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Conference moira::parenting_v3

Title:Parenting
Notice:READ 1.27 BEFORE WRITING
Moderator:CSC32::DUBOIS
Created:Wed May 30 1990
Last Modified:Tue May 27 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1364
Total number of notes:23848

20.0. "Pre-term Labor" by TCC::HEFFEL (Cogito ergo spud - I think therefore I yam.) Mon Jun 18 1990 13:33

	This note originally appeared in the V2 of Parenting as note 125.*.  
	
	Since the author of the note is frequently still contacted by 
women who are experiencing (or suspect that they are experiencing) pre-term 
labor, she asked that this note by moved to this volume of Parenting.
	
Tracey,
Parenting co-mod


================================================================================
Note 125.0                       Pre-Term Labor                       68 replies
USIV03::NEWELL "Does the noise in my head bother u?"  49 lines  26-JUN-1987 18:16
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    On June 1st, at 24 weeks, I went into pre-term labor.  Contractions
    were very regular, two minutes apart and painless.  I was on a business
    trip, in my hotel room and the time was around midnight.  Since
    there was absolutely no pain involved (just rythmatic tightening of
    the uterus) I didn't think I was really in labor.  I went to sleep with
    no problem that night and made arrangements the next day to get
    home and see my doctor.  I detectect no other contactions after
    that first night so I wasn't too concerned.
    
    My appointment was on the 4th but because of an emergency situation
    my doctor was not available.  The nurse practitioner saw me and
    looked quite concerned.  I saw the doctor the next day and she
    immediatly put me in the hospital.
    
    I had effaced to 80% and was dialated to 1cm and she wanted to do
    a Cerclage (to close the cervix).  After a sonagram was done it
    was determined the baby was too large and in the wrong position
    (breech) to safely do the surgery.  Had the baby (Michael) kicked at
    the time the surgery was being done there was a good chance the
    'bag of waters' would have ruptured.  The procedure, she said was not
    worth the risk.
    
    So now I am home (with my Rainbow and modem) for the next ten weeks,
    on medication (Terbutaline 2.5) 'round the clock and am only allowed
    bathroom privileges.  The doctor comes to my house once a week and
    does an internal exam every other week.  I am not allowed to sit
    up or lay on my back.
    
    Yesterday I was hooked up to a Term Guard, a home monitoring system
    that I use twice a day (or as needed) to monitor any contractions
    I might be having.  My first self monitor showed I was having
    contractions every 4.5 minutes apart so my medication was upped
    to every 2 hours.  
    
    Why am I telling you all this???...
    Because I'm scared,  I'm depressed, and I need to talk to anyone
    who may have had to deal with this situation.  How did you deal
    with fear, the medication, the long days and longer nights?
    Anyone have any ideas why this happens?  What are the chances for
    a healthy baby?  etc, etc, ect.
    
    Of course I have already asked my doctor all of these questions 
    plus more but I find that doctors tend to hold back certain info 
    for various reasons.  And she is no exception.
    
    Any comments, advise, past experiences would be most welcome...
    Thanks,
    Jodi (and Michael, due date Sept. 20th)
    

T.RTitleUserPersonal
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20.1CSC32::JOHNSGod is real, unless declared integerFri Jun 26 1987 22:326
    Hang in there, Jodi.  I haven't been there, but I'm with you.
    
             big hug,
    
                     Carol

20.2Some things to doWATNEY::RYERJane Ryer, Colorado Springs TBUMon Jun 29 1987 15:4234
Hang in there - we're all pulling for you!

Some suggestions on how to pass the time:

1. Do you do any sort of needlework, like counted cross-stitch, crewel
	embroidery, or smocking?  If so, see if you can work out a "legal"
	position to lie that lets you use your hands to sew.  I had
	a friend who had surgery on a pinched nerve who was confined
	to bed for several weeks, and it's amazing how much cross-stiching
	she got done in that time.

2. Write a "letter" to your unborn child, expressing how you feel about
	having him and what your hopes and dreams for him are.

3. Are you a crossword puzzle fan?  Get your husband to buy you a book
	of really hard ones.

4. Go ahead and address and stamp the envelopes for your baby announcements.

5. Write letters to all your out-of-town friends - you may not have time
	to do it for a while after the baby is born.

6. (This is sort of far-fetched, but if you're really desparate for
	interesting things to do . . . )  Start making out your Christmas
	gift list, and look through catalogs (Sears, Penney's, L.L. Bean, etc.)
	to find appropriate gifts for each person.  You don't have to place
	the orders until fall, but this might save you some time then, when
	the baby will be here and you won't have a lot of time to spend
	searching for the "perfect" gift for each person.

Hope some of these suggestions help you pass the time.

Jane

20.3Success StoriesCANVAS::SAUTAMon Jun 29 1987 17:1831
    Hi Jodi,
    
    I have one friend who went through this several years ago with her
    first.  She went into labor and delivered her baby 8 weeks early
    since her labor was too advanced to be stopped by the time she realized
    she actually was in labor.  The baby was in intensive care for a week, 
    and is now an extremely attractive and big 4 year old.  She had the 
    same problem with her second and he was born 4 weeks early, even with 
    the cerclage and medication.  He didn't spend any time in intensive
    care and was just a little smaller than your average neonate.
    
    Another good friend, who just had her baby a week ago, had a condition
    known as placenta previa.  After a scary bleeding episode (in a
    grocery store!), she was put on the same medication as you have
    and confined to a left-sided prone position for the remainder of
    her pregnancy (6 weeks).  Her baby was born 1 week early after she
    had been taken off the medication the previous week.  Again, her
    baby is just fine, cute as a button.
    
    I asked both friends what they would recommend to pass the time
    and they came up with pretty much the same suggestions as the previous
    note.  They also added that it helped to have visitors and a couple
    of friends that they could call whenever they felt
    chatty/depressed/lonely. If it would help to talk to one of these
    women, send me mail and I'll send along names and phone numbers. 
                                                                   
    Take care of yourself, we'll be thinking of you.
    
    Lynne
    

20.4another well wisherPATOIS::RODONMon Jun 29 1987 17:338
    Hi Jodi,
    
    I don't have any experience with what you are going through but
    I am rooting for you!!
    
    					Lynn
    

20.5Hang in there!SCENIC::JANEBTue Jun 30 1987 12:4822
    My husbands sort-of-cousin, Shirley, was in bed like you are (no
    sitting up, etc.) with the same kind of condition, for MOST of her
    first pregnancy.  Her son, Sean, is now 15 years old.  Later she
    had another boy, also a healthy big kid now.
    
    Shirley did alot of needlework, and had time to order kits from
    catalogs, get them, and complete them.  Since you have access to
    a phone, you could order things that would arrive soon, and have
    the fun of getting lots of packages and mail!
    
    Ordering Christmas presents is a great idea - as long as your credit
    cards can take all this!
    
    Use this file (and other notes files) all you can.  It's been a
    little slow here lately, maybe you can throw out some very
    controversial topics and lie back and watch the sparks fly!
    
    Best wishes,
    
    
    Jane B

20.6Update...USIV03::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Tue Jun 30 1987 14:2726
    I want to thank everyone so far who has wished me well and given
    me ideas for the long road ahead.  Unfortunately it may not be as
    long as everyone had hoped.  Last Friday/Saturday I started to contract
    again and ended up in the hospital.  By the time I got to the hospital
    things had pretty much calmed down and no real damage was done but
    the doctor tripled my medication and sent me home saying the next
    time it happened, I would spend the remainder of my pregnancy in
    the hospital.
    
    Well, early this morning (starting at 2am PST) I started to contract
    so hard that it woke me up.  I put on my home monitor and am just
    waiting  'til I write this note before I call in for the results.
    It doesn't look like the medication is doing a whole lot of good
    although I haven't maxed out the allowable dosage yet.  If I go
    into the hospital I will get an IV drip 'round the clock. 
                                                     
    If you don't hear from me in the next couple of days, you know the
    results weren't good.
    
    Thank you, Carol, Jane R., Lynne S., Lynn R. and Jane B. for all
    your thoughts!
    
    Jodi
                                             
    

20.7a success storyCHOVAX::GILSONTue Jun 30 1987 14:5812
    Hi Jodi,
    
    My thoughts and prayers are with you.  Even if you end up in the
    hospital for the remainder of your pregnancy you can still have
    a fine, healthy baby.  My sister-in-law went through a similar
    experience with her son.  From week 18 to 27 she was at home in
    bed and then went to the hospital for another month.  Chris was
    born at week 31, small but fine.  We are all pulling for both of
    you.
    
                   Peg

20.8hang in thereWEBSTR::RANDALLI'm no ladyTue Jun 30 1987 16:3332
    Hi Jodi -- 
    
    I hope they bring your Rainbow to the hospital so you can catch
    up with all your well-wishers.
    
    My sister-in-law, too, went through most of her second pregnancy
    fighting the same problem you are having. She was rushed to the
    hospital at least three times that I can recall (twice with her
    4-year-old daughter in tow).  They were successful in a surgical
    procedure that essentially stapled the cervix shut, but toward the end
    the contractions were so strong they ripped the staple loose.
    
    The baby was born some early but essentially happy, and despite
    the doctor's concers, my sister-in-law doesn't appear to have any
    permanent complications from the medication. 
    
    One thing my sister-in-law did to fill the hours was play a huge game
    of remodeling the house.  She got friends to bring her house-decorating
    magazines, books from the library, and such, and spent a lot of time
    fantasizing about the ideal house, or how she could remodel the kitchen
    if she had all the money in the world.  She never had any serious
    intention of doing anything about it, but it was fun for her. You might
    be able to do the same thing with fashion (what would you wear if YOU
    were the Princess of Wales?) or gardening, or computers (the perfect,
    ultimate, information center, with enough printers?), or a stable of
    racing horses (anybody can buy Alysheba in their mind, right?) or most
    anything that intrigues you. 
    
    My prayers are with you.
    
    --bonnie

20.10All is well (for now) on the Western frontUSIV03::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Wed Jul 01 1987 21:1260
    Well, I'm still at home after many anxious moments and lots of
    monitoring.  For the time being it looks like the answer to controlling
    the contractions is to drink lots and lots of water.  As insignificant
    as that sounds, dehydration plays a big part in beginnibg labor.
    Most of my problems seem to show up in the early morning hours
    following several hours without fluids. 
                                            
    When I have monitored and the strip shows more than four contractions
    in an hour (considered serious) the nurse tells me to drink four
    glasses of water, wait 20 minutes, empty my bladder and re-monitor.
    This process seems to reduce the contractions to 1 or 2 per hour.
    I have been averageing 11-13 contractions per hour when I dehydrate.
    
    I might add that yesterdays scare was magnified by the fact that
    during last Saturdays hospital stay I was given Macrodantin (an
    anti-biotic) to help control a minor urinary tract infection.  I
    am hyper sensitive to anti-biotics and by yesterday I was feeling
    the effects.  I was tired from being up all night with contractions
    and had severe stomach and bowel disturbances from the Macrodantin.
    The doctor discontinued the Macrodantin and I feel years younger
    already! :^)
    
    I think the question that haunts me the most these days is the viability
    of little Michael.  I have read (sometimes I think I read too much)
    that approximately 1 out of 50 miscarriages (i.e. pre-term labor)
    in the last half of pregnancy are caused by a problem with the fetus.
    If that's the case, should I let the doctors continue to prescribe
    labor inhibiting medication?  Is it setting us up for a lot of grief
    later on?  I had an Amnio at 17 weeks and have had two very normal
    ultrasounds and the doctor assures me everything looks fine but
    she also added that no test is totally accurate so there is always
    a risk.  The only reason I keep dwelling on this fear is because
    I (and the doctor) don't know why I continue to labor.  Dehydration
    may be the only reason, time will tell.  Whew! it sure helped to get 
    that off my chest! 
    
    When you wonderful NOTERS tell me that you or someone you know has 
    gone through the same experience, what does that mean?  Does it
    mean that you were almost fully effaced or you kept contracting
    or that you had to spend weeks on end in bed?  I'm just curios how
    common my particular situation really is.  I don't mean to make
    anyones shared stories insignificant in any way they have ALL helped
    me immensely!!!
    
    For the time being (until I can convince myself to try needlecraft)
    I have been filling the empty hours with reading, learning Japanese,
    catching up on bills and much past due expense vouchers (yuk!) and
    eating.  I like the ideas about catalogue shopping and am collecting
    catalogues now.  Actual 'pen in hand' writing is a little difficult
    most of the time because the Terbutalines major side effects are
    shaky hands and rapid heart/pulse rate.   
    
    Well, I've rambled on long enough for one day.  Keep those NOTES
    coming, they really have helped.  And thank you also to the people
    who have sent me personal VAX mail.  You're all great!
            
    Jodi (and Michael)
    Irvine, California
    

20.11PRE-TERM LABOROASS::IDATTAGUPTAWed Jul 01 1987 21:3357

	Hi Jodi,
		I goods to hear that you are back at home and that the
	problem is still under control.

		I read your note the other day and know exactly how you 
	feel because I too had a similar experience recently though not as
	complex as yours. Trust and have faith in GOD and everything will be 
	fine.
		I was at home the day after Christmas last year and 
	was taking calls from the house to help out when I started
	having the contractions.  Thinking it to be something I ate 
	and not having had contractions ever before (this is my first
	and the only one) I let it ride until late at night at 11.40 p.m.
	I would take it no more. So we called the Doctor and was asked to 
	check in immediately and from then on it was a nightmare for a
	a couple of weeks until we adjusted to the situation. 

		I have a wonderful husband who was extremely supportive,
	and who hid his own fears and anxiety about the situation. After 
	being diagnosed as being in pre-term labor I was ordered complete 
	bed rest like you and it was awful at first, I too felt depressed
	and the only thing that kept me going was the faith and belief
	that my baby would be fine and healthy.

