Were you on Magnesium Sulfate to stop contractions?

Liz - posted on 01/25/2009

I was on the mag for a couple months in the hospital on bedrest. I don't think that really bothered me. the terbutaline is what made my heart race, made me hot, and felt like my heart was going pound out of my chest. The first time I had one or both of the drug it made me vomit. I think my body got used to the drugs because I kept needing the terb more often to control the contractions. I thought the steroid shots were the worst. It stung and my ass was sore for days!

Julie - posted on 01/22/2009

When I was on it they did an EKG and an Ultrasound to make sure I was ok because I couldn't eat or talk and I could barely breath my chest hurt so badly! I went into preterm labor at 29 weeks and held on until I was just barely 36 weeks. I had to be induced then due to Preeclampsia which was turning in Eclampsia/Toxemia.

The Mag did work for me...along with trebutiline 4 to 5 times daily and complete bed rest.

Gail - posted on 01/16/2009

The magnesium made me feel awful, I couldn't move my legs or think straight. It was worth it as it bought me an extra week in my pregnancy. Every day I stayed pregnant was a blessing. I was so close to stroking that they put me on magnesium to bring my blood pressure down. I was on it again after I delivered, which kept me from seeing my baby. Funny thing is my doctor just put me on magnesium (much lower doses) as he said women who have been on birth control for any length of time can become magnesium deficient. I continued to have blood pressure issues after my pregnancy and it has lowered my blood pressure without having to take blood pressure medication.

Donna - posted on 01/09/2009

I was on it for 48 hours the first time. I came in at 30 & 5 dialated to a 3. It did stop the contractions and I was moved to a regular room for about 12 hours before the contractions started again. They started it again but it was to late, my little guy was ready to be born. I just remember my eyes were burning. I had them bring me a fan that I had blowing on my face the entire time. it did not affect me as bad as the stadal did. Now that stuff was bad.....

Aisha - posted on 01/09/2009

Quoting Kathryn:

Were you on Magnesium Sulfate to stop contractions?

I had heard about this before it happened to me so I knew it was bad. It's as hot as I'd imagine hell to be! Did it work for you? I became fully effaced and 3 cm in just an hour or two despite two rounds of that stuff. I guess it was just their time!

I went into the hospital at 23 weeks and was 100% effaced and 2cm. I was put on Mag and stayed on it for about 30 days. My water broke 10 days before I delivered, that's the only reason they took me off it. I think it worked. It did feel like hells fire and also gave me a sever headache for about a week. I could hardly open my eyes. I delivered my first son at 29 weeks thanks to the Mag. But I would not wish the experience to anyone. They say 90% of women react badly to it. But it seems to work.

I just had my second son. He was born only 16 days early. Full term! We never thought It would happen. I have an incompetent cervix and preterm labor on top of things. Lots and lots of doc visits, shots every week and a few other meds every 6 hours helped me. Not to mention the fact that I have the best doctor in the whole world!

I hope all went well after the delivery. My preemie is now 22 months and is doing great. Very small still but doing good.

Tia - posted on 01/03/2009

I was on it for a whole week because I was preclamptic. The 2 day I was on t the had to perform an emergency c-section. That was the worst I have ever felt. In ordeer forme to be able to see my son since he was a premmie was I had to be able to stand, go to the restroom and go back to my self with no help because I was on it. After he was off the tubes the nurses brought him to me . I do not remember much of that week due to being in so much pain and misery due to the mag. It is the Devil!!!

Becky - posted on 01/02/2009

I have to agree with a lot of the other responses though, now that the babies are here it is worth it. I just don't know if I will ever do it again. My Dr. said I have a high chance of getting everything all over again in a second pregnancy. I commend all the mom's who have to be on this drug. Did anyone else have to have a nurse with them in their room the entire time they were on it? I was in a dark room, no noise, no visitors( except my husband) with a nurse the entire time, the full 48 hours I was on it!

Becky - posted on 01/02/2009

I agree this is the worst drug. I had twins October 1st after 24 hours of magnesium sulfate because of Sever pre-eclampisa, Help syndrome and High blood pressure. I then was on it an additional 24 hours after birth due to blood pressures still being very High. Needless to say since the Twins were in the NICU because I delivered at 33 weeks, I didn't meet them until they were already 24 hours old. I am second guessing having anymore kids because of the experience I had on the Mag. The Mag ended up at a toxic level in my system after about 30 some hours, I couldn't see, speak, or squeeze my husband's hand. They lowered my dosage but still kept me on it to try and prevent me from having seizures or a stroke. IT is HORRIBLE STUFF!

