Premature Birth: What happens if you go into labour early?

Finding out you are expecting a baby is an incredibly exciting time; discovering the sex of your baby, picking out names and packing your hospital bag are all activities that most parents relish. However, pregnancy can also be a worrying time for many soon-to-be parents – you may worry about the health of your baby or have concerns about the labour. Whilst most births are complication free, occasionally things do go wrong. One common complication is premature labour and birth.

One in every 13 babies are born prematurely (that is before 37 weeks). Signs that you are going into premature labour are the same as when you go into labour full-term; contractions, sudden breaking of water and loss of the mucus plug. Whilst any woman can go into early labour certain factors can make this more likely. If you fall into any of the below categories then your doctor should be monitoring you closely during your pregnancy:

• Carrying multiples
• Experienced premature births in the past
• Abnormal cervix
• Complications with the uterus, including infection
• Other gynaecological infections
• Complications of pregnancy including gestational diabetes or excess in amniotic fluid
• Placental abruption
• STD
• Kidney disease
• Disorders of the blood
• A history of multiple abortions
• A rapid succession of back to back pregnancies
• Being obese or underweight

If you do go into premature labour you will be admitted straight to a hospital with a neonatal unit. At this time, doctors may be able to stop contractions temporarily using the drug tocolytics. This allows them time to give you steroid injections which helps reduce the possibility of complications for your baby after they are born (particularly breathing problems and bleeding). You may also be treated with any of these:

• If your waters have broken you may be given a course of antibiotics to reduce the risk of an infection in your womb
• Treatment with magnesium sulphate (if you are less than 30 weeks pregnant and likely to give birth in the next 24 hours). This reduces the chance of complications for your baby, particularly cerebral palsy.

Premature babies are at risk of a number of complications including; developmental delays, cerebral palsy, hearing or vision problems, digestive problems, respiratory problems and jaundice. Most of the time these medical issues cannot be avoided, and your medical team have taken every action possible. However, very occasionally these complications can occur due to medical negligence. If that is the case, then you may be entitled to compensation. This can help with the long term costs that may arise from the care required for your child and associated costs of adapting your home and lifestyle. Specialists like First4SeriousInjury can advise of whether you have a claim and offer you help and support through the compensation process.

My own personal experience with a premature birth was probably a more positive and lucky one. I didn't go into labour but instead became ill and required an emergency Caesarean. As a first time mother who was very afraid, I just went along with whatever the doctors and midwives told me. I didn't do enough research and didn't know that I could go against their advice (not that I would have at that time) if I wished to. I had the aforementioned steroid injections and magnesium sulphate drip and luckily everything worked out well in the end. The only real complaint that I had was that I didn't feel like I had enough breastfeeding support and looking back, it seemed like they found it easier to give my son a bottle whilst I was still poorly to get him discharged from the Special Care Baby Unit quicker.

Have you experienced a premature birth? Did you have any complaints or wish they'd done something differently? I'd love to know!

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My Pregnancy & Birth Experiences

I feel so blessed to have two happy and healthy children and I'm glad that I got to experience both pregnancies and births differently. 

I experienced having pre-eclampsia, a condition that could well have killed us both. I was very lucky I got to the hospital when I did. 

I experienced a Caesarean section. 

I experienced having a premature baby. 

I experienced not being able to hold my baby as soon as he was born. 

I experienced a two week hospital stay as they tried to regulate my blood pressure. 

I experienced visiting my baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and only being able to touch him through the holes in the incubator. 

I experienced getting discharged from hospital without him and having to travel back to see him every day. 

We were told that if we were to have another that I would be at risk of developing pre-eclampsia again but I didn't care. 

I experienced taking aspirin every day from 6 weeks to 36 weeks pregnant to try and keep it at bay. 

I experienced weekly hospital/midwife check ups so they could keep a close eye on me. 

I experienced countless blood pressure checks and God knows how many urine samples I did. 

I experienced a Monofer infusion as my iron levels were so low. 

I experienced cervix checks. 

I experienced countless blood tests and cannulas (me - who hates needles!). The pre-eclampsia symptoms eventually did appear so I experienced an induction. 