		The folks at work were great, I would talk with them often
	(they were as concerned and shocked as I was as my pregnancy 
	was moving along just fine ... the docs still have no explanation
	for this ). Anyway I was in bed for 4 1/2 months and had medication
	around the clock BUT  IT WAS WORTH EVERY MINUTE OF THE PAIN BECAUSE
	TODAY I HAVE A BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY, HAPPY MAMA'S BOY NAMED RAVI
	DATTAGUPTA, BORN 9TH MARCH 1987 WEIGHING 6lbs AND 8 ozs AND TODAY
	WEIGHS 13lbs. 
		I do not see any of the side effects of the stuff I took
	(at least not yet) he was born with a ton of hair on his head, 
	he has been very, very alert from the first day, at less than 3
	month's he started cooing and blowing bubbles ! If you talk to him
	he answers back and you could 'talk' to him constantly in fact he
	wants somebody around him every waking moment, he has also started
	responding to his name and I could go on and on .....
		I have long since forgotten the pain and discomfort I went thru 
	and you will too in time. I know it hard for you not to worry and its
	hard to pass time just being in bed. I passed the time talking to
	my friends and reading, knitting, working on the crossword daily and
	watching Perry Mason without fail every day. My husband would come
	home for lunch every day so I had something to look forward to each
	day to break the monotony, also my neighbors would drop by and we
	would sit and gossip (a great way to pass time )
		I hope this note helps in some way , if you would like to 
	talk sometimes give me a call at DTN 435-5473 or sent me mail.
		
		Keep the faith,


		Indra Dattagupta

20.12answer to your questionDEBIT::RANDALLI'm no ladyThu Jul 02 1987 13:1825
    Hi Jodi -- 
    
    In answer to your question, my sister-in-law was almost completely
    effaced at about the fifth month, as I recall, and was starting
    to dilate. She spent most of four months in bed taking medication
    against the contractions.  She had to have antibiotics several times.
    
    I can understand your fear about something being wrong with the baby.
    But while it may be true that 1 out of 50 such babies have a problem,
    that means that 49 out of 50 babies involved in pre-term labor are
    normal. 

    My sister-in-law (Lynn, so I don't have to type so much later on!) said
    her doctor told her that they never find a cause for the majority of
    instances of pre-term labor.  He blamed Lynn's problems on the fact
    that her mother had taken DES when she was carrying Lynn.  He said that
    many DES women have small, abnormally shaped uteruses.  My doctor
    didn't think this was likely, but you might want to explore the
    possibility with your doctor. 
    
    I can answer your questions in more detail through MAIL if you would
    like. 
    
    --bonnie

20.13Week by WeekQUOKKA::SNYDERWherever you go, there you areThu Jul 02 1987 20:4030
    The evening before you entered the base note, I got a call
    from my brother in Boulder (I am in Colorado Springs) telling
    me that his S.O. (Barbara) had gone into pre-term labor that
    day, at 31 weeks.  We had been planning a visit to Boulder
    on Saturday and Marc was calling us to have us prepare our
    kids (6 and 4) for the visit since the four-year-old loves
    to jump all over Barbara.
    
    I showed her your note.  Her reaction (she is a maternity nurse)
    was suprise at the low dosage of the medication, suggesting
    that it probably wouldn't be long before it was increased.
    She said, however, that this is something she sees all the
    time, having been a maternity nurse for the last six years.
    
    Naturally, she was bummed out at it having happened to her,
    but mostly because of it being a drag to be confined to bed
    for so long.  She said, however, that in the vast majority
    of cases, it amounts to a major nuisance until birth but after
    that all is as if it had never happened.
    
    She did mention that there is a support group for women in
    pre-term labor.  It is called Week by Week.  She knows of the
    one in Denver but doesn't know if there are chapters elsewhere.
    She says that they are an excellent source of information.
    If you like, I can get the Denver address/telephone and post
    it here or mail it to you.
    
    Sid

20.14Best news I've heard yet!USIV03::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Thu Jul 02 1987 21:0041
    RE: .12
    
    Bonnie,
    
    Thanks for the details of Lynn's situation, sounds exactly like
    mine.  Was it during the hottest summer on record like mine will
    no doubt be?  :^)
    
    I also wanted to thank you for bringing to light the correct way
    to interpret the risk factor of 1 out of 50.  Nobody has ever accused
    me of being a math whiz but I am truly embarrassed to admit that
    I took it mean 50%!  I was in the doctors office waiting to be told
    I was experiencing pre-term labor when I read it.  I wasn't of sound
    mind, I'm sure.  Now that I think back on the wording in the book
    it was a little confusing as well.  It stated that approximately
    80% of all miscarriages in the first trimester where caused by an
    incompetent embryo and that 1 out 50 miscarriages in the last half
    of pregnancies were caused by fetus incompatibility.  So I can see
    now where I was confused.  By you interpreting it for me, (since
    I still didn't see my error while typing) my mind rests much easier.
    Thanks.
    
    ---------
    I had good monitor readings today which is especially good news
    since I managed to miss my 1am medication and woke up a half hour
    after my 4am meds.  The 'handy dandy' Radio Shack LCD Pill Box
    Countdown Timer I use to remind me to medicate accidently got reset
    to 0 and didn't go off.  Sleeping with it tucked under my pillow
    probably had something to do with it.  I would highly recommend
    this little gadget if you ever need 'round the clock medications.
    As the pamphlet says, it can also be used as a kitchen timer or
    parking meter reminder.  It's small (2"x3.5"x.5"), hold pills 
    (or coins), and somewhat attractive.  The cost is $14.95.   
                                                             
    Everyone have a good 4th of July.  I'll miss not being able to go
    see the fancy fireworks show this year but hopefully we will have
    them in September instead!!!
                           
    Jodi and Michael
    

20.15USIV03::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Thu Jul 02 1987 21:2523
    Sid...
    
    You must have posted your reply while I was working on mine
    (it takes a long time to type while laying on ones side). 
    
    Anyways, I wanted to let you know that I just finished making
    arrangements for my husband to attend a Pre-Term Labor and Delivery
    class at the hospital and during my conversation with the hospital
    nurse she mentioned a support group offered by the hospital for
    just my situation.  
    
    Our hospital, St. Joseph of Orange, is an excellent institution
    which you may remember as the hospital where the Frustaci 7 were
    born.  In fact I was there at the same time and delivered my 
    little girl (now 2) 12 hours before. The Frustaci story was so sad.
    
    Anyways, if I'm not happy with the hospital support group, I'll
    drop you a line. (tell Barbara that I am now on 5mg. every 3 hrs)
                     
    Thanks,
    Jodi
         

20.16Water,water,everywhere!USIV03::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Tue Jul 07 1987 04:5131
    I'm still home and very happy with the way the 'water treatment'
    has been going.  There must really be something to the dehydration
    theory. 
    
    Last Friday mornings monitor reading was pretty pitiful, so I drank
    lots of water and re-monitored.  While I was re-monitoring my doctor
    called and I told her about the mornings contractions (12).  She
    said she was getting ready to leave on a weeks vacation and with
    a score like that she wanted me in the hospital at least 'til she
    got back but she perferred I stay in for about 4 weeks.  I told
    her that the monitor company had suggested the 'water treatment'
    and it seemed to work when I used it.  I begged her to wait for
    my second monitor reading before she made her decision, which she
    did.  I had zero contractions the second time around!  Needless
    to say she agreed to let me stay home but said she would check in
    with me every two days while on vacation.  She told me the best
    Neonatologist in Orange County would be on call for me if anything
    happened during her absence.
    
    Of course the thought of being put in the hospital for 1-4 weeks
    (or more) is not very appealing in the least.  I would surely miss
    my 'noting' friends!  I think your support and well wishes are what
    have gotten me this far.  It would be so easy to give up and let
    the medical world take over.  An IV here, a bedpan there, no timer
    to set every three hours...
    
    Will keep you posted and as 'Bartlett and James' would say...
    "Thank you for your support."
    
    Jodi and baby-to-be, Michael  

20.17RABBIT::HABERkudos to working mothers of toddlersTue Jul 07 1987 19:274
    good luck jodi -- my thoughts are with you!
    
    sandy

20.18Increasing fluids at nightHUMAN::BURROWSSelma BurrowsSat Jul 11 1987 14:4110
        When I was pregnant and was having a hard time getting enough
        fluids I found that by putting an 8oz. glass in the bathroom
        and drinking a full glass every time I was in there (especially
        at night) improved the fluid balance. This was to supplement,
        not replace, a general increase in fluid intake. This might
        help you at night.
        
        SelmaB
        

20.19NEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Sat Jul 11 1987 22:1131
    RE: .18
    
    The way I am working it right now is as requested by the monitor
    company...I drink 1 quart of water before I monitor in the morning.
    2 quarts of water during the day. 1 quart of water before retiring
    at night and 1 8oz. glass of water with each pill I take thoughout
    the night/early morning hours.  This adds up to over a gallon of
    water a day.  And this is being done by an individual who hates
    water.  Southern Calif. water being what it is (yuck!) all I will
    drink is bottled water.  Actually I have pretty much gotten used
    to drinking the water, it's the two trips an hour to the bathroom
    that are getting a little old.  But since I'm not allowed out of
    bed  for any other reason, I guess you could look at it as the high-
    light of my day.  :^)
    
    
    I have been having some problems in the evening lately that can't
    be attributed to dehydration.   I suspect the doctor will up my
    medication soon.  Each time the medication is increased there is
    about a five day adjustment period.  I get headaches, nightsweats,
    increased pulse/heart rate and shaky hands and voice.  The shakiness
    comes and goes for the course of the medication but is at its worse
    the first five days.
    
    I'll keep you all posted.
    
    
    Jodi-
    
    Jodi-

20.20COOKIE::ZANEWarehouse DesignerTue Jul 14 1987 21:528
  So it's the 14th already!  What's new?  How are things going?
  
  
  						Terza
  
  

20.21Still hangin' in there...NEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Wed Jul 15 1987 02:4655
    RE:.20
    
    Well, thanks for asking...
    
    So far this week I have had exceptionally good monitor readings.
    I saw the nurse practioner last Friday as the doctor was still on
    vacation and all my (and Michaels) vitals were good.  Because of
    the medication my pulse is generally around 110-116 and the baby's
    heart rate is between 150 and 170.  I'm pretty used to the Terbuteline
    high and they say that the baby really doesn't suffer.  
    
    In fact I have been told that stress such as preterm labor, medication
    such as Terbuteline and breaking of the waters can/will excelerate
    the manufacturing of Surfactants which helps mature the lungs. 
    The most common cause of distress or death in preterm babies is
    Hyaline Membrane Disease which basically means the surfactant in
    the lung lining is deficient.  If it looks like labor is not going
    to be easily controlled, an amnio is done to see what the surfactant
    levels are and if they are sufficient labor will be allowed to 
    procede without further delay.  Hopefully I won't have to deal with
    that situation.  
    
    I feel real positive right now because of my good readings but the
    nurse did mention the doctor will probably make a decision in the
    next week or so about how to handle the next four to six weeks.
    Because a 24 week old fetus is not really considered viable it's
    pretty much a wait and see type situation.  But now that I am
    approaching 30 weeks (can you believe it?) the doctor would like
    to take more cautious measures.  At this point she would like to
    have Non-stress tests (NSTs) done at least twice a week.  That means
    I either get out of bed and go to the hospital or I just resign
    myself to a hospital bed for the next four weeks or so.  I'll know
    more this Thursday when I see the doctor.
    
    NSTs are done to monitor the effects of contractions on the baby.
    So far we have only been monitoring my contractions.  A healthy
    baby should react to a contraction by showing an increase in heart
    rate.  It's not a good sign if the heart beat stays the same or
    goes down during a contraction.  I suspect if Michael is anything
    like my first child, he is strong as an Ox.
    
    My first, a girl (Amber) was born 3.5 weeks early, fought every
    contraction with gusto and came into this world at 8.5lbs!  She
    just turned two and is still going strong.  I might add that she
    has been extremely understanding (insightful) and helpful during 
    this whole ordeal, as has my husband.  Amber is, I believe very 
    mature for someone who just past their second birthday.  I consider
    myself very lucky.
    
    Well that should do it for now, hope you enjoyed your OB lessons
    and didn't get too bored while I rambled on.  Had my hairdresser
    come to the house today and I feel especially good!

    Jodi (please note my new node name NEWPRT::Newell)

20.22How are you?GIGI::TRACYMon Jul 20 1987 15:3427
    Jodi--
    
    I just read this whole note since you first had a problem.  You
    must be going crazy by now, but it sounds like everything will be
    fine.  It also sounds like your family is wonderfully supportive.
    
    I want to second the suggestion made in an early response to keep
    a diary during this period.  Even if you start it now, I think you
    and Michael will really treasure it later on.  I started when I
    was pregnant (a normal pregnancy) and wrote it in the form of letters
    addressed, at that point, to "Baby."  It turned out that my daughter
    had to stay in the hospital for a while and I continued the diary
    through that period.  It helped me to feel close to her when I couldn't
    be and I've enjoyed going back to it sometimes.  I also suspect
    that sometime in the future when she's driving me crazy, it will
    help put things in perspective.  And, finally, I think it will be
    a wonderful present for her someday.  If writing is too hard, keep
    it online.  Then you print out a hard copy later.
    
    Also, you could always update us the Iran-contra hearings!
    
    Anyway, it's been almost a week since you updated us.  Let us know
    how you're doing.
    
    Tracy Warren
    

20.23UPDATE TIMENEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Wed Jul 22 1987 19:1456
    Well, I'm still here and things look OK for the time being.  I say
    that with a bit of hesitation because just when things are looking
    good, I have another bad night (monitor reading).  I went seven
    days without any problems, then *boom* last Friday night I had problems
    for about eight hours.  Everything had settled down by morning but
    it sure is nerve-racking to have these things happen.  
    
    As .22 mentioned I do have a wonderfully supportive family (husband
    and child) but I would also like to mention my co-workers who have
    been just GREAT throughout this whole ordeal.  They offer to bring
    me lunch, they run errands for me, make book selections for me and
    basically take care of my needs.  Even my boss who is not married
    and has no kids, has taken time out of his busy schedule to send
    cards and phone me.  If you knew him you'd understand my shock!
    
    Monday was my birthday and I have to admit it was probably one of
    the nicest celebrations I've ever had.  A group of co-workers came
    by with lunch, flowers, cards and (my favorite) Baskin-Robins Peanut
    Butter and Chocolate ice cream.  I was in heaven!
    
    After my last short hospital visit the doctor advised me to keep
    my visitors to a minimum so I really hadn't seen too many of my
    office mates for a while.  They complain when they can't bring me
    lunch and visit but rules is rules.  After all the excitement of
    Monday and a little left over on Tuesday, I started having trouble
    again last night so I will continue to take the doctors advice and
    go back to reading and noting.
    
