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davejag · Apr 16, 2008, 11:54 PM

So on Tuesday night around 10pm I went to bed with cramping, woke up at 2 am with sever lower abdominal cramping and lower back cramping ( it felt like menstrual cramps). So of course the husband was out of town and I couldn't drive myself to the hospital, so I waited till today to see my doctor, I told him about all my symptoms. He did a vaginal exam and said well your not dilating so lets do an ultrasound, of course at this point I am in so much pain.
I go do the ultrasound and the radiologist sends me to Labour and Delivery because he can't see anything wrong on the ultrasound. My doctor gets called he comes in feels my belly looks at the monitor and says hmm I don't know, walked out of the room to the nurses and says I have no idea what's wrong with her.
He then said she has had pain through out her pregnancy but other wise it has been healthy, well I say that's not true considering how many times I have been in the labour and delivery.
Then the nurses laughed and said well what you want us to do, he said no idea, till the nurse finally said call a specialist in. He came in said I was contracting but my cervix was still closed, so no dice on having the baby at 34 weeks. When I asked him why I was in so much pain he said, well I am not sure but you know some demurral will take care of it, well they were wrong. I still had the pain plus the spotting and after 9 hours I ended up leaving the hospital still in pain and still spotting. Now when I go to the bathroom and wipe my tissue paper has either red spots or it's a peach colour, and yes I am still in pain. So ladies and gentle man what do you think is wrong? I just can't go on like this anymore in pain and spotting.

DoulaLC · Apr 17, 2008, 08:36 AM

Hard to say... I assume they checked for possible kidney infection/kidney stone? Were any contractions showing up on the monitor? Do the pains come and go like contractions or is one continuous pain? Do you have a fever? No issues with constipation? Was any explanation given? I assume you were told what to watch for and to come back if you notice any changes?

Emland · Apr 17, 2008, 08:59 AM

Sounds a lot like the back labor I had with my children. The baby is most likely pressing on your nerves in your back and that is causing the pain. I don't know about the spotting - it might be from the vaginal checks (I'm presuming they checked you vaginally since you said that your weren't dialating.)

Whenever in doubt, go back and keep asking and don't stop unless you are satisfied with the answer.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by DoulaLC

Hard to say....I assume they checked for possible kidney infection/kidney stone? Were any contractions showing up on the monitor? Do the pains come and go like contractions or is one continuous pain? Do you have a fever? No issues with constipation? Was any explanation given? I assume you were told what to watch for and to come back if you notice any changes?

Well the kidney stones and bladder infection is not ruled out they can't get the results till Friday. The monitor did show contractions but they were to short, the pain comes and goes every 15 - 20 minutes and it feels like menstrual cramps. No their was no problems with constipation, the explanation was well we have no idea it would be a irritable cervix. They did say watch over the pain and see what happens, the pain has let go today but because I have just gotten out of bed so will see later today. I have to say the nurses up at Labour and Delivery were great yesterday, they were the only ones that made me feel better. Thanks for all the greats answers. Could I be going into pre labour even if I am not dilating? If I am in this much pain and discomfort why won't they just schedule me for a c-section that poor baby can't be very happy either.

J_9 · Apr 17, 2008, 10:42 AM

Let me ask if the pains go away with movement. When you start walking around, do the pains lessen at all or go away?

It is highly possible that you are dehydrated. This happens a lot in pregnancy, especially as far along as you are, and mimics labor. You really should be checked for dehydration and be rehydrated intravenously if this is the case.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 11:16 AM

Originally Posted by J_9

Let me ask if the pains go away with movement. When you start walking around, do the pains lessen at all or go away?

It is highly possible that you are dehydrated. This happens a lot in pregnancy, especially as far along as you are, and mimics labor. You really should be checked for dehydration and be rehydrated intravenously if this is the case.

They did check for dehydration they gave me to saline bags in an IV form along with the demurral. The pain does not go away when I walk it gets worse, I should say the pressure does. Right now I am sitting down and it feels okay just a bit painful that's all, diarrhea has as well set in.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 01:44 PM

Is their anyway I can check myself if I am dilating or what's going on down their?

DoulaLC · Apr 17, 2008, 01:54 PM

Originally Posted by davejag

Well the kidney stones and bladder infection is not ruled out they can't get the results till Friday. The monitor did show contractions but they were to short, the pain comes and goes every 15 - 20 minutes and it feels like menstrual cramps. No their was no problems with constipation, the explanation was well we have no idea it would be a irritable cervix. They did say watch over the pain and see what happens, the pain has let go today but because I have just gotten out of bed so will see later today. I have to say the nurses up at Labour and Delivery were great yesterday, they were the only ones that made me feel better. Thanks for all the greats answers. Could I be going into pre labour even if I am not dilating? If I am in this much pain and discomfort why won't they just schedule me for a c-section that poor baby can't be very happy either.