Stacy - posted on 01/01/2009

I was warned early on that because I was having triplets that I would be given magnesium sulfate at some point. I was on full bedrest hooked up to a monitor and the night I really started having contractions I stopped eating for fear they would put me on it. They did as soon as I got to the hopital, my doctor gave me four rounds of it, it did nothing except make me ill. I went into labor at 22 weeks and by 33 weeks I think it was just time. By the fourth round of mag sulfate I was begging the nurses to just get the doctor in to do my C-section. I warn all my girlfriends of multiples about it.

Francine - posted on 12/30/2008

I also had mag sulfate for severe pre-eclampsia and HELLP (twice!). The first time, I was on it for 3 days. I was sweating up a storm, and I think I was hallucinating. After my second was born, I was literally counting the hours (24) until they would stop the meds and I would start to feel human again. I couldn't see straight, so I didn't even bother to wear my glasses in the hospital.

Leanne - posted on 12/29/2008

I had my son Braxton at 29 weeks duer to Hellp syndrome. He was 2 lbs 6oz and is now 2 1/2 and doing great, but I still can't get the memories of the mag sulfate out of my head. Horrible horrible stuff! But my little boy was worth it! :)

Arianne - posted on 11/20/2008

I only had to be on it 24 hours because of preeclampsia, but it was nasty enough. I don't think I've ever been so hot and thirsty and horrible feeling.

Emily - posted on 11/14/2008

It is yucky stuff. I was light sensitive too after taking it. My mom wanted to teach me how to knit and I couldn't even lift my arms.

Jane - posted on 11/13/2008

I hated that stuff. My daughter wanted out at 32 weeks, and they put me on that and then i had to take pro cardia to keep them stopped, untill 36 weeks, and 3 days later out she came!

Jodee - posted on 11/13/2008

I was on magnesium sulfate for 10 days. I started having contractions at 22 weeks so they stuck me on that and upside down in a bed. I went from every 3 min to every hour. My little girl went from a 3% chance of living at 22 wks to a 20% chance at 23wks. I do remember the burning and I also got some steroid shots that wasnt very fun either but I'd do it all over again for my little girl. I don't remember alot of the days before her birth. That could be due to the mag or the blood rushing to my head being up side down for 10 days :-) i dont really know. But now she is 3 and doing very well.

Ruth - posted on 11/06/2008

I, too, was a mag sulfate patient! I had pre-eclampsia and was on the mag sulfate for over 3 full days. I took the turn towards the HELLP syndrome (organs about to shut down - fun stuff! LOL), and they did an emergency c-section to get my daughter out (she was 32 wks). After the delivery, I was put on the mag sulfate again for the rest of that day and two more full days (something about my bp being too high). That was 8 years ago... the most I remember is just how stinkin' HOT I felt, and how every visitor I had was wrapped in several blankets - and this was at the end of July!

Emily - posted on 11/05/2008

Sorry to hear about the mag, that it about the worst stuff in the whole world. I was on it for over 48 hours, and they even doubled the dose on me for 24 of it. I couldn't control anything below my waist or even feel my legs after awhile. It may have done something to prolong the experience so that I could get the steroids in, but the doctors at Mayo told me that if the labor is really going to progress, there is nothing they can do to stop it or even pretend to. After the 48 hours, my water ended up breaking and then they had to stop the mag and start trying to speed me up instead. Your little ones are adorable. Congratulations!

Katie - posted on 11/04/2008

oh that crap sucks!! My water broke at 26 weeks and the monitors showed I was having contractions but did not feel them. So I was on the mag sulfate for 72 hours - even spent my Golden B-day on it in the hospital! I can't remember my bday. Those 3 days were a blurr, literally! I couldn't see anything and couldn't hold anything because I had no control of my muscles! Finally I was able to stop the meds and spent another week before the twins came at 28 weeks. I was given terbutalane (sp?) to stop my hard contractions the night before the babies came and that made me ill too!! But didn't work that time... they wanted out!

Christine - posted on 10/28/2008

Mag sulfate is probably the worst drug I have ever had to take.. but It did stop my preterm labor once for my 25 weeker, and 2x for my 32 weeker (she wanted to come at 23 weeks, then again at 26 weeks).