    I don't watch any TV (well maybe a little Oprah or Donahue) so I
    you'll have to get your Iran-Contra updates somewhere else. I have
    read ten novels and about fifteen Reader's Digest cover to cover.
    And I follow about twenty NOTE conferences.  And of course I eat...
    alot.  
    
    Surprisingly I haven't gained much weight.  Just 22 pounds at 31
    weeks.  Not too bad considering I don't get any exercise.  I suspect
    the side effects of the medication help keep my metabolism going
    at break-neck speed and burn more calories than usual.  Hum, maybe
    I'll continue to take it AFTER the baby. :^)
    
    I want to apologize to those who have sent me personal mail and have
    not received a personal reply. When I switched to my new node (NEWPoRT)
    I lost my VAXmail priviledges and am now struggling to learn ALL-IN-1.
    I have about 7,000 blocks of stuff I need to transfer from my old
    account and I have to learn a whole new mail/editing system as well.
    I'm a die-hard VAXmail fan and I don't like this new system at all!
    I hear we will be losing $-sign prompt next, so bye-bye NOTES.
    Luckily I have some friends with some pull so I probably won't lose
    notes for awhile.    
    
    I'm going to sign off for now but I'll try to update a little more 
    often.  Next time I'll talk a more about my home monitor system.
    
    Bye, bye...
    Jodi + Michael    

20.24Don't need $ ?NISYSE::STPIERREThu Jul 23 1987 17:549
    Just wanted to let you know....
    
    While I was in MKO, I had All-in-one, and did not have the $ prompt.
    However, I was still able to acces all the same file as if I had
    the $.  i.e. VTX, Notes, DTR etc.  So, don't panic yet, you probably
    will still be able to use notes.
    
    Debbie

20.25Home MonitoringNEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Thu Jul 30 1987 23:1687
    Sorry it has taken me so long to update...been busy, busy, busy!
    
    I saw the doctor today and everything looks just fine.  She wants
    me to have an ultrasound done, I suppose to check on position, confirm
    due date and do cervical studies.  I am also scheduled to have weekly
    NST's (non-stress tests) at the hospital and...I am doing so well
    that I'm allowed to see her at the office every week from now on.
    What a thrill to be able to get out of the house twice a week!!!
    
    This has been a very exciting week.  Early tuesday morning the monitor
    company called and asked if I would mind doing an interview with the 
    Orange County Register.  The newspaper wanted to do an article on home 
    monitoring.  They asked the monitor company, Tokos if they could talk 
    to one of their patients and I was the patient they chose.  Anyway,
    I was interviewed and photographed and now we are just waiting for it 
    to be published.
    
    Last week Tokos asked if I would mind talking with a writer who
    is doing an article for Good Housekeeping concerning home monitoring.
    I haven't heard from him yet so we'll see.  And then...today while
    talking to my doctor, she asked if I would consider teaming up with
    her and an ex-newscaster turned writer to do a book on preterm labor,
    the physical and psychological effects of spending weeks on end
    in bed, etc., etc.  I am not a writer by any means but working with
    people in the that profession really excites me.  
    
    Last update I said I would talk a little about home monitoring so
    here we go...
    
    Tokos Medical Corp. is the company that offers the TERM GUARD system
    of home monitoring.  They have been in business for four years and
    have approx. 70 centers throughout the U.S. plus one center that
    just opened in Paris, France.  
    
    They told me that 1 out of 7 pregnant women were at risk for preterm
    labor and there are about 250,000 such cases per year.  In the last
    two years Tokos has monitored 10,000 women taking 80% to term. 
    The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
    
    The monitor itself consists of two parts, the sensor and the recorder.
    Twice a day (evening and morning for one hour) the sensor is placed on
    the abdomen just below the navel and to the right. It is secured with
    an elastic belt.  The sensor has a curly cord that connects to the
    recorder which is about the size of a walkman.  The recorder is
    connected to a charger which is plugged into an AC wall outlet.  The
    monitor is portable so you can walk around while you monitor if thats
    not a problem with your doctor. 
    
    Sometime after your morning monitor, your Tokos nurse will call for
    a reading.  You then place the end of the phone that you speak into
    directly onto the recorder and press a SEND button.  It takes about
    six minutes to send two hours worth of monitoring and another minute
    or two for the nurse to read the strip.  At that point the nurse
    will tell you how many contractions you had the previous night and
    that morning.  If the reading looks bad they will have you remonitor
    after you have had a couple of glasses of water.  If you think you
    are having problems lets say at 2am, you monitor for one hour and
    call in for a reading.  It's very handy and very reassuring to have
    this service available night and day and I'm sure saves a lot of
    un-necessary trips to the hospital.

    I've been extremely pleased with Tokos. Their nurses are all very
    supportive, positive and pleasant and are always there if you need 
    to talk.  They all have labor and delivey background.
    
    The cost of $75 a day may make some of you want to gag but when you 
    compare it to daily hospital rates or intensive care for a premature 
    baby, its nothing.  Any medical insurance that offers Durable Medical
    Equipment Coverage will pick up the cost (John Hancock does :^).
    
    I took the liberty of finding out what the Tokos phone number is
    in the Boston area in case someone you know is at risk.
    
    Tokos Boston (617) 535-7901
    Also here are a couple of other numbers that may come in handy:
    1-800-24-TOKOS (outside Calif.)
    1-800-25-TOKOS (inside Calif.)
    
    I hope this info helps someone, sometime in the future.
    
    I'm kind of running out of steam for today but if anyone would like
    me to list the warning signs of preterm labor as stated in the Tokos
    literature let me know and I would be happy to oblige.
    

    Jodi and Michael (age 32 weeks b.b.)

20.26Sure sounds exciting!!BAGELS::MEEGANTue Aug 04 1987 19:2110
    Hi Jodi, GREAT to hear everything if going well!  WHAT DO YOU MEAN
    YOUR NOT A WRITER!!  
    
    The notes you write in here are GREAT!! and very informative!  Maybe
    you should print out your files to show the writers!
    
    Just a suggestion.  Keep on smiling!!
    
    lam  

20.27NEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Tue Aug 04 1987 21:1316
    RE: .26
    
    Thanks for the encouragement!
    
    -----------------------------
    
    Tomorrow I go in for my first non-stress test.  
    The ultrasound follows about an hour later (just enough time to
    drink the half gallon of water required for the the test :^( ).
    
    I'll let you know how things go.
    
    Bye,
    Jodi and Michael 
    

20.28UpdateNEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Tue Aug 11 1987 00:5030
    The non-stress test went great. Michael is strong and responded
    perfectly during the test.
    
    The ultrasound showed that besides being strong, he is also big.
    At 33 weeks he sized up to a 35 week old fetus.  When I saw the
    doctor the next day she measured me (the uterus) at 34 weeks so
    we know for sure he is growing.
    
    The same thing happened with my first child.  She measured so big
    that the doctor said she would be 11 pounds at 40 weeks which 
    explains why I had her at 36.5 weeks!  8.5 pounds is a lot for a
    baby born almost a month early!
    
    The newspaper article finally came out but the writer took some
    journalistic license and misquoted me a couple of times.  Also the
    monitor itself is portable so she took that to mean that I too
    am allowed to move around.  She mentioned three times that I roamed
    around the house while I monitored...I wish!  The article itself
    was quite impressive (if you didn't know the truth).  It took up
    almost the entire front page and part of page 2 of the business 
    section including a picture of me laying in bed with the monitor 
    strapped to my fat belly.
   
    Well that's all for now.
    
    Only three more weeks before I'm taken off the medicine, can you
    believe it?
    
    Jodi-

20.29SSDEVO::HILLIGRASSWed Aug 12 1987 00:3116
    Hi Jodi,
    
    Gosh I got big tears in my eyes reading this whole note.  I don't
    read parenting much because I don't have kids *yet* but this note
    definately will keep my interest.  I'll be saying my prayers for
    you and Michael, keep up the positive attitude and let us know how
    it is going.  I'm sure there are people all over the world anxious
    for the day when you tell us that you are holding Michael in your
    arms!
    
    Sounds like you have a great doctor as well, that would make me real
    confident. 
                                                           
                                       - Sue
                                            

20.30NEWPRT::NEWELLDoes the noise in my head bother u?Wed Aug 12 1987 03:0924
    RE: .29
    
    Thanks Sue...I get big tears in my eyes every time I get a reply
    or personal mail message.  I have received mail from all over,
    including Valbonne, France!  It's amazing how many people read 
    notes and how many care.  Really amazing.
    
    ----------------------------------------------------------------
    
    Tomorrow I go in for my second NST and then I have to drop by the
    doctors office to pick up a bottle of glucose.  Because Michael
    is so big the doctor wants me to take a glucose tolerance test to
    rule out a form of diabetis that sometimes rears its ugly head in
    late pregnancy.  
    
    I've asked my doctor if I can spend the last few days of my medication
    doing some long overdue, much needed shopping.  She said she didn't
    see any problem with that.  Watch out charge cards!
    
    More later...
    Jodi and Michael
    
    

20.31Another Update...NEWPRT::NEWELLAug.31st, the beginning of the endThu Aug 20 1987 22:0759
    Well, not much change around here except for last Sunday when I
    had major 'boomers' (as the nurse practitioner calls them).  
    
    It was a typical Sunday, the one day a week when I get outside and 
    socialize with neighbors.  The day went quite well, I just chatted
    with neighbors and watched my little girl swim in her pool.  But
    about 5 p.m. after I went back into the house, I started feeling
    real achey.  I took a shower and went to bed.  
    
    I monitored as usual at 7:30 p.m. for one hour and during that time I
    realized that I was having real, honest to goodness labor *pains*.  I
    had to do the breathing exercises I had learned during my last pregnancy.
    Of course my OB had just left town for a week so I did everything
    in my power to relax and slow down the contractions. I called the
    monitor company and they told me my contractions were 3 minutes
    apart.  That was not very reassuring.  The doctor on call had me
    hydrate and remonitor.  The count went down significantly so he
    just said to rest, supplement my medication if neccesary and call
    if I had any more problems.  I didn't.  I think it had something
    to do with the 'harmonic convergence'.  :^)
    
    On August 31st I will be taken off the medication (see personal_name).
    Michael will most likely arrive the first week of September.  I
    can't believe it is getting so close the the 'big day'.  If anyone
    would have told me 11 weeks ago that time was going to go by so fast,
    I wouldn't have believed them (I think some tried).  I want to
    experience one 'normal' week before the baby arrives but I'll settle
    for two or three days.

    I had my Glucose Tolerance test done last week and it came out a
    little on the high side.  That is to be expected when you're on
    Terbuteline but just to be on the safe side the doctor wants me
    to take a 3 hour/fasting Glucose test at the hospital.  It's set
    up for next Wednesday after my NST.  
    
    All of my NSTs so far have been just fine.  I would like to add to the
    NST info I gave you a few weeks back.  The test, which is basically
    another kind of monitor device, monitors the babys' heart rate and
    the mothers' uterine activity. I had said in a previous note that it 
    shows how the baby's heart reacted after a contraction.  This is
    true but it also should show the babys' heart rate after each time he 
    moves.  The mother is given a hand held device to push each time there 
    is movement, giving the nurse a better idea what's going on. I feel 
    better now knowing you have all the details.
    
    I'm going to use another note to list the warning signs of preterm
    labor and who is at risk.
    
    See you in the next note...
    
    Jodi and Michael
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

20.32CSC32::JOHNSMy chocolate, all mine!Thu Aug 20 1987 22:545
    Sometimes, Jodi, I enter Parenting just to see how you are doing.
    Hang in there!  I am so excited for you!
    
                 Carol

20.33NEWPRT::NEWELLAug.31st, the beginning of the endThu Aug 20 1987 23:0394
    
    
    The following was taken with permission from a booklet called:

          * WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT PRETERM LABOR *
                 by Tokos Medical Corporation.
    
    WHO IS AT RISK for PRETERM BIRTH?...
    These conditions may be associated with an increased 
    likelihood of preterm labor.
      1. Previous preterm labor or delivery
      2. Preterm labor in current pregnancy
      3. Abnormally shaped uterus: DES daughter, uterine surgery
      4. Two or more second trimester abortions or miscarriages
      5. Incompetent cervix, cone biopsy, large fibroid
      6. Current pregnancy with twins, triplets, etc.
      7. Severe kidney and urinary tract infections
      8. Cervical dialation or effacement before 36 weeks
      9. Excessive uterine activity before 36 weeks
     10. Bleeding: placenta previa: too much amniotic fluid
     11. Ages less than 18 or greater than 35: unusual phyical 
         or mental stress.
    
    SIGNS and SYMPTOMS of PRETERM LABOR...
    
      1. Uterine Contractions: the tightening of the muscle within the
         uterus.  Using your fingertips to feel the uterus, you should
         be able to indent your uterus when it is relaxed.  During a
         contraction you can feel the uterus tighten and become hard.
         Contractions occur normally throughout pregnancy.  They are
         usually painless and can occur at any time.  Certain activities,
         such as changing your position or having a full bladder, may
         cause you to have a contraction.  The type of contraction you
         will have with preterm labor will also be painless, but there
         is often a pattern to the tightenings.  The uterus will feel
         hard over the entire surface and this tightening may occur
         every 15 minutes or closer.  Each contraction may last from
         20 seconds up to 1.5 to 2 minutes.
    
         **********************************
         *				  *
         *            REMEMBER:           *
         * Preterm labor contractions are *
         * often painless occuring every  *
         *   15 minutes or more often.    *
	 *				  *
         **********************************
      

    The following signs may also occur normally in your pregnancy,
    but if you feel these signs, you should check for contractions.
    
      2. MENSTRUAL-LIKE CRAMPS...these are felt low in the abdomen,
         just above the pubic bone.  The cramping may be rhythmic,
         feeling like waves or fluttering.  You may also feel constant
         cramping.

      3. LOWER, DULL BACKACHE...this backache is located mainly in the
         lower back and may radiate to the sides or the front. It may
         be rhythmic or constant, and often not relieved by change of
         position.
      
      4. PELVIC PRESSURE...you may feel pressure or a fullness in the
         pelvic area, in your back or your thighs.
      
      5. INTESTINAL CRAMPS...these may occur in the presence or absence
         of diarrhea.
      
      6. INCREASE or CHANGE in VAGINAL DISCHARGE...the amount may be
         more than that which is normal for you.  The consistency may
         change to mucousy or watery.  The color may become pink or
         brown-tinged.
      
