born too soon... it's worth it!! I hated all the trips to the hospital, all the monitoring and all the shots but forgot all about them once my healthy babies were born!!

If I can say this one thing though... if you do decide to have a second, get help with your son. If you don't have family around that can help, find a nanny. It will cost a lot of money but you'll need someone to watch your toddler while you are taking it easy during your second pregnancy. AND... if your doc puts you on bedrest... REST. Take it seriously. I didn't and ended up in the hospital DURING CHRISTMAS time from 32 to 34 weeks. He let me out so I could spend Christmas with my family but I had to promise to LAY IN BED. I did and ended up with a healthy baby.

Good luck to you!!

i, too, am concerned about preterm labor w/a second pregnancy. i went into labor at 29 weeks that was held off by meds and bed rest. after giving birth i had two dr.s and a nurse practitioner tell me that i shouldn't worry about preterm labor with my next pregnancy. every pregnancy is different. but that certainly doesn't take my fears away. i would be sure speak your concerns and don't let any dr blow off those concerns. be your own advocate. that's what i plan to do. good luck!!!

I went through pre-term labor with my 1st child at 32 weeks, the doctor was able to stop my contractions and I carried him to full term. When I got pregnant with my 2nd child I also had the same concerns. I did advise my doctor of the previous situation and he said he would keep a close eye on me. Well I did not go into pre-term labor with her and carried her to full term. I don't want to say it won't happen but let your doctor know the situation right off the bat so he/she can work with you and be prepared. The best person to talk to would be your doctor.

I actually went into labor at 28 weeks with my first and 26 weeks with my second. I delivered my first at 35 weeks healthly after 15 trips to the hopital and 10 days in the hospital. I delivered my second at 33 weeks and he spent 3 weeks in ICU. Do you work? I recommend removing stress and staying off your feet. no house work no long periods of standing no stress, no shopping. These are a few thing I wish I had tried to reduce the chance of going into pre term labor. There is a small chance it will not happen the second time according to my practioner... But tryin to prevent it would be better. Lots of luck

i went into labor at 33 weeks. she was only in NICU for 2 wks which is amazing and is 4 years old and developing normally. but the whole experience just totally turned me off towards having any more.

Hi L.,

Yes, I had two normal labors after my first son who was a preemie. My son was born nearly 7 weeks early,- there was no stopping the contractions- as he was born in 5 hours after my water broke. He came home from the hospital in 2 weeks. My girls also had INTENSE but quick labors ( 3 hours and 2 hours respectively). Both girls were born at term ( at the start of the 4 week window period).

Did you know there is no answer for many premie births? ( You know, if the mom has been taking care of her body appropriately, etc.) It sounds like you had the same experience as I did. Try not not worry- your doctor will monitor everything, since technically you are "at risk" for another preterm birth.

I went into labor at 33 weeks with my son due to an extremely stressful event in my life. I managed to hold the pregnancy through the use of terbutaline to 37 weeks, and have a wonderful, healthy 2 year old. I'm pregnant again, and drs, (both my son's OB and my new one) have assured me that every pregnancy is different and there's no reason to expect that I will have preterm issues again. I wish you the best of luck . . . and talk to your doctor!!

My doctors told me that it would follow a pattern with my second and sure enough it did. With my first I went into pre-term labor at 30 weeks and was able to hold her in until she was 38.5 weeks. My second one was a constant battle...I first went into labor at 18 weeks (due to dehydration). After 28 weeks and 1 week in the hospital with labor they had trouble keeping under control I ended up on terbutaline and one other med and full bed rest. They also gave me shots to mature her lungs and she was born at 37.5 weeks but completely healthy. After all that we decided not to have anymore! They have amazing technology now that can make it possible to make it thru those times....if you want another baby I wouldn't let all that change your decision...its so worth it in the end!

It doesn't seem like there is ever a clear answer as to why any woman goes into pre-term labor. I had a baby at 17 who was born at 30 weeks. I was convinced it was because I didn't receive proper prenatal care. When I became pregnant again at 28, I received all the necessary prenatal care and then some. At 33 weeks I again went into labor. I also received the shot and was taking terbutaline religiously every 4 hours for 3 weeks. As well as going to the doctor almost every day to have my contractions monitored. It wasn't fun and at times a little scary but, I had a healthy baby girl at 36.5 weeks. I don't know if you would go in to early labor again but it seems like you handled it well. And so did your body. I hope you don't let your previous experience stand in the way of getting pregnant again.
Good luck!

Hi L.,
I have three boys. My oldest I went into pre-term labor and he finally came 3 1/2 weeks early. Had not fingernails,toenails or eyebrows. Had hair down his back and long sideburns. He had jaundice too. Took him until 8th grade to grow so he was proper size...always tiniest in the class. My second son, I didn't have labor with and finally after he was well past due, the induced him. My third son come within days of due date. Each pregnancy is different and you never can count on things. My husband always teased that it took me three times to get it right. They are all healthy young men now:)
H.

Hi L.,

Yes, my first daughter was born almost two months early. My water had begun to leak so I was on bedrest in the hospital for almost three weeks before she was born. She was 3lbs, 9oz. at birth and pretty healthy but spent her first 3 weeks in the NICU while she grew big enough to come home.

My second daughter was born nine weeks ago. She was 12 days past her estimated date of arrival and 7lbs, 11oz! The midwives at the hospital wanted to induce but I would not go that route. When baby did arrive she was very healthy. No one knows why my first came early and my second "late". Both children had beautiful natural births and each came in their own time.

The main thing is not to stress. Take the best care you can of yourself and try to trust God for the outcome.

All the best,
S.

I have a four year old that I went into premature labor with at 28 weeks and I had to take meds for the remainder of my pregnancy. I just had my daughter in april and I had no premature labor with her. I think it just depends on the pregnancy and the baby.

I'm not aware of the progesterone others have recommeneded, so that may be a good thing. I do know that proper nutrition can be key to a healthy pregnancy. Dr Tom Brewer made it his life's work to study toxemia, and found it was completely related to malnutrition. As a result, he implented a diet that consisted of fruits, veggies, 80-100 gr of protein a day, salt to taste, plenty of water, grains, etc, and had a ZERO rate of toxemia. Now, I know that is not what you are specifically worried about, but it certainly can't hurt! I know that poor nutriton can also cause premature rupture of membranes and a series of other things. Go to blueribbonbaby.org or bradleybirth.com and read up on his diet. You can even get spreadsheet to help you keep track. IT's a good life habit to get into anyway. And good nutrition is one thing you CAN control in your pregnancy which is nice.

Check out his site and see if he has anything to say on preterm labor, too I just never looked specifically for that.

Best of luck and blessings
A.

Pls look at these sites for more info:
www.women4balance.com/4health and www.menoqueen.com
Natural progesterone cream aids this, "pro''gest" = for life. It has helped many women easily go full term securely. Dr John Lee writes about it too. Start on it pre-pregrenancy and then continue thru pregnancy for a healthy baby. You may also want to 'detox' the hormone disruptors out of your colon first & stop the onslaught of xeno-estrogens in personal care and cleaning products. Best wishes!