My chances of having my 2nd child being born premature

Kelly - posted on 11/25/2009

hi all, from looking at your profiles alot of you seem to be from America where research is obviously done and you are all being looked after and offered injections and extra care to stop the chance of you all having another prem baby again. Im from the uk, my 2nd son was born at 30weeks, my waters broke at 29weeks, i was in hosp for 48hours then let out as my waters where still clear and enough left for baby, 3days i went into labour and my son was born at 3lb 10ozs, hes 5 months old now and doing fine, im now 4 months pregnant again, im not being monitored closely, and iv got my 1st consultant appt next week, i will be 18weeks next week, and i no for a fact i wont be offered anything like you are offered, i think its really bad my country is so behind on this, to many babies are born to early and no money is being put into early labour research, im trying not to think about another prem baby as it was a horrible worrying time, fingers x'd it all goes well, and i wish you all well too x

Alexandra - posted on 11/23/2009

Thank You ALL for your kind words and for sharing your stories, the more I read the stronger I feel. And I truly believe in what Andrea Q. said that we are given what we can handle.
This has truly been and continues to be a helpful sight.
Now for me to start taking my folic acid and getting ready :)

Marcella - posted on 11/23/2009

Hi Alexandra

I had my daughter at 25 weeks (21 years ago). She turned out fine, THANK GOD!, I had my son normal term, so unless there is some definite medical condition that the doctors warned you about I don't see any reason why you would have another preemie. I was 17 when I had my daughter and my entire pregnancy was rough. I lost 35 pounds and my OB/GYN just kept telling me it was because I was young and my body wasn't dealing with being pregnant, so when my uterus and placenta split there was no stopping Kirsten. They also told me that because I had a C-section that I would never give birth normally. That was not true either. So I guess what I am saying is that if you want another baby go for it! I was on a lot of bed rest with my son but it was not due to any conditions that I had with my daughter.
Good luck

Heather - posted on 11/22/2009

I had my son 5yrs ago at the age of 28yrs old...my water broke at 32weeks and I gave birth to my son at 34weeks. They also have no idea what caused him to come so early. I am currently 34yrs old (Just turned nov 1) and i am 32weeks today with my 2nd. Baby looks great and I highly doubt ill be early again. I get treated just like any other pregnant women...im not worried at all that this baby will be early....

Andrea - posted on 11/22/2009

My son was born at 37 weeks and my daughter was 36 weeks.. But if you were to have another preterm baby you and your hubby will make the best of it.. i know that they told me part of why i went early with both of my kids was do to my size i am on 5'3" and am short from neck to hip.. so there wasn't much room for baby. they dropped early and there wasn't anything we could do to stop it. it was just ment for me to have to babies early.. That is how i look at things you are only given what you and your family can handle.. that is how i get from one day to the next.. Hope this is helpful.. take care and best wishes to you and your family

Keri - posted on 11/18/2009

I had my twins at 25 weeks. I was on bedrest the entire pregnancy due to a blood clot that was growing between the 2 sacs. They were 1lb. 4 oz. and 2 lbs. Now, with lots of follow up and early intervention, they are full functioning kindergarteners. Doing VERY well :)
My third baby was born at 38 weeks... normal , healthy, and no problems during pregnancy. I was told that I was still considered high risk, and at fist, it felt weird to even be walking while pregnant. Then, I gradually got the hang of how to walk, eat, shower, run errands and play w/ my twins while pregnant. :) I decided to relax and enjoy being pregnant. I wish you lots of luck and prayers :)

Jennifer - posted on 11/18/2009

Hi! My water ruptured for no apparent reason for my early bird, 6 weeks too soon. My second pregnancy started 9 months after and the docs just kept a closer eye on me, but we went about everything else as normal. I started to dilate after having what i thought were just braxton hicks, and only at 24 weeks. I honestly thought it was just due to being way overstressed at work, and the docs never could tell me why it happened, but I was put on bedrest immediately. Funny thing is, when i reached week 37 i started to do everything to bring on labour... and it took a good 2 weeks before she decided to come out!
My advice is to just pay close attention to your body during the next pregnancy, you'll know if somethign starts to go amiss :)

Nicola - posted on 11/16/2009

hey, i was 25 when i had my first baby girl born at 29 weeks, same as you there was no reason why i went into labor, Cleo now 5 is great, i had my son Deacon at 29yr old and was worried that the same thing would happen, it didnt he was 2 weeks over due, Sorry to say that i havent heard of the drug your taking about. Good luck with your next baby. :-). Nikki.