      7. A GENERAL FEELING THAT SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT...even without
         a specific cause.
    
    WHAT IS NORMAL?...
      
      1. Contractions occuring 3 or less per hour
      2. Backache as your baby grows and causes your posture to change
      3. Pressure as your gowing baby presses on your pubic bone and
         your legs
      4. Pulling and stretching of muscles that may cause localized
         pain
    
    ----------------------------------
    |            REMEMBER:           |
    |  It is important to know what  |
    |  is normal for you.  Then you  |
    | will know how to identify what |
    |       is not normal.           |
    ----------------------------------

20.34On the way to the hospital!!!NEWPRT::NEWELLAug.31st, the beginning of the endFri Aug 28 1987 00:0919
    Well folks, looks like this is it...
    
    I just got back from the my weekly doctors appointment and things
    don't look so hot.  Seems I have toxemia.

    I'm on my way to the hospital (St. Joseph's in Orange, Calif.).
    
    The doctor is going to induce labor tonight so I suspect we will
    have a little baby by this evening or sometime tomorrow.
    
    I haven't been feeling all that well this week so I guess you could
    say I'm ready.  But just like I began this ordeal 12 weeks ago,
    I am also scared.  That's natural though.
    
    I'll let you know as soon as I get home how things went.
    
    
    Jodi and soon-to-be on the outside, Michael  :^)

20.35He's here...NEWPRT::NEWELLOn the outside looking in...Mon Aug 31 1987 20:4585
    ...and he's beautiful!
    
    ***************  A N N O U N C I N G  **************
    *                                                  *
    *        >->>>> Michael Taylor Newell <<<<-<       *
    *                                                  *
    *        Born:       August 28th 1987 (by request) *
    *        Time:       12:18 a.m.                    *
    *        Weight:     7 pounds, 11 ounces           *
    *        Length:     20 inches                     *
    *                                                  *
    ****************************************************    
    

    I arrived at the hospital last Thursday night around 7 p.m.
    Of course I hadn't packed yet (bad luck) so it took awhile to
    get my act together.  I also had to cancel a hair appointment
    I had set up for Saturday, wait for my husband to get home etc.
    
    At 8 p.m. the doctor (not my doctor, but her associate) broke
    the 'bag of waters' and said she would wait a couple of hours 
    to see if I was making any progress.  Ten minutes later I was 
    making progress!  
    
    Months ago my doctor asked when I was going to have this baby.
    I had successfully predicted the due date of our first child and
    she wanted to make sure I didn't set my (unofficial) due date to
    early.  In jest I told her Aug. 20th sounded good but she felt 
    that was a little too early so we agreed that Aug. 28th was a nice
    date.  Mind you this was all in fun,  I wasn't supposed to have
    Michael until late Sept.
    
    Anyways, when I realized that by 9 p.m. I was in pretty hard labor
    I reminded my doctors' associate that I wanted an Aug. 28th baby and
    she agreed to do her best to accomodate me.  Three and half hours
    after my water was broke Michael was ready to make his entrance.
    Being a half hour short of my projected due date I asked the doctor
    to take her time getting me to the delivery room.  At midnight I
    was wheeled into delivery.  I was very alert and aware of everything 
    around me (much different from my last birthing experience).
    
    At 12:15 a.m. we were ready to go.  
    
    Three months, three and half hours of labor and three pushes later 
    Michael Taylor Newell arrived! 
    
    Michael came out yellin' and screamin' and scored an 8 and a 9 on
    his Apgar.  About an hour later he started to show a little respiritory
    distress but it only lasted long enough to get our pediatrician out of 
    bed and down to the hospital.
    
    I went to recovery where the only distress I experienced was from
    the medication I had been put on for my toxemia.  I was having some
    nasty side-effects from the medication until I was taken off of
    it at 8 p.m. Friday night.  By Saturday morning I was feeling good
    enough to go home.  Michael was only 36 hours old when he left the
    hospital!  Pretty amazing.
    
    Now that we are home, I'm having a bit of trouble adjusting to the
    fact that I don't have to get up every three hours for medication
    (Michael has been sleeping 4-5 hours between feedings), I don't
    *have* to drink four quarts of water a day (unless I want to) and
    I can go out and get the mail myself without feeling guilty!
    
    Oh well, so much for my summer vacation. :^)
    
    I want to thank all of you once again for your tremendous support
    and well wishes when I was in such need.  It was a summer I shall
    not soon forget but all summers must end and luckily this one had
    a happy ending...
    
  
    
    Thank you,
    the Newell family
    
    
    P.S. if any of you are going to the next DECUS in Anaheim, CA, 
         drop by for a visit and meet Michael personally.

         Send mail (NEWPRT::Newell) or 
         give me a call at (714) 857-9048.
        
    

20.36congratsPUFFIN::OGRADYGeorge - ISWS, 262-8506Tue Sep 01 1987 13:206
    
    ...and good luck.
    
    GOG
    

20.37TLE::FAIMANNeil FaimanTue Sep 01 1987 14:005
    Congratulations!  and thanks for sharing the wonderful news with
    us.
    
    	-Neil

20.38congratsCHOVAX::GILSONTue Sep 01 1987 18:507
    HOORAY!  I'm very happy for your family.
    
    Any baby that weighs 7/11 was ready to be born and probably not
    truly due in late September.
    
    

20.39I'll second thatBOOTES::RODONTue Sep 01 1987 19:215
    I'll agree with that, he's a good size baby for being born that
    early!!!  Congratulations and enjoy your new son and your freedom!!!!!!
    
    					Lynn

20.40fantastic!KIM::KNIPPTue Sep 01 1987 19:376
      Congratulations and good luck.  Aren't children wonderful!!!!!!
    
    
    					Nancee
    

20.41Good for you !KANE::POTUCEKN.E._&lt;&gt;_&lt;&gt;_SkierWed Sep 02 1987 14:2319


H   H  OOOOO  OOOOO  RRRR   AAAAA  Y   Y  !  !  !  !
H   H  O   O  O   O  R   R  A   A   Y Y   !  !  !  !
HHHHH  O   O  O   O  RRRR   A   A    Y    !  !  !  !
H   H  O   O  O   O  R  R   AAAAA    Y    !  !  !  ! 
H   H  OOOOO  OOOOO  R   R  A   A    Y    !  !  !  !



                    FOR ALL THREE OF YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



JMP



20.42yippee!!RABBIT::HABERkudos to working mothers of toddlersWed Sep 02 1987 16:184
    mazel tov!!!! [that means congratulations]  keep us posted...
    
    sandy

20.43Make that LOTS of happies!!! :-)AIMHI::KRISTYThis brain intentionally left blank.Thu Sep 03 1987 00:135
    Geez, I go away for 5 days and look what happens!!!
    CONGRATULATIONS!!!!  That is *GREAT* news!!  Have a happy!!!
    
    						*** Kristy ***

20.44congratulationsRAINBO::SPRUNGFri Sep 04 1987 21:3810
Jodi,
A very big congratulations!  I do not have kids so I feel very lucky
that I was able to hear about this note in the parenting notes conference.
My wife is now selling the TOKOS nursing/monitoring service (in the Boston
area) that you mention.  You have enabled me to understand a little better
what my wife goes through emotionally in selling the service.  I can't
thank you enough for having the courage to share your experience and wish
you and Michael future health and happiness.
	Mitch Sprung

20.45Welcome to our world!SSDEVO::HILLIGRASSFri Sep 04 1987 22:3910
    What wonderful news for me to read on a friday afternoon!
    
    Congratulations to your whole family and good luck....it seems
    as though Michael is already 4 months old.  Print this notes
    file out and show Michael one day what a star he was before he
    was even born.
    
                              Hoping my dreams will come true, too!
                                             - Sue

20.46CongratsCSC32::JOHNSMy chocolate, all mine!Sat Sep 12 1987 20:445
    I've been wondering how you were; I just got back from vacation.
    Congratulations.  I am so glad to know that you are both doing fine.
    
              Carol

20.47Talk about empathy...EDSVAX::PONDFri Sep 18 1987 17:3820
Congratulations to both you and Michael!  I'm so delighted everything
    worked out so well.
    
    I've been following this note since you began it weeks ago.  I was
    a little reticent to contribute since I was about three weeks ahead
    of you (pregnancy wise) and things were going very well.
    
    Now that it's all over, however, I feel better about writing and
    offering my sincerest and most joyous congratulations.  I couldn't
    be happier for you and your family.
    
    BTW, our children share a birthday.  Elizabeth Lois Pond was also
    born Friday, Aug. 28, 1987.  She weighed in at 7 lbs. 2 ozs. and 
    was 19 3/4 inches in length.  Maybe it was the appropriate phase of
    the moon?
    
    Another 8/28 Mom,
    Lois
        

20.48Congrats to Lois!BOOTES::RODONMon Sep 21 1987 12:014
    Congratulations to you to Lois!  And  a little Hello to Elizabeth!
    
    					Lynn

20.49Book Recommendation...a *must* read!NEWPRT::NEWELLOn the outside looking in...Tue Sep 29 1987 15:0649
    RE: .47
    Congratulations to you and your family, Lois.  
    
    RE: Preterm Labor...
    For most of the weeks I was confined to bed I tried to get my hands
    on a book that the monitor company recommended.  It is available
    through the March of Dimes but they couldn't seem to get copies
    of it so after weeks and weeks of waiting and looking the MoD called
    to tell me they located a copy at a local Doubleday bookstore.
    
    Even though Michael was already three weeks old and my *ordeal*
    was over I felt I had to read this book, so I went to Doubleday and
    picked up their last copy of  *The Premature Labor Handbook*.
    Excellent book!  I highly recommend reading it if you are faced
    with long term confinement for preterm labor, know or need to take
    care of someone in this condition or just want to be informed.
    
    This book covers:
      * The medical aspects
      * The stresses of premature labor 
      * Relationships 
      * Help for the family 
      * Maximizing time and space
      * The hospital experience
      * Preterm delivery and the premature baby
      * Childbirth preparation and premature labor
      * Nutrition and exercise 
      * Embracing the challenge

    I wish I had been able to get my hands on this book during my 
    confinement.  It is well written, talks about things I thought 
    only *I* was experiencing and gives you new skills to deal 
    with the stresses of preterm labor (such as visualization).

    **************************************************************
                     THE PREMATURE LABOR HANDBOOK
           Successfully Sustaining Your High-Risk Pregnancy
       by Patricia Anne Robertson, M.D. & Peggy Henning Berlin,
    
                    Available from Doubleday books  
                    ISBN: 0-385-19923-6  or
                    ISBN: 0-385-19924-4 (paperback)
    **************************************************************

    Happy reading,
    Jodi-

    

20.50Progress ReportNEWPRT::NEWELLOn the outside looking in...Tue Sep 29 1987 15:2628
    Now that Michael is a month old and I have gained some of my 
    sanity and strength back, I thought I'd let you know how he's doing.

    He's got to be the most mellow kid in town.  I figure after three
    months on Terbutaline, he's ready for a rest.  When he's hungry
    he just starts moving his arms and legs, whirling them 'round and
    'round until he gets someones attention.  The only time he cries
    is when he has a gas bubble and that's easy to take care of.
    
    The only medical type problem we've had with him was jaundice. 
    He still looked pretty yellow at three weeks so the pediatrician 
    asked me to stop nursing him for 48 hours at which time I promptly 
    came down with a case of Mastitis (breast infection with 103.2 fever). 
    But that's another story... 

    His color is very good now, the gobs of brown hair he was born with
    is thinning out and his arms and skinny legs are getting chunky. He's
    a picture of health and oh, so good!
   
    At one month he hasn't crossed any major milestones besides opening
    his eyes more than once a day.  He's just a sleepy boy and I should
    take advantage of it while it lasts. :^)
    
    Take care and if anyone out there needs to talk about preterm labor
    any time in the future, please don't hesitate to write or call.
    
    Jodi-

20.51*** Season's Greetings ***NEWPRT::NEWELLJodi Newell, SWS Mktg, Irvine, CAWed Dec 23 1987 14:5421
    I wanted to take a moment to thank everyone again for all the support
    and well wishes you extended to me and my family during our very
    trying summer.  You helped make this a very special Christmas and
    I will be forever grateful.
    
    Michael is almost four months old (can you believe it?) and weighs
    16.5 pounds!  His brown hair is turning kinda red and I think his blue
    eyes may turn green (just in time for Christmas). :^)  I wish I
    could send a picture of him out to all of you, he's just beautiful!
    
    I'm back at work now and it feels great!  The only problem is I 
    haven't had a full nights sleep in seven months and it's starting
    to take its toll on me.  Maybe next year we can convince him to
    sleep more than five hours at a stretch.
    
    My wish for everyone is to have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Healthy
    Family and a Happy New Year.
    
    Jodi-
    

20.52Another StoryCLT::TAYLORMon Jan 25 1988 19:08276
  Last summer when Jodi was handling her preterm labor I checked out this
  topic every day hoping she would let us know how she was doing. I
  really looked forward to reading about her as I know lots of people
  did. 
  
  Jodi's information in this file proved to be invaluable to me in so
  many ways. First of all, I have a friend who is confined to bedrest for
  her entire pregnancy. (She had invitro done and is expecting twins in
  July - very risky.) So, I sent this topic to my friend hoping
  it would be an inspiration to her and that it would give her some ideas
  on how to pass the time while in bed. 
  
  Little did I know only a few days after I mailed this topic to my
  friend I would find myself in the hospital at 24 weeks pregnant
  fighting contractions. My friend received the notes file the day I went
  into the hospital. As I told my friend my situation from my hospital
  bed, she would tell me: "That's the medication Jodi took," or
  "Jodi had a urinary tract infection also." 
  
  Jodi's story was such a comfort to me during those first few weeks.
  Preterm labor is a lonely, scary situation. I found it is very
  difficult to get information on this topic when you need it most and I
  was glad to have this notes file. So, I have decided to tell my story
  too. My story is different enough from Jodi's to be worth telling, and
  just as Jodi helped me I'd like to help out the next person who might
  go through this. 
   

