My friend went into preterm labor at 23 weeks/doctors can't explain it??

Question

Has anyone here ever gone into preterm labor with no explanation, or known anyone who has? On Thursday June 7, my best friend's water broke, at only 23 weeks. She went to the hospital immediatley and was having bad contractions, she started losing a lot of blood and they said she would die if they didn't get the baby out now (due to blood loss). They delivered the baby c-section, and got her fixed, the baby just died yesterday morning and they still can't explain to her why she went into labor. She has had a great pregnancy, no morning sickness, colds, nothing. She is 20 years old, almost 21 and her and her husband had planned this baby after they bought their first house. She was very healthy.
Anything would help to offer to her as a suggestion as to what could have happened, it is greatly appreciated. Thank you SO much. This is a very hard time for all of us.
Toni Lynne

Answer 1

I have a friend that went into preterm at 23 weeks as well. However they were able to stop her contractions and keep her from delivering.. When everything was back to normal the doctor did extensive test, and found that her cervix were not strong enough to hold the weight which caused it to dialate to early, and because she was in the hospital and off her feet the weight was no longer pushing on the cervix.. Now that they knew what was happening. They did what is called a cerclage. It is a surgical procedure used to keep the cervix closed during pregnancy.. She is now 27 weeks and has had no other problems.. I have 2 cousin that had this same problem it is known as an incompetent cervix.. If this is what has happened to your friend, and the doctors are able to diagnose it then any future pregnancy shouldnt be a problem.. Please tell your friend I am sorry for her loss..

Answer 2

Preterm Labor At 23 Weeks

Answer 3

I know exactly how you feel and what you mean, i thought when you reached 12weeks you had nothing to worry about, but i realised that is not true, anything can happen at any stage. It's a very scarey and daunting thing. Your friends baby has a good chance of survival, at 22weeks you have 16% chance of survival and then at 24weeks you have a 50% chance, at 27weeks your baby has a 70-80% chance of survival, do you see how each week makes a big difference in the percentages. It's mostly due to the lung problems your baby can have when it's born early, the steroids will help alot though! Her baby will probably be in ICU until it's original due date. I do pray everything is alright with their kid, i know how horrible this prospect can be, i've known friends to go through the same thing at an earlier stage and haven't survived.

Answer 4

oh I'm so sorry a similar thing happened to me i was 20 week and went in to labor i had no trouble during pregnancy i wasn't over weight didn't smoke looked after myself the doctors couldn't give me a reason why this happened all they said was it just 1 of those things i did go on to have an healthy boy 2 years later with no problems at all x

Answer 5

I'm sorry your friend lost her baby. it's a very hard thing to go through, as I lost my baby as well 3 days after she was born full term from a brain tumor we didn't know about. sometimes things can go wrong with a womans uterus, and it just can't be explained. just like there is no explenation why my daughter had brain cancer. just make sure you are there for her when "she needs" you to be there. she's probly going to have a few rough weeks, and a lot of soul searching. I'm very surprised that they would "fix" her, when you say that do you mean they tied her tubes? if so, there must have been some kind of small explenation, and maybe she just isn't telling you every little detail. if you'd like you or your friend can contact me. it's such a rough deal to go through, and it really does help to talk to someone who has been through such a tragic loss. [e-mail] email me anytime. again, I'm so sorry to hear of the loss and hope you can help your friend find her path into healing and finding peace.

Answer 6

Unfortunately, there are many occasions when they cannot determine an exact cause for preterm labor.

We always expect that we should be able to pinpoint reasons and causes for things that happen, but sometimes there is no answer that we can identify.

I'm sorry that this sounds to be one of those cases.

Answer 7

I'm very sorry for your friend, actually that happen to me just 3 weeks ago, I was just 22 weeks pregnant, was doing everything the Dr. will said and just taken care of myself but one mornig I just start having like cramps and when I went to the bathroom my water broke, I really though it was a nightmare but it was real, my husband took me to the hospital and told me that I had to deliver, the Dr. was able to see her feet already, the only explanation they gave me is that I had a bacteria in the placenta, but why this happen they don't know. I can understand your friend, this is the worst thing that can't happend to anyone, in my case I feel very guilty and I just hope that my next pregnancy is normal! I'm trying to find some answers to, but nothing seems to help. Sorry for her loss and hope next time everything goes ok!!

Answer 8

I am so sorry for your friend. This can be a hard answer to accept but there just hasn't been enough research done to know for sure why some healthy women go into labor so early. I hope she tries again when her mind and body have healed some from this tragedy.

Answer 9

I'm sorry to say but this does happen for a reason. But like the doctors told her they don't know why. My friend had to have her baby taken out at 20 weeks the placenta was to weak it wasn't feeding the baby. And had a better chance of living outside.

Answer 10

I'm so sorry for her loss.

I don't know anything of that but thats spooked me out slightly cos im 16 weeks, had no morning sickness, i dont smoke, drink and i eat pretty well. I'm 19 so not far from your friends age.

Deepest sympathy