Leeinda - posted on 11/16/2009

Hey there! My first baby was born at 28 weeks due to placental abruption. However my second child was a 39 weeker. I am currently pregnant with my third and I am having a lot of complications and was hospitalized at 26 weeks due to preterm labor. I have had steroid shots just in case he does come early, but was not advised to take the 17P injections. I think the chance is higher once you have had one preemie, but you can also have a healthy term baby.

Shiloh - posted on 11/16/2009

hi there.... i have 4 kids and each was a premmie. My first was at 28 wks this was due to me having a large cyst growing on my ovary...it was undecided if it cause the preterm labour or the surgery to remove the cyst...#2 was at 36wks so she wasnt really a preterm but everytime something felt wrong i was off to the doctors. #3 was at 35wks and there was no complications with that pregnancy and #4 was at 31wks..... i was classed as low risk and told none of the thing that you have mention above...so all i can say is..... it is a risk every time and you get blessed how it is ment to be, stay strong and thing will work out well which every way it goes

Alexandra - posted on 11/15/2009

Thank you for your stories, it is a hard decision and we strongly do want to have another child and at this point we are to leave it in God s hands.
Thank You once again.

Marcy - posted on 11/12/2009

Hi. With my first son I went into preterm labor at 27 weeks (dilated 2cm, 80%), with lots of medicine and bed rest and then a terbutaline pump I was able to keep him in until 36 weeks. The day they stopped my pump, my contractions got much worse and they admitted me. That was 9 weeks of bed rest and lots of worries. They couldn't tell me what my chance was with having another early baby. So with much thought and consideration we decided to have baby #2 a year after my son. After three years of trying for #1, we were amazed that it took just a few months for #2. I had problems with a cyst in the beginning and after about 12 weeks it started shrinking, all was looking good, at 19 weeks my contractions started and I got the 17P injections, at my regular cervical check at 24 weeks everything was still looking good measurement wise with my cervix, 2 weeks later I was in preterm labor again, dilated to a 3 and 70%. I was able to keep her in until 33 weeks. Ended up the cyst never went away and it had hemorrhaged and twisted around my fallopian tube. So there was a good chance I could have made it further along. But the NICU doctors said that my pain warranted the emergency c-section for a reason since her cord was wrapped around her neck 2x. I wish you lots of luck. I wouldn't trade my son and daughter for anything. The injections aren't that bad, I had a few that were more painful than others but I received 14 total, plus the two steroid injections for lung development. I was fortunate to have the same home health nurse for both my son and daughter. I will say that I was not prepared for the NICU stay and that was the rollercoaster ride that no one can prepare you for...my thoughts are with you and your husband in making this decision.

Gretchen - posted on 11/12/2009

Hello! My first child was 34.5 weeks and my second was 37.5 weeks. My OB-GYN told me there was always the possibility that I could have another preemie, but that they would watch me closer. With both kids my waters broke so the delivery couldn't be postponed.

When we crossed the 35 week mark with my second child, we all felt a little relieved and then it was just a matter of taking things easy. It helped that my first child was 5 pounds 13 ounces. I was lucky to have big babies. They thought the second was a little too big for his gestational age.

I wasn't stitched, just told to relax. A friend of mine was put on bed rest for the entire 3rd trimester but that was her first child.

Lindsay - posted on 11/12/2009

Hi! I am currently 18 weeks pregnant with baby #2. My daughter was born at 27 wks and they aren't sure exactly what caused that delivery. By the time I got to the hospital I was already 6cm and in active labor. I currently have my cervix monitored, by transvaginal ultrasound every 2 weeks, for shortening, funneling, or dilation. In addition to that monitoring I am receiving the 17P injections(which are not as bad as everyone makes them seem-pain wise). I just had shot number 2 yesterday. A visiting nurse comes to my house every week to administer it and do a maternal/fetal check (heartbeat, bloodpressure, etc...) They show a 40% success rate at preventing per-term labor.



If I do need a cervical cerclage, it has an 80-90% success rate. I felt those were pretty good odds. I have not yet been put on any restricted activity or bedrest (thank goodness), but my cervix has shortened significantly and I only have 0.3cm more until I will need a cerclage (most are placed if you shorten to 2.5cm or shorter) and bedrest.



I will say as much as I wanted another baby and knew it would be difficult, I really wasn't ready for the stress and worry. I have had 2 emergency visits to my OB over symptoms I wasn't familar with (1 was an actual concern, the second was me being paranoid). Every little twinge makes me worry more, and I try to take each day as it comes.



My husband and I felt good about our decision b/c of all the interventions and information available to us now. I hope you make a decision that is ight for you!