  So, here's my story (so far):
  
  At my 24 week visit I mentioned to my doctor that I thought my
  Braxton-Hicks contractions were occurring quite often. He examined my
  belly while I was having a contraction, and told me if I had more
  than 12 an hour, drink a glass of wine and relax. If they didn't stop,
  I should call him. While driving home, I timed the contractions. Sure
  enough, they were 5 minutes apart lasting 30-45 seconds. I got home and
  had a glass of wine. They seemed to subside. 
  
  The next morning they came back again. I called the doctor's office and
  they told me to come in. They put me on the monitor, and yes, I was
  having a contraction every 5 minutes. They tried to give me a
  non-stress test, but the baby was just too small. He kept moving away
  from the monitor. (See note .21 and .31 for an explanation of the
  non-stress test.) The doctor was concerned. She told me she was going to
  examine me, and if they couldn't stop the labor or if my water had
  broken, I would have to go to a Boston hospital having an Intensive
  Care Nursery. (Nashua Memorial hospital cannot handle a 2 pound
  preemie.) 
  
  The doctor examined me and told me I was 1 cm dilated, 0% effaced.
  The 1 cm dilation was on the external os, and the internal os was
  completely closed. She explained that 1 cm was perfectly normal for a
  second-time mother. Then she took 3 slides of vaginal fluid to
  determine if my water had broken. All negative, thank God. 
  
  She then sent me over to the hospital because they wanted to continue
  to monitor me and the baby for a while and couldn't have me use the
  only monitor they had in the office.  The hospital nurse took a blood
  sample (CBC) and a urine sample, and then gave me a shot of Terbutaline
  to stop the contractions. They found a urinary tract infection (UTI)
  which can irritate the uterus and cause contractions. They gave me an
  antibiotic (Ampicillin), a few pills of Terbutaline (2.5 mg), and sent
  me home. (By the way, I felt no symptoms of the UTI. I've had plenty of
  them in the past, so I know what they usually feel like.) 
      
  The next morning I noticed the contractions were back at 5 minutes
  apart. I called the doctor's office and the nurse told me it
  would take a day or two for the antibiotic to take affect. She told
  me to rest. That afternoon (Christmas Eve) the contractions got to 2
  minutes apart. I called the doctor and he sent me right to the
  hospital.
  
  The nurses were expecting me, and immediately put me in bed, put me on
  the monitor and gave me a shot of Terbutaline. They gave me 3 shots at
  20 minutes apart. The Terbutaline is awful. It made my heart beat very
  fast (I averaged 110), gave me the shakes, headaches and nasal
  congestion. The nurses watched me very carefully. They took my pulse
  and blood pressure constantly.  I watched the monitor constantly to
  make sure the baby's heartbeat didn't go above 170. He usually stayed
  at about 160-170. 

  The contractions stopped-but not for long. Soon I was having
  "break-through" contractions. It looked like I was Boston-bound. The
  doctor came in, examined me and found I was still only 1 cm
  dilated, 0% effaced. So, instead of sending me to Boston, they put me
  on an IV drip of Yutopar and told me I would be in the hospital for a
  few days. 
  
  It was a great Christmas, let me tell you! I had 13 people at my house
  for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, 10 of them were overnight guests.
  I had relatives from Arizona, New Orleans, North Carolina and
  Massachusetts all at my house! I conducted the meals and festivities
  from my hospital bed. Everyone was great. Apparently they all chipped
  in, and almost all the food was served. When they couldn't find
  something, they improvised. In some ways it was kind of humorous. Then,
  on December 26-29th all my relatives (18) went to an inn in Vermont. (I
  organized that trip last summer.) My husband, my son, and my mother
  stayed behind. 
  
  Anyway, I did fairly well on the Yutopar. They took me off it at
  4pm Christmas Day and said I had to continue to do well for
  48 hours after being off the Yutopar before they would let me go
  home. 
  
  That evening my family came by to bring me presents and to let me see
  my son (2 years old). They stayed for only 15 minutes, but about an
  hour after they left the contractions were 5 minutes apart. The whole
  scenario started again. I got the 3 shots of Terbutaline and the threat
  about going to Boston. But, once again an exam revealed that I was
  still only 1 cm dilated. The medical staff was baffled. I stayed in
  Nashua. 

  By this time the antibiotic had plenty of time to clear up the
  infection. They rechecked me and found that the infection was gone, so
  now my diagnosis was "Irritable uterus" - in other words, like Jodi,
  there was no definite explanation for the contractions. 
  
  I have not been diagnosed as having preterm labor because there has
  been no change to my cervix. Usually the contractions only need to be
  10-15 minutes apart (or less) on a regular basis to change the cervix.
  So, I may just have very frequent and uncomfortable Braxton-Hicks
  contractions. The difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and
  those of premature labor is that the Braxton-Hicks do not alter the
  cervix. I am at risk of preterm labor however because of a previous
  preterm delivery (at 35 1/2 weeks). It's so nerve wracking because
  there is so much they just don't know. (I have since learned that
  approximately 6-8% of all pregnant women develop the condition of
  preterm or premature labor. In most cases, a specific cause cannot be
  found.) 

  I stayed in the hospital 2 more days with the same scenario both days.
  Since I still didn't dilate, my doctor decided to let me go home. They
  told me to expect to be in and out of the hospital for the remainder of
  the pregnancy. I was ordered to be on complete bedrest, and had to take
  the Terbutaline (2.5 mg) every 4 hours, or sooner if needed. ( I even
  had to set an alarm at night.) The most important thing about taking
  the Terbutaline was to take my pulse first. If my pulse was over 120, I
  couldn't take a pill. I'll type up my instructions and put them in this
  notes file. 
  
  Christmas week was very nerve-wracking. Almost every evening the
  contractions would start. I'd take an extra pill, then have a glass of
  wine. Several evenings I would think about calling the doctor. New
  Year's Eve was the worst. The contractions got bad but I just didn't
  want to go through all the hassle of finding someone to take care of my
  son, go to the hospital and then find that I was only 1 cm dilated
  again. Finally they stopped, and I went to sleep.
  
  I called the company that gave Jodi her home monitor (Tokos, see note
  125.25). They were very nice, supportive and informative. They told me
  that the service had to be prescribed by my doctor and that I should
  ask him about it. I called his office. He was out so I talked to the
  nurse. She was a labor-delivery nurse for 9 years. She convinced me
  that I didn't need a home monitor because I could feel my contractions very well.
  She felt it was best for me to listen to my body and if anything
  changed I could call any time day or night. I wish I had something that
  could tell me if the contractions were doing anything! 

  The Monday after the holidays I went back to the doctor again for a
  checkup. Still no dilation. So, he told me I could go back to work and
  resume my normal activities. I was to continue to take the Terbutaline. 
  
  So, I went into the office. I couldn't concentrate on work and count
  contractions at the same time. I was a nervous wreck constantly toying
  with the idea of laying down on my office floor. I finally left early
  and went home to bed. The next day I didn't get into the office till
  late after waiting for the contractions to subside. Then after lunch
  when the contractions got to 5 minutes apart again I went to Health
  Services to lie down. 
  
  Everyone I talked to was shocked that I went back to work. By this time
  I had lots of information on preterm labor. I was in touch with a local
  support group, my nurse at the hospital gave me her home phone number
  (she had been through this herself), I had the book that Jodi
  recommended in note .49, and was communicating over the net with Jodi.
  I was so scared and confused because every story I heard was how the
  woman was to do NOTHING but bedrest, and here I was going to work! 
  
  I didn't know what to do. I called the nurse that I had at the
  hospital. She felt that I should call my doctor and tell him about
  my 2 days at work. I called him and told him that I had contractions
  in the office. He took me out of work immediately.
  
  It's now been over 4 weeks since this all started. I can't believe how
  time has flown by. I'm delighted that I've made it this far. I still
  get the contractions all the time. Mine usually get bad in the evening,
  after I've eaten, when I have a full bladder, or after **any**
  activity. I tried the water treatment that worked for Jodi, and it
  doesn't work for me. "Every pregnancy is different." The only thing
  that really works for me is bedrest.
  
  I went to the doctor's yesterday and got a great report. I'm now at 28
  weeks. I got the results back from the O'Sullivan (sugar) test. My
  count was only 126, which is excellent. I was a bit worried because
  I've learned that the Terbutaline can increase the sugar count and
  possibly cause maternal diabetes. 

  The baby seems to be doing well also. As usual, the doctor is
  amazed at how big he is. He guesses that the baby is about 3 pounds
  right now. 

  My doctor will be taking me off the medication in mid March (36 weeks).
  He says I may deliver immediately, or I may go on and on and reach my
  due date (mid April). He says there is no way of telling what will
  happen. 
  
  I told the doctor how I don't think the medication works for me and the
  only thing that will stop them is for me to lie on my side, alone, in
  my own bed. Drinking wine works, but I'm not comfortable with that
  idea. Even lying on the couch won't stop the contractions. If the TV is
  on, or if anyone is in the room with me, the contractions continue. 

  He explained to me that the medication will not stop the contractions
  entirely, but will help prevent the contractions from making me dilate.
  I asked him what would happen if I ignored the contractions since so
  far they haven't done anything. (I'd LOVE to go out for a while, but
  I'm afraid to be too far from my bed!) He said that we will never be
  sure, but most likely if I ignored the contractions, I would go into
  true labor. 
  
  I also need to keep the contractions under control to prevent them from
  breaking my water. It is possible that I had contractions like these
  when I was pregnant with my son, and it was a hard contraction that
  broke my water at 35 1/2 weeks. If my water breaks they will make me
  deliver immediately. 

  So, for now it seems that I'm doing very well. I've adjusted to the
  medication. My pulse is still at 90 bpm, but I no longer have the
  shakes. 
   
  I'm getting a bit tired of the horizontal position, but believe it or
  not, I'm not bored. I'm not watching much TV as I thought I would,
  instead I'm getting through a stack of magazines that have been piling
  up for months. I'm also able to spend a lot more "quality" time with my
  son because instead of making dinner and doing other chores when he
  gets home from the sitter's, I read him books, sing songs, and
  generally have a great time with him. My husband is the one that is
  probably suffering the most. He's become the Mr. Mom. Maybe this is a
  blessing in disguise? I've learned to lower my standards, and we've
  learned to hire the neighborhood teenagers to do chores for us. It's
  been a real experience. 

  My doctor told me yesterday that a salesperson from TOKOS (the
  monitoring company that Jodi used) has contacted him. He brought up the
  subject at the Nashua area OB conference. He said it was discussed at
  length and the general opinion was "no". They feel that the monitor
  would drive the mother and the doctors crazy. However, this salesperson is
  going to come to their next meeting to give a talk. We'll see what
  happens! 
   
  One more thing I'd like to mention - GUILT.  People (non-medical,
  well-meaning friends) told me that I brought this on myself because I
  was so busy working, taking care of my family, doing projects and
  preparing for Christmas. I've been reassured by the nurses in the
  hospital and the doctor that there is no way a woman can put herself
  into labor unless there is something already making her susceptible to
  it. Women try everything (riding over railroad tracks, exercising,
  etc.) to put themselves in labor, but if they're not ready, they're not
  ready. I accepted this until they told me I had to be on bedrest. This
  seemed like a contradiction to me. They explained that I now have a
  condition (irritable uterus) that must be treated, and it is not
  something I brought on myself. 
  
  So that's my story so far. Now that I've written it all out I find
  that it has helped me to sort out all the events. This is such an
  overwhelming experience! I'll write in again when I have some more
  news to tell.
  
  Gale 
  
  PS. In keeping with Jodi's tradition, I guess I should sign:
  
  Gale (and Kevin, due April 17)
  

20.53Hospital instructionsCLT::TAYLORMon Jan 25 1988 19:1188
  The following is the instruction sheet I received from the hospital.
  Please note that my personal instructions varied a bit from this sheet.
  For example, I must take the medication every 4 hours or less depending
  on when the contractions start. 
                                             -Gale
           

           
           
                        Nashua Memorial Hospital
  
               Premature Labor Discharge Instruction Sheet
  
  It is important to remember that the use of Terbutaline must be
  accompanied by bedrest, as prescribed by your physician. You will
  "break through" the drug (begin to contract) unless you seriously
  curtail your activity. Although it is difficult, most of your day
  should be spent on a chair, sofa, or bed, with your body positioned
  on your left or right side, to reduce uterine irritability.
  
  Your physician has prescribed Terbutaline for you to take at home
  to prevent premature labor. The instructions that follow will help
  you to take this medication correctly.
  
     1. Take your medication every ____ hours as prescribed by your
     doctor. It is very important that you take your medication on time
     so you will need to set your alarm clock. Your scheduled times are: 
  
     2. Take your pulse before taking the medication as you have been
     taught by your nurse. Never use your thumb to take your pulse - Use
     your first 2 fingers, taking your pulse either on your wrist or
     neck. When your pulse is less than 120 beats a minute, you can take
     the medication. If your pulse is higher than 115, don't take the
     medicine, instead wait 30 minutes and take your pulse again. If your
     pulse is still higher than 115 wait 30 minutes and again take your
     pulse. Do not take your medication if your pulse is higher than 115
     a minute. If after an hour your pulse is still higher than 115, call
     your doctor for further instructions. 

     3.  You must adjust the times that you take your medication if you
     have had to wait because of your pulse being too fast. The
     medication must be taken only at the hours apart ordered - no
     earlier or later; Example: If medication is ordered every 6 hours
     and you are on 12 noon, 6 pm, 12 midnight and 6 am schedule and you
     have to wait 1/2 hour because of a high pulse, you must change your
     times to 12:30 pm, 6:30 pm, 12:30 am, 6:30 am. 
  
     4. Eat a banana or orange every day. 
  
     5. Call your doctor is you experience any of the following: 

        A. Difficulty breathing - shortness of breath

        B. Chest pain 
        
        C. Uterine cramping or contractions.
        
           1. Contractions that occur six times or more per hour (may
           be painless). How to feel for contractions - 
           
           Lying down place your fingers on top of your womb (uterus).
           With a contraction the uterus gets hard and then will soften.
           If your uterus is getting hard then soft - time them and
           try to decide how strong they are. (To judge how strong
           a contraction is - feel the contraction - then your cheek,
           nose or forehead. If it feels like your cheek, the contraction
           is mild; your nose, moderate; forehead, strong.
           
