Preemie Again?

Congrats on your new pregnancy. Having 1 preemie does not mean any other babies will be premature. I had babies born at (in order) 23 wks, 34 wks, 26 wks, (then m/c at 12 wks), 37 wks, and 36 wks. You see my last 2 went the furthest. Of course everyone's reasons for having babies early can be different. My baby born at 26 wks was due to ruptured membranes, like you, and I did have babies born at 37 & 36 wks after that, so it can be done.

I do have to say, like someone else said, I would be concerned about any kind of herbs or anything else not recommended by a doctor. I know some people have had wonderful experiences with midwives, but when you are high risk (which you now are), I would recommend a perinatologist. I went to one for my last 2 pregnancies and I give them the credit of keeping me pregnant as long as I went with those 2 babies. I see that you are against interventions for labor and delivery, but things are different when you are high risk, you are dealing with your baby's life and need to do whatever it takes to bring that healthy, full time baby into the world.

I lost 2 of my preemies (and the 1 m/c), so by the time I had my living children, I would have done anything my perinatologist told me to in order to get those babies here and healthy.

I wish you luck with your pregnancy. I am curious as to how your 31 weeker did after birth and is doing now at just over a year old.

S.
mom of 19 yo, 7 yo, & 6 yo

Congrats! My 1st was born at 34 weeks (5lb 14 oz) to to premature rupture of the membranes and they don't know why. Labor was 16 hours from rupture to birth. She is now 4 and doing great. My 2nd did not want to come so I was induced at 41 weeks (9 lb). 5.5 hrs from start of drugs to birth. So just because your 1st was a premie doesn't mean your 2nd will be. Good Luck!

I'm not sure what your chances are of delivering early this time, as I'm not sure what caused it the first time. However, if you are interested in natural ways to help the baby cook in there longer, I would recommend seeing an Acupuncturist who specializes in prenatal treatment. There are excellent treatments and herbs to prevent early labor, and they are safe for you and your baby. Make sure if you do this to find someone who SPECIALIZES in it though. It may be easier to search for one if you use "fertility" as a keyword with acupuncture instead of prenatal acupuncture. Also, if you choose this method, make sure the practitioner is a L.Ac (licensed acupunturist) and/or has their M.Om (master in oriental medicine) or their M.Ac (masters in acupuncture). Good luck! You can message me for referrals in your area if you need more info!

I know that all three of my pregnancies could not have been different. Everything about my first and third pregnancies and deliveries were completely opposite (just about). Not in bad ways, they were just different from the start. I should add that both were boys too. I guess I figured that since my pregnancy was so different the third time, it must be a girl....nope. (My second pregnancy ended at 12 weeks, so thats probably why that pregnancy was different).

Hi,
I don't have any answers for you, just a comment. Herbal suplements are not studied in dept like medication or are approved by the FDA. With that said, I personally would not take the chance and take them while I was pregnant. Who knows if it would do more harm then good. One doesn't need to prove effectivness or safety when they claim to be a supplement! Good Luck!

Congrats on Baby #2! I'm not sure how it is with preemies, but my friends and I have always had faster labors the more children we've had. I went from 25 hours, to 4 hours to 45 minutes. (I'm preggers with #4, I'm wondering if I'll get any warning at all this time!). Mind you, these were all full-term pregnancies, so I'm not sure if that will make a difference.

As for having another preemie, I'd talk to your midwife to get her insight. My midwife has always been wonderful about helping me take a natural approach to my pregnancies, so that supplement she suggested may be a good place to start if you're not big on scientific intervention with your pregnancy/delivery. I hope things go more smoothly for you this time, and again, congrats!! :)

My oldest daughter was born at 33 weeks due to PPROM (preterm premature rupture of Membranes). They could find no reasons.
When I was pg with my 2nd daughter, who was born at 35 weeks, I was given shots of pregesterone. I also took the shots with my son, who was born at 37 weeks. You start getting the shots around 15-16 weeks. You get the shots every week until 36 weeks or delivery, which ever comes first. My doctor believes that the injections bought me more time with each pregnancy. The thought is thaat the increased progesterone levels help sustain the pregnancy. Good luck!