Should I Have Restrictions If I Am Having Regular Contractions?

Last updated on August 18th, 2023 at 11:27 am

A MoM-to-be recently asked:

I am currently 28 weeks along with di/di twins. I spent the day in the hospital with contractions every few minutes and am still having them. Since I was showing no other signs of labor, they sent me home, with no restrictions. I’m a teacher and on my feet all day. I’m wondering if anyone else had this happen and if they took any precautions or have any recommendations. How far were you able to make it in your pregnancy after having regular contractions?

Here’s what our Twiniversity fans had to say:

“I was an ICU nurse working 12 hour stressful shifts when I was pregnant with my twins. I started having regular contractions around 22 weeks and stopped working at 30 weeks. Delivered via scheduled C-section at 37 weeks. Every pregnancy is different. Listen to your doctor and don’t push yourself! I think my contractions were my body’s way of saying ‘take it easy’. I felt so much better when I stopped working!”

“I’m a teacher as well. After 3 trips to the hospital to monitor my regular contractions I stopped working. I stayed home starting week 26 and delivered at 31. Listen to your body, if working increases your contractions, call it. It’s not worth an early delivery.”

“I had contractions from around this time until 38.2. They called it irritable uterus. The contractions were never regular, just annoying. I ended up going out of work at 31 weeks and taking it easy. Just listen to your body, it will tell you to slow down.”

“I’m a teacher as well. I had early contractions around the same time and went to the hospital. Turns out I was really dehydrated. I made sure to stay on top of my fluids and worked all the way till the end. I went full term.”

“I was at about same point as you and had regular contractions. Was admitted once. I had to sit all the time (used a roller chair), sent students to pick up or fetch or pass things out, and drank water all the time to stay hydrated.”

“I’m a teacher. I also had regular contractions, not labor starting at 29 weeks. Worked until 33 weeks. Stopped due to mild pre-eclampsia. Had then via C-section at 37 weeks. I did my best to make a teaching ‘station’ in my room with a tall captains chair so I could see over my classroom and reduce walking around. My students were AMAZING and would come to me when needed. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how your students will adjust for you and help take care of you.”

“My doctor told me I needed to drastically cut back on work responsibilities, being on my feet, etc. starting at 30 weeks. She said, basically, I could be responsible on my own and cut back or my body would do it for me. I had one day of really high blood pressure and regular contractions at 30 weeks and I got so worried I took her advice! We made it to 37+4 before being induced.”

“I wore a support belt and taught from my rolling chair as much as possible. Drink lots of water. I explained my job further and how much I was really on my feet to my perinatologist. They wanted me to lay down if they got too close together and it just really isn’t an option at school so I was put on modified bedrest at 32 weeks. They came at 34.6.”

“I spent a night in the hospital at 27 weeks due to contractions. I got steroid shots, but never dilated. I was sent home with medication to help stave off the regular contractions and carried them until 37+1 weeks. Stay hydrated and try to take it easy as much as possible.”

“Be careful. I’m an elementary school teacher and that happened to me at 25 weeks. I made it one more week after they sent me home then I started bleeding and was having more intense regular contractions. At 26 weeks they admitted me to the hospital for a 6 week hospitalized bedrest. I know it may not be easy but try to sit as much as you can and have students come to you. Drink a ton of water too. My twin boys were born at 33 weeks.”

“I was in the hospital at 28 weeks with regular contractions and put on medicine to stop it. My cervix was also on the thinner side. I’m a teacher also and my doctor told me no working and take it easy. I went to hospital again at 30 weeks with same issue and delivered at 33 weeks. Just be careful, it’s not worth the risk. Having the babies are 33 weeks was so scary (everything totally fine now) and you don’t want to do anything that could put you into early labor.”

“I had regular contractions from 28 weeks until I was finally induced at 37+4. I started light duty at work, and had my cervical length closely monitored. But we made it! I made sure I stayed hydrated and rested as much as I could.”

“I’m a teacher. I had regular contractions from early on, kept off my feet as much as possible (which was hard in first grade) but I ended up out of work at 31 weeks (my choice, doctor signed off). It was just too hard and I could feel my body telling me I was pushing it too hard. I went into preterm labor at 33 weeks and spent 4 nights in the hospital. Went home on bed rest and made it to a scheduled c-section at 36 weeks. Listen to your body!!! I think if I had kept working I would have had them much sooner.”

“Had the same problem. They put me on strict bed rest at 24 weeks. I made it to 34 weeks. My advice is try to avoid staying on your feet and take you medicine if prescribed. It’s extremely important to stay hydrated!”

“I went on bed rest at 28 weeks. I was hospitalized with preterm labor because of regular contractions. Listen to your body.”

“I am also a teacher. I didn’t have any regular contractions but I had lower pelvic bone discomfort. I took it easy. I was scheduled to be induced at 38 weeks but ended up going into labor at 36 weeks. I went to work not realizing my water had broken in the morning. I didn’t feel any contractions until the evening.”

“I am a teacher too! I delivered at 38 weeks. I sat most of the day. I know that sounds nuts but my kids learned to come to me. I teach fifth grade so the kids are more self sufficient. I drank a ton of water and made sure to listen to my body. Take care.”

“Sounds like dehydration. Drink lots and lots and lots of water!”

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