           2. Menstrual like cramps - either constant or come and
           go - felt above your pubic bone.
           
           3. Low dull back ache - either a constant ache or one that
           comes and goes.
           
           4. Pressure - feels like the baby is pushing down or feels
           heavy.
           
           5. Abdominal cramping - with or without diarrhea.
                
        D. Vaginal bleeding or increase in discharge. 
        
        E. Rupture of membranes - you bag of water breaks.
          
     6. Keep your appointment with your doctor for prenatal care and
     follow his instructions. 
  
     7. Call you doctor if you have any questions or problems. 

20.54NEWPRT::NEWELLJodi Newell, SWS Mktg, Irvine, CAMon Jan 25 1988 21:5710
    
    
    Michael and I are praying for you.
    
    Keep us informed!!!
    
    
    Jodi-
    

20.55dehydrationCLT::TAYLORSat Jan 30 1988 05:5539
  I came down with the flu last night. (My son had it on Tuesday night,
  so I suppose I caught it from him.) At 1:30 AM I decided to call the
  doctor. He told me to go to the hospital for an IV drip. He didn't want
  me to get dehydrated. 

  I'm so glad I called the doctor when I did. By the time I had the IV
  inserted and got the shots of Terbutaline to stop the contractions,
  they were 2 minutes apart. I learned that there is a lot of truth to
  water theory Jodi describes in 125.10. 

  My doctor prescribed "St. Margaret's Protocol" for me. I learned that
  this is the name for the procedure I've been through several times
  before, that is, 3 shots of Terbutaline 20 minutes apart, then every 2
  hours thereafter. 

  The contractions finally calmed down after the third shot, but I was
  shaking like crazy. I thought my body had adjusted to Terbutaline by
  now, but I guess those shots are a lot more powerful than the pills I
  take. 

  The doctor that examined me (not my regular doctor) told me I was 1 cm
  dilated, 50% effaced. Since I was told in all exams before this that I
  was 0% effaced, I got very upset. He (and then the nurse afterwards)
  explained that there isn't much difference between 0 and 50% effacement,
  and that it's all a matter of interpretation by the examiner. I've
  since looked at my PRETERM LABOR HANDBOOK. The book pretty much says
  the same thing. (See the next note) 

  I came home this morning. All is well now but I miss Danny. He's
  spending the night at his sitter's because my husband has the flu now
  and is too sick to care for him. 

  Since so many people have asked me about effacement, I decided to copy
  some information out of the PRETERM LABOR HANDBOOK and put it in the
  next note. 

  Gale (29 weeks)


20.56Dilation and EffacementCLT::TAYLORSat Jan 30 1988 05:5646
  The following was taken without permission from the Preterm Labor
  Handbook: 

  ...The cervix in a nonpregnant state is approximately four centimeters
  long (1 inch=2.5 cm). This length is measured from the internal os
  (opening) to the external os. ...Once the uterus contains a pregnancy,
  the cervix softens, but should not significantly thin out (efface) or
  dilate until the last month of pregnancy. 

  Five different parameters are used in evaluating the cervix in
  pregnancy: dilation, effacement, texture, angle, and the position of
  the fetus in the relationship to the pelvis and cervix. 

  The dilation of the cervix is the most obvious change during preterm
  labor. A cervix that is three to four centimeters open instead of
  tightly closed at seven months of pregnancy often indicates that
  delivery is imminent. Premature rupture of the amniotic sac (membranes)
  surrounding the fetus may also easily occur once the cervix is
  prematurely dilated, which can also represent imminent delivery. Once a
  significant amount of cervical dilation has occurred, preterm labor is
  much more difficult to treat than if only cervical effacement has
  occurred. 

  Cervical effacement, or thinning out and shortening of the cervix,
  usually takes place before dilation of the cervix. The effacement can
  occur in varying degrees. A cervix in pregnancy that is not thinned out
  at all is about three to four cm long, and is termed 0 percent effaced.
  A cervix that is completely thinned out in pregnancy is termed 100
  percent effaced. The next step (since there is no more cervix to
  efface) would be dilation. Between these two extremes of effacement,
  there are other possibilities. Most of them are described in percent of
  effacement in degrees of ten, e.g. 50 percent effaced, 80 percent
  effaced, and so forth. ... 

  Different practitioners may interpret each cervical parameter
  differently; two practitioners examining the same cervix may differ as
  to how much cervical effacement has occurred. However, this difference
  is usually not great. Often it is important to have only one or two
  practitioners follow a pregnant patient in preterm labor until the
  cervix stabilizes, so that the estimation of the cervical parameters is
  as close as possible.... 

  With appropriate treatment, the cervix can re-form to a certain extent
  (e.g., improvement from 70 percent effaced to 50 percent effaced after
  a week of treatment). 

20.57UpdateCLT::TAYLORThu Feb 25 1988 16:1358
  I thought I should add a little update here. I didn't realize that
  people were waiting to hear more, but in the last few days I've
  received several mail messages and a few very concerned phone calls. 

  I'm at 33 weeks now and definitely out of the danger zone. Even as of 2
  weeks ago if the baby was born he would have had a 90% chance of
  survival (unlike the 50% he had when this all started at Christmas
  time.) He'd still need a level three nursery, so he'd have to go to
  Boston, but with today's technology, he'd probably do very well. 

I'll come off the Terbutaline between 36 and 37 weeks (about March 20). The
doctor says staying on much longer than that makes the risks of the medication
outweigh the benefits. So, I may deliver right away, or I may go on right to my
due date. You never know with these things. There was a woman in my childbirth
refresher class that was on the Terbutaline. They took her off it at 38 weeks
and she delivered 2 weeks later - in other words, she was almost late! 

  Even though I have this good news I've had a tough time emotionally.
  I'm not exactly sure what it is. It could be that I've been in the
  house for so long, or it could be that I've had a very bad cold for
  almost 3 weeks now. I had a really bad sore throat that went on and on.
  It wasn't strep, so my doctor put me on Amoxicillin (capsules, not the
  bubble gum stuff our kids get). Even though I've been assured that all
  these drugs won't harm the baby, I still worry. I still have a bit of a
  sore throat and cough, but the worst of the cold is over. At this point
  I can't tell if some of my discomfort is cold related or pregnancy
  related! I guess it doesn't really matter. 
                                
  I went out to dinner last Saturday for the first time since before
  XMAS. I had a great time, but sometimes I think going out makes me feel
  more depressed. I can't understand it. Must be hormones. It was weird
  to be out. Half way through dinner the contractions started. I took a
  pill and waited. Luckily they subsided. At this point I shouldn't
  worry, but I do. I'm slowly doing more and more as the weeks go by. My
  doctor has even given me the go ahead to go to Boston tomorrow night to
  see Les Miserables. (I've had the tickets since June!) He's going I to
  check me out tomorrow morning, but he sees no reason why I can't go.
  It'll be weird to be out for so long and so far away! 

  Right now I just try to picture what it will be like when I really do
  go into labor. I have visions of not making it to the hospital
  because I waited too long. I'm so used to having contractions less than
  5 minutes apart, that most of the time now I just ignore them. It will
  be interesting to see what happens. 
  
  This weekend my husband and I are going to start to get things ready
  for Kevin's arrival. We finally feel comfortable enough to make
  preparations. I think it will be fun. We didn't get a chance to do it
  when Danny was born cause he was 5 weeks early and caught us by
  surprise. 

  Well, time to lay down. Sounds rough, huh? 

  If I have any more news, I'll write again. Thanks everyone for your
  concern. It means a LOT to me! 

  Gale 

20.58Another Pre-Term Labor Success Story!EDSVAX::PONDThu Mar 17 1988 12:409
    Gale Toale Taylor, the author of .57, gave birth to Kevin O'Donnell
    Taylor on the Ides of March (Tuesday, 3/15/88) at about 8:00 PM.  
    
    The actual labor was very easy, as labors go.  Kevin weighed in at 
    6lbs. 7ozs.  Estimated gestational time was about 35 weeks.  Both are 
    doing famously and should be going home this morning (Th 3/17).      
    
                                                 

20.59&*)SSDEVO::HILLIGRASSThu Mar 17 1988 15:503
    Wonderful news...Congratulations to the family!
    

20.60NEWPRT::NEWELLRecovering PerfectionistThu Mar 17 1988 19:3210
    Yea, Gale, Kevin and family!!!  
    
    Another success story...what a good feeling!
 
    :^)  :^)  :^)
    
    
    Jodi-
    

20.61Welcome, Kevin!~EDUHCI::WARRENThu Mar 17 1988 19:443
    Congratulations and Best of Luck, Gale and Family!!
    

20.62Happy 1st Birthday, Big Boy!!!NEWPRT::NEWELLRecovering PerfectionistTue Aug 30 1988 16:5115
    RE: .0, etc...
    
    Michael Taylor celebrated his first birthday last Sunday (the 28th).
    
    I can't believe that not only has a year gone by, but the three
    months in bed is just a memory.  I have to read this note from time
    to time just to remind myself that it really did happen.
    
    Michael is a big healthy boy, weighing in at 25 pounds.  He walked
    all the way across the room on his birthday but still prefers to
    crawl around like a crab, arms and feet extended.  
    
    Just thought you might like an update...
    Jodi-

20.63Happy Birthday, Michael!GIGI::WARRENTue Aug 30 1988 17:068
    Wow, I can't believe it's been a year!  I'm so glad that's just
    a distant memory, now, superseded by a lot of happier memories,
    I'm sure!  Give him a big kiss for us.
                                          
    Thanks for updating us.               
                                          
    -Tracy

20.64Happy Birthday!!!BSS::VANFLEET6 Impossible Things Before BreakfastTue Aug 30 1988 17:3411
    Judy,
    
    Having just read your story in the past few months this
    is all very fresh in my mind.  Happy Birthday to Michael!!!
    He's so fortunate to have a mother who went through all
    that you did for him.
    
    Thanks for the good news!!
    
    Nanci

20.65Happy Birthday!TELALL::RODONWed Aug 31 1988 11:425
	It's hard to believe a year has gone by already!  Happy Birthday
    Michael!!!
    
    				Lynn

20.66Happy tears againCLOSET::TAYLORThu Sep 01 1988 09:4911
    So now I get to celebrate the birth of Michael with tears again!
    I'll NEVER forget reading that note about Michael's birth. It was
    about 6:30am and I sat in my office with tears of joy streaming
    down my face. 
    
    Happy birthday Michael!
    
    Gale
    
    PS Will you have a celebration on his due date too?

20.67Happy 2nd Birthday, Michael!MORO::NEWELL_JOReplies, they don't come easyTue Aug 29 1989 01:5432
I'd like to add an update to this note at least once a year,
for two reasons:

  1. To let everyone who supported me during a very 
     difficult time, know how Michael is doing.   And...
 
  2. To reopen this note so those of you who are pregnant
     might know the early warning signs of pre-term labor.
     I was lucky, my pre-term labor was caught early.  With
     the proper medical intervention and complete bedrest
     most problem pregnancies have a happy ending.

     For more information on the warning signs of 
     Pre-Term Labor, see reply .33 of this topic.


Now for the update on Michael...
--------------------------------
 
He turned TWO today (for those of you who were there,
                     yes, it's been two years)!

He's 33 inches tall, weighs 30 pounds, and is solid as a rock.

We're all doing fine.


Jodi-

  
    

20.68A little late but...COGITO::FRYEWed Aug 30 1989 14:337
    Happy Birthday, Michael!  I do remember reading your notes at the
    time, Jodi. And I can't believe it's been two years!
    
    My best to you both!
    Norma
    

20.69And how was your weekend?JAIMES::BARRLRainbow ConnectionMon Jun 25 1990 16:5537
    I went into pre-term labor over the weekend.  It started Friday night
    on my way home from work.  It was about 6:00 and I had to stop at the
    pharmacy.  During my ride from work to the pharmacy I experienced what
    I thought to be severe gas pain.  I reached the pharmacy and as soon as
    I got out of the car, I doubled over in pain.  I made it home and about
    an hour later, the pain was gone.  It came and went throughout the
    evening (sort of felt like cramping).  I really wasn't too worried
    about it (I thought I was having more severe Braxton-Hicks).  Saturday
    morning I woke up feeling fine and then about two hours later it
    started again.  I was now a little more concerned.  Being the type that
    hates to call the doctor unless I'm certain something is wrong (I know,
    I should call the doctor whenever in doubt), I called my mother and
    told her that I was in pain and scared.  Of course her first question
    was, "Did you call the Doctor?"  I told her I hadn't and she said, "I'm
    hanging up now, I'll expect you to call me back in a few minutes and
    let me know what the doctor had to say".  I called the doctor and she
    told me to get to the hospital immediately.  Well when I got there they
    hooked me up to a fetal-heart monitor.  My contractions were 5 - 7
    minutes apart and quite strong (although I didn't feel them, just a
    constant dull pain).  The doctor came in and did an internal and said
    that I was 1/4 cm dialated, but nothing exciting was happening.  About
    1 hr. later the nurse came in with a glucose I.V.  She said it would
    help slow down the contractions.  They wanted to slow them down because
    I wasn't dialating and because of the fact that I still have about 5
    weeks to go and the baby is just not ready to be born.  Well after
    being on the I.V. for about 1 1/2 hrs. the doctor came in again.  She
    said that the contractions had slowed down to 10 - 12 minutes apart and
    then she did another internal and I was not dialated at all.  She then
    said I could go home but if the pain started again to come back.  I
    asked her about work and she said that as long as I was sitting at a
    desk and not running around or doing any heavy lifting, I was better of
    here than at home (because I would do things like getting the nursery
    done if I were at home).  Well, I'm here at work.  I feel fine.  The
    pain is gone.  Let's just hope we can stick this out for at least a
    couple more weeks. :-)
    
    Lori B.
20.70PEKING::LYNGATue Jun 26 1990 08:456
    
    
    Good luck, Lori!  Thinking of you.
    
    Alison
    
20.71LARVAE::WATSON_CBlooming...marvellously!!Tue Jun 26 1990 08:4914
    
    Lori,  you mean to say you spent the weekend at the hospital and then
    came into work on Monday??
    
    You are a crazy lady!!!
    
    
    We're thinking of you!!  All the best for when it finally happens.....
    it's sure getting scary, isn't it!
    