Obviously everything is speculation from what you have described. You could be in what is called prodromal labor... basically your body preparing or practicing, and it can go on for quite a long time. Contractions can be fairly regular, or pretty sporadic, but tend to be noticeably increased over the usual Braxton Hicks. They may continue for several days and then stop... there is often no rhymn or reason to how they proceed.
They usually won't do anything if it is not effecting your cervix... staying put is best for baby at this stage. If they feel it may be the start of preterm labor, they may suggest meds or bedrest, or both... but again, since the contractions apparently aren't causing any cervical changes it is not necessary. Besides, the meds are not fun for many women so best left to use only when truly needed.
The diarrhea could also be a sign of an early start to things... as J_9 said, keep your fluid intake up, even more so with the diarrhea.
See how things go... if they start to get more of a pattern and you are getting more than 4 or 5 in an hour, give them a call. Call anyway if something changes and it causes you concern.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 03:37 PM

Well the spotting has stopped and cramping has let up, I think Doula C was right about it may be prodromal labor. The baby is moving a lot which is a good thing, is their anything I can do to start labor? Is their something I did to bring on the pain?

J_9 · Apr 17, 2008, 03:42 PM

As I have told you several times hun, you do not want to start labor yet. The baby is not ready. If you intentionally start labor now, you could cause permanent and irreversible damage to your baby.

I agree with Doula that it is most likely prodromal labor and it will come and go until the big day comes.

Is there something you did? That is impossible for us to answer as we are not with you 24/7. It could be anything from a little pulled muscle to dehydration, or just nature taking it's course.

Becca1025 · Apr 17, 2008, 03:46 PM

A friend of mine had contractions for a full week. She had her baby three days before I had my baby, and she was also a week overdue. She was in pain for a full week and was not progressing. She tried squats, walking, and sex. She casually walked most of the week, but one day she wanted to get started so she walked a few miles, then about 7 hours later was headed to the hospital. I'm sure you have to be dilated for it to even do anything... Or maybe it was a coiencidence. I think the idea is to stay active so the baby can progress downward. Goodluck and an early congrats!

Becca1025 · Apr 17, 2008, 03:50 PM

Mind you though, my friend was 41 weeks when she walked, you're only 34, wait till at least 38 weeks please.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 03:54 PM

Yeah I don't want the labor to start yet that's why I asked if I did something, I know that I have been walking more around so that's what might of happened.

J_9 · Apr 17, 2008, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by davejag

Yeah I don't want the labor to start yet that's why I asked if I did something, I know that I have been walking more around so that's what might of happend.

But you also asked what you could do to start labor.

simoneaugie · Apr 17, 2008, 04:56 PM

The advise here is great, knowledgeable. Did the persons who examined your cervix mention effacement? Effacement is thinning of the cervix. A cervix can completely efface without much, if any dilating. For a baby to be pushed out, a cervix must be dilated to ten centimeters and (ideally) completely effaced.

It's difficult to wait at this stage, you're big, uncomfortable and nervous. Just rest and stay as comfortable as possible. It's late in the game to change doctors, but I'd immediately get a female midwife or doctor to help deliver your baby. Male doctors have never been through it. Women are usually much better at helping other women give birth, and with validating the accompanying discomfort.

stormey44 · Apr 17, 2008, 04:58 PM

The same thing happemed to me I was contracting last Friday and was not dialting and then they eventuly took the baby because I would not stop they gave me 2 meds to try to stop it and IV bags nothing wroked so they took the baby I was only 32 weeks and the baby is in the hospital so good luck let me know

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 05:34 PM

Originally Posted by J_9

But you also asked what you could do to start labor.

Yeah I read that after I wrote it sorry it came out wrong.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 05:43 PM

Originally Posted by simoneaugie

The advise here is great, knowledgable. Did the persons who examined your cervix mention effacement? Effacement is thinning of the cervix. A cervix can completely efface without much, if any dilating. For a baby to be pushed out, a cervix must be dilated to ten centimeters and (ideally) completely effaced.

It's difficult to wait at this stage, you're big, uncomfortable and nervous. Just rest and stay as comfortable as possible. It's late in the game to change doctors, but I'd immediately get a female midwife or doctor to help deliver your baby. Male doctors have never been through it. Women are usually much better at helping other women give birth, and with validating the accompanying discomfort.

They never said anything about effacement to me, but they did say it was closed and long. How do I know if the cervix is softened? I know it must sound like I am complaining a lot but I am not trying to come across like that, I am uncomfortable and nervous. We don't have the option of having a midwife at the delivery, and most of the doctors that do deliver babies in this city are men. The only good thing is the nurses that are present at the delivery they are so nice.

davejag · Apr 17, 2008, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by stormey44

the same thing happemed to me i was contracting last friday and was not dialting and then they eventuly took the baby becouse i would not stop they gave me 2 meds to try to stop it and iv bags nothing wroked so they took the baby i was only 32 weeks and the baby is in the hospital so good luck let me know

Yeah the doctor said the only way they would take the baby out now is if I was hemoraging, or the heart rate dropped below 100 beats per minute. Which is totally understandable and I agree the baby needs to stay in my belly for at least another 4 weeks.

simoneaugie · Apr 17, 2008, 08:56 PM

Hmmm, with not a thought about the length of my pregnancy, at 37 weeks, I decided to make a new garden bed. Jumping on the shovel, squatting to pull stuff out and then jumping on the edger... Casual walking would probably be much healthier.

Contractions get more energetic when you are mobile. The more sedentary you are, the less likely labor will start early.

I was given a speculum by a progressive clinic. My husband used it to see, to determine dilation. He said that I was barely dilated. My contraction were long, starting a minute apart. Upon arrival at the hospital, they checked dilation and said that I should go home because I was not dilated yet. The baby was born 45 minutes later. So, effacement should be more closely watched, in my experience.