I experienced having my waters broken. 

I experienced contractions. 

I experienced a natural birth. 

I experienced having ragged membranes and a retained placenta and I experienced needing to go to theatre to have it manually removed. 

I experienced a 2nd degree tear and needing perineal stitches. 

I experienced having to lean forward when I went for a wee because it stung so bad. 

I experienced being scared to go for a poo for weeks after pushing a baby out. 

I experienced not being able to sit down properly for a few weeks. 

I told Chris that it had put me off. It was too sore. And no doubt all my subsequent pregnancies would be equally as 'under the microscope' and I didn't think I could do it again.  

But I look at both of my children and the love I have for them is immense. 

So, would I do it again? In a heartbeat. 

When is the Right Time to Have Another Baby?

C is one year old (in case you didn't know - I've only been shouting it from the rooftops lately!) and I know that some people would think that I am absolutely crazy to even THINK about having another one especially with what we ended up going through the first time round. Except I can't shake the feeling. I want another baby. I know I'm not done. 

Chris never wanted kids until we had properly settled into a family home and were in a stable place financially but things don't always work out that way. I fell pregnant with C and we were overjoyed. We'd make it work. 

A year on, the feelings are coming back. I know that now isn't the right time for us. Our lease is up in July and we're looking to move into a bigger home. C is in our room with us and he desperately needs his own space. If I were to fall pregnant now, it would be too hard to buy everything needed for a new baby and save up for a bigger and better house PLUS my due date would be around the time of moving and I would not want to be in that situation. 

Everywhere I look though, people are getting pregnant. Celebrities, people are posting on Facebook and I read parenting blogs so I see numerous bump updates too and it is quite upsetting. I will admit that I have cried over it. How do I get rid of these feelings? Will they go away over time?

I have a younger sister. There are 10 years between us so we're not what you'd call 'close' and don't have very much in common. I know that I don't want a huge age ago between my kids but Chris had originally said that he'd like to wait until C is in school before we tried for another but in my eyes, that's more of  a gap than I wanted. However, we have chatted and I talked him to when C is 3 years old and starting nursery then further chats led to "we'll reassess the baby situation when we're in the new house". I am well aware that he's probably saying this to shut me up but we'll see!

Have you ever felt this way? How did you get rid of the feelings?

Finding Out and Announcing Pregnancy

No - I'm not pregnant again. Don't worry!
I started my blog when C was 4 months old so I'm just looking back on times before that.

I didn't announce my pregnancy in the usual way. I was 19 when C was conceived and I turned 20 a few weeks later. I think my parents still saw me as a child and the thought of telling them terrified me. It took me 6 weeks to even realise!

I had a lump in my armpit. The usual thoughts overwhelmed me, you know, the C word. I ignored it. I was so ill with the worst stomach cramps, lying in bed for about a week barely eating or drinking anything. My 20th birthday rolled around. I had planned to go out for a few drinks with my two friends. I really didn't want to go but my dad convinced me saying that I'd enjoy myself once I got out. And I did. I only had 2 cocktails and a shot of Sambuca.

2 weeks later, I finally visited the doctor. He checked my armpit and said "I'm really having trouble finding anything". I was mortified. I could see the lump and he was telling me that there was nothing there!? Then he said the words that came down on me like a tonne of bricks - "Is there a chance you could be pregnant?" I stumbled over my words "I don't know". He then told me that if my period hadn't come in the next few weeks then to go back and see him. 

I walked out to Chris in the waiting room and told him what had happened. We went to the chemist and bought a test and did it when we got in. Yep - two lines. I hugged Chris and the two of us just cried. We had talked about having a baby before but it was just a huge shock. 

We muddled on, went to our booking in appointment and for the 12 week scan without anyone knowing. We lived with Chris's brother so he had to tell him as soon as possible. I didn't want to have to hide it around the house so he did and I met up with my best friend, Jessica. I had to tell her first. Like any best friend would be, she was so happy and excited and even bought me a baby name book. She also was quite serious with me and said that I had to tell my parents. I knew I did.