    Hugs
    
    Chris   :-)
    
20.72Don't worry, I'm o.k.JAIMES::BARRLFrankly Scallop, I don't give a clam!Tue Jun 26 1990 15:339
    re: .71
    
    No Chris, I only was there for 3 hours on Saturday.  I'm fine now.  I
    just came back from my bi-weekly non-stress/ultrasound and there was no
    sign of contractions other than Braxton-Hicks.  The doctor says it's
    perfectly o.k. for me to be at work.  If she said "no", I'd be home. 
    I'll keep everyone posted though.
    
    Lori B.
20.73Pre-term labor is not fun!ENOVAX::MAZELLATue Jun 26 1990 20:3629
    Lori,
    
    I know what a scary feeling pre-term labor is...the Friday before 
    Memorial day weekend I woke up and had some spotting.  I had a 
    backache on and off all week long, but thought the baby was sitting
    differently and Thurs. night I had some mild cramping.  The spotting
    suprised me - something new, but I didn't think too much of it and 
    figured I'd call my doctor from work later in the day.  Well, when I
    did, I ended up in the covering doctor's office (mine was on vacation),
    and from there a quick trip home and then to the hopital.  I was (and
    am) 80% effaced, although not dilated. 
    
    All afternoon and evening I was monitored, poked at (blood and culture
    work), had my first Ultrasound, etc. then told about C-sections after
    they saw three contractions one on top of another and the baby's heart
    rate dropped.  To make a long story short, I was there until Tuesday
    and now I'm out on complete bedrest until the baby is born (july 31st
    due date).  I'm on Tibutaline to stop the contractions and once a week
    when I go to the doctor's I also get a shot of Celestone to help 
    develop the baby's lungs.
    
    What a scare we had!  I can now understand a lot more about hard
    pregnancies and I really feel for those who have them.  I feel so
    lucky that mine has gone well, and even now, at least I know that my
    baby is ok and growing.
    
    I wish you all the best!!!  Hang in there!
    
    Anne   
20.74pre-term labor success story!LAURA1::HORVATWed Jun 27 1990 14:1821
 Hi!
  I really feel for those of you who are going through pre-term labor - believe
me I know how it is!  I just want to tell you to relax and keep thinking happy,
positive thoughts.  My son Christopher was born at 36 weeks and is now almost
9 months old, perfectly normal, happy and adorable. 
  I went on bedrest at 28 weeks and was put on Terbutaline then, too. At 33
weeks I went into labor, similar to Lori's experience (lots of contractions
that registered high on the monitor - but I was not too uncomfortable).  The
Dr's stopped that labor and I was sent home after 3 days in the hospital, at
35 weeks I was in again for a few hours - it stopped on its own.  Each time
I was given huge amounts of fluid by IV, since early labor can be triggered
by being dehydrated.
  At 36 weeks I asked to be taken off the Terbutaline - I felt that it would
take a while for the medication to leave my system and I wanted to be "clean"
for the birth.  Well, less than 24 hours later Chris was born, weighing 6lbs 8oz
and perfectly normal.  We both went home on schedule.  I know that I was really
frightened those last 2 months of my pregnancy but I just kept thinking that
"..in x weeks we'll have our baby.", and somehow the time passed by.  Just 
keep thinking positively and drink LOTS of water!
                   Laura
20.75I guess I was lucky!DPEFIN::MACARTHURWed Jun 27 1990 15:5620
    Wow, reading through this notes file, I realize how lucky I was.
    Derek was due on June 27, a year ago today, but during my doctor
    visit on May 4 he said I was already 2 cm dilated, about 50% effaced,
    and that the baby was already in position!  Talk about being in
    shock!  I wasn't quite ready to be a mommy yet!  I was done with work,
    and put on bedrest for a couple of weeks.  The ultrasound and
    non-stress tests were all fine.  The funny thing is, I never felt a lot
    of contractions - just a few braxton-hicks.  They said that sometimes
    they are small and you don't feel them.  I didn't have to be put on any
    medication - once I was on bedrest things slowed down.  I went to the
    doctor every week, and things went great.  On June 23 I went into labor
    (didn't even realize it at first - the contractions were very mild!),
    and at 12:09 a.m. on June 24 Derek was born - a very healthy 7.8 pound,
    20" long baby.  Looking back on it now, I realize I should have been
    more scared than I was, but maybe it was a blessing in disguise that I
    wasn't.  I can hardly believe he's already a year old!  Things just
    keep getting greater every day - children are such a miracle!  I wish
    everyone out there luck with their pregnancies, and my thoughts and
    prayers are with all of you!
    
20.76SALEM::SILVERIAWed Jun 27 1990 17:0811
    re: .75
    
    It is interesting how doctors react differently to pregnancies. 
                   
    I was also 2 cm dilated and 50% effaced 8 weeks before my due date,
    (and the baby was in position) but my doctor was not concerned.
    I did not have any further tests.
    
    I continued to work until my last scheduled day (April 1st) and my
    water broke the following day and I had Jake May 2nd.  He was two
    weeks "early" but 7lbs 10oz and very healthy.
20.77AIMHI::MAZIALNIKWed Jun 27 1990 17:147
    .76 - I was thinking the same thing.  At 35 weeks I was 1 cm and
    30% and the doctor thought I might go a week early but had no
    concerns.  I felt no contractions/braxton hicks until several
    hours before Eric was born.   Eric was 6 days late.
    
    Donna
    
20.78or maybe medical practice has changed since thenTLE::RANDALLliving on another planetWed Jun 27 1990 17:1813
    re: .75, .76
    
    I was also about 10% effaced and a little dilated -- don't
    remember exactly how much because it was 16+ years ago -- at least
    a month before the due date.  My doctor wasn't concerned either.
    He said that it's common to have some degree of pre-labor
    preparation for the birth, and that alone wasn't enough grounds to
    worry.  If I started having other symptoms, like cramping or
    backache, I would have to start total bedrest (I don't think they
    had tetrabutaline yet), but in the absence of other symptoms it
    wasn't a problem by itself.
    
    --bonnie
20.79And now, a comic side to premature labor 'always pack the sense of humorEISMER::REIDYWed Jun 27 1990 18:25119
To give a post-premature birth laugh, let me tell my story.  

It sure is heartening to hear all this.  When I had Mike at 32 weeks, I was 
given Terbuteline also, hydrated, and given adreniline )for the lungs).  To 
this day my backside still hurts when I think of those shots.  Mike is now a 
lively and gorgeous 3.5yr old, who is also very smart (a little too smart some 
times)


As I lot of you were stating, I too could not believe I was in labor!  After 
two days of 'gas cramps', my spouse finally made me call the doctor Thursday 
night.  
According to him (hubby)  "gas pains don't make you cry".  We were so sure that
the doctor was going to send us home laughing that I didn't even bring ANY
clothes - just the sweats I had on.  When I spoke to the docotor, he was all
 calm and cool, "why don't you come on in, and we can check you out, and that 
way we will all feel better".  Imagine my surprise when we arrive at the 
Emergency Room (it was now about 10pm), walk in, and have them look at me and
say "Oh, Mrs Reidy - Labor & Delivery is all ready for you, would you like a 
wheelchair" - Talk about being prepared!

Anyway, of course I resisted the wheelchair, after all, this was probably just 
a little embarassing case of gas.  We get upstairs, and the nurses have me lay 
down and get comfortable.  As I am laying down, and continueing to have gas
cramps, the nurse looks at me and says "You're in LABOR"

"NO WAY!   Birthing class doesn't start till TUESDAY!"

"sorry, but you are"

They proceeded to Hydrate me (anyone else have that lovely feeling!)  Talk about
needing to go pee-pee!! The exame also showed me to be 100% effaced and 4 cm.  I
guess I was  in labor.  All I can remember through the whole string of days was
total incredulation that I could be in labor.   I was not ready!  They kept me
overniight with constant monitoring, and Dr. Z came in in the morning.  My 
contractions (I still have a hard time calling them that - especially after a 
full term baby second time around) had not lessened enough, and he wanted to 
send me to Boston.  Not to get me a bed, mind you, but to ensure that the baby
had a bed in the best Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).  Already the kid is
taking over things!  After a VERY intersting ambulance ride into Boston 
(I HATE catheters!), including sirens on Storrow Drive:  there was a
little bit of traffic on Storrow Drive, so the driver asked the nurse 
accompanying me if he should be the siren on to get there faster.  The nurse, 
emphatically responded "You bet, I don't want to deliver this baby!"

Once we got to Brigham and Women's, I felt like I was on an assembly line.Talk 
about a MAD house.  And becuase I was a transfer, I just got who was ever on 
duty.  No get me wrong, they were very nice, but I didn't exactly get the 
personal attention that your own physician gets.  There was never a real 
concern about the baby's pre-birth health.  They stuck me in a closet over
in labor and delivery.  No kidding.  This room with my bed and a fetal monitor
barely had a room for a rocking chair for my husband.  AND they almost wouldn't
let my mother in the room at the same time that my husband was in there. They 
wouldn't even put a cot in the room for my hustband to sleep on Friday night.
THere was NOT enough room. 

Meanwhile,  by Saturday night, 
I am laying in bed, with my belly exposed wearing a monitor belt, and
my mystery book propped up on the belt.  Hey, I was just getting to the who
donnit part.  Contractions were NOT going to interrupt this!  Asd the 
contractions got closer (according to the monitor - I was too engrossed in my
book), a decision was being pondered - do we do an amnio or not, to see how far
the baby has developed.  

OB's decision was going to be based on an ultrasound, so down we go for the 
'test' - didn't have to drink any water for this test!  As she did the test, 
we figureed what the hell - things were close enough, what's the sex?  As we
asked, the technician started to laugh.  As new parents, we did not see the 
humor in the qeustion.  Than she said, see that little 'blip' on the screen, 
near the top, waving.......It's a boy!  Boy, did we laugh.  Especially as she
gave us a copy of that picture.  I still treasure that, and will use it when
Mike is 6'4" and giving me a hard time, I will ask him which girlfriend he would
like me to show his 'baby' pictures to.

Anyway, I digress.. After the ultrasound technician was done, the OB came in, 
examined me, and said "You're 9 cm, no real need to do am amnio, 'casue you are
going into delivery"

Back up to my closet for the epidural prep.  When the anestehnllll(sp) asked
if I wanted one, the OB said "YES".  Apparently, she didn't want any possibly 
avoided pressure on the baby.  The poor anesthegiolost (SP), I screamed my
head off when he put the spinal needle in.  He was amazed.  As he commented, 
"Most women are grateful for the epidural at this point!"  My comment was, 
"I have been poked and proded for THREE days - you can damn well be thtat I will
let you know when it hurts"!

After all that, I got wheeled into delivery, and they atarted to wait.  At one
point I told the OB I was having a contraction.   At that she looked up at me
and said "How do you know you're having a contraction, you have an epidural "

Dumb me answers "Oh, easy, I feel the pressure on my bladder"

"Oh, " replies the doc "we can take care of that!"  Talk about embarassing!
Then they re telling me to breath, and I am trying to tell them that breathing
classes don't begin for another three days, so there better be a little more
intensive coaching if they want me to breath 'right'.

Finally, Mike made an appearance.  All 3 lbs 5 1/2 ounces of him.  Compared to
Matty, it was liking spitting out a pea.  The Neo-natal people were right there
throughout the whole thing, and immediately took Mike over to the inclubater for
an exam.  Inital action was to put an oxygen mask on, when he proceeded to 
kick off.  A VERY good sign.  They even let me hold him on my gurney as they 
wheeled us both over tot he NICU. Later, we even saw the initial report which 
indicated that at first they thought there was excessive skin near the groin 
area, and then a correction that it was actually just a 'good-sized' penis.  
Of course, that had us laughing!

As it turned out, Mike was small - but otherwise a very healthy premature baby.
I guess the main thing is - even if you do have a little gas, don't be afraid
to see the doctor.  Maybe If I had gone on Wednesday, they might have been able
to stop it.  Hindsight being 20/20, I would not have minded two months of bed
rest. 

But, if it does happen, bring a sense of humor with you - it's bound to come
in useful!


Minda
 aka the storyteller
20.80Question on internalsISE004::MATTIAThu Jun 28 1990 14:5510
    Regarding some of these replies.  My OB only does internals up to I
    think 15 weeks then not again until 38 and then 40 weeks.  If some of
    you were not having any symptoms why did the OB do an internal so soon?
    ie. 32 or so weeks.
     
    I was under the impression that Dr's didn't like to routiney do
    internals because it could get labor going??
    
    Donna
    
20.81one of many practices that has changedTLE::RANDALLliving on another planetThu Jun 28 1990 15:184
    In 1973, when I was pregnant, a doctor who didn't do internals at
    every checkup was considered negligent.
    
    --bonnie
20.82FDCV07::HSCOTTLynn Hanley-ScottThu Jun 28 1990 19:585
    And Bonnie, it's probably considered unsafe now if they DO do
    internals, since the intention is to avoid introducing any potential
    bacteria!
    
    
20.83The only way to tellICS::GLOBALDISTFri Jun 29 1990 17:159
    As far as internals go, I went into pre-term labor at 19 weeks with my
    first pregnancy and I had an internal every week up to the 36th week
    when I delivered.  I am now 24 weeks pregnant and see my doctor every
    two weeks which again means an internal.  The only way the doctor can
    see how much you have effaced or dilated is to examine you internally. 
    This way they can determine if terbutline or bed rest is needed.
    
    Stacey
    
20.84MORO::NEWELL_JOJodi Newell - Irvine, Calif.Fri Jun 29 1990 18:2816
    My OB was *very* careful not to disturb anything when she did internals
    during my preterm episode.  She never really did check, with her finger
    width, the actual extent of my dialation. But she could safely figure
    out how effaced I was by feeling around the cervix.
    
    To give you an idea how effaced I was...upon her initial diagnosis
    of preterm labor, while doing an internal, she told me the baby was 
    breech. She then asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby.
    She could definately feel that it was a boy. :^)
    
    Labor was started 6 weeks early with my first prenancy by a doctor
    who was a little too rough with the internal she gave.  That convinced
    me I didn't want her for my second pregnancy. 
    
    Jodi-
    
20.85exAIMHI::MAZIALNIKFri Jun 29 1990 19:425
    I always heard labor would start when it was ready to start.
    Can an internal really start it?  
    
    Donna
    
20.86CSC32::WILCOXBack in the High Life, AgainFri Jun 29 1990 20:0010
                     <<< Note 20.85 by AIMHI::MAZIALNIK >>>
                                    -< ex >-

>>    I always heard labor would start when it was ready to start.
>>    Can an internal really start it?  
    
