[All_Boys]

Hi, was jut after a bit of advice.

My last DS was born at 25 weeks very suddenly (woke up to blood loss & a few hours later labour had started & there was no stopping it). He is now a very healthy 2 (almost 3) year old.

I am currently 26 weeks with my 4th DS. Because of my last pregnancy I had an ultrasound yesterday to check my cervix etc. I was told it was starting to thin already & only had 11mm's to go. I was given a prescription for progesterone supps. and told to start taking them ASAP. Of course though there is nowhere in Perth that actually stock them & by the time the dr organised for me to pick some up from King Edward it was too late to head out there (I will be going there this morning).

Anyway, basically I am wondering if any other ladies that have used the progesterone supps. had any luck using them & if they prolonged your pregnancy? I was told not to worry about bed rest & have an appt with a specialist on Tuesday & am booked in for another ultrasound on Thursday. I will also be having a celesterone shot today.

Thanks in advance, Jodie

This post has been edited by All_Boys: 09/05/2012, 10:56 PM

[MicM]

I was offered to participate in PROGRESS during my 3rd pregnancy http://www.adelaide.edu.au/arch/research/c...s/progress.html

But declined, although my cervix was not my problem. I felt that as stated in the trial outline that

Although recent reports of progesterone supplementation for women at risk of preterm birth show promise, there is currently insufficient data to recommend the use of progesterone to prevent preterm birth.

So for me the risk of infection wasn't worth it but like I said my cervix was not the problem, I went into spontaneous labour. First DD1 34+6 wks, DD2 27 wks, DD3 37+6 wks.

Good luck I hope it all works out for you.

[mummacat]

Hi OP

I was on progesterone supps from 18 weeks with DS2. I did not have a problem with my cervix but I was having periods of regular contractions.

I had the same with DS1 I went into labour with him at 29 weeks, luckily they stopped it and I lasted another 5 weeks.

It is hard to say if the progesterone helped. I still went into labour again at 29 weeks with DS2 which they stopped again. With DS1 they kept me on a low dose of nifedipine for the 5 weeks and then I had ruptured membranes. With DS2 they gave me the nifedipine to stop the labour at 29 weeks but once I was discharged from hospital 3 days later they stopped the nifedipine and I continued on the progesterone. I lasted another 3 weeks and had ruptured membranes again.

My OB did a lot of research on progesterone mainly out of Canada and the research had showed positive results. He also spoke to the doctors running the WCH trail and they recommended that I should start taking taking progesterone. I didn't have any issues with infection.

I had to go to a compounding pharmacy to have them made I was on only 100mg. Cost about $48 every 12 days and I got nothing back on private health or medicare.

Good luck

[mummabear]

I was on them too, and gave birth at 28 weeks exactly. They were messy, expensive, and I personally wouldn't use them again. I didn't feel they did anything.

[~nikki~]

Op I don't know as I only needed mine in early pregnancy. I did learn though that rectaly they are absorbed quicker and there's a pharmacy in whitfords that acctually make them and they were half the price than at the clinic. If you want the details pm me.

[All_Boys]

Thanks for the replies ladies, this is the first chance I have had a chance to get on here to write a reply.

We had no idea why DS3 was born at 25 weeks but we finally have some answers. It seems I badly damaged/tore my cervix when I gave birth to DS2 (via VBAC) but I had no idea. So it seems I should never have been inserted with an IUD because of this reason (hence the reason I fell pregnant with DS4)

Anyway, I have been on 200mgs of pestogerone pessaries since my appt & they seem to be working. A few days ago I was told there was no change & that my waters were bulging but yesterday I had another appt and have gone from 11mm's to 24mm's. So thats a good sign. Although the pregestrone has been making me so sick & is causing me major insomnia. But if it works it's definitely worth it.

Thanks, Jodie

[Leeloomina]

Bumping this thread...

Hi OP I hope the Progesterone Pessaries are working for you. Am wondering if they worked for anyone else?

I'm 26+3weeks along and having my cervix checked fortnightly due to preterm labour with DS (27 weeker). Last scan was yesterday, showing cervix at 29mm which OB said was very good (33mm previous scan).

Problem is the Braxton Hicks contractions are building up and getting very intense in the past week. I basically have 2-3 contractions every waking hour and last night for 3 hours my tummy is a constant hard ball. I counted about 12 contractions in an hour, and getting a little bit painful. That was how I went into labour with DS, the BHs turning into painful contractions, the bleeding started, and the next thing I was told my cervix was funnelling and membrane was buldging.

So this time round I have been prescribed 200mg daily to hopefully reduce the BHs.

Anyone else had progesterone in order to hold off contractions/early labour?

[All_Boys]

Well hun if it helps at all I am now 31 weeks, so I guess they seem to be working for me. I still do get quite a lot of BH's & some days I feel so much pressure "downstairs" that I think bubs is just going to fall out, but so far so good. I haven't had my cervix checked in 2 weeks tho as the specialist doesn't see the point as there really isn't much more they can do. I do however have a sizing scan booked for next week as apparently subsequent potential prem babies can be smaller than they should be.

Hope all goes well for you

[Leeloomina]

Thanks for your reply OP. 31weeks is really good! I will be extremely happy to be able to get there. First day on progesterone and it seems to be working already for me too. I have had less than 10 BH's all day and only a couple intense enough to make me frown.

I also will no longer have the fortnightly cervical scan. Was told on Monday bub was 925g so that put my mind to rest a bit.

Got my fingers crossed for you too OP!

[All_Boys]

Hey, thought I had better do a quick update.

My DS4 was born on on Saturday, 5 May at 31+5 weeks, weighing 1950 grams. He is doing really really well. Was of CPAP by the next day & today I even got to give him a go at breastfeeding. He is actually going to be in the paper this Sunday (Sunday Times) as they are doing a story on the nurses & they asked if they could photograph him for the story.

So far so good

Jodie