Were You Told Why?

**peta1410** · 01-06-2007 21:48

Hi, I'm a mum to 2 premmie boys. My first was born 7 weeks early and is now a healthy 2 and a half year old and my second was born 5 weeks early just over 5 weeks ago. No one has been able to tell me why I have had 2 premmies. When I was pregnant with my 2nd I was classed as high risk but I had no extra monitoring. I went into early labour at 31 weeks and it was stopped but I still went early. I wasn't monitored any closer after 31 weeks and no one ever went into what could have caused it again. Someone did mention to me that my placenta had been drying out but my midwife never mentioned this to me after the birth when she examined it. Infact I'm sure I can remember her saying it looked healthy. Has anyone else been through similar experiences where you really have no idea why and no one seems to want to hazard a guess? Is there anyway of knowing? Can you get hold of your own hospital records? I just would really like to know why because if I decide to have a 3rd baby I would really love to be able to make it to 38 weeks, even that would be great. If I know why in advance maybe I can stop it from happening again.

**mum2my4** · 01-06-2007 22:15

Hi Peta,

Hope your enjoying your little man. I sort of know why but the reason I had my two early were completely different reasons. When I was pregnant with my third (28weeker) they said to me that I shouldn't worry about going early it wouldn't happen again and they thought I would go over

Proved them very wrong. Then when I was pregnant with No 4 they said I had no hope of getting past 28wks and I had an elective c-section at 38wks

So I don't think half the time they know themselves. One Dr said to me once that Obstetrics is one branch of medicine where they will never know the reasons for a lot of the things that happen. Very reassuring isn't it.

You can get a copy of your hospital records, you need to contact the medical records dept of the hospital fill in some forms provide some ID and pay a fee.

We all wonder why

**~Emmylou~** · 02-06-2007 20:10

I agree that alot of the time they don't really know.

My DD was born at 36 weeks - my water just broke at 36w2d for no apparent reason and out she came. She was healthy and fine, and a good weight (7lb3oz) - just early. I asked what could have caused it and they just said "it happens sometimes"

I guess the fact that she was well didn't prompt them to really worry about why she was early.

When I got pregnant with my second one I worried the whole time that he was going to be even earlier. I got to my induction date at 38 weeks with him, no dramas whatsoever. He would've happily stayed in there for at least another week I think as I had no signs of going into labour at that point at all.

**kirstyE** · 02-06-2007 23:31

My little one came out only 2.5/3 weeks prem but was induced because of my blood pressure and my body was going 'toxic'. She didn't want to come out as it took 3 different types of induction for her to enter the world.

**HoopDeeDoo** · 03-06-2007 09:55

DS1 was born at 35 + 4 weeks I just started having cramps and had him 4 hours later. I was told basically that these things happen, some babies want to come early.
DS2 I was really sick with gastro, ended up in hospy at 33 weeks, on a drip for a week, they thought I was going to go into labour then because I was having contractions and had an irritable uterus. Well he ended up staying put and I thought

this baby is going to be born at a normal time. I was home for three days when my waters broke

Then i started getting contractions and everyone thought he would be born in a matter of hours. Then they stopped. I was told they wouldn't induce labour, because my waters had broken I was on anti bs and just had to wait until I went into labour naturally. They also told me a lady had already been waiting 7 weeks, and I wasn't allowed to leave the hospital until I had my baby. So here I was, had a toddler at home, not knowing when my baby would arrive, but knowing if he came now he would be 6 weeks early, but if I didn't have him my other baby would be without mummy.

Anyway I ended up going into full on labour the next morning, and after 30 hrs of start stop labour he was here. He was even posterior, and I've never heard of a premmie baby being born naturally in the wrong position so he must really have wanted to get, or my body wanted to get him out.

There was no explanations. I will never know if it was the gastro or the because it's just the way my body works.

We have decided not to have anymore in fear of bubby #3 coming even earlier. But I've also heard a few stories where thier bubbies have been totally different.

Maybe in a few years we will change our minds, but for now thats it for us

**onabreak** · 03-06-2007 10:04

My DD was born at 29 weeks and the doctors couldn't tell me why. They said my placenta was healthy and that DD just wanted to come out early.

I am now pregnant with my second and have been stressing that I will have another premmie. I am 29 weeks today

and no sign of DS coming out early yet.

I am going private this time with my own OB so she can keep a close eye on me as I do not want another premmie baby. She said the only reason she can think of that my DD came early was because I had bleeding that my placenta may have started to come away.

I make if full time this time round.

**HoopDeeDoo** · 03-06-2007 10:07

Good Luck!! I'm sending you vibes so your baby will stay put!

**DoubleDelight** · 06-06-2007 15:55

My twins were prem for a very specific reason and the odds of it every happening again are 1 million to 1.

Twin 2 had a reverse flow in his umbilical which lead to IUGR and if unmonitored would have killed him.