Well, that can, so can drugs, so can breaking the water artificially,
so can intercourse (It's one of the hormones in the semen) and so
can certain supossitories.    

20.87I believe in the "when your ready"GLASS::DIAZFri Jun 29 1990 21:467
    I tend to believe that labor will start when it is ready to start. When
    I was overdue and 1 cm dilated, my doctor tried to "stretch" my cervix
    in the hope it would bring on labor. So I think if I had been closer to 
    delivering it might have worked, hard to say. I did go into labor the
    day after an internal where she tried to stretch my cervix and
    according to the doctor's due date I was three weeks overdue, but they
    wrote down her gestational age as 41 weeks when she was born.
20.88MORO::NEWELL_JOJodi Newell - Irvine, Calif.Sun Jul 01 1990 00:0620
    There aren't any hard and fast rules here. Women go into preterm
    labor for many reasons, most of which are never figured out. With
    what I know about preterm labor, I can probably guess that I
    experienced problems most likely because of a mild urinary track
    infection and/or dehydration. I had gone to the beach the day before
    my symptoms occured and took only one can of Coke for three people.
    I was dehydrated when I got home. I felt a little achey that night,
    timed contractions the next.
    
    My OB mentioned that when the body experiences dehydration, it begins
    to produce Pitocin, the hormone that tells the uterus to contract.
    So it's not really a matter of going into labor when it's the right
    time...it's a matter of going into labor when your body gets certain
    signals from the brain.  Dehydration can start it, something in sperm
    has been shown to cause Pitocin production, I've even heard some
    spices, commonly found in pizza have been known to begin labor but I
    suspect that could be an old wives tale.
    
    Jodi-
    
20.89A vote FOR Brigham & Women'sABACUS::RADWINI think, fer sureMon Jul 09 1990 15:37104
                                          
    
    Everyone's experience is unique.  Noter .79 had a frustrating time, it
    sounds like at Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Very recently, my wife,
    baby and I had a very different experience -- in fact, we feel incredible 
    fortunate that Laurie had been transferred there.
    
    Just about two weeks ago, at about the 30th week of her pregnancy,
    Laurie was diagnosed as having pre-eclampsia -- hypertension, protein in 
    her urine, and a lot of edema.  (Less than a week earlier her blood
    pressure and urine had been fine, and she had only mild edema)
       
    As a result of the  pre-eclampsia, her doctor put Laurie on an 
    immediate at-home, bed rest regime.  The doctor wanted her
    to come back in later that week for another series of tests to see how
    her pre-eclampsia was proceeding and if she need to be admitted to the 
    hospital until she delivered.  In the meantime, he told us to  
    watch out for a complete of symptoms.
    
    Well, 36 hours later, Laurie woke up because of a headache and nausea
    -- the two symptoms we were warned about.  We called into her Dr. and
    were told to come in post-haste.
    
    So, at about 2 am, June 28th, we were at Beth Israel Hospital in
    Boston.  After various tests, and a couple of hours waiting for the
    results, we were informed that -- to our total shock -- Laurie's
    pre-eclampsia had gotten significantly worse and that she would likely 
    have to be delivery shortly.  
    
    Also, because of our baby's age, Laurie was to be transferred over to 
    Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Unlike BI, BWH's NICU has the capability 
    to put infants on ventilators, which is a common need for 30 week old 
    babies.
    
    So, we were transferred over to BWH, where Laurie was admitted as
    a patient of the High Risk Pregnancy Service.  She no longer had a 
    private Dr. overseeing her care, which may have been part of the
    problem that noter .79 experienced;  however, Laurie was under the care
    of a team experienced and expert in dealing with her kind of situation;
    they were great.
    
    The doctors and nurses worked with us over the next 18 hours to try to 
    determine what would be best for Laurie and our baby.  The answers
    weren't always clear -- e.g., test results showed both that our baby's 
    lungs were relatively premature even for a 30 year old and that our baby 
    might be having difficulty in the womb.
    
    The team kept us informed throughout of the test results,
    their implications and the options available.  They were mindful of the 
    stress we were under as well as the medical issues at stake.   They
    discussed with us -- in fact, they arranged to have neonatologists discuss
    with us the risks and prognosis for babies like ours, etc.
    
    Eventually the BWH team and my wife and I determined that the best course
    would be to deliver our baby.   Laurie and I asked to see the attending
    Dr. who supervised the team for one last time.  She and I and a nurse
    were alone in Laurie's waiting his arrival.  Laurie then went into a 
    seizure.  As I later learned, this meant that her pre-eclampsia had now 
    turned into full blown eclampsia, and without immediate attention 
    she could go from the seizure, to a coma and, probably, die.
    
    Fortunately, the team was in back in her room in seconds,
    simultaneously treating her seizure and rushing into the delivery
    operating room.   [Delivery of the baby is ultimately the only "cure" for
    pre-eclampsia and eclampsia].  
    
    I can't really calculate how long it was from the time Laurie seized to 
    the time she was in the operating room.  Two minutes, maybe .... five 
    minutes, at most.  Within fifteen minutes after she went in,  nurses
    came out to tell me that our baby had been delivered and was doing
    well.  And over the next the hour drs and nurses periodically would 
    update me on Laurie.   Once I knew that Laurie was safe, I let a nurse
    take me to view our beautiful, tiny (2.5 lbs) baby girl.   Later,
    Laurie was brought into a private recovery room, in which a second cot 
    had been placed for me.  
    
    In the end, Laurie came through ordeal and the surgery fine, and our 
    little Emily (born at 12:19 am. 7/29/90) is doing well too.  She's off 
    the ventilator and breathing room air, which are the kind of victories 
    (I'm learning) that the parents of premies treasure.
      
    A final note, Laurie is herself an experienced nurse (adult cardiac
    patients) and a nursing instructor.  In the past, she hadn't
    thought too well of Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Now, she and I feel 
    incredibly grateful both that Laurie was treated at BWH and that 
    our Emily is in their NICU; the NICU team,  particularly the nursing
    staff, is outstanding in their dedication, experience and expertise.
                                
     
    
    
    Gene 
    
    
    
    
     
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
20.90Please don''t take it wrong..EISMER::REIDYMon Jul 09 1990 16:0133
Gene -

Congratulations!  Emily is in the absolute BEST hands.  Please don't get me 
wrong.  I entered my note to add a little comical releif regarding prematurity.
While B&W may not have been the best experience for me, it was incredible for
Mike.  Also, I think a lot of my feelings were 'cuase my case was rather boring.

There was never any real critical concern for the baby - other than longevity 
in the womb, or for me.  I was basically a rather boring premature labor !
I tend to, even then, look at the whole sequence of events with a comical note.
I was lucky, I could.  Remember too, we are talking about THREE years ago!

It sounds like you Laura and Emily have gone through a rather traumatic time.
Please, take advantage of the NICU's staff.  They are tremendous.  And when they
say you can come in any time - they mean it!   I would wake up at 2:30am, think
about Mike, and call.  Without fail, his primary nurse would immediately talk
to me, tell me what he was doing, how he was doing, and promise to tell him
I loved him as soon as he woke up!  I can't not say enough GREAT things about
that staff.  We also, very often, started our visits at 10pm - after Hubby got
home from work ('cause I couldn't drive in to Boston yet).

Best of luck with Emily.  The NICU has a great library of Premie books, and 
there are Premie clothes to be found, if you look.  Raschels (in Westboro) 
usually has a respectable selection.  I'd offer ours, but they all are 
predominantly BLUE!.  Also, I would strongly suggest one of those little 
padded inserts for the car infant seat for when Emily comes home.  You would
be amazed how little 5 pounds looks in an infant seat!.

Best of luck and CONGRATULATIONS

Minda

(PS Was emily's birthdate really 7-29-90???)
20.91Three cheers!WRASSE::FRIEDRICHSTime to AV8!Mon Jul 09 1990 19:449
    Another whole hearted cheer for the B&W NICU staff!!  They were great 
    with Richard, who was born at 28-30 wks, at 1lb, 8oz. 
    
    Richard turned 1 yr old in May and is doing great.  All 3 of us
    really benefited from the B&W.
    
    cheers,
    jeff
    
20.92Still helpful 3 years later!FDCV07::TAHERITue Aug 14 1990 14:2918
    I recently found this notesfile and have been reading through this note
    during lunch.  Although it is now almost 3 years since Michael was born
    (Jodi, I am looking forward to the 3 year update in a few more days!),
    it was still so exciting to me to read about the success stories -
    Michael, Kevin, Emily and Richard (it's like watching a sad movie with
    a happy ending - I felt that lump in my throat reading those final
    birth announcement notes)!  My daughter is now 8 months old, and I guess I
    was so fortunate that our only dilemma was that Lauren was breech and had 
    to be born C-section.  I think this note must be so helpful to those 
    expectant Moms and Dads experiencing any type of pre-term labor....I think 
    it's great that each of you took the time and had the courage to write 
    about your experiences, and include excerpts from literature when you 
    thought it might help someone else!
    
    Congratulations on all those successful births - and to all you Moms
    and Dads who sacrificed and worked so hard for those little miracles!
    
    Diana      
20.93Three years Post Partum...MORO::NEWELL_JOJodi Newell - Irvine, Calif.Sat Sep 29 1990 02:2845
    RE: .92 
    >Although it is now almost 3 years since Michael was born
    >(Jodi, I am looking forward to the 3 year update in a few more days!),
    
    My, my, my...these three years have _really_ flown by fast!
    I've been trying to get an update in here for...let's see...
    exactly a month!
    
    We took the train from Orange County (CA) to San Diego on 
    the day before Michael's birthday and went directly to the 
    San Diego Zoo. The next day, his birthday, we spent about 
    ten hours at Sea World...what a blast!!!
    
    Michael is doing great. No ill effects from all the hours/
    weeks/months of preterm medication, except possibly his 
    propensity for waking up every three hours at night...he's not 
    the greatest sleeper.  He manages to sneak into our bedroom 
    every single night. We find him asleep on the floor with 
    only his bear-bear to keep him warm.  
    
    We started him at Montessori last June because he seemed a
    little slow in his social and language skills. He sure had
    us fooled!  He's a firecracker.  He can socialize with the
    best of them and understands everything but "no". :^) He 
    absolutely adores one of his teachers, Miss Stephanie. She's
    going to get a copy of this entire note to show her why he
    is so special to us.
    
    I remember thinking, three summers ago as I lay on my left 
    side, that nothing, absolutely nothing good could or would
    ever come from my ordeal...I was wrong. I have developed a
    compassion for 'people in need' I never knew I had. The
    friends I made from that summer, I will always cherish and
    the women that have contacted me with their own preterm 
    problems and questions have all helped me in ways they will
    never know.  I have talked to about a half a dozen women in
    this file that all experienced some kind of preterm difficult-
    ies. I have also received a half a dozen beautiful birth 
    announcements.  Makes me proud. Makes me feel like I have 
    a purpose.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Jodi-
    
20.94sore backMRTOAD::STINSON&quot;Linda Saisi Stinson...DTN 296-5796&quot;Mon Mar 30 1992 12:307
  Hopefully I can get this in before this version of the file closes.  How
do people on bed-rest avoid backache?  Cindy has a constant sore back from
I suppose lying in an uncomfortable position.  I got one of those lower back
supports, and she is being very creative with pillow props, but still gets
the soreness.  Standing and walking helps, but she is not doing too much of
that until we get the doctors go ahead.
	Linda
20.95ah yesSUPER::WTHOMASMon Mar 30 1992 13:1651
    
    	I have lots of experience with bed rest backache but most it it is
    following surgery so it may not apply in your case.

    	First of all, make sure that you have a firm mattress (If yours is
    soft you can put a board under the mattress to make it firmer - I sleep
    on a platform bed which solves that problem). Second, I use something
    called egg crate foam and it has helped my back, my hips, and my legs
    tremendously, it alleviates specific pressure points.

    	You probably know about putting pillows under your knees so that
    your back is slightly relaxed, everyone says to do it, but it never
    really seemed to help me.

    	While I was pregnant, I could not sleep on my back and had to sleep
    on my left side, supported by pillows (I found that a large king size
    pillow was the best in front, because I could "hug" it - they sell
    maternity pillows that are essentially just that - king size pillows).

    	Now that I am not pregnant, I tend (because of continued back pain
    not related to pregnancy) to sleep *flat* on my back, every other
    position causes pain. Only trouble with sleeping flat on your back is
    that you tend to snore but a quick poke in the ribs solves that problem
    ;-)


    	Even if someone is confined to bed, they can still do gentle
    stretches. Go to the bookstore and get a good book on backs, it will
    have stretches that can be done even in bed (of course clear all of
    this with your physician first).

    	I used to have back pain so bad that I could not sit down and had
    to either stand or lie down (try standing all day when you are in a
    full length leg cast with crutches). There were many days that I didn't
    think I could go on. Back pain is just no fun.

    	The things that helped me the most, besides pain counseling (take
    what you want..) was learning yoga and becoming centered within my
    body. There were also lots of herbs that helped the backpain (and some
    I even took through my pregnancy with the knowledge of the midwife). In
    my desperate days, I did just about everything to combat the pain.
    	
    	How you treat the backpain is dependent on how much the pain
    interferes with your lifestyle.

        Good luck, if it's any consolation, at least Cindy has a
    sympathetic ear out here.
    	
    			Wendy
    	
20.96The towel trick...NEWPRT::NEWELL_JOJodi Newell - Irvine, CaliforniaMon Mar 30 1992 17:1422
    Linda RE: bedrest and backpain...
    
    My lower back bothered me quite a bit during both of my pregnancies.
    I found a little trick that really helped and cost nothing.  
    
    I rolled one or two bath towels up, starting at the end (ie. not the
    sides) and secured it with rubber bands. I then took this roll and
    slept, sat, drove, watched TV, etc. with it between my lower back and
    bed or chair. The relief was immediate.
    
    It even came in handy when I was waiting for a sonogram and the bottom
    of the paper cup that I had filled and refilled with water, gave way.
    Of course, when I splashed and then gasped "Oh no, my water!", the
    whole place went crazy until I realized they thought I meant my "bag
    of water".  I quickly unrolled my towel and mopped up the mess. :^)
     
    Hope this helps.
    
    Jodi-
    
    P.S. I've already asked for this note to be copied 
    	 over to the new Parenting version.