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Originally Posted by Rhetts_mama  No one really knows what causes labor to begin, so why premature labor happens is still a mystery. Sometimes, illness in the mother can cause contractions. Dehydration can set them off, too. It's great that they were able to stop them with the mag. That's pretty heavy duty stuff, so if she has been able to come off it without the contractions re-occuring it will be better for her. If she does continue to have the contractions and starts having cervical changes, it's likely she will be re-admitted to the hospital. They can start giving steriods to help the baby's lung development speed up.
Fluid levels can change, so the first reading isn't necessarily a mistake. Even two people doing the test the same day can come up with different fluid levels depending on the position of the baby. It's something they will want to continue to watch for the duration of her pregnancy.
They will keep a closer eye on her for contractions from here on out. Often times, mild contractions can be managed at home with a medication like terbutaline. It's normally given every 4-6 hours around the clock. She will probably start requiring more frequent doctor visits, too (if I remember right, I went in every 2 weeks).
I know first hand how tough it is to be at home with pre-term labor hanging over your head while you have kids. I went in to PTL at 24 weeks with my second daughter. I spent a lot of time on a modified bedrest regime. Thankfully, I didn't deliver until 35 weeks after all of those scares.
As hard as this will be on her, please try and convince her that her health and the health of the baby is far more important than the laundry and other house work. I was blessed to have friends who stocked my freezer with enough homemade meals that I could skip cooking several nights each week. Any chance that you and her MIL could arrange something like that? Even having someone come to the house every 2 weeks to do a good house cleaning would be a huge help and blessing while she's dealing with this.
Good luck. I hope all goes well for her and she delivers a healthy, full-term baby. |
Thank you so much for all the info, but is it possible that Wednesday she goes to her OB and her levels are at 11 and Friday at the Hospital they say she is at 2 - where they are almost certain that her water broke, and then today (Monday) her levels are back up at 14. I mean those are drastic changes.
They are now telling her that they will do some kind of test tomorrow that determines if you are to go into labor within the next 2 weeks (???? not sure if I got that correct, first time ever hearing this) and if all is well, then she is going home.
As for the cooking and cleaning, her mother-in-law, myself and her husband definitely have that covered. I guess, I can only pray that all goes well. We were a little frightened when it looked like the little guy was to be born at 25 weeks. The hospital was giving the statistics of a baby born at that age and was asking them what they wanted to do, once he is born. Ugh.......... thank God they didn't have to make that decision.
Thanks again.