Preterm Labor Treatment – “The FDA has announced that is does not advise doctors to administer magnesium sulfate injections to pregnant women for more than 5 days as a means of preventing pre-term labor.” …

Preterm Labor Treatment
Injections Put Fetus At Risk

What Is Preterm Labor

Preterm Labor Treatment | Tips About Healthy Living

If you are searching preterm labor treatment on the internet, you must have concerns about your pregnancy. If you have heard that you are in preterm labor, I know from personal experience you must be scared. Firstly, there are options for your preterm labor treatment so please talk to you doctor. Your doctor is your best resource, as he/she has been through this with previous patients. Remember the ultimate goal of a preterm labor treatment is to prolong your pregnancy for as long as possible.

What is Premature Labor? Preterm labor is labor that happens too early, between 20 – 37 weeks of pregnancy. Any woman can have preterm labor and give birth early, even if she’s done everything right during pregnancy. There are three main risk factors that make women more likely to have preterm labor.

1) Having a premature baby in the past
2) Being pregnant with multiples (twins, triplets or more)
3) Having problems with your uterus or cervix now or in the past

The March of Dimes website is a great resource for learning more about preterm labor. Visit it here: MarchofDimes.com

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I was 28 weeks pregnant with my daughter (my first), and just starting my third trimester. I had gone to one of my numerous prenatal visits and was told “everything looks good see you in two weeks”. The next morning everything changed. I got a call from my OB’s nurse who bluntly stated “you are in preterm labor and need to get injections immediately. We can see you in an hour.” I had a short cervix so my doctor had been monitoring it closely. I tried to ask her questions, but she said she couldn’t answer them and I needed to speak to the doctor.

Well I totally lost it and started crying after I hung up the phone. A million questions and thoughts ran through my mind. I couldn’t drive myself to the appointment so my dad drove me. My parents had come to stay with me for a week from Florida for my baby shower (which was in 3 day). I was given the drugs for preterm labor, but still wasn’t really sure why or what it was, but I was told I had to have it.

I asked to speak to the doctor, he was in between patients at that moment and could “fit me in”. As I walked in his office I said one statement to him that gave him pause. I said “I know you have many patients and have seen this before and maybe it has become commonplace to you. I know my pregnancy is one of many in your practice, BUT it is the only one that matters to me.” He actually apologized to me and spent about a half an hour with me answering my questions and discussing my concerns.

That day I learned something that was helpful for me, and if you are reading this maybe it will help you as well. Don’t just do what your are told, ask questions. Be an advocate for yourself and your baby in your preterm labor prevention.

Here is an article published in “Medical News Today” that will give you more information about Magnesium Sulfate Injections:

FDA: Injections Put Fetus At Risk

Magnesium sulfate is sometimes given to pregnant women who are between 26 and 34 weeks pregnant, for a prolonged period, to delay contractions and allow the injection of steroids, which increases the rate of fetal lung development, subsequently delaying preterm birth. Magnesium sulfate can potentially harm a developing fetus however, and in light of the new FDA Drug Safety Communication, doctors should stop administration of magnesium sulfate for prolonged periods to pregnant women.

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Preterm Labor Treatment: It Comes In All Forms

I was given two injections of Betamethasone at week 28, to help my daughter’s lung development in case of a premature birth. I had weekly prenatal visits for the remainder of my pregnancy. I was put on limited bed rest early in the third trimester and around week 34 I was able to “get off” limited bed rest. Rachel was born on October 25, 2006 at week 38 (full term and 4 days before her due date).

I do not want to give you any medical advice. Talk to your doctor. Most likely he/she has seen it all. Ask questions, stay informed and be an advocate and the best mom to your baby when treating your preterm labor!

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