View Full Version : 50% Effaced?
happybunny2308
Apr 1, 2010, 01:34 PM
I'm 27 weeks and a few days pregnant and yesterday was admitted to the hospital for protein found in my ffh culture and they put me under observation for a few hours and gave me a dose of betamethasone. I was having contractions nothing serious I believe the monitor never went over 90.They then checked my cervix and said I was 50% effaced and told me to come back today to get checked again and they said nothing had changed and gave me a second shot of betamethasone. Is this something I should really be worried about or is this normal in twin pregnancy?
tickle
Apr 1, 2010, 01:43 PM
I hope J_9 our RN who is really great, but I will answer to calm your nerves. Betamethasone is a corticosteroid agent to help reduce swelling. So they are doing what they need to do, but you are either not telling us all the story, or something is missing. Glad they put you under observation and congratulations on a twin pregnancy. Twin pregnancies will undoubtedly take a toll of a woman's body because there is twice as much to take into consideration. Every major organ in your body is at task, and your liver and kidneys for sure. Stay super healthy, eat properly and drink plenty of good clean water to flush out toxins and keep your kidneys working properly.
Happybunny, hang in there, I am sure you will hear more from our major expert !
Ms tick
Typically twins are known to be born early.
Now, I'll try to explain it in terms you can understand.
Imagine your uterus and cervix shaped like a lightbulb. The bottom portion of the lightbulb (the part that you screw in) would be the cervix.
As we go into labor that bottom portion gets smaller and smaller, this is effacement. Many times effacement and dilitation go hand-in-hand, but not always. Sometimes we efface first.
The betamethasone was given to help strengthen the lungs of the babies just in case they come early. Two doses 24 hours apart are essential for this development.
DoulaLC
Apr 1, 2010, 01:44 PM
It is normal to the extent that twin pregnancies often show changes earlier than singletons, but 27 weeks is still early on, so they will likely keep close tabs on you from here on out. Expect more frequent visits and checks. You may very well remain at this point for the remainder of your pregnancy and babies will come when they are expected to, or you may go earlier than expected.