| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 849.1 | Pointer... | NEWPRT::NEWELL_JO | Jodi Newell - Irvine, California | Tue Apr 23 1991 16:37 | 16 |
| Dave,
Plow through note 20.* in this conference. It's a note
on Preterm labor I started almost four years ago when I went
into labor 16 weeks early. In there somewhere is a note
on preterm labor signs and symptoms.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are often a cause for the
irritable uterus and rehydration techniques go a long way
to insuring a good outcome.
Good luck and if you or your wife need to talk, drop me
a line or give me a call DTN 535-4444
Jodi-
|
| 849.2 | Preterm Labor..Who's at Risk... | NEWPRT::NEWELL_JO | Jodi Newell - Irvine, California | Wed Apr 24 1991 00:59 | 106 |
|
Dave,
To save you some time, I found one of the informational notes
I posted in the Preterm Labor note (note 20.33).
<<< NOTED::DISK$NOTES3:[NOTES$LIBRARY_3OF5]PARENTING.NOTE;1 >>>
-< Parenting >-
================================================================================
Note 20.33 Pre-term Labor 33 of 93
NEWPRT::NEWELL "Aug.31st, the beginning of the end" 94 lines 20-AUG-1987 19:03
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
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. |
----------------------------------
|
| 849.3 | Thanks, Jodi! | CRONIC::ORTH | | Wed Apr 24 1991 13:33 | 13 |
| Jodi,
Thanks for the time you took to help us out with that note! The only
symptom that comes close is #9, the excessive uterine activity prior to
36 weeks. For what its worth, Wendy's contractions were painful, not
painless, and she had the dull low bachache and pressure. They were
definitely worse and more noticeable with a full bladder.
Right now it's just a wait and see game. She will be seeing her dr.
every week from now on, not because of Sunday's incident, but because
of the diabetic problem.
Thanks for your help, Jodi. I do remember reading the whole of note 20
sometime in the distant past, but your excerpt was very welcome!
--dave--
|
| 849.4 | How's the diabetes?? | BCSE::WEIER | Patty, DTN 381-0877 | Wed Apr 24 1991 14:29 | 22 |
| Dave,
Another thought on the dehydration could be as a direct result of
the diabetes. If her blood sugar has been up a bit, it could be a
direct result of that.
The kidneys, in an effort to remove the excess sugar from your blood,
will draw water from wherever it can, from the rest of your body. It
also makes you pee a lot! Most people think that they're thirsty
because they pee a lot, but actually, you're peeing a lot (first),
which makes you thirsty. Keep an eye on the blood sugars - it make be
worth an extra stab now and then to make sure they're really in control
all the time.
How's Wendy handling all this?? Good Luck - You're almost done!!!
FWIW, Christopher was born 5 weeks early, and aside from being smallish
(6lb 2oz), he was fine.
Tell Wendy to hang in there - You too!!
Patty
|
| 849.6 | No rest is correct! | CRONIC::ORTH | | Wed Apr 24 1991 16:25 | 26 |
| Well, I stayed home on Monday, because it's darn near impossible for
her to *really* rest! but she is trying to cut back on stuff a bit.
As far as the sugar contol, Patty, it was actually quite *low* in the
hospital. She had not had supper when we went in, and it was getting
time for her NPH (nighttime dose). They checked blood sugar and it was
57. Her endocrinologist had recommended she take her reg. before meal
insulin anyway, even when it was this low, just not wait the usual 15
minutes, but eat immediately afterward. So they brought her both her
NPH and reg. insulin, and food. They did a 2 hr. post meal check and
now it was 48! She felt quite fine, which is real unusual, as she
usually feels awful when it drops below 70....so we do somewhat
question the meter's accuracy. They brought her a large OJ to drink
immediatley.
Before that day, her sugar's had been under excellent control, and she
noticed no increased thirst or urination. So go figure. Dr. did not
seem to think it was diabetes related, although his eyes (this was the
on call dr., whom she had not met before) nearly popped out when she
told him she was on 80 units of NPH before bed! He told her she would
have a good chance of remaining a borderline diabetic after the
pregnancy, which she'd already been told. Wonderful.
right now, we'd just like June to be here!
--dave--
|
| 849.7 | | NEWPRT::NEWELL_JO | Jodi Newell - Irvine, California | Thu Apr 25 1991 01:26 | 16 |
| Dave,
How are you folks doing? This stuff can be terribly stressful.
I'd like to point to a couple other notes in the Preterm topic.
Note 20.10 I talk about water
Note 20.49 Preterm Labor book recommendation
Hang in there and relax. Again, if you want to talk, please
call or write. I really know how you feel...and I care.
Jodi-
|