Except I didn't. Now that Chris's brother knew, it was a little secret that never left the house. I had put on quite a bit of weight since moving in with Chris so no one really caught on. One day, we went shopping and I kept pushing Chris to tell his mum. Like any bloke, he told me to stop nagging and that he'd do it. I went to try some clothes on and when I came out of the changing room he was on the phone. To his mum. I couldn't believe it. I heard him say "No, I'm not winding you up." He had told her over the phone! He hung up and then I got the truth. He had TEXT her saying "Ma, Rebecca's pregnant. We'll call round on our way home from town" OMG. So that was that. It was my turn.

The following week, I was at my parents on my laptop. My dad looked at me and said "look at that stomach Rebecca, you'd think you were pregnant" More OMGs. I kept my mouth shut. I was looking for the right moment for the past 2 days but I couldn't do it. Before I left I called him in, handed him the scan picture and said "I'm sorry". He took his glasses off and leaned against the wall, "Just let me get my head around this" I cried and hugged him. But I knew it was okay when he said "do you know what it is?" When I told him it was a boy, his eyes lit up. There hadn't been a boy born in our family for over 20 years.

I started by telling a few of my friends and word got around. I had to make it Facebook official, right? I'm not one to make a big song and dance about it. I don't like being the centre of attention. 

On August 8th, 2012 I posted: 

"In agony. Paracetamol and sleep are my two best friends :("

A friends mum replied: 

"Hey Becca, you should probably get your doc or midwife to check you over" 

and I responded with 

"I phoned the maternity dept last night. It's a pain in the right side of my lower back. I explained everything cuz I thought it was a kidney problem but seeing as I'm still able to pass water, have had no bleeds, womb isn't tightening and baby's still kicking away that it's sounds like a muscular pain. She told me to take 2 paracetamol and relax & if it didn't ease up to phone back & they'd see me at the hospital so I did and the pain completely disappeared (so I guess it is muscular). The tablets are helpin but only for a couple of hours then I've to wait until I can take another dosage. Don't wanna be overdosing! Xxx"

Then the congratulations messages started flooding in. 6 weeks and 2 days later, my baby was here. It must have seemed like the shortest pregnancy ever. I'm getting a bit teary reliving all this! And well done if you've read this far!

I never got to share my bump photos so here goes:

 

9 weeks + 3 days

 

20 weeks

 

25 weeks + 4 days

31 weeks (1 week before birth)

How did you announce your pregnancy? I'd love to hear :)

Opting for a Caesarean

I read Daily Mail Online (for my sins) and one article caught my eye. The headline was: "Pregnant women opt for Caesareans because 'they are afraid of poor care' during natural birth, says leading midwife". 

This really upset me. The fact that people are worried about the care that they are going to receive in a hospital. Surely they'll get the best treatment?
I fell pregnant totally by surprise and I'll admit, I didn't give a Caesarean section a second thought. I thought "I'll go into labour, have the baby (via water birth) and go home" but that didn't happen. I did need an emergency section and it wasn't the best experience I've ever had. The staff were amazing though. I was in hospital for 10 days post-birth and I never had a negative encounter with a member of staff.

After my Caesarean, I was very sore afterwards and struggled to do anything. Showering in hospital was the worst. A midwife kindly offered to help me shower but I politely declined out of pride (she did have to help me put my knickers on though!). I couldn't move about in bed to get comfortable, walking was a chore and bending down to deal with C was awful. I sometimes even felt that I didn't even give birth to C and that it was 'cheating'.

I think some people forget that a Caesarean section is major abdominal surgery and it does take a long time to recover. Knowing the recovery time and pain, I cannot fathom why someone would opt for that without a medical reason.  I understand that some people may be totally against me on that and if you are, please leave me a comment and let me know your thoughts.

In any subsequent pregnancy that I have, I will probably need another Caesarean unless every little aspect of the pregnancy is 100% perfect and that really upsets me. There's nothing I want more than to give birth to a child naturally and to experience that feeling. I'll probably never get my water birth but I do hope I get my natural delivery next time.